The gatekeepers: Korahites and Merarites, courses of strong men — among them Obed-edom, the man the ark once lodged with, now rich in sons, 'for God blessed him.' 'And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to their fathers’ houses, for every gate': Shelemiah eastward; Zechariah his son, 'a discreet counselor,' northward; Obed-edom southward. Other Levites keep the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of the dedicated things — 'Out of the spoil won in battles they dedicated to repair the house of Hashem,' spoil dedicated by Samuel the seer, Saul, Abner, and Joab alike. And outside the walls, officers and judges are set over Israel on both sides of the Jordan, 'for all the business of Hashem, and for the service of the king.'
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
For the courses of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites: Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
verse value 2729
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 39 letters. The shortest word is "Asaph" (אָסָֽף, 3 letters) and the longest is "for·courses" (לְמַחְלְק֖וֹת, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "for·courses" (לְמַחְלְק֖וֹת), "of·the·Korahites" (לַקׇּרְחִ֕ים), "Meshelemiah" (מְשֶׁלֶמְיָ֥הוּ). The root בן appears 2 times in this verse. 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "son·of·Kore" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "for·courses" (root מחלקת, 26x in I Chronicles); "Asaph" (root אסף, 20x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root משלמיהו ("Meshelemiah") in I Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'of·doorkeepers', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 5 words. Full calculation: לְמַחְלְק֖וֹת [for·courses] (614) + לְשֹׁעֲרִ֑ים [of·doorkeepers] (650) + לַקׇּרְחִ֕ים [of·the·Korahites] (388) + מְשֶׁלֶמְיָ֥הוּ [Meshelemiah] (431) + בֶן־קֹרֵ֖א [son·of·Kore] (353) + מִן־בְּנֵ֥י [from·sons·of] (152) + אָסָֽף [Asaph] (141) = 2729.
Rashi
Of the divisions of the gate sentries: of the Korahites They do not rotate, but they distributed them according to the gates, and they later cast lots [to determine] who would serve at this gate and who at another gate. In this way it is explained further (verses 13-19). of the Korahites: Meshelemiah the son of Kore of the sons of Asaph And [we find] a similarity above (9:19): “And Shallum the son of Kore, etc.”
Ralbag
For the courses of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites — [Scripture] mentions that the divisions of the doorkeepers likewise numbered twenty-four; this is what is stated below (verse 12): ‘Of these were the courses of the doorkeepers, even of the chief men, having charges corresponding to their brethren, to minister in the house of Hashem.’
Metzudat David
‘For the courses,’ etc. — meaning, these are the ones divided into groups as gatekeepers; of the sons of Korah, the gatekeeper was Meshelemiah, etc.
Malbim
'For the courses' — he goes on to relate how the division of the gatekeepers was arranged. 'of the Korahites' — of the family of the Korahites. It has already been explained above that Shallum son of Kore was over the keepers of the thresholds, and there (9:21), Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper of the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. It will be explained (in verses 17-18) that watchmen stood at twenty-four places, and so here too twenty-four heads are counted, each one head over a particular gate. The twenty-four are specified by name as follows: the sons of Meshelemiah, seven; of the sons of Obed-edom, eight — that makes fifteen; the sons of Shemaiah, six — though Shemaiah himself is not counted among them, since his sons served as heads in his place; and the sons of Hosah, four. Now, I have already explained above (9:25) that the twenty-four divisions required four thousand and thirty-two gatekeepers in all, and that those counted here were the officers appointed over them, twenty-four for the twenty-four places requiring guard. That is why above he counted only four thousand gatekeepers — for these, the twenty-four heads named here, were separate from that count. And Meshelemiah, Obed-edom, Shemaiah, and Hosah, who stood at the head of these heads and are likewise not included in the count as above, together with the twenty-four heads make up twenty-eight of the thirty-two extra; as for the remaining four, he was not precise in detailing them.
And Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the first-born, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth;
verse value 3027
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 58 letters. The shortest word is "sons" (בָּנִ֑ים, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·to·Meshelemiah" (וְלִמְשֶׁלֶמְיָ֖הוּ, 9 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "Zebadiah" (זְבַדְיָ֙הוּ֙), "Jathniel" (יַתְנִיאֵ֖ל). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "the·first-born" (root בכור, 24x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'sons', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 8 words. Full calculation: וְלִמְשֶׁלֶמְיָ֖הוּ [and·to·Meshelemiah] (467) + בָּנִ֑ים [sons] (102) + זְכַרְיָ֤הוּ [Zechariah] (248) + הַבְּכוֹר֙ [the·first-born] (233) + יְדִיעֲאֵ֣ל [Jediael] (125) + הַשֵּׁנִ֔י [the·second] (365) + זְבַדְיָ֙הוּ֙ [Zebadiah] (34) + הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י [the·third] (655) + יַתְנִיאֵ֖ל [Jathniel] (501) + הָרְבִיעִֽי [the·fourth] (297) = 3027.
Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh.
verse value 1856
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 35 letters. The shortest word is "Elam" (עֵילָ֤ם, 4 letters) and the longest is "Eliehoenai" (אֶלְיְהוֹעֵינַ֖י, 9 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "Jehohanan" (יְהוֹחָנָ֣ן), "Eliehoenai" (אֶלְיְהוֹעֵינַ֖י). 6 unique roots are used. Full calculation: עֵילָ֤ם [Elam] (150) + הַחֲמִישִׁי֙ [the·fifth] (373) + יְהוֹחָנָ֣ן [Jehohanan] (129) + הַשִּׁשִּׁ֔י [the·sixth] (615) + אֶלְיְהוֹעֵינַ֖י [Eliehoenai] (192) + הַשְּׁבִיעִֽי [the·seventh] (397) = 1856.
Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth; for God blessed him.
verse value 3342
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 42 letters. Notable word values: "God" (אֱלֹהִֽים) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֥י, 2 letters) and the longest is "the·seventh" (הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "Ammiel" (עַמִּיאֵ֤ל), "Peullethai" (פְּעֻלְּתַ֖י). 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "God" (root אלהים, 117x in I Chronicles); "for" (root כי, 69x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·eighth', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 3 words. Full calculation: עַמִּיאֵ֤ל [Ammiel] (151) + הַשִּׁשִּׁי֙ [the·sixth] (615) + יִשָּׂשכָ֣ר [Issachar] (830) + הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י [the·seventh] (397) + פְּעֻלְּתַ֖י [Peullethai] (590) + הַשְּׁמִינִ֑י [the·eighth] (415) + כִּ֥י [for] (30) + בֵרְכ֖וֹ [he·blessed·him] (228) + אֱלֹהִֽים [God] (86) = 3342.
Rashi
for God had blessed him as is stated above (13:14): “... and the Lord blessed the house of Obed- Edom, etc.”
Metzudat David
‘for God blessed him’ — with many children; and our Sages said this was because the ark had stood with him, as stated above.
Malbim
'for God blessed him' — as our Sages say at the end of tractate Berachot.
Also to Shemaiah his son were sons born, who ruled over the house of their father; for they were mighty men of valor.
verse value 2025
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 47 letters. Verse gematria: 2025 = 45². The shortest word is "his·son" (בְנוֹ֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·to·Shemaiah" (וְלִֽשְׁמַעְיָ֤ה, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 58: his·son, their·father. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·to·Shemaiah" (וְלִֽשְׁמַעְיָ֤ה), "the·rulers" (הַמִּמְשָׁלִ֖ים). The root בן appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "his·son" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "was·born" (root ילד, 117x in I Chronicles); "to·house·of" (root בית, 115x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'their·father', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 3 words. Full calculation: וְלִֽשְׁמַעְיָ֤ה [and·to·Shemaiah] (461) + בְנוֹ֙ [his·son] (58) + נוֹלַ֣ד [was·born] (90) + בָּנִ֔ים [sons] (102) + הַמִּמְשָׁלִ֖ים [the·rulers] (465) + לְבֵ֣ית [to·house·of] (442) + אֲבִיהֶ֑ם [their·father] (58) + כִּֽי־גִבּ֥וֹרֵי [for·mighty·men·of] (251) + חַ֖יִל [valor] (48) + הֵֽמָּה [they] (50) = 2025.
Rashi
who ruled through their father’s house The meaning is that those ruling were doing so through their father, and a similarity is [found] at the end of Daniel (11:3): “and rule a great dominion (וּמָשַל מִמְשַל רַב).”
Ralbag
who ruled over the house of their father — The subject is elliptical [left unstated]; the intent is that they were men of rule and authority over their father’s house, for they were mighty men of valor to perform the work assigned to them.
Metzudat David
‘who ruled’ — who had authority over their father’s house.
Malbim
'who ruled' — Rashi explains that they were rulers and officers appointed [over the house of their father], as above.
The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, and Rephael and Obed and Elzabad his brethren, valiant men; Elihu also, and Semachiah.
verse value 1800
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 49 letters. Verse gematria: 1800 is divisible by 50, the years to the Jubilee (yovel). The shortest word is "sons·of" (בְּנֵ֣י, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·Semachiah" (וּסְמַכְיָֽהוּ, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "Othni" (עׇ֠תְנִ֠י), "and·Rephael" (וּרְפָאֵ֨ל), "and·Semachiah" (וּסְמַכְיָֽהוּ). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons·of" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "his·brethren" (root אח, 95x in I Chronicles); "sons·of·valor" (root חיל, 27x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'sons·of·valor', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 2 words. Full calculation: בְּנֵ֣י [sons·of] (62) + שְׁמַֽעְיָ֗ה [Shemaiah] (425) + עׇ֠תְנִ֠י [Othni] (530) + וּרְפָאֵ֨ל [and·Rephael] (317) + וְעוֹבֵ֧ד [and·Obed] (88) + אֶלְזָבָ֛ד [Elzabad] (44) + אֶחָ֖יו [his·brethren] (25) + בְּנֵי־חָ֑יִל [sons·of·valor] (110) + אֱלִיה֖וּ [Elihu] (52) + וּסְמַכְיָֽהוּ [and·Semachiah] (147) = 1800.
Metzudat David
‘his brethren, valiant men’ — these are in fact names: one of his sons was named Achiv, and another was named Bnei-chayil.
All these were of the sons of Obed-edom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men in strength for the service; threescore and two of Obed-edom.
verse value 2249
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 60 letters. Notable word values: "all·these" (כׇּל־אֵ֜לֶּה) = 86, equal to Elohim. Verse gematria: 2249 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "Obed-" (עֹבֵ֣ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·their·sons" (וּבְנֵיהֶם֙, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 45: edom, edom. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "man·of·valor" (אִֽישׁ־חַ֥יִל), "in·the·strength" (בַּכֹּ֖חַ). The root עבד appears 3 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "from·sons·of" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "and·their·brethren" (root אח, 95x in I Chronicles); "all·these" (root אלה, 89x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root כח ("in·the·strength") in I Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'for·the·service', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 4 words. Full calculation: כׇּל־אֵ֜לֶּה [all·these] (86) + מִבְּנֵ֣י [from·sons·of] (102) + עֹבֵ֣ד [Obed-] (76) + אֱדֹ֗ם [edom] (45) + הֵ֤מָּה [they] (50) + וּבְנֵיהֶם֙ [and·their·sons] (113) + וַאֲחֵיהֶ֔ם [and·their·brethren] (70) + אִֽישׁ־חַ֥יִל [man·of·valor] (359) + בַּכֹּ֖חַ [in·the·strength] (30) + לַעֲבֹדָ֑ה [for·the·service] (111) + שִׁשִּׁ֥ים [sixty] (650) + וּשְׁנַ֖יִם [and·two] (406) + לְעֹבֵ֥ד [of·Obed-] (106) + אֱדֹֽם [edom] (45) = 2249.
