boose_magoose/mh_parser
1
0
Fork 0
Code Issues Pull Requests Packages Projects Releases Wiki Activity
6bc35810f3
mh_parser/matthew_henry/MHC13026.HTM

451 lines
20 KiB
Plaintext
Raw Normal View History

init
2023-11-30 02:23:35 +00:00
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [First Chronicles, Chapter XXVI].</TITLE>
<meta name="aesop" content="information">
<meta name="description" content=
"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
<meta name="keywords" content=
"Prophecy, Rapture,hope,bible map,bible maps, God, tribulation,Second Coming,Christ,large print bible,commentary,complete">
</HEAD>
<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
on the Whole Bible</h1>
<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
</h3>
</center>
<HR>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
[<A HREF="MHC13025.HTM">Previous</A>]
[<A HREF="MHC13027.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
</TD></TR></TABLE>
<HR>
<!-- (Begin Body) -->
<CENTER>
<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>F I R S T &nbsp; C H R O N I C L E S</B></FONT>
<BR>
<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXVI.</FONT>
<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
</CENTER>
<FONT SIZE=-1>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
We have here an account of the business of the Levites. That tribe had
made but a very small figure all the time of the judges, till Eli and
Samuel appeared. But when David revived religion the Levites were, of
all men, in the greatest reputation. And happy it was that they had
Levites who were men of sense, fit to support the honour of their
tribe. We have here an account,
I. Of the Levites that were appointed to be porters,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+26:1-19">ver. 1-19</A>.
II. Of those that were appointed to be treasurers and storekeepers,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+26:20-28">ver. 20-28</A>.
III. Of those that were officers and judges in the country, and were
entrusted with the administration of public affairs,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+26:29-32">ver. 29-32</A>.</P>
</FONT>
<A NAME="1Ch26_1"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_2"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_3"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_4"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_5"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_6"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_7"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_8"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_9"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_10"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_11"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_12"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_13"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_14"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_15"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_16"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_17"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_18"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_19"> </A>
<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Officers of the Levites.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> Date.</TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Concerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites
<I>was</I> Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
&nbsp; 2 And the sons of Meshelemiah <I>were,</I> Zechariah the firstborn,
Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
&nbsp; 3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh.
&nbsp; 4 Moreover the sons of Obed-edom <I>were,</I> Shemaiah the firstborn,
Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and
Nethaneel the fifth,
&nbsp; 5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth:
for God blessed him.
&nbsp; 6 Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled
throughout the house of their father: for they <I>were</I> mighty men
of valour.
&nbsp; 7 The sons of Shemaiah; Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad,
whose brethren <I>were</I> strong men, Elihu, and Semachiah.
&nbsp; 8 All these of the sons of Obed-edom: they and their sons and
their brethren, able men for strength for the service, <I>were</I>
threescore and two of Obed-edom.
&nbsp; 9 And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, strong men, eighteen.
&nbsp; 10 Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons; Simri the
chief, (for <I>though</I> he was not the firstborn, yet his father
made him the chief;)
&nbsp; 11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the
fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah <I>were</I> thirteen.
&nbsp; 12 Among these <I>were</I> the divisions of the porters, <I>even</I>
among the chief men, <I>having</I> wards one against another, to
minister in the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
&nbsp; 13 And they cast lots, as well the small as the great,
according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.
&nbsp; 14 And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah
his son, a wise counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out
northward.
&nbsp; 15 To Obed-edom southward; and to his sons the house of Asuppim.
&nbsp; 16 To Shuppim and Hosah <I>the lot came forth</I> westward, with the
gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against
ward.
&nbsp; 17 Eastward <I>were</I> six Levites, northward four a day, southward
four a day, and toward Asuppim two <I>and</I> two.
&nbsp; 18 At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, <I>and</I> two at
Parbar.
