1 Chronicles Chapter 26  (Original 1611 KJV Bible)

26:5 Blessed him - With a numerous posterity and other blessings, forhis respect and affection to the ark. The increase and building up offamilies, is owing to the Divine blessing. And a great blessing it is tohave many children, when they are like these, eminent in the service of God.

26:6 Of valour - This clause is divers times mentioned, because theiroffice required both strength and courage: for they were to shut thedoors of the temple, one whereof was so great and weighty, that in thesecond temple it required twenty men to open and shut it. They were alsoto keep the guard, to keep out all unclean or forbidden persons, to preventor suppress any tumults or disorders which might happen in the temple orin its courts, to keep the treasures of the temple, ver.#20|,22,24,26,to be officers and judges over Israel, ver.#29|, and to manageevery matter pertaining to God, and the affairs of the king,ver.#32|.

26:10 Made him the chief - Not in inheriting the estate; (this wasforbidden by the law) but in this service, for which he was betterqualified than his elder brother.

26:12 Wards - Heb. having wards answerably to their brethren theother Levites, who were divided into twenty - four courses, as thepriests also and the porters were.

26:13 Cast lots - Determining the times and places of their service notby age or dignity, but merely by lot. Every gate - That it might beknown to whom the care of each gate was more especially committed.

26:15 Asuppim - Or, of gatherings, probably so named from theassembly of the elders, who met there to consult about the affairsof the temple.

26:16 Shallecheth - A gate of the court so called, as some think,because the ashes and filth of the temple were cast out on that side,which was the most convenient for that purpose, because that was aprivate quarter, the great ways to the temple lying on the other sides.Going up - By which causeway they went up towards the temple.Ward against ward - As one gate was over against another, the west againstthe east, and the north against the south, so one ward was over againstanother.

26:17 Six - For that being the chief gate of the temple required abetter guard.

26:20 Treasures - There seem to be two different kinds of treasures,the former containing the sacred vessels and other treasures, which byGod's command were appropriated to the maintenance of the house; thelatter only those things which had been freely given or dedicated to God.

26:23 The Amramites - The persons following were of these, or the mostof these families. Only here is none of the family of the Uzzielites;either because that family was now extinct, whence it is that we read nomore of them in the scripture, but only in this place, and #Numb 3:27|,or because there was none of them fit to be employed and trusted in thesematters.

26:24 Ruler - The chief over all the treasures, mentioned before orafterward, as his title shews, which is peculiarly given to him and tonone of the rest.

26:27 Maintain - Or repair it.

26:29 Judges - Judges over the people, in the several cities and towns,to determine questions and controversies which might arise among them.And the reason why the Levites were intrusted with these matters was,because the common law of Israel, by which they had and held all theirrights was no other than the law of God, whereof the priests and Levitesbeing the established interpreters, must needs be the most proper judgesof things depending thereon.

26:30 Of the Lord - In all things which concerned the house or worshipof God; to take care that such monies as were given towards building thetemple, or towards the sacrifices and other holy ministrations should begathered and received, and faithfully sent up to Jerusalem; and to seeto the execution of all the laws of God among the people.Service of, &c. - They served the king in the execution of his decrees,by which the several rights of the king and people were established.And as the king was the principal person intrusted with the execution ofGod's laws, so these Levites chiefly were his eyes by which he saw hispeople's transgressions, and his hands by which he inflicted due censuresupon them for their miscarriages.

26:31 Fortieth year - His last year, in which he made all the orders offamilies and officers recorded in these chapters. We should be so much themore diligent in doing good, as we see the day approaching. If we livenot to enjoy the fruit of our labours, let us not grudge it to them thatcome after us.