1Ke skupinám vrátných patřili: z Kórachovců: Mešelemjáš, syn Kórého, ze synů Asafových. 2Mešelemjáš měl syny: prvorozeného Zekarjáše, druhého Jedíaela, třetího Zebadjáše, čtvrtého Jatníela, 3pátého Élama, šestého Jóchanana a sedmého Eljóenaje. 4Obéd-edóm měl syny: prvorozeného Šemajáše, druhého Józabada, třetího Jóacha, čtvrtého Sakara, pátého Netanela, 5šestého Amíela, sedmého Isachara, osmého Peúltaje, neboť mu Bůh požehnal. 6Jeho synu Šemajášovi se narodili synové vládnoucí v domě svého otce, neboť to byli udatní hrdinové. 7Synové Šemajášovi: Otní, Refaúl, Obéd a Elzabad; jeho bratři Elíhú a Semakjáš byli udatní muži. 8Tito všichni byli ze synů Obéd-edómových; jejich synové a bratři byli udatní muži, schopni ke službě, šedesát dva Obéd-edómovců. 9Mešelemjáš měl osmnáct synů a bratrů, udatných mužů. 10Chosa, ze synů Merarího, měl syny: Předáka Šimrího — nebyl sice prvorozený, ale jeho otec jej ustanovil za předáka — 11druhého Chilkijáše, třetího Tebaljáše, čtvrtého Zekarjáše; všech synů a bratrů Chosových bylo třináct. 12Těmto skupinám vrátných podle mužů předáků byly dány služby jako jejich bratrům, aby sloužili v Hospodinově domě. 13Nechali padnout losy podle domu svých otců jak pro malé, tak i velké, pro každou bránu. 14Los na Východní bránu padl pro Šelemjáše. Když nechali padnout los pro jeho syna Zekarjáše, rozumného rádce, jeho los padl na Severní bránu. 15Pro Obéd-edóma na Jižní bránu a pro jeho syny na sklady; 16pro Šupíma a pro Chosu na Západní bránu s bránou Šaleket na horní silnici; stráž vedle stráže. 17Na východě bylo šest lévitů, na severu denně čtyři, na jihu denně čtyři, pro sklady po dvou, 18u parbaru na západě: čtyři na silnici a dva u parbaru. 19Toto jsou skupiny vrátných ze synů Kórachových a ze synů Merarího. 20Další lévité: Achijáš byl nad poklady Božího domu a nad poklady svatých věcí. 21Synové Laedánovi: synové Geršónovců patřící Laedánovi, předáci rodů Geršónovce Laedána — Jechíelovci. 22Synové Jechíelovi: Zétami a jeho bratr Jóel byli nad poklady Hospodinova domu. 23Z Amrámců, Jishárců, Chebrónců a Ozíelců 24byl představeným nad poklady Šebúel, syn Geršóma, syna Mojžíšova. 25Jeho bratři z Elíezera: Jeho syn Rechabjáš, jeho syn Jóram, jeho syn Zikrí, jeho syn Izajáš, jeho syn Šelomít — 26tento Šelomít a jeho bratři byli nad všemi poklady svatých věcí, které zasvětil král David, předáci rodů, velitelé nad tisíci a nad sty, velitelé armády. 27Něco z bojů a kořisti zasvětili na opravu Hospodinova domu. 28Všechno, co zasvětil vidoucí Samuel, Saul, syn Kíšův, Abnér, syn Nérův, i Jóab, syn Serújin, všechno, co bylo zasvěcené, bylo ve správě Šelomíta a jeho bratrů. 29Z Jishárců: Kenanjáš a jeho synové byli jako správci a soudci nad Izraelem pro službu mimo svatyni. 30Z Chebrónců: Chašabjáš a jeho bratři, tisíc sedm set udatných mužů, byli dozorci nad Izraelem na západ od Jordánu pro veškeré dílo Hospodinovo i pro službu králi. 31Z Chebrónců: předák Jerijáš; (co se týče Chebrónců, totiž jejich rodopisu otců: ve čtyřicátém roce Davidova kralování se hledalo a našli se mezi nimi udatní hrdinové v gileádském Jaezeru) 32jeho bratrů, udatných mužů, bylo dva tisíce sedm set předáků rodů. Ty král David ustanovil nad Rúbenovci, Gádovci a polovinou kmene Manasesova pro všechny záležitosti Boží i záležitosti královy.
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 Observe, I. There were porters appointed to attend the temple, who guarded all the avenues that let to it, opened and shut all the outer gates and attended at them, not only for the state, but for service, to direct and instruct those who were going to worship in the courts of the sanctuary in the decorum they were to observe, to encourage those that were timorous, to send back the strangers and unclean, and to guard against thieves and others that were enemies to the house of God. In allusion to this office, ministers are said to have
the keys to the kingdom of heaven committed to them (
Matt 16:19), that they may admit, and exclude, according to the law of Christ.
II. Of several of those that were called to this service, it is taken notice of that they were
mighty men of valour (
1Chr 26:6),
strong men (
1Chr 26:7),
able men (
1Chr 26:8), and one of them that he was a
wise counsellor (
1Chr 26:14), who probably, when he had
used this office of a deacon well and given proofs of more than ordinary wisdom,
purchased to himself a good degree, and was preferred from the gate to the council-board,
1Tim 3:13. As for those that excelled in strength of body, and courage and resolution of mind, they were thereby qualified for the post assigned them; for whatever service God calls men to he either finds them fit or makes them so.
