1 Chronicles 26:12

1Ch 26:12. Wards — Hebrew, having wards answerably to their brethren the other Levites, who were divided into twenty-four courses, as the priests also, and the porters were.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

According to their turns as well the one as the other.

Or, courses.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men--These were charged with the duty of superintending the watches, being heads of the twenty-four courses of porters.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 12. The rest of this chapter, with the whole of the xxviiith, is wanting both in the Syriac and Arabic.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(12) Among these were the divisions of the porters.—Rather, To these, the courses (1Ch_23:6) of porters, that is, to the heads of the men (1Ch_24:4), were watches or charges (1Ch_25:8) in common with their brethren (1Ch_24:31), to minister in the house of Jehovah (1Ch_16:37). The statement of this verse makes it evident that the names in 1Ch_26:2-11 represent the courses of the porters or warders. As the twenty-four sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun represented the twenty-four courses of musicians in 1 Chronicles 25, a similar classification might naturally be expected here. Accordingly, we actually find seven sons of Meshelemiah (1Ch_26:2-3), eight sons of Obed-edom (1Ch_26:4-5), and four sons of Hosah (1Ch_26:10-11), which together make nineteen heads and classes. It remains to add the “sons” of Shemaiah son of Obed-edom. As the text stands, these appear to be six in number, which would give a total of twenty-five (7 + 8 + 4 + 6). But the connection of the Hebrew in 1Ch_26:7 is so unusual as to suggest at once that something is wrong: and if we assume Obed-Elzabad to represent one original composite name, like Obed-edom, we get five “sons of Shemaiah,” and so a total of twenty-four classes or courses of warders. (From this verse to the end of chapter 27 the Syriac and Arabic versions fail us.)

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

12. Among these … another] R.V. Of these were the courses of the doorkeepers, even of the chief man, having charges like as their brethren. In 1Ch_26:8-9; 1Ch_26:11 taken together ninety-three doorkeepers are enumerated, who are presumably the heads of the four thousand mentioned in 1Ch_23:5. In 1Ch_9:22 again the total number (as it seems) of doorkeepers is given as two hundred and twelve. The discrepancy is probably due to the use of different documents belonging to different dates by the Chronicler.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah,.... The same with Meshelemiah, Ch1 26:1 he by lot was placed at the eastern gate, called afterwards the gate Shushan, the city Shushan being portrayed upon it (u):

then for Zechariah his son (a wise counsellor); and who was his firstborn, Ch1 26:2 a man of great parts and learning: for they were not mean persons that were employed in this office, nor was the office a mean one, like that of our porters; but men of considerable rank and figure, and of knowledge and learning, were in it; some of them were judges, Ch1 26:29 and their places were places of great trust, they had much treasure committed to them, as appears by Ch1 26:20,

they cast lots, and his lot came out northward; where was a gate in later times, called Teri or Tedi, which differed from other gates in this, that it had no threshold, only one stone was laid upon another, and was not commonly used (w).

(u) Ib. (Misn. Middot, c. 1.), sect. 3. (w) Misn. Middot, ib. (c. 1. sect. 3.) & c. 2. sect. 3.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

This verse is obscure, but its probable meaning is the following: “To these divisions of the porters, principal men, (were assigned) the watches, together with their brethren, for service in the house of the Lord;” i. e., the “chief men” 1Ch 26:1-11, amounting to no more than 93, kept the watch and ward of the house, together with a further number of their brethren (4,000, 1Ch 23:5), who assisted them from time to time.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Lord. The companies succeeded each other every sabbath, but the chiefs were not changed. (Calmet) --- The office of these men was most noble. From them were selected treasurers, overseers, prefects, &c., ver. 16-32. (Tirinus) --- The lot decided only between the heads of families. (Du Hamel)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Having wards one against another; Heb. having wards against or answerably to their brethren, to wit, the other Levites, who were divided into twenty-four courses, as the priests also were, and so it seems were the porters.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Translate, To these divisions of the porters, as regards the chief men, belonged the charge together with their brethren to officiate in the house of the Lord. According to the present chapter, then, the divisions add up to ninety-three. And if at any time of the history it were the case that these ninety-three were the leaders of groups among the total of "four thousand porters," it would put exactly forty-two under each of these ninety-three, leaving but one over. This number ninety-three, meantime, does not agree with the two hundred and twelve of 1Ch_9:22. And the three score and two of Obed-edom in ver. 8 of the present chapter does not agree with the three score and eight of Obededom in 1Ch_16:38. At the same time, no little light may be thrown on this subject by noticing that the porters numbered in Zerubbabel"s time one hundred and thirty-nine; (Ezr_2:42) and that the number one hundred and seventy-two is given for them by Nehemiah. (Neh_11:19) The conclusion may well be that the numbers varied in David"s time and the other times severally; and that the date in question (1Ch_9:22) was not the same with the date of David in our present chapter, but was a subsequent date nearer the time of the Captivity. There is, therefore, no special ground for doubting the accuracy of the numbers given in this chapter.

