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, (ver. 14;) the southern to Obed-edom, (ver. 15;) and the western to Shuppim and Hosah, (ver. 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 ch. 23:5, that their whole number was four thousand.
the porters. 9:17-27; 15:18,23,24; 2Ch 23:19;
Korhites. Nu 26:9-11; Ps 44:1; 49:1;
Meshelemiah. [Shelemy�huw h8018,] Shelemiah, is merely an abbreviation of [Meshelemy�h h4920,] Meshelemiah, by the aph�resis of [M�m,] {mem.} ver. 14;
Shelemiah. Asaph. This variation arises from the rejection of the word [Ab h1,] {av,} "father," and the mutation of [Y�wd,] {yood,} into ['Aleph,] {aleph;} being written in the parallel passages [Eby�c�ph h43,] Ebiasaph, and here [Ac�ph h623,] Asaph. 6:37; 9:19;
Obed-edom. 15:18,21,24; 16:5,38;
him. "That is, Obed-edom, as ch. 13:14." Ps 128:1;
mighty men of valour. They were not only porters, or door keepers, in the ordinary sense of the word, but they were a military guard to the gate, as Dr. Delaney suggests that the word {sh��rim} should be rendered here: and perhaps in this sense alone are we to understand their office, which appears to have been of considerable dignity, and conferred only on men of the first rank. They were appointed to attend the temple, to guard all the avenues to it, to open and shut all the outer gates, and attend at them, not only for state but for service. They were also required to direct and instruct those who were going to worship in the courts of the sanctuary in the conduct they were to observe, to encourage those who were timid, to send back the strangers and unclean, and to guard against thieves and others who were enemies to the house of God. ver. 8; 12:28; Jud 6:12; 2Sa 2:7; 2Ch 26:17; Ne 11:14; 1Ti 6:12; 2Ti 2:3; ver. 7;
able men. Mt 25:15; 1Co 12:4-11; 2Co 3:6; 1Pe 4:11;
Hosah. 16:38;
wards. That is, classes against each other. Ward formerly signified a class or division: we still apply the term to the different apartments in hospitals, and to the more extensive districts into which the city of London is divided. 25:8;
as well the small as the great. Heb. or, as well for the small as for the great. 24:31; 25:8;
Shelemiah. ver. 1;
Meshelemiah. Zechariah. ver. 2;
Asuppim. Heb. gatherings. <
Shallecheth. That is, ejection; probably the gate through which all the filth which from time to time might accumulate in the temple and its courts, was cast out.
ward against ward. That is, their stations were opposite to each other; as the north to the south, and the east to the west. ver. 12; 25:8; Ne 12:24;
Asuppim. ver. 15;
Parbar. 2Ki 23:11; {Parbar} is most probably the same as {parwar,} which denotes suburbs, (2; Ki 23:11,) in which sense it is often used in the Chaldee Targums; and consequently this may be considered as leading to the suburbs.
Kore. Kore, or rather, Kohri, [Qorch�y h7145,] is essentially the same with [Q�rach h7141,] Korah, merely having a paragogic [Y�wd,] {yood.} Nu 16:11;
treasures. ver. 22; 9:26-30; 22:3,4,14-16; 28:12-19; 29:2-8; 1Ki 14:26; 15:18; Mal 3:10;
dedicated things. Heb. holy things. ver. 26-28; 18:11; 1Ki 7:51; 2Ch 31:11,12;
Laadan. 6:17;
Libni. 23:7;
Jehieli. Jehieli, [Yech�y'�l�y h3172,] is the same as Jehiel, [Yechav'�l h3171,] with the addition of [Y�wd,] {yood.} 23:8; 29:8;
Jehiel. over the treasures. ver. 20; Ne 10:38;
Shebuel. The difference between [Sh�wb�'�l h7619,] Shubael, and [Sh�b�w'�l h7619,] Shebuel, simply arises from the elision of [V�v,] {wav} and a change of vowels. 23:15,16; 24:20;
Rehabiah. 23:17;
Shelomith. 23:18;
over all the treasures. 18:11; 22:14; 29:2-9; Nu 31:30-52;
Out. Jos 6:19;
spoils won in battles. Heb. battles and spoils. to maintain. 2Ki 12:14; Ne 10:32-34;
Samuel. 1Sa 9:9;
Abner. 1Sa 14:47-51; 17:55;
Joab. 2Sa 10:9-14;
the outward. 2Ch 34:13; Ne 11:16;
officers. 23:4; 2Ch 19:8-11;
men of valour. ver. 6;
officers. Heb. over the charge.
Jerijah. 23:19;
Jeriah. fortieth. 29:27; 1Ki 2:11;
men of valour. ver. 6-9;
chief fathers. 15:12; 23:24; 24:31;
Reubenites. 12:37;
and affairs. Heb. and thing. 2Ch 19:11; There were more Levites employed as judges with the two tribes
and half on the other side of Jordan, than with all the rest
of the tribes; there were two thousand seven hundred, whereas
on the west side of Jordan there were only one thousand seven
hundred. Either those remote tribes were not so well
furnished as the rest with judges of their own, or because
they lay farthest from Jerusalem, on the borders of the
neighbouring nations, and were thus much in danger of being
infected with idolatry, they most needed the help of Levites
to prevent their running into the abominations of the
idolaters.