Rashi
valiant men - Heb. אִיש חַיִל, not with strength and not in war but like a man about whom someone says, “So-and-so is of high esteem,” and similarly, (Ruth 2:1): “... a mighty man of valor, etc., and his name was Boaz.”
Metzudat David
‘able men in strength’ — each one of them was a man of valor. ‘for the service’ — to open and close the gates. ‘threescore and two’ — yet above it was said “threescore and eight”; perhaps six of them died by the time David grew old.
Malbim
'threescore and two' — see what I wrote above, 16:38.
And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, valiant men, eighteen.
verse value 1715
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 32 letters. The shortest word is "ten" (עָשָֽׂר, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·to·Meshelemiah" (וְלִמְשֶׁלֶמְיָ֗הוּ, 9 letters). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "and·brethren" (root אח, 95x in I Chronicles); "ten" (root עשר, 59x in I Chronicles). Full calculation: וְלִמְשֶׁלֶמְיָ֗הוּ [and·to·Meshelemiah] (467) + בָּנִ֧ים [sons] (102) + וְאַחִ֛ים [and·brethren] (65) + בְּנֵי־חָ֖יִל [sons·of·valor] (110) + שְׁמוֹנָ֥ה [eight] (401) + עָשָֽׂר [ten] (570) = 1715.
Malbim
'And Meshelemiah had' — this should properly have been stated after verse 3; but it comes here to make clear how Hashem blessed Obed-edom, in that from eight sons he came to have sixty-two descendants, whereas Meshelemiah, who had seven sons, had only eighteen, and Hosah, only thirteen.
Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief—for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him chief—
verse value 3110
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 53 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "from·sons·of·Merari" (מִן־בְּנֵי־מְרָרִ֖י, 9 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "from·sons·of·Merari" (מִן־בְּנֵי־מְרָרִ֖י), "his·father" (אָבִ֖יהוּ). The root ראש appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "not·he·was" (root היה, 104x in I Chronicles); "his·father" (root אב, 95x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'sons', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 8 words. Full calculation: וּלְחֹסָ֥ה [and·to·Hosah] (109) + מִן־בְּנֵי־מְרָרִ֖י [from·sons·of·Merari] (602) + בָּנִ֑ים [sons] (102) + שִׁמְרִ֤י [Shimri] (550) + הָרֹאשׁ֙ [the·head] (506) + כִּ֣י [for] (30) + לֹֽא־הָיָ֣ה [not·he·was] (51) + בְכ֔וֹר [firstborn] (228) + וַיְשִׂימֵ֥הוּ [and·he·set·him] (377) + אָבִ֖יהוּ [his·father] (24) + לְרֹֽאשׁ [to·head] (531) = 3110.
Metzudat David
‘Also Hosah’ — he too was a gatekeeper, as stated above. ‘for though he was not the firstborn’ — Scripture explains why, regarding his fellows, it says “the firstborn,” while regarding him it says “the chief”; it explains that in truth he was not the firstborn, etc.
Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth; all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.
verse value 3291
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 54 letters. The shortest word is "ten" (עָשָֽׂר, 3 letters) and the longest is "Hilkiah" (חִלְקִיָּ֤הוּ, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "Hilkiah" (חִלְקִיָּ֤הוּ), "Tebaliah" (טְבַלְיָ֣הוּ), "all·sons" (כׇּל־בָּנִ֧ים). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·brothers" (root אח, 95x in I Chronicles); "all·sons" (root כל, 81x in I Chronicles); "ten" (root עשר, 59x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·fourth', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 5 words. Full calculation: חִלְקִיָּ֤הוּ [Hilkiah] (159) + הַשֵּׁנִי֙ [the·second] (365) + טְבַלְיָ֣הוּ [Tebaliah] (62) + הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֔י [the·third] (645) + זְכַרְיָ֖הוּ [Zechariah] (248) + הָרְבִעִ֑י [the·fourth] (287) + כׇּל־בָּנִ֧ים [all·sons] (152) + וְאַחִ֛ים [and·brothers] (65) + לְחֹסָ֖ה [to·Hosah] (103) + שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה [three] (635) + עָשָֽׂר [ten] (570) = 3291.
These courses of the doorkeepers, even the chief men, had wards over against their brethren, to minister in the house of Hashem.
verse value 5036
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 54 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָֽה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "these" (לְ֠אֵ֠לֶּה, 4 letters) and the longest is "divisions·of" (מַחְלְק֨וֹת, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "these" (לְ֠אֵ֠לֶּה), "wards" (מִשְׁמָר֖וֹת). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 175x in I Chronicles); "in·house·of" (root בית, 115x in I Chronicles); "their·brothers" (root אח, 95x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'their·brothers', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 3 words. Full calculation: לְ֠אֵ֠לֶּה [these] (66) + מַחְלְק֨וֹת [divisions·of] (584) + הַשֹּׁעֲרִ֜ים [the·doorkeepers] (625) + לְרָאשֵׁ֧י [to·heads·of] (541) + הַגְּבָרִ֛ים [the·mighty·men] (260) + מִשְׁמָר֖וֹת [wards] (986) + לְעֻמַּ֣ת [against] (540) + אֲחֵיהֶ֑ם [their·brothers] (64) + לְשָׁרֵ֖ת [to·minister] (930) + בְּבֵ֥ית [in·house·of] (414) + יְהֹוָֽה [Hashem] (26) = 5036.
