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英文原文
We have here an account of the business of the Levites. That tribe had made but a very small figure all the time of the judges, till Eli and Samuel appeared. But when David revived religion the Levites were, of all men, in the greatest reputation. And happy it was that they had Levites who were men of sense, fit to support the honour of their tribe. We have here an account, I. Of the Levites that were appointed to be porters, 1Ch 26:1-19. II. Of those that were appointed to be treasurers and storekeepers, 1Ch 26:20-28. III. Of those that were officers and judges in the country, and were entrusted with the administration of public affairs, 1Ch 26:29-32.
1-32
The Officers of the Levites (b c Date)
利未人的职官（主前1015年）
¹ 守门者的班次记在下面：可拉族中有亚萨的儿子可利的儿子米施利米雅。 ² 米施利米雅的儿子是：撒迦利亚长子、耶底亚第二、西巴雅第三、耶提聂第四、 ³ 以拦第五、约哈难第六、以利俄乃第七。 ⁴ 俄别以东的儿子是：示玛雅长子、约萨拔第二、约亚第三、萨迦第四、尼坦业第五、 ⁵ 亚米利第六、以萨迦第七、毗勒太第八；因为神赐福与他。 ⁶ 他儿子示玛雅也有儿子，掌管他们父家，因为他们都是大有勇气的勇士。 ⁷ 示玛雅的儿子是俄特尼、拉法、俄备得、以利萨巴；他们的弟兄以利户、西玛基雅，都是有能力的人。 ⁸ 这些人都是俄别以东的子孙；他们和他们的儿子、弟兄，都是善于办事的健壮之士，共有六十二人。 ⁹ 米施利米雅也有儿子和弟兄，都是健壮的人，共十八人。 ¹⁰ 米拉利子孙中何萨也有儿子：申利是首领——虽然他不是长子，他父亲却立他为首领； ¹¹ 希勒家第二、特巴利雅第三、撒迦利亚第四；何萨的众子和弟兄共十三人。 ¹² 这些是守门者的班次，连首领在内，彼此对班，在耶和华殿中伺候。 ¹³ 他们无论大小，都按着父家为各门掣签。 ¹⁴ 掣签向东的归示利米雅；他儿子撒迦利亚是个有见识的谋士，他们为他掣签，签拈出来向北。 ¹⁵ 向南归俄别以东；他的儿子得苏品府库。 ¹⁶ 书平和何萨向西，近沙龙门，由上坡的甬道而行，彼此对班。 ¹⁷ 向东有六个利未人，向北每日有四人，向南每日有四人，向苏品每日二人二人； ¹⁸ 在西面廊子有四人，由甬道上去，廊子里有二人。 ¹⁹ 这些是可利子孙和米拉利子孙中守门者的班次。
当观察：I. 有守门者被派伺候圣殿，把守通向圣殿的一切通道，开关一切外门并在各门当值——不仅为威仪，也为伺候；要引导并指教那些要进入圣所院宇敬拜的人当守的规矩，鼓励胆怯的人，遣回外邦人和不洁的人，并防范盗贼和一切圣殿的仇敌。据此职任之意，传道人被称为受了天国钥匙的委托（太16:19），可照基督的律法准许进入或排除在外。
II. 论到几个被召作这伺候的人，经上注意到他们是大有勇气的勇士（代上26:6）、有能力的人（代上26:7）、健壮之士（代上26:8），其中一位且是有见识的谋士（代上26:14）；这人大概在他好好作执事的职任、并显出超乎寻常的见识之后，便得着美好的地步，从守门被擢升至议事之席（提前3:13）。至于那些在体力、胆识和决断上卓越的人，便因此适合作所派的岗位；因为无论神召人作什么伺候，他不是找着他们合适，便是使他们合适。
