THE GATEKEEPERS, THE STOREKEEPERS, AND THE JUDGES In chapter 24 the author spoke of the organization of the priests and the Levites in general. And in order to reveal that even if organization is elaborately and firmly performed, yet it provokes the spirit of joy and exultation in the hearts of the worshippers, he speaks in chapter 25 about the musicians and the praise. David intended for the temple of the Lord to an icon of heaven, where the sound of praise is unceasingly heard, and the worshippers enjoy the spirit of joy. As joy is a basic feature in the life of the believer, he is committed to perceive his responsibility to work; the believers do not know the life of licentiousness nor slothfulness; but as “the Father has been working until now, and the Son is has been working” (John 5: 17), it is befitting of us not to cease working. Although caring for organizing the work, David set gatekeepers, treasure keepers, officials, and judges, and allotted for each category its specific task, yet, being the children of God, it is befitting of us to practice all these tasks together.. As a gatekeeper , the believer is committed to keep any wrong thought, pervert emotion, or unfitting behavior, away from himself; As a treasure keeper, he is committed to perceive the precious gifts of God, and that he himself has become a storehouse of heavenly treasures; And as an official in the palace, or as a judge who fulfills justice among the people, he is committed to fulfills his duties faithfully.. 1- The gatekeepers or the guards of the temple 1 - 19 2- The Levites assigned to guard the treasuries of the temple 20 - 28 3- The officials and the judges 29 - 32 1-THE GATEKEEPERS OR THE GUARDS OF THE TEMPLE: Those huge buildings of the temple with all its possibilities, its golden and silver furniture, and the valuable gifts generously offered to it; specially after the return from captivity, had to be guarded.. Here he speaks about the gatekeepers or the guards, as being a group of Levites (1 Chronicles 9: 17- 27),who do a vital role in worship, to keep the temple against the entrance of what is unbefitting of the house of the Lord, beside their role, to guard the gates against the general public, yet keeping them open before the priests. Having such an important role, the gatekeepers had to bear certain features or characteristics like those of the priests (9: 13), it is befitting of them to have humility and self-denial, together with holy zeal, courage, and strength. Their role does not stop at guarding the gates, for the psalms testify to their task in the temple as some kind of worship, saying: “Lift up your heads you gates! And be lifted up you everlasting doors; and the king of glory shall come in” (Psalm 24: 7). “Concerning the divisions of the gatekeepers of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph” (1) The list mentioned here about the gatekeepers, is the most detailed of the three lists (“ 17-27;16: 26- 42). There were 4000 guards of the temple (23: 4-5), called gatekeepers, all Levites. Their work may seem to some as lowly of no much prestige; Yet they actually had a vital role in the service of the temple; carrying out several other tasks, among which: 1- Guarding the entrances to the temple, and all the ways leading to it. They are responsible for the sanctity of the temple, keeping anything that may defile it away. 2- Opening, closing, and keeping an eye on the outer doors, not only in the official occasions, but during the regular services; to guide the worshippers through the courts of the sanctuary; to encourage the repentant; to keep the strangers and the unclean away; and to guard the temple against the thieves and the enemies of the house of the Lord. In all this there is a hint to the role of the priests of the new covenant, who are entrusted on the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to bind and to loose according to the statute of the Lord Christ (Matthew 16: 19). 3- Taking care of the tools and vessels used every day, and making sure of bringing them back to their proper place. 4- Taking care of the furniture of the temple, cleaning them, and preparing the sacrifices for offering. 5- Mixing the incense or the daily burning. The first guarding task mentioned in the Holy Book occurred after the falling of Adam, as it is written: “At the east of the garden of Eden, He placed the cherubim, and a sword flaming and turning, to guard the way to the tree of life” (Genesis 3: 24). If the temple of Solomon had to be strictly guarded against anything unclean; it would be a commitment to keep the sanctity of the church of the Lord Christ, which He redeemed by His precious blood, and sent His Holy Spirit to her to be sanctified and prepared for the heavenly wedding. And the believer, as a member in the holy church, carrying treasures in his depths, that need strict heavenly guarding; cries out every morning, saying: “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips” (Psalm 141: 3). The pious Levites can guard the gates and treasures of the