서론
無標題
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)
利未人的官長（日期不詳）
¹ 守門人的班次記在下面：可拉族亞薩的子孫中，有可利的兒子米施利米雅。 ² 米施利米雅的兒子是撒迦利亞為長子、耶疊為次子、西巴第雅為三子、耶特聶為四子、 ³ 以攔為五子、約哈難為六子、以利約乃為七子。 ⁴ 俄別以東的長子是示瑪雅，次子是約薩拔，三子是約亞，四子是沙甲，五子是拿坦業， ⁵ 六子是亞米利，七子是以薩迦，八子是毘烏太；因為神賜福與他。 ⁶ 他兒子示瑪雅的兒子，在他父家裏也是作族長的；因為他們都是大能的勇士。 ⁷ 示瑪雅的兒子是俄特尼、利法益、俄備得、以利薩巴；他們的弟兄是強健的人，就是以利戶、西瑪基雅。 ⁸ 這都是俄別以東的子孫；他們和他們的兒子並弟兄，都是善於辦事的大力能人，共有六十二人。 ⁹ 米施利米雅還有兒子和弟兄，都是能人，共十八人。 ¹⁰ 米拉利子孫中戶薩也有兒子，為首的是細姆利（他原不是長子，是他父親立他作首領）； ¹¹ 次子是希勒家，三子是底巴利雅，四子是撒迦利亞。戶薩的兒子和弟兄共十三人。 ¹² 這些人作守門人的班長，與他們的弟兄一同在耶和華殿裏供職。 ¹³ 他們無論大小，都按著父家宗族掣籤分守各門。 ¹⁴ 掣籤向東的歸示利米雅。他兒子撒迦利亞是個謀士，他們就為他掣籤；他的籤向北。 ¹⁵ 俄別以東向南；他的兒子守亞蘇平倉庫。 ¹⁶ 書平與戶薩向西，在靠近上坡的沙勒基門，守望相對。 ¹⁷ 東向有六個利未人，北向每日有四人，南向每日有四人，亞蘇平每日有二人相對。 ¹⁸ 在西面的廊子（Parbar）有四人，在靠近上坡處有二人，在廊子有二人。 ¹⁹ 這些都是可利子孫和米拉利子孫守門人的班次。
請注意：
一、有人被指派作殿的守門人，看守通往聖殿的一切通道，開閉並守衛所有外門，並在那裏伺候，不僅是為了禮節，也是為了服事：指示和教導那些將要進入聖所院子敬拜之人當守的規矩，鼓勵膽怯的人，遣回外邦人和不潔淨的人，並防備盜賊和其他與神殿為敵的人。基督徒的職分與此職司相彷，被稱為將「天國的鑰匙」交託在他們手中（太十六19），使他們可以照著基督的律法接納或拒絕。
二、在幾個蒙召擔任此職的人中，經上特別記載他們是「大能的勇士」（代上二十六6）、「強健的人」（代上二十六7）、「大力能人」（代上二十六8），其中一位且是「謀士」（代上二十六14）──這人也許在「善作執事」之後，因顯出非比尋常的智慧，「就得到了美好的地位」，從守門之職被提拔到議會之中（提前三13）。至於那些體力剛強、心思勇敢果決的人，自然就具備了擔任所指派職司的資格；因為無論神呼召人作甚麼服事，他要不是早使他們合宜，就是會使他們合宜。
三、俄別以東的子孫擔任此職，這一家共有六十二人。這人就是那位以敬畏和喜樂接待約櫃的；請看他因此得了何等的報答。1. 他有八個兒子（代上二十六5），「因為神賜福與他」。家庭的增添和建立都出於神的賜福；一個家庭若有許多兒女，且這些兒女如這裏所載，能為神效力且卓然出眾便是極大的福分。2. 他的兒子被委以聖所中的重任。他們在自己家中忠心地伺候約櫃，如今被召在神的殿中伺候它。在小事上忠心的，必託他以更大的事。在自己帳棚中遵守神典章的人，才配在神的會幕中看守這些典章（提前三4、5）。大衛說：「我守了你的律法，」又說「我所以如此，是因我守了你的訓詞」（詩一一九55、56）。
四、此處論到一人說：「他原不是長子，是他父親立他作首領」（代上二十六10），這也許是因為他十分卓越，又或是因為長子十分軟弱。他被立為首領，也許並非在承受產業上（因律法禁止如此行，申二十一16、17），而是在這項需要個人品格資格的事奉上。
五、守門人如同歌唱的人一樣，藉著掣籤分派當守的崗位，這門若干人，那門若干人，使各人都知道自己的崗位並盡忠職守（代上二十六13）。經文未說他們被分為二十四班，正如前文所述；但此處所列的名字約有二十四個（代上二十六1-11），所指派的崗位也是二十四個（代上二十六17、18）。因此我們有理由認為他們被分為同樣數目的班次。住在神殿中的人有福了：因為他們不僅得著美好的供養、美好的教導和美好的事奉，也得著美好的護衛。在聖殿的門口有人守衛，但在新耶路撒冷的門口有天使守衛（啟二十一12）。
²⁰ 利未人中亞希雅掌管神殿的府庫，又掌管分別為聖之物的府庫。 ²¹ 至於拉但的子孫：屬革順人拉當的族長、就是屬拉當的革順人耶希伊利。 ²² 耶希伊利的兒子是西坦、和他兄弟約珥，他們是掌管耶和華殿府庫的。 ²³ 暗蘭族、以斯哈族、希伯崙族、烏薛族， ²⁴ 摩西的兒子革順的兒子細布業，是掌管府庫的長官。 ²⁵ 至於他的弟兄以利以謝的子孫：他的兒子利哈比雅、他的兒子耶賽亞、他的兒子約蘭、他的兒子細基利、他的兒子示羅密。 ²⁶ 這示羅密和他的弟兄掌管一切分別為聖之物的府庫，就是大衛王和眾族長、千夫長、百夫長並軍長所分別為聖的。 ²⁷ 他們將爭戰時所奪的財物分別為聖，以備維持耶和華的殿。
