1 Chronicles 26:18

THE MESSAGE

The Security Guards The teams of security guards were from the family of Korah: Meshelemiah son of Kore (one of the sons of Asaph). Meshelemiah's sons were Zechariah, the firstborn, followed by Jediael, Zebadiah, Jathniel, Elam, Jehohanan, and Eliehoenai—seven sons. Obed-Edom's sons were Shemaiah, the firstborn, followed by Jehozabad, Joah, Sacar, Nethanel, Ammiel, Issachar, and Peullethai—God blessed him with eight sons. His son Shemaiah had sons who provided outstanding leadership in the family: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad; his relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also exceptional. These all came from the line of Obed-Edom—all of them outstanding and strong. There were sixty-two of them. Meshelemiah had eighteen sons and relatives who were outstanding. The sons of Hosah the Merarite were Shimri (he was not the firstborn but his father made him first), then Hilkiah, followed by Tabaliah and Zechariah. Hosah accounted for thirteen. These teams of security guards, supervised by their leaders, kept order in The Temple of God , keeping up the traditions of their ancestors. They were all assigned to their posts by the same method regardless of the prominence of their families—each picked his gate assignment from a hat. Shelemiah was assigned to the East Gate; his son Zechariah, a shrewd counselor, got the North Gate. Obed-Edom got the South Gate; and his sons pulled duty at the storehouse. Shuppim and Hosah were posted to the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the high road. The guards stood shoulder to shoulder: six Levites per day on the east, four per day on the north and on the south, and two at a time at the storehouse. At the open court to the west, four guards were posted on the road and two at the court.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
As for the court on the west, there were four at the highway and two at the court.

Hebrew Names Version
For Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.

King James Version
At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.

English Standard Version
And for the colonnade on the west there were four at the road and two at the colonnade.

New Century Version
There were two guards at the western court and four guards on the road to the court.

New English Translation
At the court on the west there were four posted on the road and two at the court.

Amplified Bible
At the colonnade on the west side [of the outer court of the temple] there were four at the road and two at the colonnade.

New American Standard Bible
At the annex on the west there were four at the highway and two at the annex.

World English Bible
For Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.

Geneva Bible (1587)
In Parbar towarde the West were foure by the paued streete, and two in Parbar.

Legacy Standard Bible
At the Parbar on the west there were four at the highway and two at the Parbar.

Berean Standard Bible
As for the court on the west, there were four at the highway and two at the court.

Contemporary English Version
four were stationed along the road leading to the west courtyard, and two guards stayed in the court itself.

Complete Jewish Bible
while for the courtyard to the west there were four at the highway and two at the courtyard itself.

Darby Translation
At the portico westward, four at the causeway, two at the portico.

Easy-to-Read Version
There were four guards at the western court and two guards on the road to the court.

George Lamsa Translation
At Parbar westward, four at the road and two at Parbar.

Good News Translation
Near the western pavilion there were four guards by the road and two at the pavilion itself.

Lexham English Bible
For the court to the west, four at the road, two at the court.

Literal Translation
At the Parbar, westward, four at the highway; two at the Parbar.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
By Parbar westwarde were there foure in in the strete, and two besyde Parbar.

American Standard Version
For Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.

Bible in Basic English
For the pillared way, on the west, four at the footway and two at the pillared way itself.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
In Parbar toward the west two at the going vp, and two in Pharbar.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
For the Precinct westward, four at the causeway, and two at the Precinct.

King James Version (1611)
And Parbar Westward, foure at the causey, and two at Parbar.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
to relieve guard, also for Osa westward after the chamber-gate, three. There was a ward over against the ward of the ascent eastward, six men in a day, and four for the north, and four for the south, and at the Esephim two to relieve guard, and four by the west, and two to relieve guard at the pathway.

English Revised Version
For Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And in the sellis, ethir `litle housis, of porteris at the west, weren foure in the weie, and tweyne bi the sellis.

Update Bible Version
For Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.

Webster's Bible Translation
At Parbar westward, four at the causey, [and] two at Parbar.

New King James Version
As for the Parbar [fn] on the west, there were four on the highway and two at the Parbar.

New Living Translation
Six were assigned each day to the west gate, four to the gateway leading up to the Temple, and two to the courtyard.

New Life Bible
There were four at the road. And there were two at the place between the west wall of the Lord's house and the wall of the open space.

New Revised Standard
and for the colonnade on the west there were four at the road and two at the colonnade.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For the precinct - westward, four, at the causeway, two - by the precinct.

Douay-Rheims Bible
In the cells also of the porters toward the west four in the way: and two at every cell.

Revised Standard Version
and for the parbar on the west there were four at the road and two at the parbar.

Young's Literal Translation
at Parbar, to the west, [are] four at the highway, two at Parbar.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
At the Parbar on the west there were four at the highway and two at the Parbar.

