of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of his father's house, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the [1]gates of the [2]tabernacle: and their fathers had been over the camp of the LORD, keepers of the entry; 20and Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them in time past, and the LORD was with him. 21Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tent of meeting. 22All these which were chosen to be porters in the [1]gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the
with the implication that the institution of the gatekeepers dated back to that age: cp. ver. 19 ad fin., and contrast ver. 22.
19. over the camp of the LORD, keepers] We might expect the reference to the Temple or Tabernacle to be continued; but, as nothing is said in the Pentateuch of "keepers of the entry to the tabernacle," probably the entry to the camp, not to the tabernacle, is meant in the present phrase. With this view agrees the mention of Phinehas (ver. 20), for it apparently was the profanation of the camp in general, not of the tabernacle, which Phinehas avenged (Num. xxv. 6—8), thus earning a blessing (ib. 11—13).
20. and the LORD was with him] Render, May the Lord be with him, a pious exclamation, customary on mentioning the name of a famous and righteous person deceased. The phrase is common in later Jewish literature; but this passage seems to be the earliest instance of its use.
21. Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah] Cp. xxvi. 2, 14, according to which Zechariah's watch was on the north.
the tent of meeting] The reference would be to the Mosaic tent, if the verse be taken, as is natural, in close connection with vv. 19, 20. If the verse be treated in conjunction with ver. 22 it must refer to the tent of the ark in David's time. The ambiguity is perhaps intentional.
22. All these] Cp. Ezra ii. 42 (= Neh. vii. 45); Neh. xi. 19. The discrepancy in numbers between Chron. and Neh. and also between Neh. vii. and Neh. xi. may be explained by supposing some difference in the manner of reckoning or some difference in the period referred to.
in their villages] Cp. vv. 16 and 25.
whom David . . . did ordain] The Chronicler attributes to David the organisation of the priests (xxiv. 3), of the Levites (xxiii. 17; xxiv. 31), of the singers (xxv. 1 ff.), and of the doorkeepers (in this passage). It has been thought that this verse is at variance with vv. 18, 19, where the Mosaic origin of the gatekeepers seems to be implied. But in answer it may be said that the Chronicler is guilty of no inconsistency in ascribing the origin of the doorkeepers to the Mosaic period and saying here that David and Samuel "ordained them in their set office,"
