1 Chronicles 26:17

Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(17) Eastward were six Levites.—Literally, To the east the Levites were six; to the northward for the day four; to the southward for the day four; and to the Stores two two (i.e., two apiece, or two by two). We must supply for the day in the first clause, with the LXX.

Toward Asuppim two and two.—The magazine appears to have had two doors, with two warders stationed at each.

Benson Commentary

1 Chronicles 26:17. Eastward were six Levites — For that, being the chief gate of the temple, required a better guard. Toward Asuppim — That is, the house of Asuppim, as it is called 1 Chronicles 26:15, where also it is said to be on the south side; on which there seems to have been a double guard, both belonging to Obed-edom, (1 Chronicles 26:15,) one at the south gate, and the other at Asuppim, where possibly the sacred treasures, mentioned 1 Chronicles 26:20, &c., were laid up, and therefore a particular guard was necessary. See on 1 Chronicles 26:15.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

26:1-32 The offices of the Levites. - The porters and treasurers of the temple, had occasion for strength and valour to oppose those who wrongly attempted to enter the sanctuary, and to guard the sacred treasures. Much was expended daily upon the altar; flour, wine, oil, salt, fuel, beside the lamps; quantities of these were kept beforehand, besides the sacred vestments and utensils. These were the treasures of the house of God. These treasures typified the plenty there is in our heavenly Father's house, enough and to spare. From those sacred treasuries, the unsearchable riches of Christ, all our wants are supplied; and receiving from his fulness, we must give him the glory, and endeavour to dispose of our abilities and substance according to his will. We have an account of those employed as officers and judges. The magistracy is an ordinance of God for the good of the church, as truly as the ministry, and must not be neglected. None of the Levites who were employed in the service of the sanctuary, none of the singers or porters, were concerned in this outward business; one duty was enough to engage the whole man. Wisdom, courage, strength of faith, holy affections, and constancy of mind in doing our duty, are requisite or useful for every station.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Toward Asuppim two and two - It is conjectured that the "store-house" in question (1 Chronicles 26:15 note) had two doors, to each of which two porters were appointed.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

17-19. Eastward were six Levites—because the gate there was the most frequented. There were four at the north gate; four at the south, at the storehouse which was adjoining the south, and which had two entrance gates, one leading in a southwesterly direction to the city, and the other direct west, two porters each. At the Parbar towards the west, there were six men posted—four at the causeway or ascent (1Ch 26:16), and two at Parbar, amounting to twenty-four in all, who were kept daily on guard.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Eastward were six Levites; for that being the chief gate of the temple, required a better guard.

Toward Asuppim, i.e., the house of Asuppim, as it is called, 1 Chronicles 26:15, where also it is said to be on the south side; on which there seems to have been a double guard both belonging to Obed-edom, 1 Chronicles 26:15, one at the south gate, and the other at Asuppim; here possibly the sacred treasures, mentioned 1 Chronicles 26:20, &c., were laid up, and therefore a particular guard was necessary. See Poole "1 Chronicles 26:15".

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Eastward were six Levites,.... The eastern gate, being the way of entrance into the temple, required more porters:

northward four a day; in the daytime, or every day, where was the gate Teri or Tedi, 1 Chronicles 26:14, southward four a day: at the two gates of Huldah, 1 Chronicles 26:15 and toward Asuppim two and two; which were two gates, two at each gate, 1 Chronicles 26:15.

Geneva Study Bible

Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim {i} two and two.

(i) Meaning two one day and two another.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

17. toward Asuppim] R.V. for the storehouse.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 17, 18. - These verses give the number of individuals who composed the watch at a time, beginning again from Shelemiah's eastward position. The two and two toward Asuppim suggest most naturally the suppositon of two attendants at each of two gates, or else of two succeeding two. Parbar (פַרְבָּר). This word appears as פָּרְוָר in 2 Kings 23:11. These words, with forms akin to them, are often found in the Targums, but not elsewhere in the Scriptures. The nearest approach to the meaning of the word, as yet discovered, is a "suburb." The connection may just do as much as indicate that, whereas four porters kept the causeway gate, the Parbar gate was in closer proximity to the temple that was to be, but what this Parbar really was is not yet ascertained. Possibly it is the προάστειον of Josephus ('Ant.,' 15. 11:5). If we add the numbers of Levites given in these two verses, it will be noticed that they mount up to twenty-four. 1 Chronicles 26:17

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Settlement of the number of guard-stations at the various sides and places. Towards morning (on the east side) were six of the Levites (six kept guard); towards the north by day (i.e., daily, on each day), four; towards the south daily, four; and at the storehouse two and two, consequently four also; at Parbar towards the west, four on the highway and two at Parbar, i.e., six. In all, therefore, there were twenty-four guard-stations to be occupied daily; but more than twenty-four persons were required, because, even supposing that one man at a time was sufficient for each post, one man could not stand the whole day at it: he must have been relieved from time to time. Probably, however, there were always more than one person on guard at each post. It further suggests itself that the number twenty-four may be in some way connected with the divisions or classes of doorkeepers; but there is only a deceptive appearance of a connection. The division of the priests and musicians each into twenty-four classes respectively is no sufficient analogy in the case, for these classes had to perform the service in succession each for a week at a time, while the twenty-four doorkeepers' stations had to be all occupied simultaneously every day. - In 1 Chronicles 26:2-11, then, twenty-eight heads in all are enumerated by name (Meshelemiah with seven sons, Obed-edom with eight sons and six grandsons, and Hosah with four sons); but the total number in all the three families of doorkeepers is stated at ninety-three, and neither the one nor the other of these numbers bears any relation to twenty-four. Finally, the posts are so distributed that Meshelemiah with his eighteen sons and brothers kept guard on the east and north sides with six posts; Obed-edom with his sixty-two sons and brothers on the south side with four and 2 x 2, that is, eight posts; and Hosah with his thirteen sons and brothers on the western side with four and two, that is, six; so that even here no symmetrical distribution of the service can be discovered.