over them e in times paſt,and the LOR Dwas with him f. e 1. e, Over all the Porters, and other Levites and Prieſts before mentioned. f To direct, and affiſt, and bleſs him in the diſcharge of his Place. Which feems here related to encourage his Succeflor, and conſequently all the Prieſts and Levites of this time to go on couragioully and reſolutely in their Work,not doubting but God will irand by them as he had done by their Fathers. 21 And Z&echariah the ſon of Methelemiah,was g porter
þ of the door of the tabernacle z of the congregation. gs To wit, inthe time of David,as the following Verſe ſheweth, See ch. 26: 1,2.and 27:2. + 1,e. Chief Porter. # 7. e. Of the Door which led out of the Prieſts Court into the Tabernacle, in which the Ark was placed, 2 Sam.6.17. : 22 All theſe which were choſen to be porters in the
gates, were two hundred and twelve. Theſe were reck- oned by their genealogy in their villages & : whom * Da- vid and Samuel the * ſeer + did ordain / in their || ſet
office mn.
k Where there uſual Reſidence was,& whence they came to Jeru-
ſalem in their Courſes. 1 In the tines of the Judges there was much Diſorders & Confuſion both in the Jewiſh State & Church,and the Lev'tes came to the Tabernacle promiſcuouſly,& as their Inclinat'- ons or Occaſions brought them. But Samuel the beit of Judges, having ſome proſpect and good hopes cf deliverance from their Encmies, and of ai happy Sertlement of the Iſraclitiſh Church and Nation ; and obſerving that the Levires were greatly increated, h: began to rhink If eſtabl ſhing ſomeOrder among theLevires in the.) Mainiſtraticn abour the Tabernacle. And theſe intentions of his probably were communicated by him to David, who after Samuel: Death and his own peaceable Settlement in his Throne,revived and perf-tcd Samuels Deſign. & took care to pur it in Execution. m2 Heb. in their faith, or faithfulneſs, i, e, Either, 1. In their office, which is called faithfulneſs, becauſe this is required in that office. Or, 2 In the Faithful 01:charge of their Dury and in obedience to the Will of God ſignified to them by Revelation,or by rhe ſpirit,as it 15 ſaid of David, 1 Chron.28. » 2, which they received by Faith,and ac- cordingly deſigned,and David executed it. And 6 this is added tc ſhew,thar this was no Humane Invention,as ſome might conceive, bur a bivine Appointment, to which all ought to ſubmit.
23 So they and their cuildren had we orerlighe n of the gates of the houſe of che LORD, »amely, the houſe of the tebernacie o, by wards p.
n To wit,in Davia's time. 0 This 1s added tn explain what he means by the Houſe of the Lord,n"vt that Tabernacle which Davia had fer up tor the Ark ; bur that ore folemn Tabernance, which Moſes had made by Gods expreſs Command and moſt particular Dj rettion ; which in Davids time was at Gibern; in which God was. and would be worſhipped unti the Temple was built- See 1 Kings 3: 2, &C, 2 Chron:1:3,5,& þp 7.e By Turns or courſes,cach of th-m at his Gare, and in his appoited tune.
24 In four quarters were the porters q : towards the eaſt, welt, north, and ſouth.
q i,e, The Chief Porters, as this is explained, v. 26.
25 And their brethren which were in their villages were to come r after ſeven days s, from time to time
with them 7.
r From their ſeveral Villages to the Place of Worſhip. 5 Every Sabbath or Seventh day theCourtes were changed,& the New Com- ers were to tarry tili the next Sabbath=day. See 2 King 1. 5,7.9. ? 7, e. To be with them, z- e. with rhe Chief pirters, who always abode 1a the Place of 'zod's Worſhip, and ro miniſter to them +
25 For theſe Levites. the tour chief porters, were iz, their || fet office u ; and were over the || chambers and
treaſuies x of the houſe of God.
7. e. They were conſtantly upon the Place,and in the executi n of their office.thar ſo they might overſee & dere the Inferiour Por- ters in their Work. Or, as others render the Words, agreeably :0 the Hebrew Tcxt, For theſe (i. e. their Brethren, v. 25.) were under the charge, or committed to the truſt of the fiur chief porters, who allo were Levites. as their Brethren were ; whe: eas the Cheef of all of chem was a Pricett. Either way thete Woids contain a Reaſon of w at was ſaid,v. 25. why rhe re[t were to come tn thele,and to be with them. x In which the Sacred Urenſils, and other Treaſures be» longing to the Temple, were kept.
27 And they lodged round about the houſe of God y. the charge was upon them, and f the openiug every mo;ning pertained to them.
) Therefore they were obliged to conſtantReſidence in the Place; and were not permitted to dweil in- the Villages,as their Brethren Were.
28 And certain of them had the charge of the mini-
and care; ſtring veſſels, that they jhouid F bring them in and out themout by by tale.
29 Some of them alſo were apyoinced to overſee the veſſels, and all the || inftrumenrs of the fancuary, and the fine flour,and the wine, and the vil, and the frank- incenſe, aud the 1pices.
3o And || ſome? ot the ſons of the: prieſts made * the ointment of the ſpices &.
g day and night þ. E c 7.e. Others of the Levites ; of whoſe ſeveral Offices he had Tpb..
N”' 1 CL BS
z This is addcd to prevent a Miftake,and to ſhew,that althoygh the Levites were intrutted with the keeping of this Ointment, yet
| None but the Prieſts could make it. See Exod: 30: 22, &c. ,
1 And Mattichiah,oze of the Levites ( who was the
a i.e. Was to take care that Fine Flour might providedand kept ſafely and well,that when occaſion required they might make Cakes in Pans to be offered to the Lord : of which ſee on Lev! 2: 5.
32 And other of their brethren of the ſons of the
were free f: for | they were imployed in that
ken before. 4 Or rather, were; which is underſtood, and-all along
in the foregoing and following Verſes,and again in this very verſe.
e Where they waited,that they might be ready to come whenſo- ever they were called to the Service of God in the Tabernacle.
f From all Trouble and Employment, that they might wholly ar-