Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Chronicles 26:29
Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons [were] for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.
29. Izharites ] Cp. 1Ch 23:12.
the outward business ] This business as here defined “for officers and for judges” (cp. 2Ch 19:11) is perhaps different from that mentioned in Neh 11:16 (“the outward business of the house of the Lord”).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 29. Outward business] Work done without the city; cutting of timber, hewing stones, ploughing the fields belonging to the sanctuary. – Jarchi.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Chenaniah and his sons, who are probably thought to have been one thousand six hundred, for that sum added to the one thousand seven hundred, 1Ch 26:30, and the two thousand seven hundred, 1Ch 26:32, make up those six thousand Levites which were
officers and judges, 1Ch 23:4.
For the outward business; for that business of the Lord and of the king (as it is explained here, 1Ch 26:30,32) which was to be done without the temple, and without Jerusalem; for what was to be done within them was committed to other hands, as we have seen.
Over Israel, synecdochically; i.e. over part of Israel, even over the midland part, and that which lay upon the sea-coast; for the other parts of the land on both sides of Jordan are here committed to others, 1Ch 26:30-32.
For officers and judges; who shall be officers and judges over the people in the several cities and towns or parts of the land, 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 or municipal law of Israel, by which they had and held all their rights, was no other than the law of God, whereof the priests and Levites being the best and established interpreters, must needs therefore be the most proper judges of things depending thereupon.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
29. officers and judgesTheword rendered “officers” is the term which signifiesscribes or secretaries, so that the Levitical class here describedwere magistrates, who, attended by their clerks, exercised judicialfunctions; there were six thousand of them (1Ch23:4), who probably acted like their brethren on the principle ofrotation, and these were divided into three classesone (1Ch26:29) for the outward business over Israel; one (1Ch26:30), consisting of seventeen hundred, for the west of Jordan”in all business of the Lord, and in the service of the king”;and the third (1Ch 26:31;1Ch 26:32), consisting oftwenty-seven hundred, “rulers for every matter pertaining toGod, and affairs of the king.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were
for the outward business over Israel,…. Which was done out of the temple, and out of Jerusalem, in the several parts of the country:
for officers and judges; to administer justice and judgment, and to take care that the laws of God were observed, both with respect to things civil and religious, and delinquents punished; which is a better sense than what Jarchi and Kimchi put upon this,
outward business, as if it lay in taking care to have timber cut down in the forest, and stones dug and hewed in the mountains, for the building of the temple; and that the lands were ploughed, and the vineyards, gardens, and orchards, dressed, which were devoted to sacred uses.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The officials for the external business. – 1Ch 26:29. “As to the Izharites, Chenaniah (see on 1Ch 15:22) with his sons was for the outward business over Israel for scribes and judges.” According to this, the external business of the Levites consisted of service as scribes and judges, for which David had set apart 6000 Levites (1Ch 23:4). Without sufficient reason, Bertheau would refer the external business to the exaction of the dues for the temple, because in Neh 11:16 for the temple is spoken of. But it does not at all follow that in our verse the external work had any reference to the temple, and that the scribes and judges had only this narrow sphere of action, since here, instead of the house of God, is mentioned as the object with which the external service was connected.
1Ch 26:30 Of Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, 1700 valiant men, were , for the oversight (inspection) of Israel this side Jordan, for all the business of Jahve and the service of the king. Bertheau takes to mean “due,” “fixed tribute,” a meaning which the word cannot be shown to have. The lxx have translated correctly, , ad inspectionem Israelis , i.e., praefecti erant (J. H. Mich.). For is in 1Ch 26:32 rendered by . is shown by the addition to refer to the land of Canaan, as in Jos 5:1; Jos 22:7, since Israel, both under Joshua and also after the exile, had come from the eastward over Jordan into Canaan. The words and are synonymous, and are consequently both represented in 1Ch 26:32 by .