temple, and take care of its cleanness; But who can guard my inner mouth, my senses, and my depths against any sin, but You, O my Lord? My depths. cry out, saying: “Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain” (Psalm 127: 1). You alone, having set Your kingdom in me; and made me a temple for Yourself; Guard me, O Lord, for I am Your possession; and the devil never ceases to attack me, to rob Your treasures in me. + We should bridle the tongue to keep it from talking nonsense; and if it can talk reason, it should not be kept slothfully silent. Meditating in this, the prophet says: “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth, keep watch over the door of my lips” (Psalm 141: 3). Here the psalmist did not seek from the Lord a wall, but a door that could be opened and closed; to teach us when to open our mouths with wisdom, and in the proper time, when to close it with silence. (Father Gregory the Great) + He did not say “a wall”, but “a door” that could be opened and closed; opened for confessing sin; and closed against justifying it. Let it be a strong door, but not for destruction. + “Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain” (Psalm 127: 1) … As stewards of God, we guard you; Yet we, as well, pray to Him to guard us together with you. We are your shepherds, yet we are as well under the care of God; for we are your fellow sheep. We are your teachers,; yet, concerning God, we are your fellow students in His school If we wish to be guarded by God who became humble for our sake, and glorified to keep us; let us be humble as well; let no one of us count himself as something, for there is nothing good in anyone, unless it is given to him by God, who is alone good. + That is the house we build by the living a virtuous life, built by the help of God; For: “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it” (Psalm 127: 1) (St. Augustine) + Why would we suffer for having no house, nor cover, nor support?. Would it not be better for us to dwell in the Builder of our house, and under the protection of the Watchman of our city? … If David found no comfort until he found Him (God his comfort); How could we seek comfort outside Him? (St. John Saba) + Although God made every ability to resist the devil within the limit of man’s will and freedom, Yet He did not give man an absolute power to control his own psychological reactions and his covetousness; hence the prophet says: “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; And unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain” (Psalm 127: 1) (St. Abba Maccari the Great) “And the sons of Meshelemiah were Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jethniel the fourth” (2) “Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eljehoenai the seventh” (3) “Moreover the sons of Obed-Edom were Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, joab the third, Sacar the fourth, Nathanel the fifth” (4) Obed-Edom: Most prominent among the gatekeepers, together with his family; He had 62 of sons and their brethren; and as it is written “For God blessed him” (5). After the death of Uzza the ark of the covenant was kept in Obed’s house; for which God did not forget his faithfulness (13: 14; 16: 38); He guarded it when David brought it forth to Jerusalem; And here we see him together with his big family, gatekeepers of the temple in the days of Solomon. It was said about his sons that they were mighty men of valor in their service. “Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth; for God blessed him” (5) Sixty-two of the sons of Obed-Edom were engaged in this task; and on account of that he was the one who gave hospitality with joy and reverence to the ark of covenant; God rewarded him by: 1-God blessed him by eight sons (5); for the children are an inheritance from the Lord. It is a great blessing to have many sons in the family, especially when they are capable and skillful in ministering to the Lord. 2- His sons were lifted up to more sensitive ministries in the sanctuary; For those who were faithful in ministering to the sanctuaries of the Lord in their own house, were found qualified to minister to them in the house of the Lord (1 Timothy 3: 4-5); And as David says: “I keep Your law, O Lord; This has become mine, because I kept Your precepts” (psalm 119: 55-56) . “Also to Shemaiah his son were sons born who governed their fathers’ houses, because they were men of great ability” (6) “The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers Elihu and Semachiah were able men” (7) “All these were the sons of Obed-Edom, they and their sons and their brethren, able men with strength for the work; sixty-two of Obed-Edom” (8) “And Meshelmiah had sons and brethren, eighteen able men” (9) “Also Hosah of the children of Merari had sons: Shimri the first (for though he was not the firstborn, his father made him the first)” (10) About someone it is said: “Though he was not the firstborn, his father made him the first” (10). Because he was excellent, or because his older brother was