2 Chronicles 23:4 - Exposition

The first thing that is to be observed is the distinct and repeated mention of the Levites, as those on whom the critical and onerous service that came of Jehoiada's resolution was devolved, while the parallel does not so much as mention them. It may next be noted that our first and second verses state the part that "the captains of hundreds" were called to perform in collecting the requisite number of Levites from the provincial cities of Judah. And once more it may be noted that whereas, while we abide close by our own text alone, nothing in the description of our 2 Chronicles 23:4-10 occasions material difficulty, even when the perplexity, which is considerable, does enter, on consulting and endeavouring to reconcile the parallel, it is with extreme probability due to our not making sufficient allowance for the fact that the matter of the two accounts does not so much offer itself for reconciliation as for concurrent acceptance. We have now to follow the description of our own text. Of you entering on the sabbath ; i.e. of you who enter on your period of duty on such a sabbath. See 2 Chronicles 23:8 , the "men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath." This alludes, as the next clause definitely says, to the weekly courses of the Levites, as described in 1 Chronicles 9:25 ; 1 Chronicles 24:1-31 .; 25.—the incoming and outgoing companies. Porters of the doors; i.e. "keepers of the doors of the temple" ( 1 Chronicles 9:19 ). This may correspond with the middle clause of 1 Chronicles 24:6 in the parallel.