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Selected Verse: 1 Chronicles 9:18 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
1Ch 9:18	Strong Concordance	Who hitherto waited in the king's [04428] gate [08179] eastward [04217]: they were porters [07778] in the companies [04264] of the children [01121] of Levi [03878].
	King James	Who hitherto waited in the king's gate eastward: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
the king's gate--The king had a gate from his palace into the temple (Kg2 16:18), which doubtless was kept constantly closed except for the monarch's use; and although there was no king in Israel on the return from the captivity, yet the old ceremonial was kept up, probably in the hope that the scepter would, ere long, be restored to the house of David. It is an honor by which Eastern kings are distinguished, to have a gate exclusively devoted to their own special use, and which is kept constantly closed, except when he goes out or returns (Eze 44:2). There being no king then in Israel, this gate would be always shut.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

the king's gate--The king had a gate from his palace into the temple (Kg2 16:18), which doubtless was kept constantly closed except for the monarch's use; and although there was no king in Israel on the return from the captivity, yet the old ceremonial was kept up, probably in the hope that the scepter would, ere long, be restored to the house of David. It is an honor by which Eastern kings are distinguished, to have a gate exclusively devoted to their own special use, and which is kept constantly closed, except when he goes out or returns (Eze 44:2). There being no king then in Israel, this gate would be always shut.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Who hitherto waited - Translate, "Who to this day waits. These were the porters in the stations of the sons of Levi." The words of the first clause refer to Shallum, and imply that, whereas Shallum (or his house) had originally the general superintendence of the temple gates, a change had been made when the author wrote, and Shallum's charge had become the east gate only. The second clause means; "these were the porters in those fixed stations at the outer gates of the Temple, which corresponded to the camp stations of the Levites who guarded the tabernacle in the early times."

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The duties of the Levites. - Ch1 9:18. The first half of this verse, "And until now (is he) in the king's gate eastward," must be referred to Shallum (Berth.). To imagine a reference to all the doorkeepers, "until now are they," does not suit Ch1 9:24-26, according to which the doorkeepers kept guard upon all the four sides. The eastern gate of the temple was called the king's gate, because by this gate the king went in and out to the temple; cf. Eze 46:1-2; Eze 41:3. The remark, "until now is Shallum watcher," etc., presupposes the existence of the temple at the time of the preparation of this register, and points to the pre-exilic time. Against this Bertheau has raised the objection that the name king's gate may have been retained even in the post-exilic times for the eastern gate. This must of course be in general admitted, but could only be accepted if it were proved that Shallum lived after the exile. This proof Bertheau obtains by taking the words, "until now is Shallum in the king's gate," to mean, "that, according to the ancient arrangement, Shallum, the chief of all the doorkeepers, had still to guard the eastern entrance; according to which Shallum would be the collective designation of the whole series of the chiefs of the doorkeepers who lived from David's time till after the exile;" but the words cannot be thus interpreted. Such an interpretation cannot be made plausible by identifying the name Shallum with Meshelemiah or Shelemiah, to whose lot it fell in the time of David to be doorkeeper to the eastward (Ch1 26:1, Ch1 26:14); for in doing so, we would overlook the fact that in Ch1 9:21 of our chapter also he bears the name Meshelemiah. The circumstance that both Shallum and Meshelemiah are called Ben-Kore, of the sons of Abiasaph, by no means justifies the identification of these two quite different names; for it is neither necessary nor probable that בּן should here be taken in its narrower sense, and Kore regarded as the immediate father of both. The name קרא is repeated in the family of the east doorkeepers, as we learn from Ch2 31:14, where it is stated that this office was held by a Kore ben Jimna. "These (who are named in Ch1 9:17) are the doorkeepers for the camp of the sons of Levi" (of the Levites), - an antiquated expression, bringing to remembrance the time of Moses, when the Levites, on the journey through the wilderness, were encamped about the tabernacle (Num 3:21.). Ch1 9:19 Ch1 9:19 gives more exact information as to Shallum's person and his official position. He, the descendant of Kore, the son (descendant) of Abiasaph, a Korahite, and his brethren according to his father's-house (i.e., called brethren because they, like him, belonged to the father's-house of Korah), were over the work of the service, viz., keepers of the thresholds of the tent, i.e., of the house of God, of the temple, which, according to the ancient custom, was called tent, because God's house was formerly a tent-the tabernacle. "And his fathers (the ancestors of Shallum) were by the encampment of Jahve, guardians of the entrance." With these words the author of this register goes back into the ancient time; and we learn that Shallum's ancestors, of the father's-house of the Korahite Abiasaph, had held the office of guardian of the entrance to the house of God from the time of the conquest of Canaan and the setting up of the tabernacle in Shiloh. The remark in Ch1 9:20, that Phinehas the son of Eleazar was prince over them in time past, points to the same period. In the book of Joshua and the older books there is no record of the matter; but since the Korahites were descended through Ishhar from Kohath, and the Kohathites held, according to Num 4:4., the first place among the servants of the holy place, and were responsible for the holiest vessels, we cannot doubt that the statement here rests upon accurate historical tradition. The "encampment of Jahve" is the holy place of the tabernacle, the dwelling of Jahve in the midst of His people. This designation also is derived from the circumstances of the Israelites in their wandering in the Arabian desert, and is likewise employed in Ch2 31:2 in reference to Solomon's temple; but in our verse the tabernacle is intended. It had only one entrance, מבוא, the guarding of which was entrusted to the above-mentioned Korahites. Ch1 9:20 Phinehas was prince over them, not as high priest, but during the high-priesthood of his father Eleazar, i.e., in the time of Joshua, just as Eleazar, under the high-priesthood of Aaron in the time of Moses, had the oversight of the keepers of the holy place, as prince of the princes of Levi (Num 3:32). The words עמּו יהוה do not contain a historical remark, "Jahve was with him," for then the conjunction w would stand before it, as in Ch1 11:9; they are a blessing - "Jahve be with him" - in reference, probably, to the covenant of peace entered into with him and his descendants by Jahve (Num 25:11-13). Ch1 9:21 Ch1 9:21 is quite unconnected with the preceding context, the conjunction w being omitted, and its contents also present considerable difficulties. Zechariah, the son of Meshelemiah, can only be the Zechariah who is mentioned in Ch1 26:2 as the first-born of Meshelemiah, and who lived in the time of David; for at the time when David divided the porters into classes, there fell to him the lot towards midnight, i.e., the duty of waiting at the door on the north side of the holy place (Ch1 26:14). With this, indeed, the general statement of our verse, "he was porter of the door (or the entrance) of the tent of the covenant," is not inconsistent. But what purpose does this general statement serve? With what design is Zechariah, and he alone, mentioned? We have no means of giving a definite answer to this question; but he may perhaps be named as being the person who, before David's division of the Levites into classes was carried out, had charge of the porters' service in the tabernacle. But even if this conjecture be accepted as well grounded, the abrupt way in which it is mentioned still remains enigmatical. Ch1 9:22 With Ch1 9:22 the narrative seems to return to the enumeration begun in Ch1 9:17-19, so that the reflections on the earlier times, Ch1 9:19-21, are to be regarded as a parenthesis. Ch1 9:22 runs: "They all who were chosen for doorkeepers for the thresholds, 212 (men): they, in their villages were they registered; they were ordained by David and Samuel the seer on their fidelity." The infinitive התיחשׂ is used substantively, "in reference to them, in their villages as their genealogical registration accomplished." If Ch1 9:22 be the continuation of Ch1 9:17-21, then the number given (212) will refer to the doorkeepers in active service at the time of the preparation of the register. With this hypothesis, however, the last clause of the verse, which states that David and Samuel had appointed them, does not seem to harmonize. But if we consider that the four men mentioned in Ch1 9:17 are heads of fathers'-houses, and that their fathers'-houses were not extinguished at the death of their temporary heads, and performed the same service from generation to generation, it might well be said of the generation performing the service at the time of the preparation of our register, that David had appointed them to their office. The case would of course be similar, if, as we have above supposed, the four names in Ch1 9:17 are designations of the classes of doorkeepers, for these classes also performed the same service continually. The statements of our 22nd verse cannot be referred to the time of David, for in Ch1 26:8-10 the number of the doorkeepers appointed by David amounted only to eighty, viz., sixty-two of the sons of Obed-Edom, and eighteen of the sons of Meshelemiah, which, with the addition of thirteen Merarites (Ch1 26:10-11), gives a total of ninety-three, while in our verse the number is 212. According to Ezr 2:42, the number of doorkeepers who returned with Zerubbabel was 139 men; and in the register, Neh 11:19, the number is stated to be 172. From the remark that they were registered in their villages (חצריהם, as in Ch1 6:41; Jos 13:23, and elsewhere), we learn that the doorkeepers dwelt in villages near Jerusalem, whence they came to the city so often as their service required, as the singers also did in the post-exilic time, Neh 12:29. יסּד, to found, set, ordain, and so appoint to an office. "David and Samuel the seer:" הראה, the ancient designation of the prophets, for which at a later time נביא was the more usual word; cf. Sa1 9:9. Nowhere else do we find any record of Samuel's having taken any part in David's arrangement of the service of the Levites in the holy place. Samuel, moreover, was no longer living when David began to arrange the worship at the time when the ark was brought to Jerusalem, for he died before Saul, and consequently before the beginning of David's reign; cf. Sa1 25:1 with Sa1 28:3. Bertheau is consequently of opinion that this statement of our historian rests merely upon the general recollection, according to which the worship was organized afresh, and established in its newer form, in the time of David and Samuel. This is of course possible, but there is no cogent reason against accepting the much less remote supposition that the chronicler took this remark from his authority. The mention of Samuel after David has not a chronological signification, but David is named first on account of his connection with the matter in hand; for the thorough re-organization of the worship, and the classification of the persons engaged in carrying it on, originated with David. For these arrangements of David, however, Samuel had prepared the way in his struggle for the restoration of the theocracy, and of the worship which had fallen into desuetude under Eli and his profligate sons. To do this in any measure, he must have, without doubt, ordained trustworthy men to the individual offices, and thus have prepared the way for King David. בּאמוּנתם is found in Ch1 9:26, Ch1 9:31 without the suffix, with the meaning "in good faith" (cf. Kg2 12:16; Kg2 22:7; Ch2 31:12), and accordingly is here upon their fidelity, i.e., because they had been recognised to be faithful. Ch1 9:23-24 They (those ordained by David) and their sons (descendants) were at the doors of the house of Jahve-of the tent-house (האהל בּית is added to בּית־יהוה, in order that the latter might not be confined to Solomon's temple); for the watch (משׁמרות of persons, as in Neh 12:9; Neh 4:3, Neh 4:16), according to the four winds (quarters) were they, i.e., the doorkeepers stood so, in accordance with the arrangement made by David; cf. Ch1 26:14. Ch1 9:25-26 "And their brethren in their villages (cf. Ch1 9:22) were bound to come the seventh day, from time to time, with these." The infinitive בּוא with ל expresses duty, as in Ch1 5:1. The seventh day is the Sabbath of the week, on which each class in order had to take charge of the services. אלּה עם are the chiefs mentioned in Ch1 9:17 who dwelt in Jerusalem, and of whom it is said in Ch1 9:26, "for they are on their fidelity, the four mighty of the doorkeepers." In explanation of the גּבּרי, Bertheau very fittingly compares σταρτηγοῖ τοῦ Ἱεροῦ, Luk 22:52. The words הלויּם הם, which may be translated, "they are the Levites," or "they (viz., the Levites)," are somewhat surprising. The Masoretic punctuation demands the latter translation, when the words would be an emphatic elucidation of the preceding המּה. Were they a subscription, we should expect אלּה instead of הם; while, on the other hand, the circumstance noticed by Bertheau, that in the following verses the duties not merely of the doorkeepers, but of the Levites in general, are enumerated, would seem to favour that sense. Even in the second half of the Ch1 9:22 it is not the doorkeepers who are spoken of, but the Levites in general. May we not suppose that the text originally stood היוּ הלויּם וּמן (cf. Ch1 9:14) instead of והיוּ הויּם והם, and that the reading of our present text, having originated in a transcriber's error, found acceptance from the circumstance that Ch1 9:27 apparently still treats of, or returns to, the service of the doorkeepers? So much is certain, that from Ch1 9:26 onward the duties of the Levites in general, no longer those of the doorkeepers, are spoken of, and that consequently we must regard the Levites (הלויּם), and not the before-mentioned four doorkeepers, as the subject of והיוּ: "and the Levites were over the cells of the storehouses of the house of God." The cells in the outbuildings of the temple served as treasure-chambers and storehouses for the temple furniture. האוצרות with the article in the stat. constr. (Ew. 290, d.), because of the looser connection, since the genitive בּית־הא also belongs to הלּשׁכוה. Ch1 9:27 Ch1 9:27 refers again to the doorkeepers. They passed the night around the house of God, because the care of or watch over it was committed to them, and "they were over the key, and that every morning," i.e., they had to open the door every morning. מפתּח occurs again in Jdg 3:25 and Isa 22:22, in the signification key, which is suitable here also. Ch1 9:28 And of them (the Levites), some were over the vessels of the service, by which we are probably to understand the costly vessels, e.g., the golden cups for the libations, etc., which were brought from the treasure-chamber only for a short time for use in the service. They were brought, according to the number, into the place where the service took place, and after being again numbered, were again carried forth; and according to Ch1 9:29, other Levites were set over הכּלים and over הקּדשׁ כּלי. Ch1 9:29 And of them, others were set over the vessels (in general), and over all the holy vessels which were used for the daily sacrificial service, and over the fine flour (סלת, vide on Lev 2:1), wine, oil, and incense which was required therein for the meat and drink offerings, and the בּשׂמים, spicery, for the holy perfumes (frankincense, cf. Exo 25:6). Ch1 9:30 And of the priests' sons were preparers of the ointments for the spices. It is the preparation from various spices of the holy anointing oil, Exo 30:23-25, which is meant, and which consequently was part of the priest's duty. Ch1 9:31 Mattithiah, the first-born of the Korahite Shallum (vide Ch1 9:19), was on good faith over the panbakings (pastry) for the meat-offerings, over the preparation of which he was to watch. To the name Mattithiah מן־הלויּם is added, in contrast to the הכּהנים מן־בּני in Ch1 9:30. The word החבתּים (pastry, panbaking) occurs here only; cf. מחבת, pan of sheet iron, Exo 4:3. Ch1 9:32 Finally, to some of the Kohathites was committed the preparation of the shew-bread, which required to be laid on the table fresh every Sabbath; cf. Lev 24:5-8. The suffix אחיהם refers back to the Levites of the father's-house of Korah in Ch1 9:32. Ch1 9:33-34 Ch1 9:33, Ch1 9:34 contain subscriptions to the section vv. 14-32. Since the enumeration of the Levites dwelling in Jerusalem in Ch1 9:14-16 began with the Levitic singer families, so here we find that the singers are mentioned in the first subscription, "these are the singers, heads of fathers'-houses of the Levites," with an additional remark as to their service: "In the cells free, for day and night it is incumbent upon them to be in service," which is somewhat obscure. פּטוּרים, from פּטר, in later Hebrew, let loose, set free. Rashi and Kimchi have already translated it, immunes ab aliis nempe ministeriis, or ab omni alio officio. Adopting this linguistically assured translation, we must supply with בּלּשׁכת, dwelling or waiting in the cells of the courts of the temple, freed from every other business in order that they may apply themselves wholly to their service, for they are wholly busied therewith day and night. Day and night is not to be pressed, but signifies perpetually, continually. Bertheau translates בּמּלאכה עליהם, "they were over them in the service," i.e., had to take the oversight of the singers subordinate to them. but this can hardly be correct; and the passage quoted to justify this translation, Ch2 34:12, proves nothing, because there מפקד is used along with it. We therefore prefer to take עליהם in the signification "it is incumbent upon them," although we should then expect המּלאכה instead of בּמּלאכה; cf. Ch1 9:27. Yet בּמּלאכה can in this connection quite well be used elliptically or concisely for "to be in service," i.e., to carry on their musical duties. The second subscription (Ch1 9:34) refers to all the Levites, and is similar in contents and form to that in Ch1 8:28.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The duties of the Levites. - Ch1 9:18. The first half of this verse, "And until now (is he) in the king's gate eastward," must be referred to Shallum (Berth.). To imagine a reference to all the doorkeepers, "until now are they," does not suit Ch1 9:24-26, according to which the doorkeepers kept guard upon all the four sides. The eastern gate of the temple was called the king's gate, because by this gate the king went in and out to the temple; cf. Eze 46:1-2; Eze 41:3. The remark, "until now is Shallum watcher," etc., presupposes the existence of the temple at the time of the preparation of this register, and points to the pre-exilic time. Against this Bertheau has raised the objection that the name king's gate may have been retained even in the post-exilic times for the eastern gate. This must of course be in general admitted, but could only be accepted if it were proved that Shallum lived after the exile. This proof Bertheau obtains by taking the words, "until now is Shallum in the king's gate," to mean, "that, according to the ancient arrangement, Shallum, the chief of all the doorkeepers, had still to guard the eastern entrance; according to which Shallum would be the collective designation of the whole series of the chiefs of the doorkeepers who lived from David's time till after the exile;" but the words cannot be thus interpreted. Such an interpretation cannot be made plausible by identifying the name Shallum with Meshelemiah or Shelemiah, to whose lot it fell in the time of David to be doorkeeper to the eastward (Ch1 26:1, Ch1 26:14); for in doing so, we would overlook the fact that in Ch1 9:21 of our chapter also he bears the name Meshelemiah. The circumstance that both Shallum and Meshelemiah are called Ben-Kore, of the sons of Abiasaph, by no means justifies the identification of these two quite different names; for it is neither necessary nor probable that בּן should here be taken in its narrower sense, and Kore regarded as the immediate father of both. The name קרא is repeated in the family of the east doorkeepers, as we learn from Ch2 31:14, where it is stated that this office was held by a Kore ben Jimna. "These (who are named in Ch1 9:17) are the doorkeepers for the camp of the sons of Levi" (of the Levites), - an antiquated expression, bringing to remembrance the time of Moses, when the Levites, on the journey through the wilderness, were encamped about the tabernacle (Num 3:21.).