Contextual Overview

¹The teams of security guards were from the family of Korah: Meshelemiah son of Kore (one of the sons of Asaph). Meshelemiah's sons were Zechariah, the firstborn, followed by Jediael, Zebadiah, Jathniel, Elam, Jehohanan, and Eliehoenai—seven sons. Obed-Edom's sons were Shemaiah, the firstborn, followed by Jehozabad, Joah, Sacar, Nethanel, Ammiel, Issachar, and Peullethai—God blessed him with eight sons. His son Shemaiah had sons who provided outstanding leadership in the family: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad; his relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also exceptional. These all came from the line of Obed-Edom—all of them outstanding and strong. There were sixty-two of them. Meshelemiah had eighteen sons and relatives who were outstanding. The sons of Hosah the Merarite were Shimri (he was not the firstborn but his father made him first), then Hilkiah, followed by Tabaliah and Zechariah. Hosah accounted for thirteen. ¹²These teams of security guards, supervised by their leaders, kept order in The Temple of God , keeping up the traditions of their ancestors. They were all assigned to their posts by the same method regardless of the prominence of their families—each picked his gate assignment from a hat. Shelemiah was assigned to the East Gate; his son Zechariah, a shrewd counselor, got the North Gate. Obed-Edom got the South Gate; and his sons pulled duty at the storehouse. Shuppim and Hosah were posted to the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the high road. The guards stood shoulder to shoulder: six Levites per day on the east, four per day on the north and on the south, and two at a time at the storehouse. At the open court to the west, four guards were posted on the road and two at the court. These are the teams of security guards from the sons of Korah and Merari. Other Levites were put in charge of the financial affairs of The Temple of God. From the family of Ladan (all Gershonites) came Jehieli, and the sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel. They supervised the finances of the sanctuary of God . From the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites: Shubael, descended from Gershom the son of Moses, was the chief financial officer. His relatives through Eliezer: his son Rehabiah, his son Jeshaiah, his son Joram, his son Zicri, and his son Shelomith. Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of valuables consecrated by David the king, family heads, and various generals and commanders from the army. They dedicated the plunder that they had gotten in war to the work of the worship of God . In addition, everything that had been dedicated by Samuel the seer, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah—anything that had been dedicated, ever, was the responsibility of Shelomith and his family. From the family of the Izharites, Kenaniah and sons were appointed as officials and judges responsible for affairs outside the work of worship and sanctuary. From the family of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his relatives—1,700 well-qualified men—were responsible for administration of matters related to the worship of God and the king's work in the territory west of the Jordan. According to the family tree of the Hebronites, Jeriah held pride of place. In the fortieth year of David's reign (his last), the Hebron family tree was researched and outstanding men were found at Jazer in Gilead, namely, Jeriah and 2,700 men of his extended family: David the king made them responsible for administration of matters related to the worship of God and the work of the king in the territory east of the Jordan—the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. ¹⁷The Security Guards The teams of security guards were from the family of Korah: Meshelemiah son of Kore (one of the sons of Asaph). Meshelemiah's sons were Zechariah, the firstborn, followed by Jediael, Zebadiah, Jathniel, Elam, Jehohanan, and Eliehoenai—seven sons. Obed-Edom's sons were Shemaiah, the firstborn, followed by Jehozabad, Joah, Sacar, Nethanel, Ammiel, Issachar, and Peullethai—God blessed him with eight sons. His son Shemaiah had sons who provided outstanding leadership in the family: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad; his relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also exceptional. These all came from the line of Obed-Edom—all of them outstanding and strong. There were sixty-two of them. Meshelemiah had eighteen sons and relatives who were outstanding. The sons of Hosah the Merarite were Shimri (he was not the firstborn but his father made him first), then Hilkiah, followed by Tabaliah and Zechariah. Hosah accounted for thirteen. These teams of security guards, supervised by their leaders, kept order in The Temple of God , keeping up the traditions of their ancestors. They were all assigned to their posts by the same method regardless of the prominence of their families—each picked his gate assignment from a hat. Shelemiah was assigned to the East Gate; his son Zechariah, a shrewd counselor, got the North Gate. Obed-Edom got the South Gate; and his sons pulled duty at the storehouse. Shuppim and Hosah were posted to the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the high road. The guards stood shoulder to shoulder: six Levites per day on the east, four per day on the north and on the south, and two at a time at the storehouse. At the open court to the west, four guards were posted on the road and two at the court. These are the teams of security guards from the sons of Korah and Merari. Other Levites were put in charge of the financial affairs of The Temple of God. From the family of Ladan (all Gershonites) came Jehieli, and the sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel. They supervised the finances of the sanctuary of God . From the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites: Shubael, descended from Gershom the son of Moses, was the chief financial officer. His relatives through Eliezer: his son Rehabiah, his son Jeshaiah, his son Joram, his son Zicri, and his son Shelomith. Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of valuables consecrated by David the king, family heads, and various generals and commanders from the army. They dedicated the plunder that they had gotten in war to the work of the worship of God . In addition, everything that had been dedicated by Samuel the seer, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah—anything that had been dedicated, ever, was the responsibility of Shelomith and his family. From the family of the Izharites, Kenaniah and sons were appointed as officials and judges responsible for affairs outside the work of worship and sanctuary. From the family of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his relatives—1,700 well-qualified men—were responsible for administration of matters related to the worship of God and the king's work in the territory west of the Jordan. According to the family tree of the Hebronites, Jeriah held pride of place. In the fortieth year of David's reign (his last), the Hebron family tree was researched and outstanding men were found at Jazer in Gilead, namely, Jeriah and 2,700 men of his extended family: David the king made them responsible for administration of matters related to the worship of God and the work of the king in the territory east of the Jordan—the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. ¹⁸The Security Guards The teams of security guards were from the family of Korah: Meshelemiah son of Kore (one of the sons of Asaph). Meshelemiah's sons were Zechariah, the firstborn, followed by Jediael, Zebadiah, Jathniel, Elam, Jehohanan, and Eliehoenai—seven sons. Obed-Edom's sons were Shemaiah, the firstborn, followed by Jehozabad, Joah, Sacar, Nethanel, Ammiel, Issachar, and Peullethai—God blessed him with eight sons. His son Shemaiah had sons who provided outstanding leadership in the family: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad; his relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also exceptional. These all came from the line of Obed-Edom—all of them outstanding and strong. There were sixty-two of them. Meshelemiah had eighteen sons and relatives who were outstanding. The sons of Hosah the Merarite were Shimri (he was not the firstborn but his father made him first), then Hilkiah, followed by Tabaliah and Zechariah. Hosah accounted for thirteen. These teams of security guards, supervised by their leaders, kept order in The Temple of God , keeping up the traditions of their ancestors. They were all assigned to their posts by the same method regardless of the prominence of their families—each picked his gate assignment from a hat. Shelemiah was assigned to the East Gate; his son Zechariah, a shrewd counselor, got the North Gate. Obed-Edom got the South Gate; and his sons pulled duty at the storehouse. Shuppim and Hosah were posted to the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the high road. The guards stood shoulder to shoulder: six Levites per day on the east, four per day on the north and on the south, and two at a time at the storehouse. At the open court to the west, four guards were posted on the road and two at the court. ¹⁹ These are the teams of security guards from the sons of Korah and Merari.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Parbar: i.e. the outside place; he annulled the corn; a quarter of Jerusalem (Strong) [Strong's H6503], 1 Chronicles 26:18, Also, 2 Kings 23:11, Parbar is most probably the same as parwar, which denotes suburbs - 2 Kings 23:11, in which sense it is often used in the Chaldee Targums; and consequently this may be considered as leading to the suburbs.