Rashi
watches corresponding to their brethren the chiefs of twenty-four watches.
Metzudat David
‘These,’ etc. — meaning, all these mentioned above were the ones who divided up all the gatekeepers, who numbered four thousand as stated above; those named here were the chiefs over them. ‘the chief men, had wards’ — meaning, the watches were divided according to the number of the chief men, so that they would all be equal (though not with perfect precision, since it is impossible to divide four thousand gatekeepers into twenty-four exactly equal parts, which was the number of the watches). ‘over against their brethren’ — meaning, like their brethren the singers, and similar to them. ‘to minister in the house of Hashem’ — in the matter of opening and closing the gates.
Malbim
'These courses of the doorkeepers' — meaning, that all the divisions of the gatekeepers, who numbered four thousand, stood under the command of these chief men — namely, the twenty-four men mentioned above. 'had wards over against their brethren' — the divisions corresponded to their brethren: twenty-four watch-houses for twenty-four weeks, just as the rest of the Levites were divided into twenty-four divisions.
And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to their fathers’ houses, for every gate.
verse value 3096
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 38 letters. Verse gematria: 3096 is divisible by 86, the value of Elohim. The shortest word is "as·the·small" (כַּקָּטֹ֧ן, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·they·cast" (וַיַּפִּ֨ילוּ, 6 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·gate" (וָשָֽׁעַר). The root שער appears 2 times in this verse. 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·house·of" (root בית, 115x in I Chronicles); "their·fathers" (root אב, 95x in I Chronicles). Full calculation: וַיַּפִּ֨ילוּ [and·they·cast] (142) + גוֹרָל֜וֹת [lots] (645) + כַּקָּטֹ֧ן [as·the·small] (179) + כַּגָּד֛וֹל [as·the·great] (63) + לְבֵ֥ית [to·house·of] (442) + אֲבוֹתָ֖ם [their·fathers] (449) + לְשַׁ֥עַר [for·gate] (600) + וָשָֽׁעַר [and·gate] (576) = 3096.
Rashi
And they cast lots, the small like the great, to their fathers’ houses for each gate who will receive this gate, and who will receive this gate, to the east, to the west, to the north, to the south, and so to all the gates in the forecourt.
Ralbag
And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, etc. — Meaning: among them, too, there were already divisions, and in each watch there was a fixed number of gatekeepers for every gate; and they counted all of these, small and great alike. And [Scripture] mentions that the gatekeepers were stationed at twenty-four places, distributed to the four directions, as it goes on to relate.
Metzudat David
‘as well the small as the great, according to their fathers’ houses’ — the youngest within their family was equal to the greatest in the matter of the lot. ‘for every gate’ — meaning, the lot determined who would be gatekeeper at this gate and who at that one, not which of them would take precedence, as was the case with the lot cast for the watches of the priests and the singers.
Malbim
'And they cast lots' — the twenty-four men mentioned above, the heads of the divisions, cast lots to determine who would be appointed over each and every gate.
And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a discreet counselor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.
verse value 3250
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 64 letters. Verse gematria: 3250 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "his·son" (בְנ֜וֹ, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·Shelemiah" (לְשֶׁלֶמְיָ֑הוּ, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "to·Shelemiah" (לְשֶׁלֶמְיָ֑הוּ), "in·prudence" (בְּשֶׂ֗כֶל), "they·cast" (הִפִּ֙ילוּ֙). The root גורל appears 3 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "his·son" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "and·he·went·out" (root יצא, 24x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·Shelemiah', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 9 words. Full calculation: וַיִּפֹּ֧ל [and·he·fell] (126) + הַגּוֹרָ֛ל [the·lot] (244) + מִזְרָ֖חָה [eastward] (260) + לְשֶׁלֶמְיָ֑הוּ [to·Shelemiah] (421) + וּזְכַרְיָ֨הוּ [and·Zechariah] (254) + בְנ֜וֹ [his·son] (58) + יוֹעֵ֣ץ [counselor] (176) + בְּשֶׂ֗כֶל [in·prudence] (352) + הִפִּ֙ילוּ֙ [they·cast] (131) + גּֽוֹרָל֔וֹת [lots] (645) + וַיֵּצֵ֥א [and·he·went·out] (107) + גוֹרָל֖וֹ [his·lot] (245) + צָפֽוֹנָה [northward] (231) = 3250.
Ralbag
And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a discreet counselor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward — For Shelemiah the lot fell eastward; for Zechariah his son, who was wise to give proper counsel, his lot fell northward; for Obed-edom the lot fell southward; and for the sons of Obed-edom the lot fell to the House of Asuppim, to keep watch there. I think that the House of Asuppim is the building where they would gather — like the [Temple] court and the one in front of it — and at each of these there were watchmen posted in two places. The lot also fell to Shuppim and to Hosah, west of the court of the priests, and they kept watch there up to the gate called Shallecheth, which had steps and a stairway leading up to the ascending causeway; and there they kept a constant watch, guard corresponding to guard. Now the Levite watchmen numbered: six a day to the east, four a day to the north, four a day to the south, and two a day to the House of Asuppim, for the two houses that were there in this way — meaning, for each of them there were two Levites on watch.
Metzudat David
‘And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah’ — the eastern gate fell by lot to Shelemiah, he and his men. ‘a discreet counselor’ — for he possessed great wisdom in counsel; so he and his men cast lots, and his lot came out at the northern gate.
Malbim
'And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah' — it will be explained (in verse 17) that in the east there stood six watchmen, and in the north and in the south, four each. The east side fell to Meshelemiah, and he had seven heads among his sons, so one was left over. 'Zechariah his son, a discreet counselor' — Zechariah wisely took it upon himself to be the one moved from the group's place; for if some other son were displaced, it would have been a disgrace to him, but since Zechariah was the firstborn, no one could say he was displaced on account of any inferiority. They then cast lots to determine to which side he would go to keep watch, and his lot came out for the north.
