1 Chronicles 9:27

27 They spent the night in the vicinity of God's temple, because they had guard duty and were in charge of opening it every morning.^[a]

1 Chronicles 9:27 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 9:27

And they lodged round about the house of God
In chambers on the outward wall about it, that they might be near to do their office:

because the charge was upon them;
to guard the house:

and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them;
that is, the opening of the doors of the mountain of the house, and the court of women; for as for others, that appertained to the priests, as Dr. Lightfoot ^F21 observes; under the second temple, it is said ^F23, Ben Geber was over the shutting of the gates in the evening, and so of opening in the morning.

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 Temple-Service, c. 7. sect. 1.
F23 Misn. Shekalim, c. 5. sect. 1.

1 Chronicles 9:27 In-Context

25 Their relatives came from their villages at fixed times to be with them seven days,

26 but the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the rooms and the treasuries of God's temple.

27 They spent the night in the vicinity of God's temple, because they had guard duty and were in charge of opening it every morning.

28 Some of them were in charge of the utensils used in worship. They would count them when they brought them in and when they took them out.

29 Others were put in charge of the furnishings and all the utensils of the sanctuary, as well as the fine flour, wine, oil, incense, and spices.

Footnotes

• [a]. 1 Sm 3:3,15; Mt 16:19