1 Chronicles 9:20

20 In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar was the official in charge of the gatekeepers, and the LORD was with him.

1 Chronicles 9:20 in Other Translations

20 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the LORD was with him.

20 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the chief officer over them in time past; the LORD was with him.

20 Phinehas son of Eleazar had been in charge of the gatekeepers in earlier times, and the LORD had been with him.

20 In the early days, Phinehas son of Eleazar was in charge of the security guards - God be with him!

20 In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar had been their leader, and the Lord was with him.

1 Chronicles 9:20 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 9:20

And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in
time past
Over the host, over the Levites, and the chief of them; which is to be understood of Phinehas the son of Eleazar, in the time of Moses, who succeeded his father in that post, see ( Numbers 3:32 ) though some think, as Kimchi observes, that this was not Phinehas the priest, but a certain Levite of this name in this post; but since he is said to be in time past, it may very well be understood of him: and it also is observed,

and the Lord was with him;
inspiring him with zeal for his honour and glory, assisting and strengthening him to do his will and work, as particularly in the affair of Zimri, ( Numbers 25:7 Numbers 25:8 ) , the Targum is,

``the Word of the Lord was for his help;''

this may be said for the encouragement of him that was in the same office now.

1 Chronicles 9:20 In-Context

18 being stationed at the King’s Gate on the east, up to the present time. These were the gatekeepers belonging to the camp of the Levites.

19 Shallum son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his fellow gatekeepers from his family (the Korahites) were responsible for guarding the thresholds of the tent just as their ancestors had been responsible for guarding the entrance to the dwelling of the LORD.

20 In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar was the official in charge of the gatekeepers, and the LORD was with him.

21 Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

22 Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the seer.

Cross References

• 1. Numbers 25:7-13