1 Chronicles 26:8

All these of the sons of Obededom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men for strength for the service, were threescore and two of Obededom.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) Able men.—Were men of power; in the original, a singular collective.

For strength.—Literally, In the strength, i.e., ability.

Were threescore and two . . .—A distinct sentence: There were sixty and two (belonging) to Obed-edom. Perhaps the word kol, “every,” has fallen out before ish hayil (comp. 1Chronicles 10:12, where the same phrase occurred). In that case render, All these were of the sons of Obed-edom; they and their sons and their brethren, every man of power in the strength for service. The “sons and brethren” of the porters may be compared with those of the musicians (1Chronicles 25:9; 1Chronicles 25:29).

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

Obed-edom and Hosah 1 Chronicles 26:10 had been "porters," or door - keepers, from the time of the bringing up of the ark into Jerusalem 1 Chronicles 15:24; 1 Chronicles 16:38.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

6. mighty men of valour—The circumstance of physical strength is prominently noticed in this chapter, as the office of the porters required them not only to act as sentinels of the sacred edifice and its precious furniture against attacks of plunderers or popular insurrection—to be, in fact, a military guard—but, after the temple was built, to open and shut the gates, which were extraordinarily large and ponderous.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

All these of the sons of Obededom,.... And grandsons:

they and their sons and their brethren, able men for strength for the service; men of fortitude of mind and strength of body, as before observed: were

sixty two of Obededom: that sprung from him, which the Jews (s) account for in an extravagant manner, as the effect of miraculous births.

(s) T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 63. 2. & 64. 1.

Geneva Study Bible

All these of the sons of Obededom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men for {d} strength for the service, were threescore and two of Obededom.

(d) Fit to serve the office of the portership.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

8. for strength] R.V. in strength.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 8. - Able men for strength for the service. The Hebrew gives this in the singular, אִישׁיחַיִל, etc. The apparent intention is to distribute equally to each and every one of all of the sons of Obed-edom, the high character for strength given to them as grouped here together. 1 Chronicles 26:8

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

The whole number of doorkeepers of Obed-edom's family, his sons and brethren, was sixty-two; able men with strength for the service. The singular חיל אישׁ, after the preceding plural, is most simply explained by taking it to be in apposition to the כּל at the beginning of the verse, by repeating כּל mentally before אישׁ. - In 1 Chronicles 26:9 the number of Meshelemiah's sons and brothers is brought in in a supplementary way.