&nbsp; 19 These <I>are</I> the divisions of the porters among the sons of
Kore, and among the sons of Merari.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Observe,
I. There were porters appointed to attend the temple, who guarded all
the avenues that let to it, opened and shut all the outer gates and
attended at them, not only for the state, but for service, to direct
and instruct those who were going to worship in the courts of the
sanctuary in the decorum they were to observe, to encourage those that
were timorous, to send back the strangers and unclean, and to guard
against thieves and others that were enemies to the house of God. In
allusion to this office, ministers are said to have <I>the keys to the
kingdom of heaven</I> committed to them
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+16:19">Matt. xvi. 19</A>),
that they may admit, and exclude, according to the law of Christ.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
II. Of several of those that were called to this service, it is taken
notice of that they were <I>mighty men of valour</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+26:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
<I>strong men</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+26:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>),
<I>able men</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+26:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
and one of them that he was a <I>wise counsellor</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+26:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
who probably, when he had <I>used this office of a deacon well</I> and
given proofs of more than ordinary wisdom, <I>purchased to himself a
good degree,</I> and was preferred from the gate to the council-board,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+3:13">1 Tim. iii. 13</A>.
As for those that excelled in strength of body, and courage and
resolution of mind, they were thereby qualified for the post assigned
them; for whatever service God calls men to he either finds them fit or
makes them so.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
III. The sons of Obed-edom were employed in this office, sixty-two of
that family. This was he that entertained the ark with reverence and
cheerfulness; and see how he was rewarded for it.
1. He had eight <I>sons</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+26:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
<I>for God blessed him.</I> The increase and building up of families
are owing to the divine blessing; and a great blessing it is to a
family to have many children, when like these they are able for, and
eminent in, the service of God.
2. His sons were preferred to places of trust in the sanctuary. They
had faithfully attended the ark in their own house, and now were called
to attend it in God's house. He that is trusty in little shall be
trusted with more. He that keeps God's ordinances in his own tent is
fit to have the custody of them in God's tabernacle,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+3:4,5">1 Tim. iii. 4, 5</A>.
<I>I have kept thy law,</I> says David, and <I>this I had because I
kept thy precepts,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:55,56">Ps. cxix. 55, 56</A>.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
IV. It is said of one here that <I>though he was not the first-born his
father made him the chief</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+26:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
either because he was very excellent, or because the elder son was very
weak. He was made chief, perhaps not in inheriting the estate (for that
was forbidden by the law,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+21:16,17">Deut. xxi. 16, 17</A>),
but in this service, which required personal qualifications.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
V. The porters, as the singers, had their post assigned them by lot, so
many at such a gate, and so many at such a one, that every one might
know his post and make it good,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+26:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
It is not said that they were cast into twenty-four courses, as before;
but here are the names of about twenty-four
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+26:1-11"><I>v.</I> 1-11</A>),
and the posts assigned are twenty-four,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+26:17,18"><I>v.</I> 17, 18</A>.
We have therefore reason to think they were distributed into as many
companies. Happy are those who dwell in God's house: for, as they are
well fed, well taught, and well employed, so they are well guarded.
Men attended at the gates of the temple, but angels attend at the gates
of the New Jerusalem,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:12">Rev. xxi. 12</A>.</P>
<A NAME="1Ch26_20"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_21"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_22"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_23"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_24"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_25"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_26"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_27"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_28"> </A>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>20 And of the Levites, Ahijah <I>was</I> over the treasures of the
house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.
&nbsp; 21 <I>As concerning</I> the sons of Laadan; the sons of the
Gershonite Laadan, chief fathers, <I>even</I> of Laadan the
Gershonite, <I>were</I> Jehieli.
&nbsp; 22 The sons of Jehieli; Zetham, and Joel his brother, <I>which
were</I> over the treasures of the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
&nbsp; 23 Of the Amramites, <I>and</I> the Izharites, the Hebronites, <I>and</I>
the Uzzielites:
&nbsp; 24 And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, <I>was</I>
ruler of the treasures.
&nbsp; 25 And his brethren by Eliezer; Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah
his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his
son.
