Porters

How Nave’s arranged it

• Guards at the city gates, the doors of the king' s palace, and doors of the temple1 Chronicles 9:17–322 Chronicles 34:132 Chronicles 35:15
• Lodged round about the temple in order to be present for opening the doors1 Chronicles 9:27
• One-third were porters of the temple2 Chronicles 23:4
• One-third were porters of the king' s house2 Chronicles 23:5
• One-third were porters of the gate of the foundation2 Chronicles 23:5
• They also served as porters of the gates of the wallsNehemiah 12:25
• They served in twenty-four courses1 Chronicles 26:13–19
• Their posts were determined by lot1 Chronicles 24:311 Chronicles 26:13–19

The passages, in Bible order (9)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 9 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. 1 Chronicles 9:17–32

   These were the gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their relatives.

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2. 1 Chronicles 9:27

   They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they were responsible for guarding it and opening it every morning.

   Verse page →Original language →

3. 1 Chronicles 24:31

   As their brothers the descendants of Aaron did, they also cast lots in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the families of the priests and Levites—the family heads and their younger brothers alike.

   ›Commentary on 1 Chronicles 24:312 voices

   “The principal fathers over against their younger brethren - i. e., “all the Levitical houses enumerated drew lots in their courses on equal terms, the older families having no advantage over the younger ones.” As there were 24 courses of the priests, so we must suppose that there were 24 of the Levites, though the number of the families as given in the text 1 Chr. 23:7-23; 1Ch 24:20-30 is 25.

   “The particular account of these establishments is of little use to us now; but, when Ezra published it, it was of great use to direct their church affairs after their return from captivity into the old channel again.

   Everything gathered on 1 Chronicles 24:31→

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4. 1 Chronicles 26:13–19

   They cast lots for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.

   ›Commentary on 1 Chronicles 26:13–191 voice

   “And they cast lots,.... To determine at which gate each should stand, who at this gate, and who at the other, &c. as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate; meaning, not little ones and grown persons in a family, but the smaller and poorer families, and the larger and richer ones, had their places assigned them at the several gates, as the lot directed; they did not go according to the dignity and precedence of their families, but according to lot.

   Everything gathered on 1 Chronicles 26:13–19→

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5. 2 Chronicles 23:4

   This is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who come on duty on the Sabbath shall keep watch at the doors,

   ›Commentary on 2 Chronicles 23:41 voice

   “The writer of Chronicles relates the orders that were given to the Levites, the author of Kings those received by the royal body-guard (2Ki 11:5 note).

   Everything gathered on 2 Chronicles 23:4→

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6. 2 Chronicles 23:5

   a third shall be at the royal palace, and a third at the Foundation Gate, while all the others are in the courtyards of the house of the LORD.

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7. 2 Chronicles 34:13

   were over the laborers and supervised all who did the work, task by task. Some of the Levites were secretaries, officers, and gatekeepers.

   ›Commentary on 2 Chronicles 34:131 voice

   “Of the Levites there were scribes - Hereto the word “scribe” has never been used to designate a class (compare 1Ki 4:3). But here an order of scribes, forming a distinct division of the Levitical body, has been instituted.

   Everything gathered on 2 Chronicles 34:13→

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8. 2 Chronicles 35:15

   The singers, the descendants of Asaph, were at their stations according to the command of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer. And the gatekeepers at each gate did not need to leave their position, because their fellow Levites made preparations for them.

   ›Commentary on 2 Chronicles 35:152 voices

   “They might not depart - The singers and porters remained at their posts, while other Levites sacrificed for them and brought them their share of the lambs.

   “And the singers . . ., were in their place--While the priests and people were so much engaged, the choir was not idle. They had to sing certain Psalms, namely, the hundred thirteenth to the hundred eighteenth inclusive, once, twice, and even a third time, during the continuance of each company of offerers.

   Everything gathered on 2 Chronicles 35:15→

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9. Nehemiah 12:25

   Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates.

   ›Commentary on Nehemiah 12:252 voices

   “Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters,.... At the gates of the temple, see 1Ch 9:15, keeping the ward, at the thresholds of the gates; of the temple, where they stood and watched; or "at the collection of the gates", meaning either where the people were gathered together, or where money gathered was laid up; and so some render it, "the treasuries of the gates": unless a place called Asuppim should be meant, 1Ch 26:15.

   In 1Ch 9:17, 1Ch 9:24, 1Ch 9:26, four families of porters only are mentioned; six are implied here, in Neh 7:45, and in Ezr 2:42. From 1Ch 26:14-19 it appears that the temple had four chief gates, fronting the cardinal points, and two minor ones, “toward Asuppim,” and “at Parbar.”

   Everything gathered on Nehemiah 12:25→

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