very weak; his father made him first; yet not in inheritance, which would be against the law (Deuteronomy 21:16-17); but in ministry that requires personal qualifications. “Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth; all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen” (11) “Among these were the divisions of the gatekeepers, among the chief men, having duties just like their brethren, to serve in the house of the Lord” (12) “And they cast lots for each gate, the small as well as the great according to their father’s house” (13) The gatekeepers and the singers of praise were assigned by casting lots; everyone had his own gate or location (13). Although it is not mentioned here, they must have been divided into 24 divisions, because they were 24 names, and so were their divisions.. Happy were those who dwell in the house of the Lord; for they are well fed, educated, used, and protected; The gates of the temple were guarded by men; but the angels of God guard the gates of the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21: 12). “The lot for the East gate fell to Shelemiah. Then they cast lots for his son Zechariah, a wise counselor, and his lot came out for the North gate” (14) It is to be noticed that many of those called for ministry were “men of great ability” (6), “able men” (7), “men with strength for the work” (8), One of them was “a wise counselor” (14), “ who has served well… obtained for himself a good standing” (1 Timothy 3:13);, and was promoted from gate keeping to the body of counselors. While those of physical strength, courage, and wisdom, were either well qualified for the tasks allotted to them; or will be qualified by God. “To Obed-Edom the South gate, and to his sons the storehouse” (15) “To shuppim and Hosah the lot came out for the West gate, with the Shallecheth gate on the ascending highway-watchman opposite watchman” (16) “On the east were six Levites, on the north four each day, on the south four each day, and for the storehouse two by two” (17) “As for the Parbar on the west, there were four on the highway, and two at the Parbar” (18) “These were the divisions of the gatekeepers among the sons of Korah and among the sons of Merari” (19) 2- THE LEVITES ASSIGNED TO GUARD THE TREASURIES OF THE TEMPLE: “Of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasuries of the house of God, and over the treasuries of the dedicated things” (20) Some Levites were assigned to guard the treasuries of the temple, the spoils and the optional offerings; beside preparing the sacrifices; and holding the accounts concerning the donations. They kept the treasuries against rust, termites, and thieves; and prudently dispend them according to the need. With such a huge house, it neede several kinds of treasuries to keep. On a daily basis, flour, wine, oil, salt, fuel, lamps, clothing, and holy vessels were dispended; beside the money needed to purchase all these things, which came from the peoples’ donations, which was so abundant that a great part of it was kept for emergencies. These treasuries symbolize the abundance in the Father’s heavenly house; as in Christ (the true temple) there are the treasuries of wisdom, knowledge, and uncountable riches. “The sons of Laadan, the descendants of the Gershonites of Laadan, heads of their father’ houses of Laadan the Gershonite, Jehieli” (21) “The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and Joel his brother, were over the treasuries of the house of the Lord” (22) Zethan and Joel his brother together with Shebuel and Shelomith, were members of a special committee that took care of the general treasuries of the sanctuaries dedicated by king David, heads of the fathers’ houses, and the chiefs of the armies; similar to that formed in the days of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 13: 13; Ezra 8: 23). “Of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites:” (23) “Shebuel, the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was overseer of the treasuries” (24) “And the brethren of Eliezer were Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son” (25) “This Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasuries of the dedicated things which King David and the heads of their fathers’ houses, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the army, had dedicated” (26) “Some of the spoils won in battles they dedicated to maintain the house of the Lord” (27) The spoils of war (27) were mainly a portion for the victorious army, yet some soldiers used to offer their portion to the temple, as an expression of reverence to God, and thanksgiving for the divine protection; as did by Abraham who gave one tenth of the spoils to Melchizedek (Hebrew 7: 4); and as in the days of Moses, when the men coming back of war used to offer of their portions in the spoils to the Lord. This blessed practice was then revived, not only by Samuel and David, but also by Abner and Joab (28). Concerning deeds of righteousness, God expects from us a lot out of what He pours upon us of great success.. “And all that Samuel the seer, Saul the son of Kish, Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah had dedicated, every dedicated thing was under the hand of Shelomith and his brethren” (28) 3- THE OFFICIALS AND THE JUDGES: The last part of chapter 26 speaks of the role of the Levites in their relationship with the people; as some of them were assigned as officials to serve the people and the king, to carry out other official tasks, like collecting the portion of the temple, teaching services, and as judges all over the land to provide justice. 