Ch1 9:19

Ch1 9:19 gives more exact information as to Shallum's person and his official position. He, the descendant of Kore, the son (descendant) of Abiasaph, a Korahite, and his brethren according to his father's-house (i.e., called brethren because they, like him, belonged to the father's-house of Korah), were over the work of the service, viz., keepers of the thresholds of the tent, i.e., of the house of God, of the temple, which, according to the ancient custom, was called tent, because God's house was formerly a tent-the tabernacle. "And his fathers (the ancestors of Shallum) were by the encampment of Jahve, guardians of the entrance." With these words the author of this register goes back into the ancient time; and we learn that Shallum's ancestors, of the father's-house of the Korahite Abiasaph, had held the office of guardian of the entrance to the house of God from the time of the conquest of Canaan and the setting up of the tabernacle in Shiloh. The remark in Ch1 9:20, that Phinehas the son of Eleazar was prince over them in time past, points to the same period. In the book of Joshua and the older books there is no record of the matter; but since the Korahites were descended through Ishhar from Kohath, and the Kohathites held, according to Num 4:4., the first place among the servants of the holy place, and were responsible for the holiest vessels, we cannot doubt that the statement here rests upon accurate historical tradition. The "encampment of Jahve" is the holy place of the tabernacle, the dwelling of Jahve in the midst of His people. This designation also is derived from the circumstances of the Israelites in their wandering in the Arabian desert, and is likewise employed in Ch2 31:2 in reference to Solomon's temple; but in our verse the tabernacle is intended. It had only one entrance, מבוא, the guarding of which was entrusted to the above-mentioned Korahites.

