Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Chronicles 23:28
Because their office [was] to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God;
28 32. Duties of the Levites
28. their office was to wait on ] Literally, their station was at the hand of. For the phrase at the hand of cp. Psa 123:2, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their master.
the chambers ] Cp. 1Ch 9:26, note.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 28. Purifying of all holy things] Keeping all the vessels and utensils belonging to the sacred service clean and neat.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
All holy things, i.e. holy places, and garments, and vessels, and sacrifices, which were to be washed and cleansed from any filthiness which possibly might cleave to them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron,…. The priests:
for the service of the house of the Lord; to assist them therein, and not to bear burdens as in times past; the Targum is,
“wherefore the place of their habitations was by the side of the sons of Aaron, for the worship of the sanctuary of the Lord:”
in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God; to keep the house, and all the apartments in it, courts and chambers, clean, by sweeping and washing them, and carrying out all the filth thereof made by the sacrifices, and otherwise.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Their appointed place or post was at the hand of the sons of Aaron, i.e., they were ready to the priest’s hand, to aid him in carrying on the service of the house of God. “Over the courts and the cells (of the courts; cf. 1Ch 9:26), and the purifying of every holy thing,” i.e., of the temple rooms and the temple vessels. On before , used for mediate connection after the stat. const., cf. Ew. 289, b. , and for the performance of the service of the house of God. Before , is to be supplied from the preceding. The individual services connected with the worship are specialized in 1Ch 23:29-31, and introduced by the preposition . For the bread of the pile, i.e., the shew-bread (see on Lev 24:8.), viz., to prepare it; for the laying of the bread upon the table was the priest’s business. For fine meal ( , see on Lev 2:1) for the meat-offering and unleavened cakes ( , see on Lev 2:4), and for the pans, i.e., that which was baked in pans (see on Lev 2:5), and for that which was roasted ( , see on Lev 6:14), and for all measures of capacity and measures of length which were kept by the Levites, because meal, oil, and wine were offered along with the sacrifices in certain fixed quantities (cf. e.g., Exo 29:40; Exo 30:24), and the Levites had probably to watch over the weights and measures in general (Lev 19:35).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(28) Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron.For their appointment (or station) is at the side of the sons of Aaron (i.e., the priests). The Levites had no longer to carry the sacred dwelling and its vessels, but to minister, in subordination to the priesthood, in the permanent sanctuary.
In the courts.Over (i.e., in charge of) the courts, and over the cells, or chambers built around the courts, in which were kept stores and treasures (1Ch. 9:26), and in which priests and Levites lived.
And in (over) the purifying of all holy things.2Ch. 30:19. They had to cleanse the sacred vessels and the sanctuary itself.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
“Handfuls of Purpose,”
For All Gleaners
“… their office was to wait on…” 1Ch 23:28 .
That is enough, if it be accepted in the right spirit. The men themselves might have complained, saying, We are as good as the sons of Aaron: why should they not wait upon us? But they recognised a divine appointment and not a human arrangement in all this ministry of the house of God. The man who opens the door might complain that he is not in the highest places in the church, but in so far as he is a wise man he will say that he too is indispensable to the happy execution of the offices of the sanctuary. To wait may be an office. Who shall say that those who wait on us are not necessary to the completeness of our ministry? Thus the servant in the household may have an indirect place even in the pulpit; thus the wife may be the true co-pastor of her husband; by patience, by sympathy, by foresight, by dealing with many cases as she only can deal with them, the wife may double the pastor’s usefulness. We think of a man being great who is at the front or on the highest seat, but he himself will be the first to acknowledge that he could not have been where he is, and could not do the work that is expected of him, but for many minor people, assistances, co-operations at home, little attentions and sweet benedictions which find no place in public record. “They also serve who only stand and wait.” Our character is tested by the way in which we accept office. If we are petulant and resentful, ungrateful and negligent, we show that we do not deserve any status in the house of the Lord; if we are faithful over a few things we shall be made ruler over many things. Let us prove our fitness for the highest office by doing well the things which pertain to the lowest.
Fuente: The People’s Bible by Joseph Parker
office = station.
in = over.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
office
i.e. their new office, since their former office of bearing the tabernacle was ended.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
office was to wait: etc. Heb. station was at the hand of Aaron, 1Ch 18:17, *marg. Neh 11:24
for the service: 1Ch 23:4, 1Ch 28:13, Num 3:6-9, 1Ki 6:5, 2Ch 31:11, Ezr 8:29, Neh 13:4, Neh 13:5, Neh 13:9, Jer 35:4, Eze 41:6-11, Eze 41:26, Eze 42:3, Eze 42:13
purifying: 1Ch 9:28, 1Ch 9:29, 2Ch 29:5, 2Ch 29:18, 2Ch 29:19, 2Ch 35:3-6, 2Ch 35:11-14
Reciprocal: Lev 2:4 – meat offering Num 3:7 – keep Num 4:3 – to do Num 8:19 – I have given 1Ch 6:47 – Merari 2Ch 23:6 – they that minister 2Ch 29:15 – to cleanse Ezr 8:28 – the vessels Neh 12:44 – Judah rejoiced Neh 12:45 – the ward Jer 35:2 – into one Eze 40:7 – General Eze 40:17 – there were Eze 44:14 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ch 23:28. In the purifying of holy things Holy places, and garments, and vessels, and sacrifices, which were to be washed and cleansed from any filthiness that might cleave to them.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
23:28 Because their office [was] to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the {f} purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God;
(f) In washing and cleansing all the holy vessels.