III. 俄别以东的子孙被派作这职任——这一家共有六十二人。这人就是从前以敬畏和喜乐之心接待约柜的；看他因此得了何等的报偿。一、他有八个儿子（代上26:5），因为神赐福与他。 家族的增多和建立都因神的赐福；当一个家有许多儿女——并像这里那样能干并在神的事奉上杰出——这是这家的大福。二、他的儿子被擢升至圣所中的信任之职。他们曾在自己家中忠心伺候约柜，如今被召在神的家中伺候。在小事上忠心的，必被托付更多。在自己帐棚中守神条例的人，正适合在神的帐幕中看守这些条例（提前3:4-5）。大卫说：我守了你的律法，又说我因守你的训词就得着这事（诗119:55-56）。
IV. 此处论到一人说：虽然他不是长子，他父亲却立他为首领（代上26:10），或是因为他十分卓越，或是因为长子十分软弱。他作首领，也许不是在产业上（因为这为律法所禁，申21:16-17），而是在这需要个人才干的伺候上。
V. 守门者像歌唱的人一样，他们的岗位都由掣签而定——某门有多少人，另一门又有多少人，好使各人都知道自己的岗位而守住它（代上26:13）。经上没有说他们被分为二十四班；但此处所记的名字约有二十四个（代上26:1-11），所派的岗位也是二十四个（代上26:17-18）。因此我们有理由认为他们是分为同样多的班次。住在神家中的人有福了：因为他们既吃得饱、受教得好、有事可作，也被护卫得妥。人在圣殿的各门当值，但天使却在圣城新耶路撒冷的各门当值（启21:12）。
²⁰ 利未人中，亚希雅管理神殿的府库，又管理分别为圣之物的府库。 ²¹ 论到拉但的子孙：革顺人拉但的族长——就是拉但革顺人的族长——是耶希伊利。 ²² 耶希伊利的儿子是西坦和兄弟约珥，他们管理耶和华殿的府库。 ²³ 暗兰人、以斯哈人、希伯伦人、乌薛人之中： ²⁴ 革舜的儿子摩西的孙子细布业是府库的统领。 ²⁵ 他的弟兄以利以谢的儿子是利哈比雅，以利以谢的儿子是耶赛亚，耶赛亚的儿子是约兰，约兰的儿子是细基利，细基利的儿子是示罗密。 ²⁶ 这示罗密和他的弟兄管理一切分别为圣之物的府库，就是大卫王、众族长、千夫长和百夫长、众军长所分别为圣的。 ²⁷ 他们把争战中夺来的财物分别为圣，用以修造耶和华的殿。 ²⁸ 凡先见撒母耳、基士的儿子扫罗、尼珥的儿子押尼珥、洗鲁雅的儿子约押所分别为圣的，并一切人所分别为圣的，都在示罗密和他弟兄的手下。
当观察：一、有神殿的府库。大宅若无各样供应的储备，便不能料理得妥。每日在祭坛上耗费甚多——细面、酒、油、盐、柴，再加上灯；这些都要有大量的预备存放在前，此外还有圣衣和器具。这些就是神殿的府库。又因钱财能答万事，他们无疑有大量的钱财，是从百姓的奉献收来的，用以购入所需之物。或许也有许多是为不时之需而积存的。这些府库预表我们天父家中的丰盛——足够有余。基督是真圣殿，在他里面藏着智慧和知识的一切宝藏，以及那测不透的丰富。二、有分别为圣之物的府库——大多是从争战中所夺之物分别为圣的（代上26:27），作为对神护卫之恩的感恩记念。亚伯拉罕将所夺之物的十分之一献给麦基洗德（来7:4）。在摩西时代，军中的官长得胜归来时，从所夺的财物中取一份作献给耶和华的供物（民31:50）。近来这敬虔的习俗又被恢复；不仅撒母耳和大卫，连扫罗、押尼珥、约押，都从所夺的财物中分别为圣，归给神家为尊荣和支持（代上26:28）。注意：神赐我们越多，就越指望我们在敬虔和慈善的事上多向他回报。重大的成功要求相称的回报。当我们检视自己的产业时，应当自问：这里有各样便利之物，或许有丰富之物、精美之物；但分别为圣之物在哪里呢？ 争战的人当以所夺的财物尊荣神。三、这些府库都有管家——就是那些管理它们的人（代上26:20、26），他们的职责是看守它们，使虫子或锈不能损坏，使贼不能挖窟窿来偷；遇有需要便发付，并确保这些不被浪费、不被私用、不被挪作寻常用途；他们大概还把一切收入和支出一一记账。
²⁹ 以斯哈人之中，基拿尼雅和他的儿子管理以色列的外事，作官长和士师。 ³⁰ 希伯伦人之中，哈沙比雅和他的弟兄——大有勇气的勇士一千七百人——在约旦河以西的以色列人中作官长，办理耶和华的一切事务和王的事奉。 ³¹ 希伯伦人之中有耶利雅为首；按着他们父家的世代，希伯伦人中有耶利雅。大卫作王第四十年，他们被寻查出来，在基列的雅谢那里发现他们中间大有勇气的勇士。 ³² 他的弟兄——大有勇气的勇士二千七百人作族长——大卫王派他们管理流便人、迦得人和玛拿西半支派，办理一切属神的事和王的事务。
