Synopsis of the Chapter
The orders and classes of the Levites who were gatekeepers of the temple are enumerated; and also the keepers of the treasures both of the temple and of the King.
Verse 5: Because the Lord Blessed Obed-edom ¶
Verse 5. BECAUSE THE LORD BLESSED HIM (Obededom) — on account of the Ark which he had reverently kept in his house and diligently guarded, 2 Kings chapter 6. For this reason he surpassed the other Levites in the number of his sons, as well as in strength of both body and mind; hence verse 8 says: 'All these were of the sons of Obededom: they and their sons and brothers, most valiant for service, 62 of Obededom.'
Verse 10: He Had Not Had a Firstborn ¶
Verse 10. FOR HE HAD NOT HAD A FIRSTBORN — that is to say, Hosa at that time did not have a firstborn, because he had already died; therefore in his place he appointed as chief of his family Semri, who was the second-born.
Verse 12: Divided as Doorkeepers ¶
Verse 12. THESE WERE DIVIDED AS DOORKEEPERS, SO THAT THE CHIEFS OF THE WATCHES, ETC., SHOULD MINISTER IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. — The dignity of these doorkeepers was therefore great. First, because they were 'chiefs of the watches,' as if to say: just as praetorian soldiers are in charge of guarding the king and the royal house, so these doorkeepers presided over the guard and all the guards of the house of God, namely the temple. Second, because the same men presided over the guardianship of the treasury of both the temple and the king, as is clear from verses 20, 26, and 30. Likewise over the repairs of the temple, verse 27. Third, because from them were appointed teachers of the people, prefects, and judges in both sacred and secular cases, as is clear from verses 29, 30, and 32.
Verse 14: Selemia ¶
Verse 14. SELEMIA — This is the one who in verse 1 and following is called 'Meselemias.' For he is called 'Selemias' in abbreviated form for brevity, just as Jechonias is called 'Chonias' by Jeremiah in chapter 22.
Verse 15: The Council of the Elders ¶
Verse 15. IN WHICH PART OF THE HOUSE WAS THE COUNCIL OF THE ELDERS — that is to say, in the southern part of the temple was the place of the supreme council, which was called 'Sanhedrin,' and consisted of 72 chief men, like senators; see the comments on Numbers 11.
Verse 16: The Road of Ascent ¶
Verse 16. WHICH LEADS TO THE ROAD OF ASCENT — by which one ascended to Mount Zion and to the Tabernacle erected there; and afterwards to the temple built on the same site by Solomon.
WATCH CORRESPONDING TO WATCH — Vatablus says: a watch opposite to another watch, that is to say, one station of guards corresponded to another placed opposite it. For this western gate of the temple seems to have had, beyond the others, a double guard, on account of the greater crowding of people there, and therefore the greater danger of tumult. That this is so is clear from verse 18.
Verse 18: The Cells of the Doorkeepers ¶
Verse 18. IN THE CELLS OF THE DOORKEEPERS AT THE WEST, FOUR ON THE ROAD, AND TWO AT EACH CELL — that is to say, at the western gate of the temple, 'in the cells of the doorkeepers,' 'four' Levite chiefs of the doorkeepers kept watch 'on the road' of ascent, about which verse 16 spoke, and in addition 'two other' chiefs 'at the cells' were distributed at fixed guard stations and kept watch with the lesser Levites subject to them. From this you see that there were more and greater watches at the western gate than at the other gates of the temple, as I said.
Verse 29: For Outward Business ¶
Verse 29. FOR OUTWARD BUSINESS — namely for cutting and polishing wood and stone, for cultivating the vineyards, meadows, and fields of the temple, etc.