Ch1 9:20

Phinehas was prince over them, not as high priest, but during the high-priesthood of his father Eleazar, i.e., in the time of Joshua, just as Eleazar, under the high-priesthood of Aaron in the time of Moses, had the oversight of the keepers of the holy place, as prince of the princes of Levi (Num 3:32). The words עמּו יהוה do not contain a historical remark, "Jahve was with him," for then the conjunction w would stand before it, as in Ch1 11:9; they are a blessing - "Jahve be with him" - in reference, probably, to the covenant of peace entered into with him and his descendants by Jahve (Num 25:11-13).

Ch1 9:21

Ch1 9:21 is quite unconnected with the preceding context, the conjunction w being omitted, and its contents also present considerable difficulties. Zechariah, the son of Meshelemiah, can only be the Zechariah who is mentioned in Ch1 26:2 as the first-born of Meshelemiah, and who lived in the time of David; for at the time when David divided the porters into classes, there fell to him the lot towards midnight, i.e., the duty of waiting at the door on the north side of the holy place (Ch1 26:14). With this, indeed, the general statement of our verse, "he was porter of the door (or the entrance) of the tent of the covenant," is not inconsistent. But what purpose does this general statement serve? With what design is Zechariah, and he alone, mentioned? We have no means of giving a definite answer to this question; but he may perhaps be named as being the person who, before David's division of the Levites into classes was carried out, had charge of the porters' service in the tabernacle. But even if this conjecture be accepted as well grounded, the abrupt way in which it is mentioned still remains enigmatical.

Ch1 9:22

With Ch1 9:22 the narrative seems to return to the enumeration begun in Ch1 9:17-19, so that the reflections on the earlier times, Ch1 9:19-21, are to be regarded as a parenthesis. Ch1 9:22 runs: "They all who were chosen for doorkeepers for the thresholds, 212 (men): they, in their villages were they registered; they were ordained by David and Samuel the seer on their fidelity." The infinitive התיחשׂ is used substantively, "in reference to them, in their villages as their genealogical registration accomplished." If Ch1 9:22 be the continuation of Ch1 9:17-21, then the number given (212) will refer to the doorkeepers in active service at the time of the preparation of the register. With this hypothesis, however, the last clause of the verse, which states that David and Samuel had appointed them, does not seem to harmonize. But if we consider that the four men mentioned in Ch1 9:17 are heads of fathers'-houses, and that their fathers'-houses were not extinguished at the death of their temporary heads, and performed the same service from generation to generation, it might well be said of the generation performing the service at the time of the preparation of our register, that David had appointed them to their office. The case would of course be similar, if, as we have above supposed, the four names in Ch1 9:17 are designations of the classes of doorkeepers, for these classes also performed the same service continually. The statements of our 22nd verse cannot be referred to the time of David, for in Ch1 26:8-10 the number of the doorkeepers appointed by David amounted only to eighty, viz., sixty-two of the sons of Obed-Edom, and eighteen of the sons of Meshelemiah, which, with the addition of thirteen Merarites (Ch1 26:10-11), gives a total of ninety-three, while in our verse the number is 212. According to Ezr 2:42, the number of doorkeepers who returned with Zerubbabel was 139 men; and in the register, Neh 11:19, the number is stated to be 172. From the remark that they were registered in their villages (חצריהם, as in Ch1 6:41; Jos 13:23, and elsewhere), we learn that the doorkeepers dwelt in villages near Jerusalem, whence they came to the city so often as their service required, as the singers also did in the post-exilic time, Neh 12:29. יסּד, to found, set, ordain, and so appoint to an office. "David and Samuel the seer:" הראה, the ancient designation of the prophets, for which at a later time נביא was the more usual word; cf. Sa1 9:9. Nowhere else do we find any record of Samuel's having taken any part in David's arrangement of the service of the Levites in the holy place. Samuel, moreover, was no longer living when David began to arrange the worship at the time when the ark was brought to Jerusalem, for he died before Saul, and consequently before the beginning of David's reign; cf. Sa1 25:1 with Sa1 28:3. Bertheau is consequently of opinion that this statement of our historian rests merely upon the general recollection, according to which the worship was organized afresh, and established in its newer form, in the time of David and Samuel. This is of course possible, but there is no cogent reason against accepting the much less remote supposition that the chronicler took this remark from his authority. The mention of Samuel after David has not a chronological signification, but David is named first on account of his connection with the matter in hand; for the thorough re-organization of the worship, and the classification of the persons engaged in carrying it on, originated with David. For these arrangements of David, however, Samuel had prepared the way in his struggle for the restoration of the theocracy, and of the worship which had fallen into desuetude under Eli and his profligate sons. To do this in any measure, he must have, without doubt, ordained trustworthy men to the individual offices, and thus have prepared the way for King David. בּאמוּנתם is found in Ch1 9:26, Ch1 9:31 without the suffix, with the meaning "in good faith" (cf. Kg2 12:16; Kg2 22:7; Ch2 31:12), and accordingly is here upon their fidelity, i.e., because they had been recognised to be faithful.

Ch1 9:23-24

They (those ordained by David) and their sons (descendants) were at the doors of the house of Jahve-of the tent-house (האהל בּית is added to בּית־יהוה, in order that the latter might not be confined to Solomon's temple); for the watch (משׁמרות of persons, as in Neh 12:9; Neh 4:3, Neh 4:16), according to the four winds (quarters) were they, i.e., the doorkeepers stood so, in accordance with the arrangement made by David; cf. Ch1 26:14.

