1 Chronicles 9:23 kjv
So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the LORD, namely, the house of the tabernacle, by wards.
1 Chronicles 9:23 nkjv
So they and their children were in charge of the gates of the house of the LORD, the house of the tabernacle, by assignment.
1 Chronicles 9:23 niv
They and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the LORD?the house called the tent of meeting.
1 Chronicles 9:23 esv
So they and their sons were in charge of the gates of the house of the LORD, that is, the house of the tent, as guards.
1 Chronicles 9:23 nlt
These gatekeepers and their descendants, by their divisions, were responsible for guarding the entrance to the house of the LORD when that house was a tent.
1 Chronicles 9 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference (Note) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Chr 9:17 | And the gatekeepers were Shallum... | Introduction of gatekeepers. |
| 1 Chr 26:1 | As for the divisions of the gatekeepers... | Details of gatekeeper families and duties. |
| 1 Chr 23:5 | four thousand were gatekeepers; and four thousand praised the Lord | David's census and organization of Levites, including gatekeepers. |
| Neh 7:1 | After the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites were appointed... | Reappointment of gatekeepers post-exile. |
| Neh 13:22 | remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me... gatekeepers | Nehemiah praying for those who cleansed and kept the gates. |
| Ps 84:10 | For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God... | Expresses longing for service in God's house, even as a gatekeeper. |
| 1 Chr 23:6 | David divided them into courses according to the sons of Levi... | General organization of Levitical service into courses. |
| 2 Chr 8:14 | according to the ordinance of David his father, for the divisions... priests and Levites | Solomon organized priests and Levites into courses. |
| Neh 12:45 | kept the watch of their God and the watch of the purification... by courses. | Post-exilic priests and Levites serving by courses for purity. |
| Exod 40:34-35 | Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. | The divine presence in the Tabernacle ("tent of meeting"). |
| 2 Sam 7:6 | For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. | God dwelling in a tent/Tabernacle prior to the Temple. |
| 1 Kgs 6:1 | In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign... he built the house of the LORD. | Building of the permanent Temple. |
| 1 Kgs 8:10-11 | And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the LORD... | Divine presence filling the completed Temple. |
| 2 Chr 5:5 | And they brought up the ark, and the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent. | Continuity shown by bringing the Tabernacle's elements into the Temple. |
| Ps 27:4 | One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life... | Desire for presence in God's house. |
| Isa 56:7 | even them I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer... | God's house as a place of prayer for all peoples. |
| Num 3:10 | You shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall guard their priesthood; but any outsider who comes near shall be put to death. | Emphasizes proper guardians of sacred space/roles. |
| Jn 10:7 | So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep." | Christ as the ultimate gate/access to God's presence and salvation. |
| Heb 9:1-2 | Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. For a tent was prepared... | Describes the earthly Tabernacle as a precursor. |
| Heb 8:5 | They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God... | Tabernacle as a shadow of heavenly reality. |
| 1 Cor 14:40 | But all things should be done decently and in order. | Principle of divine order, reflecting the organized temple service. |
| Rom 15:8 | Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs... | Continuity of God's covenant and promises to generations. |
1 Chronicles 9 verses
1 Chronicles 9 23 Meaning
This verse details the specific, hereditary role of certain Levites and their descendants as custodians of the entrances to the Jerusalem Temple. It emphasizes their continuous and organized responsibility for safeguarding the sacred precincts of the "House of the LORD," identifying it with the ongoing divine presence that began in the "House of the Tents," or the Tabernacle. Their service was structured into rotating "courses" to maintain order and purity in divine worship.
1 Chronicles 9 23 Context
1 Chronicles chapter 9 continues the extensive genealogies presented in earlier chapters, shifting focus specifically to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the surrounding regions after the return from the Babylonian exile. It details the various tribes and their families who resettled, emphasizing the roles of priests, Levites, and other temple servants. Verses 17-34 are particularly dedicated to describing the crucial and structured duties of the gatekeepers, treasurers, and other temple officials. This historical context for the returned exiles highlights the Chronicler's desire to remind the community of their God-ordained heritage, their covenant responsibilities, and the importance of orderly worship and temple service for the re-establishment of their national and spiritual life.
1 Chronicles 9 23 Word analysis
- So (וְהֵם, wəhēm): This conjunctive particle "and" or "so" indicates a consequence or continuation from the preceding description, linking the individuals (Shallum and his brethren/sons mentioned in previous verses) directly to their appointed duties. It establishes their central role.
