Read 1 Chronicles 26 and 27 at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraph divisions:
1 Chr 26:1-5 {s} The divisions of the gatekeepers: the sons of Meshelemiah, of Asaph + the sons of Obed-Edom
1 Chr 26:6-9 {s} The valiant sons of Shemaiah, the son of Obed-Edom, his number + Meshelemiah, his number
1 Chr 26:10-13 {p} The sons of Hosah, of Merari, his number + the divisions of the gatekeepers
1 Chr 26:14-16 {s} The lots for the gates east, north, south, west + storehouse + ascending highway
1 Chr 26:17a {s} The numbers stationed east, north and south day by day
1 Chr 26:17b-20 {s} The numbers stationed at the storehouse + highway + west/ chief over the treasuries
1 Chr 26:21 {s} Of Gershon: Laadan his son Jehieli
1 Chr 26:22 {s} The sons of Jehieli were over the treasuries of the house of the LORD
1 Chr 26:23-24 {s} Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was overseer of the treasuries.
1 Chr 26:25-28 {p} Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things
1 Chr 26:29-32 {p} Chiefs in Israel over the business of the LORD and the service to the king
1 Chr 27:1 {p} 24,000 captains of thousands and hundreds that served in the military divisions month by month
1 Chr 27:2-15 {p} The captians over the divisions month by month, 24,000 in each of 12 divisions
1 Chr 27:16-34 {p} Officers over the tribes + the king’s substance/ the king’s counselors + Joab his general
The strong themes:
1 Chr 26:1-13 {s+s+p} The divisions of the gatekeepers by heads of fathers’ houses
1 Chr 26:14-28 {sx6+p} Chiefs over the gates, storehouse, ascending highway, treasuries of the LORD
1 Chr 26:29-32 {p} Chiefs in Israel over the business of the LORD and the service to the king
1 Chr 27:1 {p} Of Israel: captains of thousands + hundreds that served in the military, 24,000 in each division
1 Chr 27:2-15 {p} The captians over the divisions month by month, 24,000 in each of 12 divisions
1 Chr 27:16-34 {p} Leaders of the tribes + king’s officials over his substance + his counselors + Joab his general
The chiastic structure of these two chapters revealed something amazing this morning! Here it is:
1a) 1 Chr 26:1-13 {s+s+p} The Levitical gatekeepers, mighty men of valor;
1b) 1 Chr 26:14, Shelemiah’s son Zechariah was a wise counselor;
1c) 1 Chr 26:15-27:22, Chiefs over the things pertaining to the LORD;
1) 1 Chr 26:15-28 {sx6+p} Chiefs of the Levites over the LORD’s storehouses + treasuries;
2) 1 Chr 26:29-27:22, Chiefs over the people of Israel;
1a) 1 Chr 26:29-32 {p} Officers + judges of the Levites over Israel for the LORD;
central axis) 1 Chr 27:1-15 {p+p} Captains over Israel’s military, month by month;
2a) 1 Chr 27:16-22, Officers of the Israelites over the tribes for the king;
1d) 1 Chr 27:23, But David did not take the number of those twenty years old and under;
central axis) 1 Chr 27:23b, For YHVH had said He would multiply Israel like the stars of the heavens;
2d) 1 Chr 27:24, The census was not finished, for wrath came upon Israel + the number was not recorded;
2c) 1 Chr 27:25-31, Officers over the things pertaining to the king;
1) 1 Chr 27:25, Officers over the king’s treasuries + storehouses;
2) 1 Chr 27:26-31, Officers over the king’s property;
2b) 1 Chr 27:32-34a, King David’s wise counselors;
2a) 1 Chr 27:34b {p} And the general of the king’s army was Joab.
We can see elements which clearly match, force together as matching pairs, elements which do not seem to match. First, the chiefs of the gatekeepers, and the general of the king’s army. One thing I found interesting which comes out in The Hebrew Bible in English, but not in the New King James, is the prevalence in the paragraphs concerning the gatekeepers, of the phrases, “valiant men,” and “mighty men of valor.” This is how David’s mighty men are described! But in Levitical gatekeepers?
The Levites who served as gatekeepers were watchmen (1 Chr 26:16). A watchman, according to Webster’s, is one who keeps watch – one who keeps vigil, one who is awake during the night, one who is attentive or vigilant, one who keeps guard, one who keeps someone or something under close observation.
The Hebrew word is mishmar, a guard post, a watch post, thus a watchman himself. It is from the primitive root, shamar, Strong’s H8104; to keep, guard, observe, give heed; also to beware.
It is clear from the text, that the gatekeepers/ watchmen guarded the gates on the north, south, east, and west, entrances to Jerusalem, and also the ascending highway: in other words, the road up to Jerusalem, which is situated among the mountains. As Jerusalem was the place of the LORD’s tabernacle, thus the place of His presence, the gatekeepers guarded and kept watch over that which pertained to the LORD.
Likewise, the army of the king were the guardians of the Land and the people. In a drash or sod interpretation of the text, you might even say that the gatekeepers were the guardians of the spiritual, while the military was the guardian of the natural.
But then in the C pairs, another puzzle presents. It is easy to see that the chiefs over the treasuries of the LORD pairs with the chief over the treasury of King David. But then it breaks down: the next section details the chiefs over the tribes and the military; i.e., the chiefs over the civilians and the military, the people of Israel, which is forced by the placement to pair with the chiefs over King David’s property. Huh?
But here is the key. Chapter 26 is about the chiefs of the Levites over the things pertaining to the LORD, while chapter 27 is about the chiefs of the Israelites over things pertaining to the king. The people of Israel do pertain to the LORD, for they are His, just as the olive groves and vineyards of David pertain to the king, for they are his. Justice and stewardship in civil and military matters is for the LORD, the equivalent of wise stewardship of fields and flocks and herds, for a man. As we regard the maintenance and increase of property, so the LORD regards the maintenance and increase of His people. It is a fearful thing to be found an unjust steward of that which belongs to God (chiefs, officers, rulers, and judges, take note)!
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