神家的一切职任既然都有利未人妥善配置，我们在此看到那些被派为官长和士师、办理外事的人——这事也不可忽略，不可因圣殿本身的缘故而忽略。官长之职与传道之职一样，都是神为教会的好处而设的条例。我们在此被告知：一、利未人被派与各支派的君长和长老一同施行审判——这些君长和长老可推想在律法上不如以律法为业的利未人精通。那些被派在圣所事奉的利未人——无论是歌唱的还是守门的——都不参与这外事；或因单单这一样已足够占据整个人，或因兼作两样乃是僭越。二、他们的职分既在耶和华的一切事务中，也在王的事奉中（代上26:30，又代上26:32）。他们管理国家事务——包括宗教和民政——既照管神的十分之一，也照管王的赋税；惩罚那些直接干犯神和他尊荣的罪，也惩罚那些干犯政府和平安的罪；既防备偶像崇拜，也防备不公义；并确保律法对这两样都得着执行。他们中大概有人专心于宗教事务，有人专心于世俗事务；如此，神和王都被伺候得妥。当一个国家的民政和宗教利益如此互相交织、并一同被关顾和推进时，这个国家便是有福的。三、被派作士师的利未人，在约旦河那边的两个半支派中比在所有其余支派中更多；那里有2700人，而在约旦河西只有1700人（代上26:30、32）。或因那些远方的支派不像其余支派那样有自家充足的士师；或因为他们离耶路撒冷最远，又在邻国的边境上，最容易被偶像崇拜感染，最需要利未人的帮助来防止这事。边境必须严守。四、经上记着这事（正如一切先前的安排一样）是在大卫作王第四十年行的（代上26:31），即他作王的最末一年。我们当看见那日子临近，便越发殷勤行善。我们若活着得以享受自己劳苦的果子，不可吝惜不留给在我们之后的人。
英文原文
The Officers of the Levites (b c Date)
¹ Concerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
² And the sons of Meshelemiah were, Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
³ Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh.
⁴ Moreover the sons of Obed-edom were, Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth,
⁵ Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth: for God blessed him.
⁶ Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father: for they were mighty men of valour.
⁷ The sons of Shemaiah; Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were strong men, Elihu, and Semachiah.
⁸ All these of the sons of Obed-edom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men for strength for the service, were threescore and two of Obed-edom.
⁹ And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, strong men, eighteen.
¹⁰ Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons; Simri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief;)
¹¹ Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.
¹² Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another, to minister in the house of the LORD.
¹³ And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.
¹⁴ And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.