107 thousand, appointed west of the River Jordan; 2700 east of it in Gilead, to take care of the issues pertaining to God and the king.(32); have got special privileges, and were in direct contact with the king. God’s intention in the first place was for Israel to be a theocratic nation governed by God. The tabernacle of meeting was in the midst of the people, and the priests drew their decisions from God; but owing to the failure of the Levites, God set judges for them. But as the people requested a king. Israel became a royal kingdom, and David came on the throne, yet he concentrated on bringing it back under the authority of God. “Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons performed duties as officials and judges over Israel outside Jerusalem” (29) The Levites were also used for bringing forth justice to the people, beside the leaders, and the heads of the tribes, because of their knowledge of the statutes of God more than anyone else, on account of that this was what they studied . “Of the Hebronites Hashabiah and his brethren, one thousand seven hundred able man, had the oversight of Israel on the west side of Jordan for all the business of the Lord, and in the service of the king” (30) Assigned for God’s work and that of the king, the Levites took care of both the civil and the religious issues , like collecting the tithes of God, and the taxes of the king, executing punishments for the various crimes done against God, the government, and the peace of the People; confronting tendencies of idolworship, and practices of oppression, and putting the statutes of the law into effect. Some of them were probably assigned for the religious issues, while others were assigned for civil issues; and by their cooperation together they could render good service to God and to the king. “Among the Hebronites, Jerijah was head of the Hebronites according to his genealogy of the fathers. In the fourth year of the reign of David, they were sought, and there found among them capable men at Jazer of Gilead” (31). “And his brethren were thousand seven hundred able men heads of fathers’ houses, whom king David made officials over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God and the affairs of the king” (32) The number of Levites assigned upon the two and a half tribes east of the Jordan was 2700, namely more than those assigned upon the rest of the tribes west of the Jordan (1700) (30, 32); on account of that, either the number of judges for the former tribes was not enough, or being far from Jerusalem, on the border of the surrounding nations, they were in more danger of being influenced by idol-worship, and were therefore in need of more Levites to protect hem against perversion.. -------------------------- AN INSPIRATION FROM 1 CHRONICLES 26 SET A GUARD, O LORD, ON MY DEPTHS + David appointed pious and mighty men of valor as gatekeepers; To guard the entrances to the temple, to open and close them; To keep unclean things from entering Your sanctuaries; And thieves from robbing their treasures; By Your love, You set me a temple for Yourself, and Your Holy Spirit dwells in me; Keep on, I pray, pouring Your treasures into my depths; Who can guard my senses, emotions, and thoughts but You? When You open, no one can close; and when You close no one can open; Guard me by Your grace, so that nothing foreign from You may enter into my heart; Surround me by heavenly guards, that no one may rob Your gifts and treasures from me; You have set angels on the gates of the High Jerusalem (Revelation 21: 12); Here is my heart, Your Jerusalem and dwelling place; Set angels to guard it, until I pass over in peace to You. + King David set keepers to guard Your treasures; To receive the offerings, the gifts, and the spoils of war of gold and silver to the account of Your temple; To keep the attires of service, and the holy vessels; To keep the storehouses against rust, termites, and thieves; Grant me Your wisdom to deposit as much as I can with my brethren, the poor, the needy, and those who suffer; To keep for me, to get double as much on the last day to come; + Count me, O Lord, among the officials, to serve Your people; To seek what is for the edification of Your church, and not what is for my own benefit; I wish justice and righteousness prevail among Your people; Here I am in Your hands; Tell me what I should do; Guide me, sanctify me, and support me to do every good thing.
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