1 Concerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
2 And the sons of Meshelemiah were, Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh.
4 Moreover the sons of Obededom were, Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth.
5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth: for God blessed him.
6 Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father: for they were mighty men of valor.
7 The sons of Shemaiah; Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were strong men, Elihu, and Semachiah.
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.
9 And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, strong men, eighteen.
10 Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons; Simri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief;)
11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.
12 Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another, to minister in the house of the LORD.
13 And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.
14 And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counselor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.
15 To Obededom southward; and to his sons the house of Asuppim.
16 To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward.
17 Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two.
18 At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.
19 These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari.
20 And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.
21 As concerning the sons of Laadan; the sons of the Gershonite Laadan, chief fathers, even of Laadan the Gershonite, were Jehieli.
22 The sons of Jehieli; Zetham, and Joel his brother, which were over the treasures of the house of the LORD.
23 Of the Amramites, and the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites:
24 And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler of the treasures.
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.
26 Which Shelomith and his brethren were 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.
27 Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the LORD.
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; and whosoever had dedicated any thing, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren.
29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.
30 And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valor, a thousand and seven hundred, were officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward in all the business of the LORD, and in the service of the king.
31 Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even 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 valor at Jazer of Gilead.
32 And his brethren, men of valor, were 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.
The 26th chapter of the book of 1 Chronicles in the King James Version of the Holy Bible is primarily about the division of the Levites into their respective duties and responsibilities in the service of the Lord. This chapter also provides a detailed account of the gatekeepers and treasurers of the temple, as well as the divisions of the Levites who were tasked with various roles in the house of God. The main themes of this chapter include the importance of organization and order in the service of God, the significance of faithful and loyal servants in the house of God, and the blessings that come from diligently fulfilling one's duties in the service of the Lord. Through this chapter, we can also learn about the value of humility and obedience in serving God and the importance of honoring and respecting the house of God.
The first part of chapter 26 focuses on the division of the Levites into their respective duties and responsibilities. The Levites were the descendants of Levi, the third son of Jacob, and were chosen by God to serve in the tabernacle and later in the temple. The division of the Levites was important for the proper functioning of the house of God, and this chapter provides a detailed account of the different families and their roles.
The sons of Levi were divided into three main families: the Gershonites, the Kohathites, and the Merarites. Each of these families was further divided into clans, and each clan had specific duties in the service of God. The Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle, the Kohathites were in charge of the holy vessels and furniture, and the Merarites had the task of carrying the boards and pillars of the tabernacle.
Another important role in the service of God was that of the gatekeepers. These were the Levites who were responsible for guarding the gates of the temple and ensuring that only those who were worthy and authorized could enter. The gatekeepers were divided into four main groups, each assigned to a specific gate of the temple.
The gatekeepers were also responsible for collecting the offerings of the people and bringing them to the treasury of the house of God. This was an important role as it required honesty and integrity, and the gatekeepers were chosen based on their character and faithfulness.
The chapter also provides a detailed account of the treasurers of the house of God. These were the Levites who were responsible for the financial affairs of the temple and ensuring that the offerings and tithes were used for the maintenance and upkeep of the house of God. The treasurers were chosen based on their wisdom and knowledge, and they were accountable to the priests and the chief Levites.
The rest of the chapter focuses on the specific duties of the Levites in the house of God. These included the singers, the officers, and the other Levites who were responsible for various tasks such as preparing the showbread, baking the cakes, and offering sacrifices.
One of the key themes that emerge from this section is the importance of diligence and faithfulness in the service of God. The Levites were expected to perform their duties with integrity and dedication, and those who did so were blessed by God. This is evident in the example of Obed-edom, who was a gatekeeper but was later chosen to be a treasurer because of his faithfulness and diligence in his duties.
The 26th chapter of 1 Chronicles holds several important lessons for believers today. One of the main themes of this chapter is the importance of organization and order in the service of God. The division of the Levites into their respective duties and responsibilities ensured that the house of God was well-maintained and that the service of God was carried out efficiently.
Another significant theme is the value of faithful and loyal servants in the house of God. The Levites were chosen by God for their specific roles, and their faithfulness and dedication in fulfilling their duties were highly valued. This serves as a reminder that all believers have a unique role to play in the service of God, and it is important to do so with diligence and loyalty.
Furthermore, this chapter also highlights the importance of humility and obedience in serving God. The Levites were not chosen based on their status or wealth, but rather on their character and faithfulness. This shows that God values a humble and obedient heart more than any external qualities.
In addition, this chapter also emphasizes the significance of honoring and respecting the house of God. The duties of the Levites were centered around the temple, and they were responsible for its upkeep and maintenance. This serves as a reminder that the house of God is a sacred place and should be treated with reverence and respect.
In conclusion, the 26th chapter of 1 Chronicles provides a detailed account of the organization and division of the Levites in the service of God. This chapter highlights the importance of organization, faithfulness, humility, and obedience in serving God and the blessings that come from fulfilling one's duties with diligence and loyalty. As believers, we can learn from the example of the Levites and strive to serve God with the same dedication and commitment.
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