¹⁵ To Obed-edom southward; and to his sons the house of Asuppim.
¹⁶ To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward.
¹⁷ Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two.
¹⁸ At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.
¹⁹ These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari.
Observe, I. There were porters appointed to attend the temple, who guarded all the avenues that let to it, opened and shut all the outer gates and attended at them, not only for the state, but for service, to direct and instruct those who were going to worship in the courts of the sanctuary in the decorum they were to observe, to encourage those that were timorous, to send back the strangers and unclean, and to guard against thieves and others that were enemies to the house of God. In allusion to this office, ministers are said to have the keys to the kingdom of heaven committed to them (Mt 16:19), that they may admit, and exclude, according to the law of Christ.
II. Of several of those that were called to this service, it is taken notice of that they were mighty men of valour (1Ch 26:6), strong men (1Ch 26:7), able men (1Ch 26:8), and one of them that he was a wise counsellor (1Ch 26:14), who probably, when he had used this office of a deacon well and given proofs of more than ordinary wisdom, purchased to himself a good degree, and was preferred from the gate to the council-board, 1Ti 3:13. As for those that excelled in strength of body, and courage and resolution of mind, they were thereby qualified for the post assigned them; for whatever service God calls men to he either finds them fit or makes them so.
III. The sons of Obed-edom were employed in this office, sixty-two of that family. This was he that entertained the ark with reverence and cheerfulness; and see how he was rewarded for it. 1. He had eight sons (1Ch 26:5), for God blessed him. The increase and building up of families are owing to the divine blessing; and a great blessing it is to a family to have many children, when like these they are able for, and eminent in, the service of God. 2. His sons were preferred to places of trust in the sanctuary. They had faithfully attended the ark in their own house, and now were called to attend it in God's house. He that is trusty in little shall be trusted with more. He that keeps God's ordinances in his own tent is fit to have the custody of them in God's tabernacle, 1Ti 3:4,5. I have kept thy law, says David, and this I had because I kept thy precepts, Ps 119:55,56.
IV. It is said of one here that though he was not the first-born his father made him the chief (1Ch 26:10), either because he was very excellent, or because the elder son was very weak. He was made chief, perhaps not in inheriting the estate (for that was forbidden by the law, De 21:16,17), but in this service, which required personal qualifications.
V. The porters, as the singers, had their post assigned them by lot, so many at such a gate, and so many at such a one, that every one might know his post and make it good, 1Ch 26:13. It is not said that they were cast into twenty-four courses, as before; but here are the names of about twenty-four (1Ch 26:1-11), and the posts assigned are twenty-four, 1Ch 26:17,18. We have therefore reason to think they were distributed into as many companies. Happy are those who dwell in God's house: for, as they are well fed, well taught, and well employed, so they are well guarded. Men attended at the gates of the temple, but angels attend at the gates of the New Jerusalem, Re 21:12.
²⁰ And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.
²¹ As concerning the sons of Laadan; the sons of the Gershonite Laadan, chief fathers, even of Laadan the Gershonite, were Jehieli.
²² The sons of Jehieli; Zetham, and Joel his brother, which were over the treasures of the house of the LORD.
²³ Of the Amramites, and the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites:
²⁴ And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler of the treasures.
²⁵ And his brethren by Eliezer; Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son.
²⁶ Which Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated.
²⁷ Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the LORD.
²⁸ And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated; and whosoever had dedicated any thing, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren.