To Obed-edom southward; and to his sons the Storehouse.
verse value 923
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 26 letters. Verse gematria: 923 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "edom" (אֱדֹ֖ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·to·his·sons" (וּלְבָנָ֖יו, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "southward" (נֶ֑גְבָּה), "the·Storehouse" (הָאֲסֻפִּֽים). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·to·his·sons" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "house·of" (root בית, 115x in I Chronicles); "to·Obed-" (root עבד, 41x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'southward', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: לְעֹבֵ֥ד [to·Obed-] (106) + אֱדֹ֖ם [edom] (45) + נֶ֑גְבָּה [southward] (60) + וּלְבָנָ֖יו [and·to·his·sons] (104) + בֵּ֥ית [house·of] (412) + הָאֲסֻפִּֽים [the·Storehouse] (196) = 923.
Metzudat David
‘the Storehouse’ — so called for a reason known to them; it was situated opposite the southern gate.
Malbim
'To Obed-edom southward' — the second lot fell to Obed-edom, and so there remained available to him three watch-posts on the north side, since one had already been assigned there by lot. But Obed-edom had seven sons (aside from Shemaiah, whose sons were heads in their own right), leaving him four more sons, and the lot came out for the south. Afterward the lot came out for his sons who were counted separately — namely, the sons of Shemaiah, who were heads in their own right (as stated in verse 7) — and they were six; the lot came out for them at the Storehouse, where four watchmen stood (as stated in verse 17), and there still remained two of his sons; the lot came out for them at Shufim — that is, the Shallecheth gate, where the refuse was thrown out, like a 'Dung Gate,' and it is called Shufim from the word ashpah (refuse); this is the very place called in verse 18 'Parbar.' 'Parbar' — [as if written] 'efer bar,' ash-outside, for there they would throw the ashes out (and the Sages, in Tamid 27a, [explain] 'Parbar' as equivalent to 'facing the outside'). This place was in the west; and so too, [in verse 18,] 'and to Hosah, westward' — to Hosah's portion also reached the west. This is explained together with the Shallecheth gate: the watch of the sons of Obed-edom reached near the Shallecheth gate, where the refuse and ashes were thrown, while Hosah's lot fell at the ascending highway, which is in the west, as will be explained in verse 18. Watch stood opposite watch: in the east and west there were six opposite six, and in the south and north there were four opposite four; and the storehouses likewise corresponded to one another. Now [Scripture] has explained how the watches were arranged.
To Shuppim and Hosah westward, by the gate of Shallecheth, at the causeway that goes up, ward against ward.
verse value 4294
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 46 letters. The shortest word is "with" (עִ֚ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·Shuppim" (לְשֻׁפִּ֤ים, 5 letters). Words sharing gematria 580: ward, ward. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "to·Shuppim" (לְשֻׁפִּ֤ים), "Shallecheth" (שַׁלֶּ֔כֶת), "in·the·causeway" (בַּֽמְסִלָּ֖ה). The root משמר appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "with" (root עם, 63x in I Chronicles); "that·goes·up" (root עלה, 38x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'that·goes·up', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 3 words. Full calculation: לְשֻׁפִּ֤ים [to·Shuppim] (460) + וּלְחֹסָה֙ [and·to·Hosah] (109) + לַֽמַּעֲרָ֔ב [to·the·west] (342) + עִ֚ם [with] (110) + שַׁ֣עַר [gate·of] (570) + שַׁלֶּ֔כֶת [Shallecheth] (750) + בַּֽמְסִלָּ֖ה [in·the·causeway] (137) + הָעוֹלָ֑ה [that·goes·up] (116) + מִשְׁמָ֖ר [ward] (580) + לְעֻמַּ֥ת [against] (540) + מִשְׁמָֽר [ward] (580) = 4294.
Metzudat David
‘To Shuppim’ — perhaps he was mentioned above under another name. ‘the gate of Shallecheth’ — this was the name of the gate that stood on the highway and path going up the ascent of the mountain. ‘ward against ward’ — meaning, for a time Shuppim would keep watch to the west and Hosah at the gate of Shallecheth, and after that period the watch would rotate; and so it would go on, back and forth.
Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and for the Storehouse two and two.
verse value 3087
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 57 letters. Notable word values: "day" (לַיּוֹם֙) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "six" (שִׁשָּׁה֒, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·for·the·Storehouse" (וְלָאֲסֻפִּ֖ים, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 400: two, two. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "to·the·north" (לַצָּפ֤וֹנָה), "to·the·south" (לַנֶּ֥גְבָּה), "and·for·the·Storehouse" (וְלָאֲסֻפִּ֖ים). The root יום appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·Levites" (root לוי, 46x in I Chronicles); "two" (root שנים, 45x in I Chronicles); "four" (root ארבע, 41x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'four', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 3 words. Full calculation: לַמִּזְרָח֮ [to·the·east] (285) + הַלְוִיִּ֣ם [the·Levites] (91) + שִׁשָּׁה֒ [six] (605) + לַצָּפ֤וֹנָה [to·the·north] (261) + לַיּוֹם֙ [day] (86) + אַרְבָּעָ֔ה [four] (278) + לַנֶּ֥גְבָּה [to·the·south] (90) + לַיּ֖וֹם [day] (86) + אַרְבָּעָ֑ה [four] (278) + וְלָאֲסֻפִּ֖ים [and·for·the·Storehouse] (227) + שְׁנַ֥יִם [two] (400) + שְׁנָֽיִם [two] (400) = 3087.
Rashi
and to the Asuppim a place named Asuppim.