Ch1 9:25-26

"And their brethren in their villages (cf. Ch1 9:22) were bound to come the seventh day, from time to time, with these." The infinitive בּוא with ל expresses duty, as in Ch1 5:1. The seventh day is the Sabbath of the week, on which each class in order had to take charge of the services. אלּה עם are the chiefs mentioned in Ch1 9:17 who dwelt in Jerusalem, and of whom it is said in Ch1 9:26, "for they are on their fidelity, the four mighty of the doorkeepers." In explanation of the גּבּרי, Bertheau very fittingly compares σταρτηγοῖ τοῦ Ἱεροῦ, Luk 22:52. The words הלויּם הם, which may be translated, "they are the Levites," or "they (viz., the Levites)," are somewhat surprising. The Masoretic punctuation demands the latter translation, when the words would be an emphatic elucidation of the preceding המּה. Were they a subscription, we should expect אלּה instead of הם; while, on the other hand, the circumstance noticed by Bertheau, that in the following verses the duties not merely of the doorkeepers, but of the Levites in general, are enumerated, would seem to favour that sense. Even in the second half of the Ch1 9:22 it is not the doorkeepers who are spoken of, but the Levites in general. May we not suppose that the text originally stood היוּ הלויּם וּמן (cf. Ch1 9:14) instead of והיוּ הויּם והם, and that the reading of our present text, having originated in a transcriber's error, found acceptance from the circumstance that Ch1 9:27 apparently still treats of, or returns to, the service of the doorkeepers? So much is certain, that from Ch1 9:26 onward the duties of the Levites in general, no longer those of the doorkeepers, are spoken of, and that consequently we must regard the Levites (הלויּם), and not the before-mentioned four doorkeepers, as the subject of והיוּ: "and the Levites were over the cells of the storehouses of the house of God." The cells in the outbuildings of the temple served as treasure-chambers and storehouses for the temple furniture. האוצרות with the article in the stat. constr. (Ew. 290, d.), because of the looser connection, since the genitive בּית־הא also belongs to הלּשׁכוה.

Ch1 9:27

Ch1 9:27 refers again to the doorkeepers. They passed the night around the house of God, because the care of or watch over it was committed to them, and "they were over the key, and that every morning," i.e., they had to open the door every morning. מפתּח occurs again in Jdg 3:25 and Isa 22:22, in the signification key, which is suitable here also.

Ch1 9:28

And of them (the Levites), some were over the vessels of the service, by which we are probably to understand the costly vessels, e.g., the golden cups for the libations, etc., which were brought from the treasure-chamber only for a short time for use in the service. They were brought, according to the number, into the place where the service took place, and after being again numbered, were again carried forth; and according to Ch1 9:29, other Levites were set over הכּלים and over הקּדשׁ כּלי.

Ch1 9:29

And of them, others were set over the vessels (in general), and over all the holy vessels which were used for the daily sacrificial service, and over the fine flour (סלת, vide on Lev 2:1), wine, oil, and incense which was required therein for the meat and drink offerings, and the בּשׂמים, spicery, for the holy perfumes (frankincense, cf. Exo 25:6).

Ch1 9:30

And of the priests' sons were preparers of the ointments for the spices. It is the preparation from various spices of the holy anointing oil, Exo 30:23-25, which is meant, and which consequently was part of the priest's duty.

Ch1 9:31

Mattithiah, the first-born of the Korahite Shallum (vide Ch1 9:19), was on good faith over the panbakings (pastry) for the meat-offerings, over the preparation of which he was to watch. To the name Mattithiah מן־הלויּם is added, in contrast to the הכּהנים מן־בּני in Ch1 9:30. The word החבתּים (pastry, panbaking) occurs here only; cf. מחבת, pan of sheet iron, Exo 4:3.

Ch1 9:32

Finally, to some of the Kohathites was committed the preparation of the shew-bread, which required to be laid on the table fresh every Sabbath; cf. Lev 24:5-8. The suffix אחיהם refers back to the Levites of the father's-house of Korah in Ch1 9:32.

Ch1 9:33-34

Ch1 9:33, Ch1 9:34 contain subscriptions to the section vv. 14-32. Since the enumeration of the Levites dwelling in Jerusalem in Ch1 9:14-16 began with the Levitic singer families, so here we find that the singers are mentioned in the first subscription, "these are the singers, heads of fathers'-houses of the Levites," with an additional remark as to their service: "In the cells free, for day and night it is incumbent upon them to be in service," which is somewhat obscure. פּטוּרים, from פּטר, in later Hebrew, let loose, set free. Rashi and Kimchi have already translated it, immunes ab aliis nempe ministeriis, or ab omni alio officio. Adopting this linguistically assured translation, we must supply with בּלּשׁכת, dwelling or waiting in the cells of the courts of the temple, freed from every other business in order that they may apply themselves wholly to their service, for they are wholly busied therewith day and night. Day and night is not to be pressed, but signifies perpetually, continually. Bertheau translates בּמּלאכה עליהם, "they were over them in the service," i.e., had to take the oversight of the singers subordinate to them. but this can hardly be correct; and the passage quoted to justify this translation, Ch2 34:12, proves nothing, because there מפקד is used along with it. We therefore prefer to take עליהם in the signification "it is incumbent upon them," although we should then expect המּלאכה instead of בּמּלאכה; cf. Ch1 9:27. Yet בּמּלאכה can in this connection quite well be used elliptically or concisely for "to be in service," i.e., to carry on their musical duties. The second subscription (Ch1 9:34) refers to all the Levites, and is similar in contents and form to that in Ch1 8:28.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
King's gate - In the east - gate of the temple, which was so called, because the kings of Judah used to go to the temple through that gate. Under this gate he comprehends all the rest, which also were guarded by these porters. Companies - Or, according to the courses. They kept the gates successively, according to that method into which the Levites were distributed, for the more convenient management of their several offices; among which this of the porters was one.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
The king's gate - That by which the kings of Judah went to the temple; see on Kg2 16:18 (note).

Top

² Then said [0559] the LORD [03068] unto me; This gate [08179] shall be shut [05462], it shall not be opened [06605], and no man [0376] shall enter [0935] in by it; because the LORD [03068], the God [0430] of Israel [03478], hath entered [0935] in by it, therefore it shall be shut [05462].

¹⁸ And the covert [04329] [04329] for the sabbath [07676] that they had built [01129] in the house [01004], and the king's [04428] entry [03996] without [02435], turned [05437] he from the house [01004] of the LORD [03068] for [06440] the king [04428] of Assyria [0804].

²⁸ These were heads [07218] of the fathers [01], by their generations [08435], chief [07218] men. These dwelt [03427] in Jerusalem [03389].

³⁴ These chief [07218] fathers [01] of the Levites [03881] were chief [07218] throughout their generations [08435]; these dwelt [03427] at Jerusalem [03389].

²⁷ And they lodged [03885] round about [05439] the house [01004] of God [0430], because the charge [04931] was upon them, and the opening [04668] thereof every morning [01242] pertained to them.