1Ch 26:31-32 David set another branch of the Hebronites, under the head Jeriah (cf. 1Ch 23:9), over the East-Jordan tribes. Between the words “Jeriah the head,” 1Ch 26:31, and , 1Ch 26:32, a parenthesis is inserted, which gives the reason why David made these Hebronites scribes and judges among the East-Jordan tribes. The parenthesis runs thus: “As to the Hebronites, according to their generations, according to fathers, they were sought out in the fortieth year of David’s rule, and valiant heroes were found among them in Jazer of Gilead.” Jazer was a Levite city in the tribal domain of Gad, assigned, according to Jos 21:39, to the Merarites (see on 1Ch 6:81). The number of these Hebronites was 2700 valiant men (1Ch 26:32). The additional is obscure, for if we take to be, as it often is in the genealogies, a contraction for rof no , the number given does not suit; for a branch of the Hebronites cannot possibly have numbered 2700 fathers’-houses ( , groups of related households): they must be only 2700 men ( ), or heads of families, i.e., households. Not only the large number demands this signification, but also the comparison of this statement with that in 1Ch 26:30. The 1700 of which the Hebronite branch, Hashabiah with his brethren, consisted, were not so many , but only so many men of this . In the same way, the Hebronite branch of which Jeriah was head, with his brethren, 2700 , were also not 2700 , but only so many men, that is, fathers of families. It is thus placed beyond doubt that cannot here denote the heads of fathers’-houses, but only heads of households. And accordingly we must not understand (1Ch 26:31) of fathers’-houses, as the lxx and all commentators do, but only of heads of households. The use of the verb also favours this view, for this verb is not elsewhere used of the legal census of the people, i.e., the numbering and entering of them in the public lists, according to the great families and fathers’-houses. There may therefore be in a hint that it was not a genealogical census which was undertaken, but only a numbering of the heads of households, in order to ascertain the number of scribes and judges to be appointed. There yet remain in this section three things which are somewhat strange: 1. Only 1700 scribes and judges were set over the cis-Jordanic land, inhabited as it was by ten and a half tribes, while 2700 were set over the trans-Jordanic land with its two and a half tribes. 2. Both numbers taken together amount to only 4400 men, while David appointed 6000 Levites to be scribes and judges. 3. The scribes and judges were taken only from two fathers’-houses of the Kohathites, while most of the other Levitical offices were filled by men of all the families of the tribe of Levi. On all these grounds, it is probable that our catalogue of the Levites appointed to be scribes and judges, i.e., for the external business, is imperfect.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges. 30 And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand and seven hundred, were officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward in all the business of the LORD, and in the service of the king. 31 Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even among the Hebronites, according to the generations of his fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valour at Jazer of Gilead. 32 And his brethren, men of valour, were two thousand and seven hundred chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king.
All the offices of the house of God being well provided with Levites, we have here an account of those that were employed as officers and judges in the outward business, which must not be neglected, no, not for the temple itself. The magistracy is an ordinance of God for the good of the church as truly as the ministry is. And here we are told, 1. That the Levites were employed in the administration of justice in concurrence with the princes and elders of the several tribes, who could not be supposed to understand the law so well as the Levites, who made it their business to study it. None of those Levites who were employed in the service of the sanctuary, none of the singers or porters, were concerned in this outward business; either one was enough to engage the whole man or it was presumption to undertake both. 2. Their charge was both in all business of the Lord, and in the service of the kings, v. 30 and again v. 32. They managed the affairs of the country, as well ecclesiastical as civil, took care both of God’s tithes and the king’s taxes, punished offences committed immediately against God and his honour and those against the government and the public peace, guarded both against idolatry and against injustice, and took care to put the laws in execution against both. Some, it is likely, applied themselves to the affairs of religion, others to secular affairs; and so, between both, God and the king were well served. It is happy with a kingdom when its civil and sacred interests are thus interwoven and jointly minded and advanced. 3. There were more Levites employed as judges with the two tribes and a half on the other side of Jordan than with all the rest of the tribes; there were 2700; whereas as the west side of Jordan there were 1700, 1Ch 26:30; 1Ch 26:32. Either those remote tribes were not so well furnished as the rest with judges of their own, or because they, lying furthest from Jerusalem and on the borders of the neighbouring nations, were most in danger of being infected with idolatry, and most needed the help of Levites to prevent it. The frontiers must be well guarded. 4. This is said to be done (as were all the foregoing settlements) in the fortieth year of the reign of David (v. 31), that is, the last year of his reign. We should be so much the more industrious to do good as we can see the day approaching. If we live to enjoy the fruit of our labours, grudge it not to those that shall come after us.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Other officials, verses 29-32
The outward business over which these Levites were made officials pertained to things outside of Jerusalem, away from the temple. In fact, this was in keeping with one of the responsibilities of the Levites, who had their homes scattered throughout the cities of Israel. In those cities where they dwelt they were to be leaders of the people in example and to serve as their judges in religious and secular affairs.