- they and their sons (וּבְנֵיהֶם, uvnēhem): This emphasizes the hereditary nature of the office. The duty was not just for individuals but passed down through family lines, ensuring continuity and stability of sacred service across generations, reinforcing the importance of lineage in God's ordered community.
- were in charge (עַל־יְדֵיהֶם, ‘al-yedeihem): Literally translated as "upon their hands," this is a common Hebrew idiom denoting responsibility, supervision, or custody. It conveys their authority and the weighty responsibility placed upon them as guardians and administrators. Their duty was active and hands-on.
- of the gates (הַשַּׁעֲרִים, hashsha‘arim): Refers to the entrances of the Temple complex. These were not just entry points but strategic locations for security, judicial proceedings, public gatherings, and importantly, for controlling who and what entered the sacred space. Gatekeepers regulated access, ensuring ritual purity and preventing unauthorized entry.
- of the house of the LORD (בֵּית יְהוָה, beit YHWH): This is the primary designation for the Jerusalem Temple, God's dwelling place on Earth. It signifies the central place of worship, sacrifice, and the manifestation of God's presence, highlighting the holiness and paramount importance of the place they guarded.
- the house of the tents (לְבֵית הָאֹהֶל, ləvêt hā’ōhel): This specific phrase links the permanent Temple ("house") to its predecessor, the Tabernacle ("tent"). It emphasizes continuity: the Temple built by Solomon (and later rebuilt after exile) was the spiritual successor and permanent embodiment of God's dwelling that began as a portable tent. It underscores that the sanctity and purpose of the current "house" directly descended from the wilderness "tent."
- by courses (לְמִשְׁמָרוֹת, ləmishmarot): Refers to the structured, rotating divisions or shifts for service. This indicates meticulous organization and ensures that service was shared, continuous, and orderly, preventing fatigue and maintaining high standards. This system reflects divine order and prevents chaos in sacred service.
- "So they and their sons were in charge": This phrase highlights the perpetual, family-based commitment to the task. It's not a temporary assignment but a generational inheritance of sacred duty, underscoring faithfulness over time.
- "of the gates of the house of the LORD": This specifies the primary domain of their responsibility—managing the access points to the holy Temple. This role involved significant spiritual and practical authority, safeguarding the sanctity and order of worship.
- "the house of the tents, by courses": This is a complex phrase connecting past and present. "House of the tents" shows the theological continuity of God's dwelling from the wilderness Tabernacle to the permanent Temple. "By courses" highlights the divine blueprint for ordered, dedicated service in God's dwelling place. This arrangement ensures consistent and proper stewardship of the sacred space.
1 Chronicles 9 23 Bonus section
The Chronicler's meticulous detailing of the Levites' duties, even down to specific gatekeepers, reflects a post-exilic theological agenda to rebuild not just a physical Temple, but also a spiritual community based on adherence to the Law and the correct performance of cultic worship. The inclusion of these administrative roles serves to legitimate their place and importance in the newly reconstituted society of Israel. It portrays a return to God's established order, reinforcing hope and continuity with Israel's divinely appointed past, even in a much-changed present. The emphasis on 'generations' (fathers and sons) further speaks to the permanence of these duties and the hope for a future, enduring covenant community dedicated to God. This focus on temple service and purity also acted as an indirect polemic against past laxity or unauthorized worship, re-establishing strict divine protocols.
1 Chronicles 9 23 Commentary
1 Chronicles 9:23 precisely delineates the integral role of specific Levitical families in maintaining the sanctity and order of the post-exilic Jerusalem Temple. Their responsibility was not merely security but comprehensive guardianship over the very access points to God's dwelling. This hereditary charge underscores the enduring nature of divine callings and the importance of intergenerational faithfulness in service to the Lord. The deliberate linkage of "the house of the LORD" with "the house of the tents" by the Chronicler is highly significant; it teaches that the permanent, grand Temple was a direct continuation and fulfillment of God's earlier, mobile presence among His people in the Tabernacle. This emphasizes God's consistent presence and His people's unchanging mandate to worship Him in truth and order, regardless of the physical structure. The "courses" system reflects God's design for orderly, sustainable, and shared responsibility in sacred work, preventing haphazard service and promoting accountability within the divine community. This principle of organized, faithful, and hereditary service serves as a powerful reminder of God's desire for excellence and devotion in all aspects of His worship.