¹² And the men [0582] did [06213] the work [04399] faithfully [0530]: and the overseers [05329] of them were Jahath [03189] and Obadiah [05662], the Levites [03881], of the sons [01121] of Merari [04847]; and Zechariah [02148] and Meshullam [04918], of the sons of the Kohathites [06956], to set it forward [06485]; and other of the Levites [03881], all that could skill [0995] of instruments [03627] of musick [07892].

¹⁴ And of the Levites [03881]; Shemaiah [08098] the son [01121] of Hasshub [02815], the son [01121] of Azrikam [05840], the son [01121] of Hashabiah [02811], of the sons [01121] of Merari [04847];
¹⁵ And Bakbakkar [01230], Heresh [02792], and Galal [01559], and Mattaniah [04983] the son [01121] of Micah [04316], the son [01121] of Zichri [02147], the son [01121] of Asaph [0623];
¹⁶ And Obadiah [05662] the son [01121] of Shemaiah [08098], the son [01121] of Galal [01559], the son [01121] of Jeduthun [03038], and Berechiah [01296] the son [01121] of Asa [0609], the son [01121] of Elkanah [0511], that dwelt [03427] in the villages [02691] of the Netophathites [05200].

³⁴ These chief [07218] fathers [01] of the Levites [03881] were chief [07218] throughout their generations [08435]; these dwelt [03427] at Jerusalem [03389].

³³ And these are the singers [07891], chief [07218] of the fathers [01] of the Levites [03881], who remaining in the chambers [03957] were free [06362] [06359]: for they were employed in that work [04399] day [03119] and night [03915].
³⁴ These chief [07218] fathers [01] of the Levites [03881] were chief [07218] throughout their generations [08435]; these dwelt [03427] at Jerusalem [03389].

³² And other of their brethren [0251], of the sons [01121] of the Kohathites [06956], were over the shewbread [03899] [04635], to prepare [03559] it every sabbath [07676].

⁵ And thou shalt take [03947] fine flour [05560], and bake [0644] twelve [06240] cakes [02471] thereof: two [08147] tenth deals [06241] shall be in one [0259] cake [02471].
⁶ And thou shalt set [07760] them in two [08147] rows [04634], six [08337] on a row [04635], upon the pure [02889] table [07979] before [06440] the LORD [03068].
⁷ And thou shalt put [05414] pure [02134] frankincense [03828] upon each row [04635], that it may be on the bread [03899] for a memorial [0234], even an offering made by fire [0801] unto the LORD [03068].
⁸ Every sabbath [07676] he shall set it [03117] in order [06186] before [06440] the LORD [03068] continually [08548], being taken from the children [01121] of Israel [03478] by an everlasting [05769] covenant [01285].

³² And other of their brethren [0251], of the sons [01121] of the Kohathites [06956], were over the shewbread [03899] [04635], to prepare [03559] it every sabbath [07676].

³ And he said [0559], Cast [07993] it on the ground [0776]. And he cast [07993] it on the ground [0776], and it became a serpent [05175]; and Moses [04872] fled [05127] from before [06440] it.

³⁰ And some of the sons [01121] of the priests [03548] made [07543] the ointment [04842] of the spices [01314].

³¹ And Mattithiah [04993], one of the Levites [03881], who was the firstborn [01060] of Shallum [07967] the Korahite [07145], had the set office [0530] over the things that were made [04639] in the pans [02281].

²³ Take [03947] thou also unto thee principal [07218] spices [01314], of pure [01865] myrrh [04753] five [02568] hundred [03967] shekels, and of sweet [01314] cinnamon [07076] half [04276] so much [04276], even two hundred [03967] and fifty [02572] shekels, and of sweet [01314] calamus [07070] two hundred [03967] and fifty [02572] shekels,
²⁴ And of cassia [06916] five [02568] hundred [03967] shekels, after the shekel [08255] of the sanctuary [06944], and of oil [08081] olive [02132] an hin [01969]:
²⁵ And thou shalt make [06213] it an oil [08081] of holy [06944] ointment [04888], an ointment [07545] compound [04842] after the art [04639] of the apothecary [07543]: it shall be an holy [06944] anointing [04888] oil [08081].

³⁰ And some of the sons [01121] of the priests [03548] made [07543] the ointment [04842] of the spices [01314].

⁶ Oil [08081] for the light [03974], spices [01314] for anointing [04888] oil [08081], and for sweet [05561] incense [07004],

¹ And when any [05315] will offer [07126] a meat [04503] offering [07133] unto the LORD [03068], his offering [07133] shall be of fine flour [05560]; and he shall pour [03332] oil [08081] upon it, and put [05414] frankincense [03828] thereon:

²⁹ Some of them also were appointed [04487] to oversee the vessels [03627], and all the instruments [03627] of the sanctuary [06944], and the fine flour [05560], and the wine [03196], and the oil [08081], and the frankincense [03828], and the spices [01314].

²⁸ And certain of them had the charge of [05921] the ministering [05656] vessels [03627], that they should bring them in [0935] and out [03318] by tale [04557] [04557].

²² And the key [04668] of the house [01004] of David [01732] will I lay [05414] upon his shoulder [07926]; so he shall open [06605], and none shall shut [05462]; and he shall shut [05462], and none shall open [06605].

²⁵ And they tarried [02342] till they were ashamed [0954]: and, behold, he opened [06605] not the doors [01817] of the parlour [05944]; therefore they took [03947] a key [04668], and opened [06605] them: and, behold, their lord [0113] was fallen down [05307] dead [04191] on the earth [0776].

²⁷ And they lodged [03885] round about [05439] the house [01004] of God [0430], because the charge [04931] was upon them, and the opening [04668] thereof every morning [01242] pertained to them.

²⁶ For these Levites [03881], the four [0702] chief [01368] porters [07778], were in their set office [0530], and were over the chambers [03957] and treasuries [0214] of the house [01004] of God [0430].

²⁷ And they lodged [03885] round about [05439] the house [01004] of God [0430], because the charge [04931] was upon them, and the opening [04668] thereof every morning [01242] pertained to them.

¹⁴ And of the Levites [03881]; Shemaiah [08098] the son [01121] of Hasshub [02815], the son [01121] of Azrikam [05840], the son [01121] of Hashabiah [02811], of the sons [01121] of Merari [04847];

²² All these which were chosen [01305] to be porters [07778] in the gates [05592] were two hundred [03967] and twelve [08147] [06240]. These were reckoned by their genealogy [03187] in their villages [02691], whom [01992] David [01732] and Samuel [08050] the seer [07200] did ordain [03245] in their set office [0530].

