1 Chronicles 9:23

1Ch 9:23 So they and their children [had] the oversight of the gates of the house of the LORD, [namely], the house of the tabernacle, by wards.

Ver. 23. By wards,] i.e., By three distinct courses. {1Ch 9:25}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Ch 9:23. They and their children had the oversight — Namely, in David’s time. Of the tabernacle — This is added to explain what he means by the house of the Lord: not that tabernacle which David had set up for the ark, but that more solemn tabernacle, which Moses had made by God’s express command; which in David’s time was at Gibeon; in which God was worshipped until the temple was built. By wards — By turns or courses.

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

(23) Namely, the house of the tabernacle.—For the Temple was not built in David’s day

By wards.— For Watches.

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

23. namely, the house of the tabernacle] R.V. even the house of the tabernacle (mg. Tent). A reminder that in David’s days (1Ch_9:22) the Temple was not yet built.

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 their brethren, which were in their villages,.... Assigned them to dwell in:

were to come after seven days from time to time with them; there was a new course of them every week; the old ones went off of duty, and another course succeeded, which came out of the villages where they dwelt, and the old course retired to theirs.

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

To wit, in David’s time.

The house of the tabernacle: this is added to explain what he means by the house of the Lord; not that tabernacle which David had set up for the ark, but that more solemn tabernacle, which Moses had made by God’s express command and most particular direction; which in David’s time was at Gibeon; in which God was and would be worshipped until the temple was built. See 1Ki 3:2; 2Ch 1:3,5, &c.

By wards, i.e. by turns or courses, each of them at his gate, and in his appointed time.

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

23. By wards — Rather, for a guard.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Vers. 23-26. (See above and 1Ch_26:12-19) For the chief porters, Bertheau suggests, as an analogous expression, strathgoi. (Luk_22:52) The chambers. We have the account of Solomon"s building of these in 1Ki_6:5-10, 1Ki_6:16, 1Ki_6:19; it is scarcely likely that the "chamber of mattresses" of 2Ki_11:2 was one of these, though the language of the following verse looks that way. (comp. also Eze_46:5-11) And treasuries. These were store-houses (twOrwOah) for gold, silver, as pertaining to the temple, though of corn, etc., in other connections (1Ki_7:51; 2Ki_12:18; 2Ch_5:1; 1Ch_27:25)

Vers. 23-34.

The importance of order in God"s worship.

The point of interest in these verses is the extreme care given to securing quietness, regularity, order, and due solemnity in God"s worship. A point emphasized by the apostle in his counsel to the early Christian Church, "Let all things be done decently and in order." The order of God"s house has this for its special mission, that it declares, realizes, and illustrates the Divine order in creation, providence, and redemption. "Order is Heaven"s first law;" and it is the necessary attendant on truth, purity, almightiness, and the eternally right. So if man, in any of his spheres, can present a worthy picture or shadow of the Divine, one of its essential features must be orderliness , and such orderliness will prove to be witness and power.

I ORDER REGARDED AS A SIGN OF OBEDIENCE. Since it is God"s will that everything should have its fitting place and be in that place, our setting things right becomes a sign of our true-hearted obedience to him; and the securing of order gains moral quality, and becomes an agency in the culture of character.

II ORDER REGARDED AS A SIGN OF SYMPATHY OF FEELING WITH GOD. Not merely have we to concern ourselves with it as our duty, but, from a higher standpoint of kinness with God and fellowship with his mind, we want what he wants, we love what he loves, and we try to get our works in full harmony with his. We would have heaven and earth ring together the same sweet note.

III ORDER REGARDED AS OUR WITNESS AGAINST THE DISORDER OF SIN. If we have rightly caught the redemptive spirit, then we shall be oppressed and troubled by the disorders caused by sin, whatever forms they may take, and we shall ever be striving to reach them that we may set them straight. Therefore Christians enter as remedial and recovering forces into all family life, social life, business life, and national life; everywhere seeking to get things out of the disorders of evil, and set in the eternal order of righteousness. And in Christ"s Church and Christ"s worship the devoutness, regularity, and beauty of a gracious order should make a striking contrast with the restless, anxious, disordered world around. Men should find heart-rest in God"s sanctuary.

IV ORDER REGARDED AS A MORAL FORCE IN THE WORLD. For what does it plead and work? For

(1) stillness;

(2) forethought;

(3) grace of form;

(4) due relations of office.

But under ordinary human conditions even "order" has its perils. It may come to be sought for its own sake and not merely for its uses. It may come to supersede "life" and even to crush "life" out, as has been proved in the over-elaboration of Church ceremonial. Two things are essential to true and worthy human worship. They are fully compatible one with the other. The culture of each may run along with the culture of the other. Nothing can supersede "life;" but order may be fully developed so that it may worthily express "life. 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.

The oversight - Namely, in David's time. Tabernacle - This is added to explain what he means by the house of the Lord, not that tabernacle which David had set up for the ark; but that more solemn tabernacle, which Moses had made by God's express command; which in David's time was at Gibeon; in which God was worshipped until the temple was built. Wards - By turns or courses.

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

And their brethren, which were in their villages,.... Assigned them to dwell in:

were to come after seven days from time to time with them; there was a new course of them every week; the old ones went off of duty, and another course succeeded, which came out of the villages where they dwelt, and the old course retired to theirs.

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.)