The acceptableness of lowly services.

porters." This subject has been previously treated (see homily on, 1Ch_9:19) but another outline may be suggested.

I MAN"S ESTIMATE OF THE LOFTY AND THE LOWLY IN SERVICE. On what considerations does it rest? And what decisions does it involve? Indicate some of the mistakes men make, especially in undervaluing kinds of service that do not gain prominence.

II THE SUPERIOR PRACTICAL NECESSITY OF LOWLY SERVICES IN ACTUAL LIFE. Illustrate that for our physical and moral good we could much better dispense with the few great services than with the thousandfold lowly ones. On these the real sum of human happiness depends. And it may some day come to light that our Lord"s blessed kingdom was more prospered and advanced by Christian faithfulness in little things, than by the great doings which won men"s attention and praise.

III THE POSSIBILITY OF FINDING EXPRESSION FOR HIGH CHRISTIAN CHARACTER IN ALL KINDS OF SERVICE BOTH IN THE LOFTY AND IN THE LOWLY, Porter and priest may both show themselves, and utter their sanctified characters, in their several work.

IV THE SUPERIOR OPPORTUNITIES FOE EXPRESSING CHARACTER WHICH ARE FOUND IN THE LOWLY PLACES. Because a certain self-consciousness tends to spoil all public work. In the lowly spheres no "eye of man" attracts our attention. We work altogether "in the great Taskmaster"s eye;" and so we can be altogether more simple and genuine. There is too much of self always tempting men who toil in what are called the higher kinds of service.

In conclusion, show the Divine estimate of place and work, and how it stands in the second place, subordinate always to the Divine estimate of character. God, we may surely say, is chiefly concerned, not with what we did, but with how we did it. The welcome is given at last to character. To priest and porter God will only say at last, "Well done, good and faithful.

R.T.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Wards - Hebrew. having wards answerably to their brethren the other Levites, who were divided into twenty-four courses, as the priests also and the porters were.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah,.... The same with Meshelemiah, Ch1 26:1 he by lot was placed at the eastern gate, called afterwards the gate Shushan, the city Shushan being portrayed upon it (u):

then for Zechariah his son (a wise counsellor); and who was his firstborn, Ch1 26:2 a man of great parts and learning: for they were not mean persons that were employed in this office, nor was the office a mean one, like that of our porters; but men of considerable rank and figure, and of knowledge and learning, were in it; some of them were judges, Ch1 26:29 and their places were places of great trust, they had much treasure committed to them, as appears by Ch1 26:20,

they cast lots, and his lot came out northward; where was a gate in later times, called Teri or Tedi, which differed from other gates in this, that it had no threshold, only one stone was laid upon another, and was not commonly used (w).

(u) Ib. (Misn. Middot, c. 1.), sect. 3. (w) Misn. Middot, ib. (c. 1. sect. 3.) & c. 2. sect. 3.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

divisions

groups

threw lots

"cast lots"

both young and old

This refers to all of the men by describing the extremes. See how you translated a similar phrase in 1 Chronicles 25:8. AT: "all of them, including the young men and the old men" or "men of all ages" (See: Merism)

When the lot was cast

This can be stated in active form. AT: "When they cast the lot" (See: Active or Passive)

Zechariah

See how you translated this man's name in 1 Chronicles 26:2. (See: How to Translate Names)

a prudent advisor

This is a person who shows good judgment in making decisions.

translationWords

house of God

lots

gate

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

watches corresponding to their brethren the chiefs of twenty-four watches.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.