⁵² Then [1161] Jesus [2424] said [2036] unto [4314] the chief priests [749], and [2532] captains [4755] of the temple [2411], and [2532] the elders [4245], which were come [3854] to [1909] him [846], Be ye come out [1831], as [5613] against [1909] a thief [3027], with [3326] swords [3162] and [2532] staves [3586]?

¹⁷ And the porters [07778] were, Shallum [07967], and Akkub [06126], and Talmon [02929], and Ahiman [0289], and their brethren [0251]: Shallum [07967] was the chief [07218];

¹ Now the sons [01121] of Reuben [07205] the firstborn [01060] of Israel [03478], (for he was the firstborn [01060]; but, forasmuch as he defiled [02490] his father's [01] bed [03326], his birthright [01062] was given [05414] unto the sons [01121] of Joseph [03130] the son [01121] of Israel [03478]: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned [03187] after the birthright [01062].

²⁵ And their brethren [0251], which were in their villages [02691], were to come [0935] after seven [07651] days [03117] from time [06256] to time [06256] with them.
²⁶ For these Levites [03881], the four [0702] chief [01368] porters [07778], were in their set office [0530], and were over the chambers [03957] and treasuries [0214] of the house [01004] of God [0430].

¹⁴ And the lot [01486] eastward [04217] fell [05307] to Shelemiah [08018]. Then for Zechariah [02148] his son [01121], a wise [07922] counsellor [03289], they cast [05307] lots [01486]; and his lot [01486] came out [03318] northward [06828].

¹⁶ And it came to pass from that time [03117] forth, that the half [02677] of my servants [05288] wrought [06213] in the work [04399], and the other half [02677] of them held [02388] both the spears [07420], the shields [04043], and the bows [07198], and the habergeons [08302]; and the rulers [08269] were behind [0310] all the house [01004] of Judah [03063].

³ Now Tobiah [02900] the Ammonite [05984] was by him [0681], and he said [0559], Even that which they build [01129], if a fox [07776] go up [05927], he shall even break down [06555] their stone [068] wall [02346].

⁹ Also Bakbukiah [01229] and Unni [06042], their brethren [0251], were over against them in the watches [04931].

²³ So they and their children [01121] had the oversight of the gates [08179] of the house [01004] of the LORD [03068], namely, the house [01004] of the tabernacle [0168], by wards [04931].
²⁴ In four [0702] quarters [07307] were the porters [07778], toward the east [04217], west [03220], north [06828], and south [05045].

¹² And brought in [0935] the offerings [08641] and the tithes [04643] and the dedicated [06944] things faithfully [0530]: over which Cononiah [03562] the Levite [03881] was ruler [05057], and Shimei [08096] his brother [0251] was the next [04932].

⁷ Howbeit there was no reckoning made [02803] with them of the money [03701] that was delivered [05414] into their hand [03027], because they dealt [06213] faithfully [0530].

¹⁶ The trespass [0817] money [03701] and sin [02403] money [03701] was not brought [0935] into the house [01004] of the LORD [03068]: it was the priests [03548]'.

³ Now Samuel [08050] was dead [04191], and all Israel [03478] had lamented [05594] him, and buried [06912] him in Ramah [07414], even in his own city [05892]. And Saul [07586] had put away [05493] those that had familiar spirits [0178], and the wizards [03049], out of the land [0776].

¹ And Samuel [08050] died [04191]; and all the Israelites [03478] were gathered together [06908], and lamented [05594] him, and buried [06912] him in his house [01004] at Ramah [07414]. And David [01732] arose [06965], and went down [03381] to the wilderness [04057] of Paran [06290].

⁹ (Beforetime [06440] in Israel [03478], when a man [0376] went [03212] to enquire [01875] of God [0430], thus he spake [0559], Come [03212], and let us go [03212] to the seer [07200]: for he that is now [03117] called a Prophet [05030] was beforetime [06440] called [07121] a Seer [07200]

²⁹ Also from the house [01004] of Gilgal [01537] [01019], and out of the fields [07704] of Geba [01387] and Azmaveth [05820]: for the singers [07891] had builded [01129] them villages [02691] round about [05439] Jerusalem [03389].

²³ And the border [01366] of the children [01121] of Reuben [07205] was Jordan [03383], and the border [01366] thereof. This was the inheritance [05159] of the children [01121] of Reuben [07205] after their families [04940], the cities [05892] and the villages [02691] thereof.

⁴¹ The son [01121] of Ethni [0867], the son [01121] of Zerah [02226], the son [01121] of Adaiah [05718],

¹⁹ Moreover the porters [07778], Akkub [06126], Talmon [02929], and their brethren [0251] that kept [08104] the gates [08179], were an hundred [03967] seventy [07657] and two [08147].

⁴² The children [01121] of the porters [07778]: the children [01121] of Shallum [07967], the children [01121] of Ater [0333], the children [01121] of Talmon [02929], the children [01121] of Akkub [06126], the children [01121] of Hatita [02410], the children [01121] of Shobai [07630], in all an hundred [03967] thirty [07970] and nine [08672].

¹⁰ Also Hosah [02621], of the children [01121] of Merari [04847], had sons [01121]; Simri [08113] the chief [07218], (for though he was not the firstborn [01060], yet his father [01] made [07760] him the chief [07218];)
¹¹ Hilkiah [02518] the second [08145], Tebaliah [02882] the third [07992], Zechariah [02148] the fourth [07243]: all the sons [01121] and brethren [0251] of Hosah [02621] were thirteen [07969] [06240].

⁸ All these of the sons [01121] of Obededom [05654]: they and their sons [01121] and their brethren [0251], able [02428] men [0376] for strength [03581] for the service [05656], were threescore [08346] and two [08147] of Obededom [05654].
⁹ And Meshelemiah [04920] had sons [01121] and brethren [0251], strong [02428] men [01121], eighteen [08083] [06240].
¹⁰ Also Hosah [02621], of the children [01121] of Merari [04847], had sons [01121]; Simri [08113] the chief [07218], (for though he was not the firstborn [01060], yet his father [01] made [07760] him the chief [07218];)

¹⁷ And the porters [07778] were, Shallum [07967], and Akkub [06126], and Talmon [02929], and Ahiman [0289], and their brethren [0251]: Shallum [07967] was the chief [07218];

¹⁷ And the porters [07778] were, Shallum [07967], and Akkub [06126], and Talmon [02929], and Ahiman [0289], and their brethren [0251]: Shallum [07967] was the chief [07218];
¹⁸ Who hitherto waited in the king's [04428] gate [08179] eastward [04217]: they were porters [07778] in the companies [04264] of the children [01121] of Levi [03878].
¹⁹ And Shallum [07967] the son [01121] of Kore [06981], the son [01121] of Ebiasaph [043], the son [01121] of Korah [07141], and his brethren [0251], of the house [01004] of his father [01], the Korahites [07145], were over the work [04399] of the service [05656], keepers [08104] of the gates [05592] of the tabernacle [0168]: and their fathers [01], being over the host [04264] of the LORD [03068], were keepers [08104] of the entry [03996].
²⁰ And Phinehas [06372] the son [01121] of Eleazar [0499] was the ruler [05057] over them in time past [06440], and the LORD [03068] was with him.
²¹ And Zechariah [02148] the son [01121] of Meshelemiah [04920] was porter [07778] of the door [06607] of the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150].

