Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Chronicles 9:27

And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge [was] upon them, and the opening thereof every morning [pertained] to them.

27. because to them ] R.V. because the charge thereof was upon them, and to them pertained the opening thereof morning by morning. The reference is to the four “chief porters” (1Ch 9:26).

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

1Ch 9:27

And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them

The dominence of duty

I.

As to recognising the imperativeness of duty. The charge was upon them. Duty was the absolute and dominant thing to these gate-keepers. So should it be with us. Duty grows out of the relations in which we are placed.

1. Some of these relations are toward God. God puts us where we are.

2. Some of these relations, as with the Levite gate-keepers, are towards Gods house. The charge is upon us as Church-members to attend upon, give to, and work for the advancement of the Church to which we belong.

3. Some of these relations are toward our fellow-men. Israel depended on these Levites for certain service. Our family, Church, city, State, nation–all have claims upon us for duty.

II. Concerning the importance of adjusting ones life so as to be able to do duty. These Levites lodged round about the house of God. That is, they so adjusted their arrangements of living that they could do the duty that devolved upon them. They planned for it, provided for its certain accomplishment.

III. As to some of the ways in which duty is presented to us.

1. In ways of permanent obligation. In the case of these Levites we are told that the work pertained to them. It was a permanent thing, of unchanging obligation. One of the best ways for us to recognise the dominance of duty is by faithfulness in connection with those possibly prosaic, but unchanging and permanent, duties that pertain to us.

2. Others come in the way of regular recurrence. The opening thereof every morning pertained to them. Most of our duties are of this everyday, regular, recurring kind.

3. Duty is presented to us oftentimes in things apparently trivial Theirs was the opening and shutting of the gates: Not apparently a great thing; but it had as close and vital a relation to character as if it had seen great, As they did their work, lowly though it seemed, well or ill, they were morally well or ill. To most of us the work God gives does not seem great. But little things can be greatly done. By doing little things faithfully many a life has been made great. (G. B. F. Halleck, D. D.)

Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell

They lodged round about the house of God; therefore they were obliged to constant residence in the place; and were not permitted to dwell in the villages, as their brethren were.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

And they lodged round about the house of God,…. In chambers on the outward wall about it, that they might be near to do their office:

because the charge was upon them; to guard the house:

and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them; that is, the opening of the doors of the mountain of the house, and the court of women; for as for others, that appertained to the priests, as Dr. Lightfoot u observes; under the second temple, it is said w, Ben Geber was over the shutting of the gates in the evening, and so of opening in the morning.

u Temple-Service, c. 7. sect. 1. w Misn. Shekalim, c. 5. sect. 1.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

The Charge of the Levites

v. 27. And they, the Levites in general, lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them, the large gates had to be opened every morning at a specified time.

v. 28. And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, they were responsible for the precious vessels used for the sacrifices, that they should bring them in and out by tale, for of everything in the Temple treasuries a careful count was kept.

v. 29. Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the Sanctuary, all those used in the ordinary daily offerings, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices, all the materials used for incense, for meat and drink-offerings.

v. 30. And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices, a precious and singular oil, used exclusively for sacred purposes.

v. 31. And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the first-born of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans, literally, “was in trust over the baking in pans,” Lev 2:5; Lev 6:14.

v. 32. And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the showbread, to prepare it every Sabbath, Lev 24:6-8. So the entire worship was once more organized in line with the institution of the Lord.

v. 33. And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who, remaining in the chambers, were free, they were exclusively engaged in the liturgical part of the services and were therefore excused from other work; for they were employed in that work day and night; when not actually engaged in public worship, they were busy practising the difficult liturgical melodies.

v. 34. These chief fathers of the Levites, heads of the father-houses among the Levites, were chief throughout their generations; these dwelt at Jerusalem. The genealogy of Saul is here repeated, as an introduction to the historical section of the book, which opens with an account of the fall of Saul’s house.

v. 35. And in Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jehiel, whose wife’s name was Maachah;

v. 36. and his firstborn son Abdon, then Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab,

v. 37. and Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth.

v. 38. And Mikloth begat Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their brethren at Jerusalem, over against their brethren.

v. 39. And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and Esh-baal.

v. 40. And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal; and Merib-baal begat Micah.

v. 41. And the sons of Micah were Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, and Ahaz.

v. 42. And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;

v. 43. and Moza begat Binea; and Rephaiah, his son, Eleasah, his son, Azel, his son.

v. 44. And Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan; these were the sons of Azel. Cf 1Ch 8:28-38.

Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann

opening thereof, &c. = were over the key. Compare Jdg 3:25. Isa 22:22.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

the charge: 1Ch 23:32, Rom 12:7

the opening: 1Sa 3:15, Mal 1:10

Reciprocal: Num 31:30 – keep the Jer 35:4 – the keeper

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge