CHAPTER 26

(1015 B.C.)

THE PORTERS AND OVERSEERS: DIVIDED BY LOT INTO 24 COURSES

¹Concerning the divisions of the porters (there were 4,000 porters [23:5]; they were Levites, as well; they were divided into 24 courses, and were ruled by 93 chiefs; they were workers and helpers of the Temple service): Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. (These were the descendants of Korah, who had led the rebellion against Moses, over 500 years before [Num., Chpt. 16]. We find from this that where sin abounded, Grace did much more abound. The sons of Korah are first chosen as doorkeepers, their duty being to prevent the presumption of which their father was guilty. Such are the ways of God! The sinful sons of a rebellious father are set on high by Him, and Heavenly things are committed to their hands. Such is Grace!)

²And the sons of Meshelemiah were, Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,

³Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh.

⁴Moreover the sons of Obed-edom were, Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth,

⁵Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth: for God blessed him.

⁶Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father: for they were mighty men of valour.

⁷The sons of Shemaiah; Othni and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were strong men, Elihu, and Semachiah.

⁸All these of the sons of Obed-edom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men for strength for the service, were threescore and two of Obed-edom. (It is remarkable that the Holy Spirit will mention Obed-edoms name some 20 times throughout the Word of God, and it was all because of his love for the things of God [II Sam. 6:10-11].)

⁹And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, strong men, eighteen.

¹⁰Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons; Simri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief;)

¹¹Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.

¹²Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another, to minister in the House of the LORD.

PORTERS OF THE GATES

¹³And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.

¹⁴And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.

¹⁵To Obed-edom southward; and to his sons the house of Asuppim.

¹⁶To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward.

¹⁷Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two.

¹⁸At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.

¹⁹These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari.

PORTERS OVER THE TREASURES

²⁰And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the House of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.

²¹As concerning the sons of Laadan; the sons of the Gershonite Laadan, chief fathers, even of Laadan the Gershonite, were Jehieli.

²²The sons of Jehieli; Zetham, and Joel his brother, which were over the treasures of the House of the LORD.

²³Of the Amramites, and the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites:

²⁴And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler of the treasures.

²⁵And his brethren by Eliezer; Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son.

²⁶Which Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated.

²⁷Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the House of the LORD. (This Passage recalls the oft-forgotten lesson that the Spiritual Temple of Jehovah must be built up with spoils won in battle. There must be labor and prayer, battling with wicked spirits in Heavenly Places, and sharp encounters with the Devil and his human servants, if spoil, that is, souls, are to be won for Jesus Christ.)

²⁸And all that Samuel the Seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated; and whosoever had dedicated anything, it was under the hand of the Shelomith, and of his brethren (the doorkeepers were to exclude evil, and treasure-keepers were to guard the Spiritual Wealth; this implies warfare; Paul told Timothy to war a good warfare; he was a doorkeeper and a treasure-keeper [I Tim. 1:3; 4:20]).

THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS

²⁹Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.

³⁰And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand and seven hundred, were officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward in all the business of the LORD, and in the service of the king.

³¹Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even among the Hebronites, according to the generations of his fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valour at Jazer of Gilead.

³²And his brethren, men of valour, were two thousand and seven hundred chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king. (Terms such as mighty men of valor and men of valor were used in connection with the appointment of these officers by David, as it regarded the administrative offices of the kingdom. This shows that God honors and rewards proper business activity as a dedication to His Service. It is to be carried on with the same consecration and dedication to God, even as the Temple worship and service. We must conduct ourselves thusly today, as well!)