&nbsp; 26 Which Shelomith and his brethren <I>were</I> over all the
treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the
chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the
captains of the host, had dedicated.
&nbsp; 27 Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to
maintain the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
&nbsp; 28 And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and
Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated;
<I>and</I> whosoever had dedicated <I>any thing, it was</I> under the hand
of Shelomith, and of his brethren.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Observe,
1. There were <I>treasures of the house of God.</I> A great house
cannot be well kept without stores of all manner of provisions. Much
was expended daily upon the altar-flour, wine, oil, salt, fuel, besides
the lamps; quantities of these were to be kept beforehand, besides the
sacred vestments and utensils. These were the <I>treasures of the house
of God.</I> And, because money answers all things, doubtless they had
an abundance of it, which was received from the people's offerings,
wherewith they bought in what they had occasion for. And perhaps much
was laid up for an exigence. These treasures typified the plenty there
is in our heavenly Father's house, enough and to spare. In Christ, the
true temple, are hid <I>treasures of wisdom and knowledge,</I> and
<I>unsearchable riches.</I>
2. There were <I>treasures of dedicated things,</I> dedicated mostly
<I>out of the spoils won in battle</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+26:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>),
as a grateful acknowledgment of the divine protection. Abraham gave
Melchisedec the <I>tenth of the spoils</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+7:4">Heb. vii. 4</A>.
In Moses's time the officers of the army, when they returned
victorious, brought of their spoils an <I>oblation to the Lord,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:50">Num. xxxi. 50</A>.
Of late this pious custom had been revived; and not only Samuel and
David, but Saul, and Abner, and Joab, had dedicated of their spoils to
the honour and support of the house of God,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+26:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>.
Note, The more God bestows upon us the more he expects from us in works
of piety and charity. Great successes call for proportionable returns.
When we look over our estates we should consider, "Here are convenient
things, rich things, it may be, and fine things; but where are the
dedicated things?" Men of war must honour God with their spoils.
3. These treasures had treasurers, those that were over them
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+26:20,26"><I>v.</I> 20, 26</A>),
whose business it was to keep them, that neither <I>moth nor rust</I>
might <I>corrupt them,</I> nor <I>thieves break through and steal,</I>
to give out as there was occasion and to see that they were not wasted,
embezzled, or alienated to the common use; and it is probable that they
kept accounts of all that was brought in and how it was laid out.</P>
<A NAME="1Ch26_29"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_30"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_31"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch26_32"> </A>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons <I>were</I> for the
outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.
&nbsp; 30 <I>And</I> of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of
valour, a thousand and seven hundred, <I>were</I> officers among them
of Israel on this side Jordan westward in all the business of the
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and in the service of the king.
&nbsp; 31 Among the Hebronites <I>was</I> Jerijah the chief, <I>even</I> 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.
&nbsp; 32 And his brethren, men of valour, <I>were</I> 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.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
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 <I>in all business of the Lord,</I> and <I>in
the service of the kings,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+26:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>
and again
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+26:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>.
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,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+26:30,32"><I>v.</I> 30, 32</A>.
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
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+26:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>),
that is, the last year of his reign. We should be so much the more
industrious to do good <I>as we can see the day approaching.</I> If we
live to enjoy the fruit of our labours, grudge it not to those that
shall come after us.</P>
<!-- (End Body) -->
<HR>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
[<A HREF="MHC13025.HTM">Previous</A>]
[<A HREF="MHC13027.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
</TABLE>
<HR>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<!--Matthew_Henry's_Commentary_on_the_Whole_Bible:_First_Chronicles_XXVI.--><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank"><b>Back to Bibles Net . Com - Online Christian Library </b></a><br>
<a href="http://biblesnet.com/download.html" target="_blank"><br>
<b>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Free Download</b></a><br>
<br>
<A HREF="http://biblesnet.com/contactus.html" target="_blank"><strong>Contact Us </strong></A><br>
</TD></TR></TABLE>
<HR>
</BODY>
</HTML>
Reference in New Issue Copy Permalink