1 Chronicles 9 26

1 Chronicles 9:26 kjv

For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.

1 Chronicles 9:26 nkjv

For in this trusted office were four chief gatekeepers; they were Levites. And they had charge over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.

1 Chronicles 9:26 niv

But the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God.

1 Chronicles 9:26 esv

for the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted to be over the chambers and the treasures of the house of God.

1 Chronicles 9:26 nlt

The four chief gatekeepers, all Levites, were trusted officials, for they were responsible for the rooms and treasuries at the house of God.

1 Chronicles 9 verses

1 Chronicles 9 26 Meaning

1 Chronicles 9:26 describes a specific group of Levites, the chief doorkeepers, and their significant responsibilities within the post-exilic temple administration. It highlights their role as highly trusted officials entrusted with overseeing the temple's chambers (storage rooms) and treasuries, which contained offerings, tithes, and valuable sacred items dedicated to God. This verse underscores the meticulous organization and the importance of integrity and faithfulness required for serving in the divine household.

1 Chronicles 9 26 Context

1 Chronicles chapter 9 primarily details the genealogies and residency of those who returned from Babylonian exile and settled in Jerusalem, especially focusing on the roles related to the renewed temple service. This chapter parallels Nehemiah 11, providing a post-exilic list of temple personnel, particularly priests, Levites, doorkeepers, singers, and various servants. Verses 17-34 specifically describe the duties of the doorkeepers and other Levites involved in the daily operations of the temple. The historical context is crucial: Israel has returned from exile, rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple. This verse establishes the divinely appointed and trusted positions necessary for the orderly functioning and financial integrity of the reconstructed House of God, emphasizing the continuity of ancient Mosaic and Davidic structures of worship.

1 Chronicles 9 26 Word analysis

• For these (וְאֵלֶּה, ve'elleh): Connects the following details directly to the Levites just mentioned (e.g., in verse 25) who were living in their villages. It highlights their specific appointment among the general group of Levites.
• Levites (הַלְוִיִּם, ha-Lewiyim): From the tribe of Levi, specifically chosen and consecrated by God for temple service, as outlined in the Law of Moses (e.g., Num 1:49-53). Their life was dedicated to the worship system.
• the chief doorkeepers (הַשֹּׁעֲרִים הָרֹאשֵׁי, ha-sho'arim ha-roshei): This refers to the heads or leaders among the doorkeepers. Doorkeepers (שֹׁעֲרִים, sho'arim) were vital temple guards, controlling access and maintaining order and sanctity. "Chief" denotes a leadership and oversight role, responsible for their subordinate doorkeepers and the integrity of the temple access. This wasn't merely standing at a door; it was a high-responsibility security and administrative position.
• were in their trusted office (בְּאֱמוּנָה בְתַפְקִיד, b'emuna v'tafqid):
  • Trusted office (בְּאֱמוּנָה, b'emuna - "in faithfulness/trust"): The core quality for their appointment was trustworthiness. This word signifies reliability, steadfastness, and integrity. It is deeply connected to "faith" (אֱמוּנָה, emunah) in God's character and also the requirement of trustworthiness in humans (e.g., for covenant faithfulness).
  • Office (תַּפְקִיד, tafqid): Lit. "an appointment," "duty," or "commission." It emphasizes a divinely ordained and specifically assigned task.
  • Together, this phrase stresses that their role was one of deep trust and responsibility, reflecting the character required for those handling God's holy things.
• and were over (וְהֵם עַל־הַלְּשָׁכוֹת וְעַל־הָאֹצְרוֹת, ve-hem 'al-ha-leshakhot ve'al-ha-otsarot): This part explicitly defines the extent of their managerial authority, connecting their trusted role with specific administrative oversight.
• the chambers (הַלְּשָׁכוֹת, ha-leshakhot): These were various side rooms or storerooms attached to the temple, used for specific purposes, such as storing sacred vestments, food for priests, or other provisions for temple service. They facilitated the logistical needs of daily worship.
• and the treasuries (וְעַל־הָאֹצְרוֹת, ve'al-ha-otsarot): These were dedicated strongrooms for the temple's valuables. They held tithes, offerings, dedications of precious metals and items, and money that sustained the priests, Levites, and temple maintenance. This responsibility involved immense trust, as these treasuries housed the sacred wealth of the nation, reflecting their faithfulness to God and covenant obligations.
• of the house of God (בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִים, beit ha-'elohim): The Temple itself, the dwelling place of God's presence, the central locus of Israel's worship and national identity. All functions served to maintain the holiness and operations of this divine dwelling.

Words-group analysis:

• "chief doorkeepers...trusted office": This pairing indicates a specific hierarchical role imbued with significant responsibility, requiring unimpeachable character and integrity. The term "chief" implies oversight not just of physical doors but also of the personnel guarding them, adding layers to their "trusted office."
• "chambers and the treasuries of the house of God": These phrases specify the scope of their direct management. This isn't abstract; it's about physical, tangible assets and spaces vital for the functional operation and financial integrity of the temple, highlighting a meticulous logistical dimension to their spiritual service.

1 Chronicles 9 26 Bonus section

The chronicler's emphasis on the roles and duties of the Levites and temple servants post-exile highlights a significant theological point: the re-establishment of divine order and the proper conduct of worship was paramount for the returned community. Unlike other ancient Near Eastern temples, where such roles might be secularized or primarily economic, in Israel, even the management of material assets in the temple was inherently a spiritual act requiring consecrated individuals and integrity. This serves as a precursor to New Testament principles concerning faithful stewardship of spiritual and material gifts within the Body of Christ, God's present "house." It reminds believers that any service rendered to God's work, no matter how seemingly mundane (like managing physical provisions), must be carried out with faithfulness and integrity, for it ultimately impacts the integrity and resourcefulness of His dwelling and worship.

1 Chronicles 9 26 Commentary

1 Chronicles 9:26 provides insight into the meticulous organization and high standards of accountability required for temple service in post-exilic Israel. It elevates the role of the chief doorkeepers beyond mere security personnel, presenting them as administrators entrusted with crucial resources of the House of God. Their "trusted office" (b'emuna) underscores the premium placed on faithfulness and integrity, especially for those managing the sacred chambers and treasuries. These resources—tithes, offerings, dedicated items—represented the people's devotion to God, making their proper handling a spiritual imperative. The verse thereby serves as an important biblical example of diligent stewardship over God-given resources and a faithful guardian role for His sacred space and provisions, linking physical administration directly to spiritual responsibility and integrity before God.