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Vers. 1. OF the Korhites was Meshelemiah the sonne of Kore, of the sonnes of Asaph.] This was not Asaph the chief musician, but another Levite of the same name, called also Ebiasaph, chap. 6.37.
Vers. 2. And the sonnes of Meshelemiah were, Zechariah the first-born, &c.] Here are named seven sonnes of Meshelemiah, vers. 2, 3. and of Obed Edom also seven sonnes (besides Shemaiah) vers. 4, 5. and six grand-children the sonnes of Shemaiah,
vers. 7. and foure sonnes of Hosah, vers. 10, 11. which together make twenty foure; and therefore I conceive they are here named, because they were the heads of the twenty foure orders and courses of the porters that came up in their turn to do their service, together with the twenty foure courses of the priests and singers: though it be not noted which had the first course, and which the second, as is before noted of the priests and singers.
Vers. 5. For God blessed him.] That is, Obed-edom, because he received the ark into his house, therefore the Lord blessed him, as is noted before, chap. 13, 14. to wit, not onely with a numerous issue, but with great prosperity in all other regards, and hence it was, that eight of his sonnes (besides his grandchildren by She∣maiah) were heads in the foure and twenty courses of the porter or guard of the Temple.
Vers. 6. For they were mighty men of valour.] The work of the porters was not onely to keep all unclean persons from entring into the holy place; but also to pre∣vent all confusion at the resorting of the people on their solemne festivals to the Tem∣ple, when they came in great multitudes, as also to be a guard to the holy place upon all other occasions; and therefore it was requisite that they should be men of might and valour: and the sonnes of Shemaiah being men eminent this way, they were appointed to be heads of the severall divisions and courses of the porters.
Vers. 8. Threescore and two of Obed-Edom] The number of these, as also of those, vers. 9, 11. is expressed I conceive, because in every division they were the chief; for there were in all of the porters foure thousand, chap. 23.5.
Vers. 12. Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another.] That is, amongst these chief men of these families, were their severall courses of porters, divided ward against ward, an∣swerable to those of the singers and other Levites, to wit, in foure and twenty courses.
Vers. 13. And they cast lots as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers for every gate.] Being divided into twenty foure divisions (which were to come up in their severall courses and orders for the service of the Temple, and having waited a week, to depart to their dwellings, and another to come in their steads) they did also cast lots to know how the service should be divi∣ded amongst them, and in particular, which of them should have the charge of the severall gates of the Temple. But may some say, being there were but eighteen of the sonnes and brethren of Meshelemiah vers. 9. to whom by lot the charge of the east gate fell, vers. 14. how could there be in each of the twenty foure courses some of the sonnes and brethren of Meshelemiah to take the charge of the east gate: I answer; first, that those eighteen of Meshelemiahs sonnes and brethren, vers. 9. were happely the chief, and besides these there were many more: yea, secondly, happely under the lot of Meshelemiah many other Levites were comprehended, besides his sonnes and brethren, for there were of these porters foure thousand in all, cha∣pter 23.5.
Vers. 14. And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah, &c.] That is to Shelemiah or Meshelemiah, vers. 1. and his company, there fell the custodie of the east gate, which was the chief gate, as being in the front of the Temple, and to Zechariah his sonne the custodie of the north-gate.
Vers. 15. To Obed-Edom south-ward, and to his sonnes, the house of Asuppim.] That is, the house of gatherings, so called, either because this, was the house where the seventy Elders did use to assemble and gather themselves together, and sit in coun∣cell; or else because here the gifts of the people were gathered and laid up: this house was also in or at the south gate, and so Obed-edom and his sonnes had also the charge thereof; and indeed that here in following times the greatest part of the Temples treasures were laid up, may be probably gathered from that which is said, 2. Chron. 25.24. And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obed-edom.
Vers. 16. To Shuppim and Hosah, the lot came forth west-ward, with the gate Shalleeheth, by the causes of the going up, ward against ward.] The families of these two, were it seems joyned together under one head. It is generally held that there was no gate west-ward either into the court of the priests or the people; but yet out of the court of the Gentiles it seems there was a gate west-ward, and therefore it is expressely said, chap. 9.24. In foure quarters were the porters toward the east, west, north, and south; and here that Shippim and Hosah were designed by lot to be porters west-ward: we find no mention of this gate Shallecheth elsewhere in the Scripture: but that it was on the west side is clear by the words in this place, and that it was by the causey of the going up, which needs must be some causey on the west side whereby they went up to the Temple, and therefore could not be, as some think it was, that ascent mentioned 1. Kings 10.5, which was doubtlesse on the east side towards the frontispice of the Temple, and because the word Shalle∣cheth signifieth casting out, therefore it is held that out of this gate they used to cast forth all their ashes and sweepings, &c. out of the Temple. However, it seems clear by the words, that there was another gate west-ward, besides this that was called Shallecheth, because it is said that the lot west-ward fell to Shuppim and Hosah with the gate Shallecheth, ward against ward, whereby I conceive is meant that whilest one company waited at the gate Shallecheth, another company waited at the other west gate, and this I take to be that which vers. 18. is called Parbar, for there it is said that Parbar was west ward, and that of these porters there still waited foure at the causey, that is the gate Shallecheth which was by the causey, and two at Parbar.