¹⁹ And Shallum [07967] the son [01121] of Kore [06981], the son [01121] of Ebiasaph [043], the son [01121] of Korah [07141], and his brethren [0251], of the house [01004] of his father [01], the Korahites [07145], were over the work [04399] of the service [05656], keepers [08104] of the gates [05592] of the tabernacle [0168]: and their fathers [01], being over the host [04264] of the LORD [03068], were keepers [08104] of the entry [03996].
²⁰ And Phinehas [06372] the son [01121] of Eleazar [0499] was the ruler [05057] over them in time past [06440], and the LORD [03068] was with him.
²¹ And Zechariah [02148] the son [01121] of Meshelemiah [04920] was porter [07778] of the door [06607] of the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150].

² And the sons [01121] of Meshelemiah [04920] were, Zechariah [02148] the firstborn [01060], Jediael [03043] the second [08145], Zebadiah [02069] the third [07992], Jathniel [03496] the fourth [07243],

²¹ And Zechariah [02148] the son [01121] of Meshelemiah [04920] was porter [07778] of the door [06607] of the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150].

¹¹ Phinehas [06372], the son [01121] of Eleazar [0499], the son [01121] of Aaron [0175] the priest [03548], hath turned [07725] my wrath [02534] away [07725] from the children [01121] of Israel [03478], while he was zealous [07065] for my sake [07068] among [08432] them, that I consumed [03615] not the children [01121] of Israel [03478] in my jealousy [07068].
¹² Wherefore say [0559], Behold, I give [05414] unto him my covenant [01285] of peace [07965]:
¹³ And he shall have it, and his seed [02233] after [0310] him, even the covenant [01285] of an everlasting [05769] priesthood [03550]; because [0834] he was zealous [07065] for his God [0430], and made an atonement [03722] for the children [01121] of Israel [03478].

⁹ So David [01732] waxed [03212] greater [01980] and greater [01419]: for the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635] was with him.

³² And Eleazar [0499] the son [01121] of Aaron [0175] the priest [03548] shall be chief [05387] over the chief [05387] of the Levites [03881], and have the oversight [06486] of them that keep [08104] the charge [04931] of the sanctuary [06944].

²⁰ And Phinehas [06372] the son [01121] of Eleazar [0499] was the ruler [05057] over them in time past [06440], and the LORD [03068] was with him.

² And Hezekiah [03169] appointed [05975] the courses [04256] of the priests [03548] and the Levites [03881] after their courses [04256], every man [0376] according [06310] to his service [05656], the priests [03548] and Levites [03881] for burnt offerings [05930] and for peace offerings [08002], to minister [08334], and to give thanks [03034], and to praise [01984] in the gates [08179] of the tents [04264] of the LORD [03068].

⁴ This shall be the service [05656] of the sons [01121] of Kohath [06955] in the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150], about the most [06944] holy things [06944]:

²⁰ And Phinehas [06372] the son [01121] of Eleazar [0499] was the ruler [05057] over them in time past [06440], and the LORD [03068] was with him.

²¹ Of Gershon [01648] was the family [04940] of the Libnites [03846], and the family [04940] of the Shimites [08097]: these are the families [04940] of the Gershonites [01649].

¹⁷ And the porters [07778] were, Shallum [07967], and Akkub [06126], and Talmon [02929], and Ahiman [0289], and their brethren [0251]: Shallum [07967] was the chief [07218];

¹⁴ And Kore [06981] the son [01121] of Imnah [03232] the Levite [03881], the porter [07778] toward the east [04217], was over the freewill offerings [05071] of God [0430], to distribute [05414] the oblations [08641] of the LORD [03068], and the most [06944] holy things [06944].

²¹ And Zechariah [02148] the son [01121] of Meshelemiah [04920] was porter [07778] of the door [06607] of the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150].

¹ Concerning the divisions [04256] of the porters [07778]: Of the Korhites [07145] was Meshelemiah [04920] the son [01121] of Kore [06981], of the sons [01121] of Asaph [0623].

³ Then went [0935] he inward [06441], and measured [04058] the post [0352] of the door [06607], two [08147] cubits [0520]; and the door [06607], six [08337] cubits [0520]; and the breadth [07341] of the door [06607], seven [07651] cubits [0520].

¹ Thus saith [0559] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069]; The gate [08179] of the inner [06442] court [02691] that looketh [06437] toward the east [06921] shall be shut [05462] the six [08337] working [04639] days [03117]; but on the sabbath [07676] [03117] it shall be opened [06605], and in the day [03117] of the new moon [02320] it shall be opened [06605].
² And the prince [05387] shall enter [0935] by the way [01870] of the porch [0197] of that gate [08179] without [02351], and shall stand [05975] by the post [04201] of the gate [08179], and the priests [03548] shall prepare [06213] his burnt offering [05930] and his peace offerings [08002], and he shall worship [07812] at the threshold [04670] of the gate [08179]: then he shall go forth [03318]; but the gate [08179] shall not be shut [05462] until the evening [06153].

²⁴ In four [0702] quarters [07307] were the porters [07778], toward the east [04217], west [03220], north [06828], and south [05045].
²⁵ And their brethren [0251], which were in their villages [02691], were to come [0935] after seven [07651] days [03117] from time [06256] to time [06256] with them.
²⁶ For these Levites [03881], the four [0702] chief [01368] porters [07778], were in their set office [0530], and were over the chambers [03957] and treasuries [0214] of the house [01004] of God [0430].

¹⁸ Who hitherto waited in the king's [04428] gate [08179] eastward [04217]: they were porters [07778] in the companies [04264] of the children [01121] of Levi [03878].