1 Chronicles 26:18

At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, [and] two at Parbar.

At Parbar {H6503} westward {H4628}, four {H702} at the causeway {H4546}, and two {H8147} at Parbar {H6503}.

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

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

For Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.

Commentary

1 Chronicles 26:18 provides a concise detail about the specific assignments of gatekeepers for the tabernacle, and later, the temple. This verse, "At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, [and] two at Parbar," is part of a larger administrative record detailing the duties and locations of the Levites, particularly those responsible for guarding the temple entrances and treasuries.

Context

This verse is situated within a comprehensive account of King David's meticulous organization of the Levites into divisions for service in the house of God. Chapters 23-26 of 1 Chronicles outline the roles of the priests, musicians, gatekeepers, and treasurers. Specifically, Chapter 26 focuses on the gatekeepers, listing their families, numbers, and assigned posts. The detailed nature of these records underscores the importance of order and preparation in David's plans for the future temple in Jerusalem, reflecting a divine blueprint for worship and service.

Key Themes

  • Order and Administration: The precise allocation of duties and posts, even to specific numbers of individuals at particular locations, highlights the value of order and good administration in God's service. Every detail was considered crucial for the proper functioning of the worship system.
  • Faithful Service: While seemingly minor, the role of a gatekeeper was vital for security, access control, and maintaining reverence in the sacred precincts. This verse subtly emphasizes that every assigned task, no matter how small, contributes to the overall effectiveness and sanctity of God's work, requiring diligence and faithfulness.
  • Divine Oversight: David's extensive organization was not merely human ingenuity but was guided by divine inspiration, ensuring that the future temple operations would run smoothly and reverently, reflecting God's own character of order.

Linguistic Insights

  • Parbar: This term (Hebrew: ืคึผึทืจึฐื‘ึผึธืจ, parbฤr) likely refers to a specific portico, colonnade, or outer court area associated with the temple complex, probably on its western side. Its precise location is debated, but it signifies a distinct post for the gatekeepers.
  • Causeway: The Hebrew word is ืžึฐืกึดืœึผึธื” (mesillah), which generally means a "raised road," "highway," or "causeway." This suggests a significant approach or pathway leading to the temple area, requiring specific oversight.
  • The numbers "four" and "two" are direct counts of the gatekeepers assigned to these specific points, illustrating the precise nature of the Levitical duties.

Practical Application

Though this verse details ancient temple logistics, its principles remain relevant. It reminds us that:

  • Every Role Matters: In any community or organization, especially within the church, every assigned role, no matter how seemingly insignificant, is important for the whole to function effectively.
  • Value of Order: God values order and good stewardship. Our efforts to organize, plan, and execute tasks diligently in service to God reflect His character.
  • Faithfulness in the Mundane: Much of our service to God involves consistent, faithful execution of routine duties. This verse encourages us to perform even the most ordinary tasks with dedication, knowing that we are serving the Lord.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 23:11

    And he took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entering in of the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathanmelech the chamberlain, which [was] in the suburbs, and burned the chariots of the sun with fire.
โ† Back