Metzudat David
‘Eastward’ — Scripture now proceeds to list the names of the places where they would keep watch, and the number of the watch-groups; at the eastern side there would be six groups of Levites keeping watch. ‘four a day’ — meaning, at any given time, four groups would be keeping watch. ‘two and two’ — it is possible that the Storehouse consisted of two locations, which is why Scripture mentions it in the plural; at each one, two groups would keep watch, in locations separate from one another.
Malbim
'Eastward' — there were six Levite guards (per day). 'Northward' — there were, per day (that is, each day), four guards; and so too southward, four each day. And for the Storehouse (a place-name, or storage chambers) there were two guard-posts, with two guards stationed at each of the two posts — so that between the two posts there were four guards in all.
For the Precinct westward, four at the causeway, and two at the Precinct.
verse value 2209
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 29 letters. Verse gematria: 2209 = 47². The shortest word is "two" (שְׁנַ֖יִם, 4 letters) and the longest is "to·the·Precinct" (לַפַּרְבָּ֖ר, 5 letters). Words sharing gematria 512: to·the·Precinct, to·the·Precinct. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "to·the·causeway" (לַֽמְסִלָּ֔ה). The root פרבר appears 2 times in this verse. 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "two" (root שנים, 45x in I Chronicles); "four" (root ארבע, 41x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·the·west', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 4 words. Full calculation: לַפַּרְבָּ֖ר [to·the·Precinct] (512) + לַֽמַּעֲרָ֑ב [to·the·west] (342) + אַרְבָּעָה֙ [four] (278) + לַֽמְסִלָּ֔ה [to·the·causeway] (165) + שְׁנַ֖יִם [two] (400) + לַפַּרְבָּֽר [to·the·Precinct] (512) = 2209.
Rashi
Toward the outside Heb. לַפַּרְבָּר. This is explained in Tractate Tamid (ad loc.): “Said Rava: לַפַּרְבָּר means כְּלַפֵּי בָּר, toward the outside.”
Ralbag
For the Precinct westward, four at the causeway, and two at the Precinct — And the place called the Precinct, which was to the west, had four Levites a day; and the causeway to the west, going up to the Precinct, had two Levites a day. And you will find, by this reckoning, that the Levites kept watch at twenty-four places. It appears that the gatekeepers on one day were not the same as those on the next day; this is why it says ‘four a day’ [for one place] and [a different figure] for another — and accordingly, each watch had at least one hundred sixty-eight Levites. And when you reckon twenty-four watches of this kind, their total comes to thirty-two more than four thousand, which was the number of gatekeepers stated above; and he was not precise in counting them, since the discrepancy was minor.
Metzudat David
‘For the Precinct westward’ — toward the west, at the Precinct, which is the name of a certain chamber. ‘four’ — there would be four groups on the highway leading to the Precinct, and two at the Precinct itself; and indeed, the sum of all the watch-groups enumerated above comes to twenty-four, as our Sages also said.
Malbim
'For the Precinct' — additional guards also stood at the Precinct (Heb. Parbar), the place where the ashes were carried out to the outside (this is 'Shuppim' — [named for] the place of the ash-heaps — and the Shalleket Gate mentioned above at verse 16). Likewise guards stood to the west, at the remainder of the western area (that is, at the ascending causeway mentioned there); and it specifies that four guards stood at the causeway, and two guards stood at the Precinct. (Even though the Gemara in Zevachim (55b) explains 'Parbar' differently, note that the Ra'avad, in his commentary to tractate Tamid, explains 'Parbar' as related to 'facing outward' — meaning a separate place where people do not go — and this fits with my own interpretation.) And know that what I have written, that the Levites stood guard at twenty-four posts, follows the view of the Sefer Mitzvot Gadol (positive commandment 165) and the Bartenura, that even at the posts where the priests stood guard the Levites stood guard as well; the commentator on tractate Tamid there takes a different line, and this likewise appears to be the view of the Rambam, as is discussed at length in the Mishneh LaMelech, Hilchot Beit HaBechirah [Laws of the Temple]. But I have chosen, as is our way, the interpretation closest to the plain sense of the verse.
These were the courses of the doorkeepers; of the sons of the Korahites, and of the sons of Merari.
verse value 2208
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 33 letters. Notable word values: "these" (אֵ֗לֶּה) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "these" (אֵ֗לֶּה, 3 letters) and the longest is "divisions·of" (מַחְלְקוֹת֙, 6 letters). The root בן appears 2 times in this verse. 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·sons·of" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "these" (root אלה, 89x in I Chronicles); "divisions·of" (root מחלקת, 26x in I Chronicles). Full calculation: אֵ֗לֶּה [these] (36) + מַחְלְקוֹת֙ [divisions·of] (584) + הַשֹּׁ֣עֲרִ֔ים [the·doorkeepers] (625) + לִבְנֵ֥י [to·sons·of] (92) + הַקׇּרְחִ֖י [the·Korahites] (323) + וְלִבְנֵ֥י [and·to·sons·of] (98) + מְרָרִֽי [Merari] (450) = 2208.
Metzudat David
‘These were the courses’ — the division of the locations of the gatekeepers.
And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasuries of the house of God, and over the treasuries of the hallowed things.
verse value 2619
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 40 letters. The shortest word is "house·of" (בֵּ֣ית, 3 letters) and the longest is "over·treasuries·of" (עַל־אֽוֹצְרוֹת֙, 8 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "over·treasuries·of" (עַל־אֽוֹצְרוֹת֙). The root אוצר appears 2 times in this verse. 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "God" (root אלהים, 117x in I Chronicles); "house·of" (root בית, 115x in I Chronicles); "and·the·Levites" (root לוי, 46x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·the·Levites', dividing the verse into phrases of 1 and 6 words. Full calculation: וְֽהַלְוִיִּ֑ם [and·the·Levites] (97) + אֲחִיָּ֗ה [Ahijah] (24) + עַל־אֽוֹצְרוֹת֙ [over·treasuries·of] (803) + בֵּ֣ית [house·of] (412) + הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים [God] (91) + וּלְאֹצְר֖וֹת [and·over·treasuries·of] (733) + הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים [the·apartness] (459) = 2619.
