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1 Chronicles Chapter 26

Old Testament Historical 32 Verses

What is 1 Chronicles 26 about?

A priestly perspective on David's reign, his gathering of Temple materials, and preparations for Solomon's building project. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1For the courses of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
2And Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the first-born, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
3Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh.
4And Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the first-born, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethanel the fifth,
5Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth; for God blessed him.
6Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled over the house of their father; for they were mighty men of valor.
7The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were valiant men, Elihu, and Semachiah.
8All these were of the sons of Obed-edom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men in strength for the service; threescore and two of Obed-edom.
9And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, valiant men, eighteen.
10Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief, (for though he was not the first-born, yet his father made him chief),
11Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.
12Of these were the courses of the doorkeepers, even of the chief men, having offices like their brethren, to minister in the house of Jehovah.
13And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to their fathers` houses, for every gate.
14And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a discreet counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.
15To Obed-edom southward; and to his sons the store-house.
16To Shuppim and Hosah westward, by the gate of Shallecheth, at the causeway that goeth up, watch against watch.
17Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and for the store-house two and two.
18For Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.
19These were the courses of the doorkeepers; of the sons of the Korahites, and of the sons of Merari.
20And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.
21The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of the fathers` [houses] belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli.
22The sons of Jehieli: Zetham, and Joel his brother, over the treasures of the house of Jehovah.
23Of the Amramites, of the Izharites, of the Hebronites, of the Uzzielites:
24and Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler over the treasures.
25And his brethren: of Eliezer [came] Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomoth his son.
26This Shelomoth and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the heads of the fathers` [houses], the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated.
27Out of the spoil won in battles did they dedicate to repair the house of Jehovah.
28And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated, whosoever had dedicated anything, it was under the hand of Shelomoth, and of his brethren.
29Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.
30Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valor, a thousand and seven hundred, had the oversight of Israel beyond the Jordan westward, for all the business of Jehovah, and for the service of the king.
31Of the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even of the Hebronites, according to their generations by fathers` [houses]. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valor at Jazer of Gilead.
32And his brethren, men of valor, were two thousand and seven hundred, heads of fathers` [houses], whom king David made overseers over the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites, for every matter pertaining to God, and for the affairs of the king.
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“Concerning the divisions of the porters, etc.] Or doorkeepers, whose business it was to open and shut the doors of the temple, to keep all impure and improper persons from entering into it, or any of the vessels being carried out of it, and to prevent tumults and riots about it; these, as it seems, David divided into a like number of classes, as the singers, to take their turns in waiting: of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph; not Asaph the singer, who was a Gershonite, but the same with Eliasaph, (<130623>1 Chronicles 6:23,27) a Korhite. Ver. 2, 3. And the sons of Meshelemiah…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“DIVISIONS OF THE PORTERS. (Ch1 26:1-12) Concerning the divisions of the porters--There were four thousand (Ch1 23:6), all taken from the families of the Kohathites and Merarites (Ch1 26:14), divided into twenty-four courses--as the priests and musicians. Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph--Seven sons of Meshelemiah are mentioned (Ch1 26:2), whereas eighteen are given (Ch1 26:9), but in this latter number his relatives are included.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“The porters - See 1Ch 9:17-27; 1 Chronicles 23:5. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 5
“Blessed him - With a numerous posterity and other blessings, for his respect and affection to the ark. The increase and building up of families, is owing to the Divine blessing. And a great blessing it is to have many children, when they are like these, eminent in the service of God. 1 Chronicles 26:6”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“26:1 The first ancestor of the gatekeepers was Meshelemiah (called “Shallum” in Ezra 2:42; “Meshullam” in Neh 12:25).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“the divisions: There were four classes of these, each of which belonged to the four gates of the temple, which opened to the four cardinal points of heaven. The eastern gate fell to Shelemiah; the northern to Zechariah ( Ch1 26:14); the southern to Obed-edom ( Ch1 26:15); and the western to Shuppim and Hosah ( Ch1 26:16). These several persons were captains of these porter-bands, or door-keepers, at the different gates. There were probably a thousand men under each of these captains; as we find, from Ch1 23:5, that their whole number was four thousand. the porters: Ch1 9:17-27, Ch1 15:18, Ch1 15:23, Ch1 15:24;…”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“The classes of the doorkeepers, the stewards of the treasures of the sanctuary, and the officers for the external business. - Vv. 1-19. The classes of the doorkeepers. Ch1 26:1. The superscription runs shortly thus: "As to (ל) the divisions of the doorkeepers." The enumeration beings with לקרחים: to the Korahites (belongs) Meshelemiah (in Ch1 26:14, Shelemiah). Instead of אסף מן־בּני we should read, according to Ch1 9:19, אביסף מן־בּני, for the Korahites are descended from Kohath ( Exo 6:21; Exo 18:16), but Asaph is a descendant of Gershon ( Ch1 6:39.). \- In Ch1 26:2, Ch1 26:3, seven sons of Meshelemiah are…”
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