Ver. l. Concerning the divisions.] De vicibus aut classibus. Of the porters.] Or, Door keepers, sextons, sacrists, &c., an office of good account; their ordinary employment was to see that the temple were not at any time polluted by profane persons or practices; as also that none of the sacred vessels, vestments, &c., were stolen away. Of these there were twenty-four reliefs or exchanges, as well as of priests, Levites, and singers. Of the sons of Asaph.] Alias Abiasaph. (Exodus 6:24 1 Chronicles 6:37)
Ver. 5. For God blessed him.] With many children; and otherwise also. God’s retributions are very bountiful.
Ver. 6. That ruled throughout the house of their father.] Or, Were like to the house of their father: i.e., they were mighty men of valour, able to execute their office, and to suppress all tumults that might arise at the gates of the temple, by reason of the great concourse of people resorting thereunto, at the three great feasts especially.
Ver. 10. Yet his father made him the chief.] Not in the right of first born, but in his office of a warder. Jun.
Ver. 14. Fell to Shelemiah.] Alias Meshelemiah. (1 Chronicles 26:1) So Jehoshuah the high priest is called Joshua. It is lawful to abbreviate names. A wise counsellor.] Heb., A giver of counsel with wisdom. This is a high commendation.
Ver. 15. The house of Asuppim.] Or, Of gatherings: the congregation house, where the Sanhedrim met and sat. Some take it for the place where the collection money was kept. See 2 Chronicles 25:24. Others, for a proper name. Domus comitiorum vel conciliorum. -Vat.
Ver. 16. With the gate Shallecheth,] i.e., Of casting out; this was the dung gate of the temple. By the causeway of the going up.] Which is thought to be the same with that called Silla (2 Kings 12:20)
Ver. 18. Parbar.] Thought to be the same with Shallecheth. (1 Chronicles 26:16)
Ver. 23. Amramites,] i.e., The posterity of Amram by his son Moses; who upon some occasion—to avoid superstition or usurpation of some pre-eminence forbidden by the Lord—did not leave his own name to his children, but let them pass in the common name of Levites and Amramites. See 1 Chronicles 23:14. Diod.
Ver. 24. Rulers of the treasures,] i.e., Of those dedicated things which were in the custody of Shelomith and his brethren. (1 Chronicles 26:26)
Ver. 29. For the outward business.] Country employment, as provision of fuel, first fruits, tithes, &c., expounding also of the law, and therehence answering cases, solving doubts; superintendents, some say they were, throughout the whole kingdom.
Ver. 30. And in the service of the king.] Putting in execution his decrees for the observing of God’s laws.
Ver. 32. Over the Reubenites, &c.] These were more remote; and lest they should grow more remiss, they had the more Levites amongst them.