Rashi
And the Levites: Ahiah over the treasuries, etc. He was appointed over the money with which sacrifices were purchased for the House of God, such as the holy sacrifices (sic).
Ralbag
And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasuries, etc. — Those who were neither singers nor gatekeepers are called here by the general term “Levites”; they were the guardians of the treasuries and the hallowed things, and performed the tasks required for the service, as mentioned above. Now [Scripture] notes that Ahijah was appointed over the treasuries of the house of Hashem and over the treasuries of the hallowed things, and explains how this was: Zetham and his brother Joel were appointed over the treasuries of the house of Hashem, while Shelomoth and his brothers were appointed over the treasuries of the hallowed things — what David consecrated, and what the heads of the fathers’ houses, the captains of thousands, the captains of hundreds, and the captains of the army consecrated from what came into their hands from the wars and from the plunder, dedicated to strengthen the house of Hashem; and everything that Samuel the seer consecrated, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, and everything else that anyone consecrated — all of it was under the authority of Shelomoth and his brothers. Now Shebuel the son of Gershom the son of Moses was chief officer over the treasuries as a whole, and under him were the officials just mentioned, some appointed over the treasuries of the house of Hashem and some over the hallowed things. I think that Shebuel was a grandson of Moses, and that both he and his father lived long lives; for just as Rehabiah was the son of Eliezer, so Shebuel was the son of Gershom — and you find that four generations are counted after Rehabiah, the fourth being Shelomoth and his brothers, who were over the hallowed things set aside for the repair of the House. It is possible that Jonathan the son of Gershom, who served as priest to the tribe of Dan, was the brother of this Shebuel mentioned here, as appears from the words of our Sages, who said that this is why the letter nun in “Manasseh” is written suspended (Judges 18:30) — the intent being Jonathan the son of Gershom the son of Moses. If so, this indicates how long Gershom the son of Moses lived, since Jonathan was still a young man at the time he came to the house of Micah.
Metzudat David
‘And of the Levites’ — meaning, this too was an assignment given to the Levites. ‘the house of God’ — meaning, what was stored away for the upkeep of the house. ‘the hallowed things’ — with which communal sacrifices were purchased.
Malbim
'And of the Levites' — meaning the Levite gatekeepers, some of whom were also appointed over the treasuries of the house of God, as stated above (9:26): 'for the four chief porters were in a set office. These were the Levites. They were also over the chambers and over the treasuries in the house of God' — and the one appointed over them was Ahijah.
The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of the fathers’ houses belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli.
verse value 2776
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 47 letters. The shortest word is "sons·of" (בְּנֵ֣י, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·Gershonites" (הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֜י, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 568: the·Gershonites, the·Gershonite. The root לעדן appears 3 times in this verse. 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons·of" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "the·fathers" (root אב, 95x in I Chronicles); "heads·of" (root ראש, 73x in I Chronicles). Full calculation: בְּנֵ֣י [sons·of] (62) + לַ֠עְדָּ֠ן [Ladan] (154) + בְּנֵ֨י [sons·of] (62) + הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֜י [the·Gershonites] (568) + לְלַעְדָּ֗ן [to·Ladan] (184) + רָאשֵׁ֧י [heads·of] (511) + הָאָב֛וֹת [the·fathers] (414) + לְלַעְדָּ֥ן [to·Ladan] (184) + הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֖י [the·Gershonite] (568) + יְחִיאֵלִֽי [Jehieli] (69) = 2776.
Rashi
The sons of Ladan To Ladan the Gershonite was the chief of the fathers, Jehiel. He is Ladan mentioned above (23:7-9).
Metzudat David
‘the sons of the Gershonites’ — from among the sons of Gershon. ‘belonging to Ladan, the heads of the fathers’ houses,’ etc. — as if to say: Ladan attained great distinction; to Ladan belonged the heads of the fathers’ houses, in a number greater than all the others; to Ladan was born Jehiel, who was a prince and a great man, and his sons were appointed over the treasuries, as stated in the verse that follows.
Malbim
'The sons of Ladan' — so too, among the sons of Ladan mentioned above (23:7-8), it was the descendants of Jehieli who were over the treasuries of the house of Hashem; this is what is stated above (9:29), that some of them were appointed over the vessels, etc., and over the fine flour, the wine, etc. Below, however (29:8), it appears to refer to treasuries of silver and gold and to donations for the Sanctuary.
The sons of Jehieli: Zetham, and Joel his brother, over the treasuries of the house of Hashem.
verse value 1891
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 35 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָֽה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "sons·of" (בְּנֵ֖י, 3 letters) and the longest is "over·treasuries·of" (עַל־אֹצְר֖וֹת, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "Zetham" (זֵתָם֙), "over·treasuries·of" (עַל־אֹצְר֖וֹת). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons·of" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 175x in I Chronicles); "house·of" (root בית, 115x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Jehieli', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 6 words. Full calculation: בְּנֵ֖י [sons·of] (62) + יְחִיאֵלִ֑י [Jehieli] (69) + זֵתָם֙ [Zetham] (447) + וְיוֹאֵ֣ל [and·Joel] (53) + אָחִ֔יו [his·brother] (25) + עַל־אֹצְר֖וֹת [over·treasuries·of] (797) + בֵּ֥ית [house·of] (412) + יְהֹוָֽה [Hashem] (26) = 1891.
Rashi
and Joel his brother The brother of Jehiel, as is written above (23:8): “Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel.” over the treasuries of the House of the Lord There were many treasuries in the forecourt, each treasury for its individual purpose, and over each one was one appointee.