Both the chief families over the outside business, the 1zharites and the Hebronites, were of the Levitical tribal family of Kohath. They were particularly answerable to the king, and may have been employed by him to see that his will was imposed in their jurisdiction. Chenaniah of the 1zharites and Hashabiah of the Hebronites had charge of these affairs of the king on the west side of the Jordan, in the nine and a half tribes of Israel in Canaan. They numbered seventeen hundred valorous men.
In the last year of David’s reign another family of the Hebronites was appointed to the business of the king on the east side of Jordan, in the two and a half tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh. For some reason unknown a group of the Kohathites had settled in Gilead of Gad, though that Levite family had been assigned no cities in that tribe. These Hebronites, under their chief, Jerijah, were sought out by David and found to number twenty-seven hundred men of valor. They became David’s representatives in all matters pertaining to God and the king.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
19. THE OFFICERS AND THE JUDGES (1Ch. 26:29-32)
TEXT
1Ch. 26:29. Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges. 30. Of 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. 31. Of 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. 32. And 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.
PARAPHRASE
1Ch. 26:29. Chenaniah and his sons (from the subclan of Izhar) were appointed public administrators and judges. 30. Hashabiah and 1,700 of his clansmen from Hebron, all outstanding men, were placed in charge of the territory of Israel west of the Jordan River; they were responsible for the religious affairs and public administration of that area. 31, 32. Twenty-seven hundred outstanding men of the clan of the Hebronites, under the supervision of Jerijah, were appointed to control the religious and public affairs of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. These men, all of whom had excellent qualifications, were appointed on the basis of their ancestry and ability at Jazer in Gilead in the fortieth year of King Davids reign.
COMMENTARY
Certain Levites were assigned to attend to civil matters, the outward business, which had no direct relationship to the Temple. The terms officers and judges are used to detail the kind of secular service to be done. These men were chosen from the Izharites and the Hebronites, the direct descendants of Kohath, the son of Levi. Hashabiah, the Hebronite, was assigned 1700 assistants and was charged with all of the territory west of the Jordan River. Jerijah, the head of the Hebronite family, lived in the village of Jazer in Gilead, east of the Jordan River. The business of Jehovah and the service of the king were the principal considerations of these men.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
III. THE LEVITES CHARGED WITH BUSINESS EXTERNAL TO THE SANCTUARY (1Ch. 26:29-32).
(29) Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons.As to the Izharites, Chenaniah, &c. Izhar was the second, as Hebron (1Ch. 26:30) was the third of the Kohathite stocks (1Ch. 23:12).
The outward business is defined as that of officers (shoterm, scribes) and judges. Six thousand Levites were set apart for these duties (1Ch. 23:4). As Neh. 11:16 mentions the outward business of the house of God, the outward business here spoken of may have been in part connected with the Temple, and included such work as the collection of tithes and taxes.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
29. For the outward business over Israel The business of local scribes, magistrates, and teachers of the people. See note on 1Ch 23:4. As such their office was, as expressed in 1Ch 26:32, to attend to “every matter pertaining to God and the affairs of the king.” They were to proclaim, expound, and enforce among the people the law of God and the commands of the king.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ch 26:29. Were for the outward business That is, the business without the city of Jerusalem, which consisted in their being assessors with the ordinary judges. By the business of the Lord, in the next verse, is meant such causes as might be judged by the divine law; by the service of the king, such causes as were not determined by the law, but were left to the judgment of the king. See Bertram de Rep. Jud.
REFLECTIONS.1st, The porters seem to have been divided into the same number of courses as the rest of their brethren, each posted at their several gates by lot. They are spoken of as mighty men, strong and able, such as their post required, to keep constant guard, that no profane intruder might be admitted, nor the sacred house violated. The family of Obed-edom were employed in this office. He was blessed with a numerous family, and none more deserving of keeping the charge of the temple, than he who had so cheerfully entertained, and diligently waited on, the ark at his own house. They who have been faithful in lesser services, deserve to be preferred. Simri, one of the sons of Hosah, was chief, his elder brother being, probably by bodily indisposition, incapacitated for the service.