請注意，1. 有「神殿的府庫」。一所大宅若沒有各樣供應的儲備，便不能妥善管理。祭壇每日消耗甚多──細麵、酒、油、鹽、柴薪，此外還有燈；這些都需要預先大量儲備，另外還有聖衣和聖器。這些就是「神殿的府庫」。又因「錢能萬事」，無疑他們有豐足的金錢，是從百姓的奉獻中收來的，用以購置所需之物。也許還有許多是為著不時之需而積蓄的。這些府庫預表了我們天父家中豐盛的供應，綽綽有餘。在基督──那真正的聖殿──裏面，藏有「智慧知識的寶藏」和「那測不透的豐富」。2. 有「分別為聖之物的府庫」，多數是「將爭戰時所奪的財物」（代上二十六27）分別為聖，作為對神護佑的感恩。亞伯拉罕曾將「所奪之物」的十分之一獻給麥基洗德（來七4）。摩西時代，軍中將帥得勝歸來之時，也從所奪之物中取「供物獻給耶和華」（民三十一50）。晚近這個敬虔的習俗又恢復了；不僅撒母耳和大衛，連掃羅、押尼珥和約押，都從他們的擄物中分別為聖，歸於神殿的尊榮和維持（代上二十六28）。請注意，神賜給我們越多，他在我們敬虔和慈善的善工上也期望越多。極大的成功當有相應的回報。當我們盤點自己的產業時，當思想：「這裏有便利的東西，也許還有貴重的東西、精美的東西；但分別為聖之物在哪裏呢？」爭戰的人當以所奪之物尊榮神。3. 這些府庫有專司管理的人，就是「掌管它們的人」（代上二十六20、26），他們的職責是看守它們，使「蟲子和鏽壞」不能朽壞它們，「賊不能挖窟窿偷」，按需要分發出去，並留意它們不被浪費、不被挪用、不被移作俗用；他們可能還要把一切收入的和支出的記在帳上。
²⁹ 以斯哈族有基拿尼雅和他的兒子們，作以色列外事的官長和士師。 ³⁰ 希伯崙族有哈沙比雅和他弟兄中的大能勇士，共一千七百人，在約但河西的以色列人中，辦理耶和華和王的一切事務。 ³¹ 希伯崙族中作首領的是耶利雅；這都是希伯崙人，按著他們父親的世代計算。大衛作王第四十年，在基列的雅謝尋得他們，在他們中間有大能的勇士。 ³² 他弟兄中的大能勇士，共二千七百個族長，大衛王派他們管理流便人、迦得人，和瑪拿西半支派，辦理一切屬神的事和王的事務。
神殿中的各項職分既已由利未人妥善供職，此處便記載了那些被派作官長和士師辦理「外事」的人；這外事就是為聖殿本身也不可忽略的。行政官的設立與祭司職分一樣，都是神為教會的好處而設立的典章。我們在此看到，1. 利未人參與司法的執行，與各支派的君長和長老共同行事；那些君長和長老對律法的熟悉程度，自然不如以研究律法為業的利未人。那些在聖所事奉中供職的利未人，無論是歌唱的或守門的，都不參與這外事；因為一項工作已足以佔盡一個人的全部心力，若兩者兼顧便是僭越。2. 他們的職責既包括「耶和華的一切事務」，也包括「王的事務」（代上二十六30，又見於代上二十六32）。他們辦理國家的政務，包括宗教和民政兩方面，兼管神的十分之一和王所徵的稅，懲治直接得罪神和他尊榮的罪，以及干犯政府和公共治安的罪，同時防備偶像崇拜和不公不義，並留意將律法在這兩方面都付諸執行。也許有的人專注於宗教事務，有的人專注於世俗事務；如此兩者兼顧，神和王就都得著妥善的服事。一個國家的民政和宗教利益如此彼此交織、共同關注和推進，這個國家便是有福的。3. 在約但河那邊兩個半支派中作士師的利未人，比其餘所有支派的都多；那裏有二千七百人；而在約但河西只有一千七百人（代上二十六30、32）。這也許是因為那些偏遠的支派自己所出的士師不如其餘支派充裕；又或者因為他們離耶路撒冷最遠，又與鄰國接壤，最容易受偶像崇拜的影響，最需要利未人的幫助來加以防範。邊境必須嚴密防守。4. 經上說這些安排（與前文一切的安排一樣）是在大衛作王第四十年進行的（代上二十六31），也就是他作王的最後一年。我們「看見日子臨近」，就當更加勤勉行善。我們若活著得享自己勞碌的果子，不可吝惜與後人分享。
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.
我們在此讀到關於利未人事務的記述。在士師時代全期，直到以利和撒母耳出現，這支派幾乎毫不起眼。但大衛復興宗教之時，利未人在所有人之中的聲望最高。慶幸的是，他們有利未人是有見識的人，配維護本支派的尊榮。此處我們讀到：一、被指派作守門人的利未人（代上二十六1–19）。二、被指派作司庫和倉庫管理者的（代上二十六20–28）。三、在全國作官長和審判官、受託管理公共事務的（代上二十六29–32）。