1 Chronicles 26:28

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.

And all that Samuel {H8050} the seer {H7200}, and Saul {H7586} the son {H1121} of Kish {H7027}, and Abner {H74} the son {H1121} of Ner {H5369}, and Joab {H3097} the son {H1121} of Zeruiah {H6870}, had dedicated {H6942}; and whosoever had dedicated {H6942} any thing, it was under the hand {H3027} of Shelomith {H8019}, and of his brethren {H251}.

Also included was all that Sh'mu'el the seer, Sha'ul the son of Kish, Avner the son of Ner and Yo'av the son of Tz'ruyah had dedicated. In short, if anyone had dedicated anything, Shlomit and his brothers were in charge of it.

Everything that had been dedicated by Samuel the seer, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah, along with everything else that was dedicated, was under the care of Shelomith and his brothers.

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, whosoever had dedicated anything, it was under the hand of Shelomoth, and of his brethren.

First Chronicles 26:28 provides a crucial detail within the extensive record of King David's organization of the Levitical service for the future Temple. This verse specifically highlights the meticulous care and oversight given to items that had been dedicated, or set apart, for the service of God.

Context

This verse is part of a larger section (1 Chronicles 23-27) that describes King David's preparations for the Temple, which his son Solomon would build. David, inspired by God, meticulously organized the Levites into various divisions: priests, musicians, gatekeepers, and officers and judges. Verses 20-28 of chapter 26 focus on the treasurers and administrators of the dedicated items. The duties of these Levites included handling all the sacred treasures and dedicated gifts.

Key Themes

  • Stewardship of Sacred Things: The verse underscores the importance of carefully managing and preserving items set apart for God's use. It reflects a deep respect for divine provisions and human contributions to worship.
  • Continuity of Dedication: By listing figures spanning different eras—from Samuel the prophet to military leaders under Saul and David—the text shows a long-standing tradition of dedicating spoils of war or personal treasures to the Lord. This practice predated the Temple and continued through various leaderships.
  • Levitical Responsibility: The ultimate oversight by Shelomith and his brethren emphasizes the specific role of the Levites in administrating the sacred treasury. They were entrusted with the financial and material resources of the sanctuary, a vital aspect of their service to the Lord.

Historical Figures & Their Contributions

The verse specifically names prominent figures from Israel's history whose dedicated items were now under Levitical care:

  • Samuel the seer: The great prophet and judge who anointed both Saul and David. His dedicated items would have held significant spiritual and historical value.
  • Saul the son of Kish: Israel's first king. Even during his tumultuous reign, items were dedicated to God, indicating a consistent practice of devotion.
  • Abner the son of Ner: Saul's cousin and the commander of his army. His contributions likely came from military victories.
  • Joab the son of Zeruiah: David's nephew and the powerful, often ruthless, commander of David's army. His dedicated items would have typically been spoils of war.

All these dedicated items, regardless of their origin or the prominence of the donor, were entrusted to the care of Shelomith and his brethren. Shelomith, from the Izharite branch of the Kohathite Levites, was specifically mentioned as overseeing these dedicated treasures.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "dedicated" is qadash (קָדַשׁ), meaning to consecrate, make holy, or set apart for sacred use. When an item was "dedicated," it was removed from common use and designated exclusively for God's service, implying a high level of reverence and sanctity.

Practical Application

This verse offers timeless principles for believers today:

  • Valuing Contributions: Every gift, offering, or talent dedicated to God's service, no matter how small or from whom it comes, is valued and has a place in His work.
  • Faithful Stewardship: Just as the Levites were entrusted with the care of dedicated items, believers are called to be faithful stewards of all that God has given them—their resources, time, and abilities. This includes financial integrity and accountability in church finances, mirroring the meticulous records kept in ancient Israel. Faithfulness in managing "little things" is crucial.
  • Legacy of Giving: The verse reminds us that our contributions to God's kingdom can have a lasting impact, becoming part of a continuous legacy of worship and service that spans generations.

Reflection

1 Chronicles 26:28, though seemingly a simple record, speaks volumes about the organized and reverent approach to divine service in ancient Israel. It reinforces the idea that all aspects of life, including material possessions, can be consecrated to God and require careful, honest stewardship, a principle that remains vital for the church and individual believers today.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Samuel 9:9

    (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for [he that is] now [called] a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)

  • 1 Samuel 14:47

    ¶ So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed [them].

  • 1 Samuel 14:51

    And Kish [was] the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner [was] the son of Abiel.

  • 2 Samuel 10:9

    When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice [men] of Israel, and put [them] in array against the Syrians:

  • 2 Samuel 10:14

    And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

  • 1 Samuel 17:55

    And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son [is] this youth? And Abner said, [As] thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.

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