2nd, In the house of God there were great stores for the daily use and service of the altar, vestments, utensils, &c. and also great treasures, either offerings of the people, or things which had been dedicated to God by Samuel, David, Saul, Abner, and Joab, chiefly of the spoil won in war. Over these Ahijah at first presided; but afterwards they were under the care of different persons. Note; (1.) When God increases our stores with providential blessings, he is entitled to a part at least of the wealth that he bestows. (2.) There are in the church of Christ greater treasures, not indeed of silver and gold, for his kingdom is not of this world; but more valuable and durable treasures, of spiritual wisdom and divine grace; and not, like these, locked up, but freely dispensed to every faithful worshipper; and yet there still remains enough and to spare.
3rdly, The service at Jerusalem was well provided for: now the business of the country is alike taken care of. The Levites had the administration of justice, with the princes and elders of the several tribes, who may be supposed not so well skilled in the law, and in need of their assistance. All matters relating to God’s worship also, and the king’s revenue, came under their care. In the remote tribes beyond Jordan, the greatest number was stationed, where they would be most in danger; but by their presence might be preserved faithful in the service of God, and loyal to their sovereign. These regulations employed the last year of David, whose usefulness ended only with his life. Note; (1.) While life endures, there is always something to be done for God. (2.) They are likely to be a happy people, who are taught to fear God and honour the king.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
The last list in this chapter of the officers and judges, seems to have been for inferior services, because they are said to have been for the outward business of Israel. But no doubt, from the record here given, both of the employment and the names of the persons exercising this office, it formed an important part in the government of Israel.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Ch 26:29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons [were] for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.
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.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
outward business: outside the Temple (Neh 10:32-33; Neh 11:16), as distinguished from the worship within (which was the “business of the house of God”. Neh 11:22).
officers and judges. See Deu 16:18 (same Hebrew), 6,000 appointed. Provision made for them in Exo 18:13-26.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
1Ch 26:29-32
1Ch 26:29-32
AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN THE KING’S BUSINESS
“Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges. Of 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 business of the king. Of 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. And his brethren, men of valor, were two thousand and seven hundred, heads of fathers’ houses, whom 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.”
None of the commentaries we have consulted with regard to this chapter has provided us with anything we wish to quote. Many of them wrote only a few brief lines on this chapter; and the Interpreters’ Bible barely has a hundred words on it.
The pursuit of variations in this list as compared with others, speculations about things that are ambiguous, conflicting guesses about the “date when” this or that list might have been `added,’ and fanciful charges that some or all of these chapters in Chronicles are `artificial,’ etc., etc., – the pursuit of such problems constitutes an exercise in futility, in which we choose not to participate.
Accurate and dogmatic answers to many questions and problems that may be found in these chapters are simply impossible. For example, the word SON, which occurs hundreds of times in Chronicles, has no less than nine meanings as used in the Bible.
Nevertheless, the value of Chronicles to Christians is very great. Here is the irresistible proof that the O.T. deals, not with myth, legend, or folklore, but with fact, with history, with flesh and blood events in the long and turbulent story of God’s people Israel, through whom Almighty God brought redemption in Jesus Christ to Adam’s lost and ruined descendants.
E.M. Zerr:
1Ch 26:29. Outward business refers to the policing and governing of the country in general. For the purpose of external affairs these officers were appointed, and the force was managed by Chenaniah.
1Ch 26:30. Hebronites and such like terms refers to locality classes and not to any particular family. Since valour means strength, and since these were officers to keep the peace, we can see the propriety in the selection of these men.
1Ch 26:31. Family history of this man, Jerijah was a chief man. He and his fellows were “rounded up” for the service in the last year of David’s life and reign.
1Ch 26:32. The two and a half tribes were on the east of the Jordan. Being thus located at the distance from the nation’s headquarters, they needed ample protection. David assigned 2,700 strong men to the policing of that territory. It was their duty to look after both the religious and temporal interests of the kingdom of David.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Izharites: 1Ch 26:23, 1Ch 23:12
the outward: 2Ch 34:13, Neh 11:16
officers: 1Ch 23:4, 2Ch 19:8-11
Reciprocal: Deu 16:18 – Judges 1Ch 27:8 – Shamhuth
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ch 26:29. Chenaniah, &c., were for the outward business That is, the business without the city of Jerusalem; which neither belonged to the singers nor the porters, whose business was within the city. For officers and judges To be assessors with the ordinary judges 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 their rights, was no other than the law of God, whereof the priests and Levites, being the established interpreters, must needs be the most proper judges of things depending thereon.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
26:29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons [were] for the outward business {n} over Israel, for officers and judges.
(n) Meaning of things that were out of the city.