1 Chronicles 26:1

Concerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(1) Concerning the divisions of the porters.—Literally, (as) to courses to porters. (Comp. 1Chronicles 23:6.) As many as 4,000 Levites were set apart for this function by the king’s orders. (Comp. 1Chronicles 23:25.)

Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah.—To the Korhites (sons of Korah) belonged Meshelemiah son of Kōrē. Meshelemiah is called Shelemiah (1Chronicles 26:14), and Shallum (1Chronicles 9:19).

Of the sons of Asaph.—Not the chief musician Asaph, who was a Gershonite (1Chronicles 6:39-48); whereas the Korhites were a Kohathite stock (Exodus 6:21). The name here is evidently an abbreviation of Ebiasaph (1Chronicles 9:19), as Ahaz of Jehoahaz.

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

The porters - See 1 Chronicles 9:17-27; 1 Chronicles 23:5.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 26

1Ch 26:1-12. Divisions of the Porters.

1, 2. Concerning the divisions of the porters—There were four thousand (1Ch 23:6), all taken from the families of the Kohathites and Merarites (1Ch 26:14), divided into twenty-four courses—as the priests and musicians.

Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph—Seven sons of Meshelemiah are mentioned (1Ch 26:2), whereas eighteen are given (1Ch 26:9), but in this latter number his relatives are included.The division of the porters, 1 Chronicles 26:1-12. The gates assigned by lot, 1 Chronicles 26:13-19. The Levites have charge of the treasures of the temple, 1 Chronicles 26:20-28. Officers and judges, 1 Chronicles 26:29-32.

Not that famous Asaph the singer, but another Asaph, called also Ebiasaph, 1 Chronicles 6:37.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Concerning the divisions of the porters,.... Or doorkeepers, whose business it was to open and shut the doors of the temple, to keep all impure and improper persons from entering into it, or any of the vessels being carried out of it, and to prevent tumults and riots about it; these, as it seems, David divided into a like number of classes, as the singers, to take their turns in waiting:

of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph; not Asaph the singer, who was a Gershonite, but the same with Eliasaph, 1 Chronicles 6:23 a Korhite.

Geneva Study Bible

Concerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of {a} Asaph.

(a) This Asaph was not the notable musician, but another of that name also called Ebiasaph in 1Ch 6:23,37,9:19 and also Jasaph.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Ch. 1 Chronicles 26:1-12 (cp. 1 Chronicles 9:17-27). The Courses of the Doorkeepers

1. Concerning the divisions of the porters] R.V. For the courses of the doorkeepers.

Korhites] R.V. Korahites; 1 Chronicles 9:19.

Meshelemiah … Asaph] For the names of the doorkeepers see notes on 1 Chronicles 9:17, and for Asaph see note on 1 Chronicles 9:19.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 1. - The subject of the porters has been before us in 1 Chronicles 9:17-27; 1 Chronicles 15:23, 24; 1 Chronicles 16:38; 1 Chronicles 23:5, in which last passage we are told that there were four thousand of the Levites who were porters. The divisions of the porters spoken of in the present chapter were from the sons of Korah or Kore, and Merari (vers. 10, 19). The Korahite porters are given us in the first nine verses. The first mentioned is Meshelemiah, who, though called the same in vers. 2, 9, appears as Shelemiah in ver. 14, and in 1 Chronicles 9:19 as Shallum. Asaph, given here as one of the ancestors, must be replaced by Ebi-asaph (1 Chronicles 6:23, 37; 1 Chronicles 9:19; also Exodus 6:24), who was a Korahite, whereas Asaph was a Gershonite (1 Chronicles 6:39, 43). 1 Chronicles 26:1

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

The classes of the doorkeepers, the stewards of the treasures of the sanctuary, and the officers for the external business. - Vv. 1-19. The classes of the doorkeepers. 1 Chronicles 26:1. The superscription runs shortly thus: "As to (ל) the divisions of the doorkeepers." The enumeration beings with לקרחים: to the Korahites (belongs) Meshelemiah (in 1 Chronicles 26:14, Shelemiah). Instead of אסף מן־בּני we should read, according to 1 Chronicles 9:19, אביסף מן־בּני, for the Korahites are descended from Kohath (Exodus 6:21; Exodus 18:16), but Asaph is a descendant of Gershon (1 Chronicles 6:39.). - In 1 Chronicles 26:2, 1 Chronicles 26:3, seven sons of Meshelemiah are enumerated; the first-born Zechariah is mentioned also in 1 Chronicles 9:21, and was entrusted, according to 1 Chronicles 26:14, with the guarding of the north side.