Cross-References

Genesis 21:31
That's how the place got named Beersheba (the Oath-Well), because the two of them swore a covenant oath there. After they had made the covenant at Beersheba, Abimelech and his commander, Phicol, left and went back to Philistine territory.

Psalms 16:4
Don't just go shopping for a god. Gods are not for sale. I swear I'll never treat god-names like brand-names.

Zechariah 13:2
"On the Big Day"—this is God -of-the-Angel-Armies speaking—"I will wipe out the store-bought gods, erase their names from memory. People will forget they ever heard of them. And I'll get rid of the prophets who polluted the air with their diseased words. If anyone dares persist in spreading diseased, polluting words, his very own parents will step in and say, ‘That's it! You're finished! Your lies about God put everyone in danger,' and then they'll stab him to death in the very act of prophesying lies about God —his own parents, mind you!

Gill's Notes on the Bible

At Parbar westward,.... A gate at the western wall; the Jewish writers generally interpret it an outward place, but Dr. Lightfoot c thinks it is the same with Parvar, which signifies suburbs, 2 Kings 23:11, and which agrees with the description Josephus d gives of one of the western gates, that it led to the suburbs:

four at the causeway; by which was the gate Shallecheth, 1 Chronicles 26:16

and two at Parbar; the gate before mentioned.

c Ib. (Prospect of the Temple, ch. 5.) sect. 2. d Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 15. c. 11. sect. 5.)

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

“Parbar” must designate here the space between the western wall of the temple building and the wall of the court, which would be a sort of “precinct” or “purlieu” of the temple (2 Kings 23:11 note). Here were two gates, at one of which two guards were stationed; while at the Shallecheth, which gave upon the causeway, there were four. In this whole account, the temple is spoken of as if it were existing, when it was not as yet built. We must suppose that David formed the whole plan of the temple, and fixed the stations and numbers of the porters, though it was left for Solomon to carry out his instructions.