III. The sons of Obed-edom were employed in this office, sixty-two of that family. This was he that entertained the ark with reverence and cheerfulness; and see how he was rewarded for it. 1. He had eight
sons (
1Chr 26:5),
for God blessed him. The increase and building up of families are owing to the divine blessing; and a great blessing it is to a family to have many children, when like these they are able for, and eminent in, the service of God. 2. His sons were preferred to places of trust in the sanctuary. They had faithfully attended the ark in their own house, and now were called to attend it in God's house. He that is trusty in little shall be trusted with more. He that keeps God's ordinances in his own tent is fit to have the custody of them in God's tabernacle,
1Tim 3:4,
1Tim 3:5.
I have kept thy law, says David, and
this I had because I kept thy precepts, Pss 119:55,
Pss 119:56.
IV. It is said of one here that
though he was not the first-born his father made him the chief (
1Chr 26:10), either because he was very excellent, or because the elder son was very weak. He was made chief, perhaps not in inheriting the estate (for that was forbidden by the law,
Deut 21:16,
Deut 21:17), but in this service, which required personal qualifications.
V. The porters, as the singers, had their post assigned them by lot, so many at such a gate, and so many at such a one, that every one might know his post and make it good,
1Chr 26:13. It is not said that they were cast into twenty-four courses, as before; but here are the names of about twenty-four (1Chr:26:1-11), and the posts assigned are twenty-four,
1Chr 26:17,
1Chr 26:18. We have therefore reason to think they were distributed into as many companies. Happy are those who dwell in God's house: for, as they are well fed, well taught, and well employed, so they are well guarded. Men attended at the gates of the temple, but angels attend at the gates of the New Jerusalem,
Revel 21:12.
20 Observe, 1. There were
treasures of the house of God. A great house cannot be well kept without stores of all manner of provisions. Much was expended daily upon the altar - flour, wine, oil, salt, fuel, besides the lamps; quantities of these were to be kept beforehand, besides the sacred vestments and utensils. These were the
treasures of the house of God. And, because money answers all things, doubtless they had an abundance of it, which was received from the people's offerings, wherewith they bought in what they had occasion for. And perhaps much was laid up for an exigence. These treasures typified the plenty there is in our heavenly Father's house, enough and to spare. In Christ, the true temple, are hid
treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and
unsearchable riches. 2. There were
treasures of dedicated things, dedicated mostly
out of the spoils won in battle (
1Chr 26:27), as a grateful acknowledgment of the divine protection. Abraham gave Melchisedec the
tenth of the spoils Hebre 7:4. In Moses's time the officers of the army, when they returned victorious, brought of their spoils an
oblation to the Lord, Num 31:50. Of late this pious custom had been revived; and not only Samuel and David, but Saul, and Abner, and Joab, had dedicated of their spoils to the honour and support of the house of God,
1Chr 26:28. Note, The more God bestows upon us the more he expects from us in works of piety and charity. Great successes call for proportionable returns. When we look over our estates we should consider, Here are convenient things, rich things, it may be, and fine things; but where are the dedicated things? Men of war must honour God with their spoils. 3. These treasures had treasurers, those that were over them (
1Chr 26:20,
1Chr 26:26), whose business it was to keep them, that neither
moth nor rust might
corrupt them, nor
thieves break through and steal, to give out as there was occasion and to see that they were not wasted, embezzled, or alienated to the common use; and it is probable that they kept accounts of all that was brought in and how it was laid out.
29 All the offices of the house of God being well provided with Levites, we have here an account of those that were employed as officers and judges in the outward business, which must not be neglected, no, not for the temple itself. The magistracy is an ordinance of God for the good of the church as truly as the ministry is. And here we are told, 1. That the Levites were employed in the administration of justice in concurrence with the princes and elders of the several tribes, who could not be supposed to understand the law so well as the Levites, who made it their business to study it. None of those Levites who were employed in the service of the sanctuary, none of the singers or porters, were concerned in this outward business; either one was enough to engage the whole man or it was presumption to undertake both. 2. Their charge was both
in all business of the Lord, and
in the service of the kings, 1Chr 26:30 and again
1Chr 26:32. They managed the affairs of the country, as well ecclesiastical as civil, took care both of God's tithes and the king's taxes, punished offences committed immediately against God and his honour and those against the government and the public peace, guarded both against idolatry and against injustice, and took care to put the laws in execution against both. Some, it is likely, applied themselves to the affairs of religion, others to secular affairs; and so, between both, God and the king were well served. It is happy with a kingdom when its civil and sacred interests are thus interwoven and jointly minded and advanced. 3. There were more Levites employed as judges with the two tribes and a half on the other side of Jordan than with all the rest of the tribes; there were 2700; whereas as the west side of Jordan there were 1700,
1Chr 26:30,
1Chr 26:32. Either those remote tribes were not so well furnished as the rest with judges of their own, or because they, lying furthest from Jerusalem and on the borders of the neighbouring nations, were most in danger of being infected with idolatry, and most needed the help of Levites to prevent it. The frontiers must be well guarded. 4. This is said to be done (as were all the foregoing settlements) in the fortieth year of the reign of David (
1Chr 26:31), that is, the last year of his reign. We should be so much the more industrious to do good
as we can see the day approaching. If we live to enjoy the fruit of our labours, grudge it not to those that shall come after us.