Vers. 17. South-ward foure a day, and toward Asuppim two and two.] That is, at the house of Asuppim were still successively two waiting, besides the foure that were at the south-gate where this house of Asuppim was; or else the meaning is, that of the foure that waited south-ward, two were still at the south gate, and two at the house of Asuppim.
Vers. 18. And Parbar west-ward, &c.] See the note above, vers. 16.
Vers. 20. And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicate things.] Even those that had the custo∣dy of the treasures were comprehended under the foure thousand that were called porters, chap. 23.5. and having therefore expressed who were the chief porters, that had the custody of the severall gates and doores of the Temple, in these following verses is expressed, to whom by lot it fell to be the porters for the custody of the sa∣cred treasures, and there being two divisions of them, some that had the charge of
the treasures of the Temple, to wit, the holy vessels, and vestments, &c. and some that had the custody of the dedicate things, to wit, the free will gifts that were given, and the money that at certain times for the repairing of the Temple and for the day∣ly sacrifices, was collected amongst the people; first in these words is expressed who was chosen to have the oversight of those that were employed in both these services, to wit, Ahijah.
Vers. 22. Zetham, and Joel his brother, which were over the treasures of the Lord.] That is, which had the custody of the holy vessels and vestments, and such other things as were used in the Temple. See the former note.
Vers. 23. Of the Amramites, and the Izharites, &c.] That is, these that are men∣tioned in the sequel of the chapter were of these families, and were employed, as is afterward expressed.
Vers. 24. And Shebuell the sonne of Gershom, the sonne of Moses, was ruler of the treasures.] That is, the treasures of the dedicate things, not the treasures of the house of God, to wit, the holy vestments, and vessels, &c. which were in the custo∣dy of Jehiel and his sonnes, as is before noted vers. 21, 22. but the treasures of the dedicate things which were in the custody of Shelomith and his brethren, vers. 25, 26. over whom this Shebuell was the ruler.
Vers. 25. And his brethren by Eliezer: Rehabiah his sonne, and Jeshaiah his his sonne, &c.] The meaning is, that all these were the sonnes of Eliezer.
Vers. 29. Of the Izrahites, Chenaniah and his sonnes were for the outward bu∣sinesse over Israel, &c.] Besides those Levites that attended on the priests in their service, and the porters and singers, there were six thousand that were dispersed throughout the land for Officers and Judges, chap. 23.4. whose charge was for the outward businesse over Israel; that is, to take care of those things that were to be done abroad out of the temple; as to give judgements in matters of doubt concerning the Law, to train up the younger Levites in the knowledge of the Law, to look to the gathering, and receiving of such monies as was to be collected amongst the people for the service of the Temple (as when they were numbred, and upon other occasi∣ons) and to make provision throughout the land for wood, and all other provision necessary for the sacrifices, and all other services for the Temple: and these were some of the family of the Izharites, and some of the Hebronites, vers. 30.31. and because there the number of the Hebronites is expressed, and where there charge lay, to wit, that seventeen hundred were Officers among them of Israel, on this side Jordan westward, vers. 30. and two thousand seven hundred without Jordan eastward, vers. 31, 32. It may be probably inferred that there were of the Izharites sixteen hundred (which makes up the just number of the six thousand Judges and Officers, mentioned chap. 23.4.) and that all these were employed (under Chenaniah the chief of them) within Jordan westward, because otherwise there would be farre more employed a∣mongst the two tribes and a half without Jordan, then in all the land of Israel be∣sides.
Vers. 30. A thousand and seven hundred, were officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward, in all businesse of the Lord, and in the service of the king.] That is, in providing such sacrifices as the king offered (which were indeed many, upon many occasions) or by the service of the king, may be meant the ser∣vice
they did for the Temple, onely with respect to the kings command and jurisdi∣ction, or the putting of the kings decrees in execution for the observing of Gods Laws; for other Officers the king had that were employed in the kings civil affairs.
Vers. 31. Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the cheif, &c.] That is, amongst those Hebronites that were without Jordan.
And there were found among them mighty men of valour, at Jazer of Gilead.] Where there number was taken.
Vers. 32. And his brethren, men of valour, were two thousand and seven hun∣red chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites, &c.] There were in all of these judges and officers but six thousand, chap. 23.4. so that though all the Isharites ver. 19. were employed within Jordan; (as is probable they were) yet there were almost as many in the two tribes and an half without Jordan, as were amongst the other nine tribes and an half within Jordan. To wit, because being di∣vided (as it were) from Gods people by the river Jordan, there was the more care requisite to retain them in their obedience to the Law, and to prevent any back-sli∣ding or remissenesse in the worship of God at Jerusalem, whither with the other Is∣raelites they were bound at certain times to resort.