Observe, 1. There were treasures of the house of God. A great house cannot be well kept without stores of all manner of provisions. Much was expended daily upon the altar-flour, wine, oil, salt, fuel, besides the lamps; quantities of these were to be kept beforehand, besides the sacred vestments and utensils. These were the treasures of the house of God. And, because money answers all things, doubtless they had an abundance of it, which was received from the people's offerings, wherewith they bought in what they had occasion for. And perhaps much was laid up for an exigence. These treasures typified the plenty there is in our heavenly Father's house, enough and to spare. In Christ, the true temple, are hid treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and unsearchable riches. 2. There were treasures of dedicated things, dedicated mostly out of the spoils won in battle (1Ch 26:27), as a grateful acknowledgment of the divine protection. Abraham gave Melchisedec the tenth of the spoils Heb 7:4. In Moses's time the officers of the army, when they returned victorious, brought of their spoils an oblation to the Lord, Nu 31:50. Of late this pious custom had been revived; and not only Samuel and David, but Saul, and Abner, and Joab, had dedicated of their spoils to the honour and support of the house of God, 1Ch 26:28. Note, The more God bestows upon us the more he expects from us in works of piety and charity. Great successes call for proportionable returns. When we look over our estates we should consider, "Here are convenient things, rich things, it may be, and fine things; but where are the dedicated things?" Men of war must honour God with their spoils. 3. These treasures had treasurers, those that were over them (1Ch 26:20,26), whose business it was to keep them, that neither moth nor rust might corrupt them, nor thieves break through and steal, to give out as there was occasion and to see that they were not wasted, embezzled, or alienated to the common use; and it is probable that they kept accounts of all that was brought in and how it was laid out.
²⁹ Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.
³⁰ And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand and seven hundred, were officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward in all the business of the LORD, and in the service of the king.
³¹ Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even among the Hebronites, according to the generations of his fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valour at Jazer of Gilead.
³² And his brethren, men of valour, were two thousand and seven hundred chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king.
All the offices of the house of God being well provided with Levites, we have here an account of those that were employed as officers and judges in the outward business, which must not be neglected, no, not for the temple itself. The magistracy is an ordinance of God for the good of the church as truly as the ministry is. And here we are told, 1. That the Levites were employed in the administration of justice in concurrence with the princes and elders of the several tribes, who could not be supposed to understand the law so well as the Levites, who made it their business to study it. None of those Levites who were employed in the service of the sanctuary, none of the singers or porters, were concerned in this outward business; either one was enough to engage the whole man or it was presumption to undertake both. 2. Their charge was both in all business of the Lord, and in the service of the kings, 1Ch 26:30 and again 1Ch 26:32. They managed the affairs of the country, as well ecclesiastical as civil, took care both of God's tithes and the king's taxes, punished offences committed immediately against God and his honour and those against the government and the public peace, guarded both against idolatry and against injustice, and took care to put the laws in execution against both. Some, it is likely, applied themselves to the affairs of religion, others to secular affairs; and so, between both, God and the king were well served. It is happy with a kingdom when its civil and sacred interests are thus interwoven and jointly minded and advanced. 3. There were more Levites employed as judges with the two tribes and a half on the other side of Jordan than with all the rest of the tribes; there were 2700; whereas as the west side of Jordan there were 1700, 1Ch 26:30,32. Either those remote tribes were not so well furnished as the rest with judges of their own, or because they, lying furthest from Jerusalem and on the borders of the neighbouring nations, were most in danger of being infected with idolatry, and most needed the help of Levites to prevent it. The frontiers must be well guarded. 4. This is said to be done (as were all the foregoing settlements) in the fortieth year of the reign of David (1Ch 26:31), that is, the last year of his reign. We should be so much the more industrious to do good as we can see the day approaching. If we live to enjoy the fruit of our labours, grudge it not to those that shall come after us.
这里记载了关于利未人职责的内容。在士师时代的整个时期，直到以利和撒母耳出现之前，那个支派一直鲜有作为。但当大卫复兴信仰之后，利未人在众人之中享有最高的声望。令人欣慰的是，他们拥有通达明理的利未人，足以维护本支派的尊严。此处记载了：I. 被派定作守门之职的利未人，代上26:1-19。II. 被派定作司库与库房管理者的，代上26:20-28。III. 在各地担任官长和士师、受托管理公共事务的，代上26:29-32。