I Chronicles 26:17
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Each day there were six Levites on the east, four on the north, four on the south, and two pairs at the storehouse.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari. For among those Levites which descended from Kore, a grandson of Kohath, and which sprung from Merar, a brother of Kohath, the porters only wore; see Ch1 26:1. . 1 Chronicles 26:20 ch1 26:20 ch1 26:20 ch1 26:20And of the Levites,.... The rest of the Levites, as the Gershonites, Amramites, Izharites, and Hebronites, Ch1 26:21. Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God; as the tithes, vessels, vestments, wine, and oil, and other things; such an one was Phinehas at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem by Vespasian, who being taken, showed and delivered the priests' garments, and many other precious things and sacred ornaments under his care (e): and over the treasures of the dedicated things; voluntarily devoted for sacrifices and repairs of the temple; and this Ahijah had the care of each of those at first, which afterwards were divided, and put under the care of different persons. (e) Joseph. de Bell. Jud. l. 6. c. 8. sect. 3.
Open source ↗We have here an account of the business of the Levites. That tribe had made but a very small figure all the time of the judges, till Eli and Samuel appeared. But when David revived religion the Levites were, of all men, in the greatest reputation. And happy it was that they had Levites who were men of sense, fit to support the honour of their tribe. We have here an account, I. Of the Levites that were appointed to be porters (v. 1-19). II. Of those that were appointed to be treasurers and storekeepers (Ch1 26:20-28). III. Of those that were officers and judges in the country, and were entrusted with the administration of public affairs (Ch1 26:29-32).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
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In keeping with the ordinances of his father David, Solomon appointed the divisions of the priests over their service, and the Levites for their duties to offer praise and to minister before the priests according to the daily requirement. He also appointed gatekeepers by their divisions at each gate, for this had been the command of David, the man of God.
The gatekeepers were stationed on the four sides: east, west, north, and south.