Metzudat David
‘The sons of Jehieli,’ etc. — meaning, they — Zetham as well, and Joel his brother, the sons of Ladan — were over the treasuries of the house of Hashem, that is, the gold and silver vessels that were in the house.
Of the Amramites, of the Izharites, of the Hebronites, of the Uzzielites;
verse value 1199
Insights
Verse structure: 4 words, 26 letters. The shortest word is "of·the·Amramites" (לַֽעַמְרָמִי֙, 6 letters) and the longest is "of·the·Hebronites" (לַחֶבְרוֹנִ֖י, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "of·the·Amramites" (לַֽעַמְרָמִי֙), "of·the·Uzzielites" (לָעׇזִּיאֵלִֽי). 4 unique roots are used. First appearance of the root חברוני ("of·the·Hebronites") in I Chronicles. Full calculation: לַֽעַמְרָמִי֙ [of·the·Amramites] (390) + לַיִּצְהָרִ֔י [of·the·Izharites] (345) + לַחֶבְרוֹנִ֖י [of·the·Hebronites] (306) + לָעׇזִּיאֵלִֽי [of·the·Uzzielites] (158) = 1199.
Metzudat David
‘Of the Amramites,’ etc. — meaning, likewise from the sons of Amram, etc., there were men appointed over the house of Hashem, as will be mentioned below. He does not mention any from the sons of Uzziel; perhaps he included them among the sons of Hebron.
Malbim
'Of the Amramites' — likewise there were officers from the sons of Amram, and from the sons of Izhar, and so on. And it specifies that, of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel — who was head there (as above, 23:16) — was chief officer over the treasuries.
Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler over the treasuries.
verse value 2206
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 29 letters. The shortest word is "leader" (נָגִ֖יד, 4 letters) and the longest is "over·the·treasuries" (עַל־הָאֹצָרֽוֹת, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·Shebuel" (וּשְׁבֻאֵל֙), "son·of·Gershom" (בֶּן־גֵּרְשׁ֣וֹם), "son·of·Moses" (בֶּן־מֹשֶׁ֔ה). The root בן appears 2 times in this verse. 4 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "son·of·Gershom" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles). Full calculation: וּשְׁבֻאֵל֙ [and·Shebuel] (339) + בֶּן־גֵּרְשׁ֣וֹם [son·of·Gershom] (601) + בֶּן־מֹשֶׁ֔ה [son·of·Moses] (397) + נָגִ֖יד [leader] (67) + עַל־הָאֹצָרֽוֹת [over·the·treasuries] (802) = 2206.
Rashi
And Shebuel the son of Gershom was the ruler over the treasuries Similarly, [this means] the ruler over one of the treasuries of the forecourt. Others explain [that he was literally] the ruler over the treasuries. All the Temple trustees were under him.
Metzudat David
‘was ruler over the treasuries’ — he was appointed over the treasuries, and the rest of the officials were under his authority.
And his brethren by Eliezer: Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son.
verse value 3374
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 61 letters. The shortest word is "his·son" (בְנ֜וֹ, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·Eliezer" (לֶאֱלִיעֶ֑זֶר, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 58: his·son, his·son, his·son, his·son, his·son. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·Joram" (וְיֹרָ֣ם). The root בן appears 5 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "his·son" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "and·his·brothers" (root אח, 95x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·Eliezer', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 11 words.
Metzudat David
‘And his brethren’ — that is, the brethren of Shebuel, from the family of Eliezer. ‘Rehabiah his son’ — he was the son of Eliezer, and so it continues throughout, each one the son of the one before him.
Malbim
'And his brethren by Eliezer' — from this line came a later descendant, Shelomith (who was the fifth generation from Rehabiah), appointed over the dedicated gifts that David and the officers of the army dedicated from the plunder of the wars, and all that Samuel [the prophet] dedicated, and so on — all of it was administered through Shelomith, a later descendant of Rehabiah son of Eliezer.
This Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasuries of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the heads of the fathers’ houses, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated.
verse value 5873
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 78 letters. The shortest word is "over" (עַ֣ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·princes·of·the·thousands" (לְשָׂרֵֽי־הָאֲלָפִ֥ים, 10 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "all·treasuries·of" (כׇּל־אֹצְר֤וֹת), "to·princes·of·the·thousands" (לְשָׂרֵֽי־הָאֲלָפִ֥ים). The root קדש appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 182x in I Chronicles); "and·his·brothers" (root אח, 95x in I Chronicles); "the·fathers" (root אב, 95x in I Chronicles).
Metzudat David
‘over all,’ etc. — meaning, whoever dedicated something significant would hand it over to him, and he would bring it into the treasury, as stated in the verses that follow. ‘and the heads of the fathers' houses, the captains,’ etc. — the heads of the fathers' houses who were appointed to be the captains of thousands and of hundreds.
Out of the spoil won in battles they dedicated to repair the house of Hashem.
verse value 2118
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 34 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָֽה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "to·strengthen" (לְחַזֵּ֖ק, 4 letters) and the longest is "from·the·battles" (מִן־הַמִּלְחָמ֥וֹת, 9 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "from·the·battles" (מִן־הַמִּלְחָמ֥וֹת), "and·from·the·spoil" (וּמִן־הַשָּׁלָ֖ל), "they·dedicated" (הִקְדִּ֑ישׁוּ). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 175x in I Chronicles); "to·house·of" (root בית, 115x in I Chronicles); "from·the·battles" (root מלחמה, 31x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'they·dedicated', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: מִן־הַמִּלְחָמ֥וֹת [from·the·battles] (619) + וּמִן־הַשָּׁלָ֖ל [and·from·the·spoil] (461) + הִקְדִּ֑ישׁוּ [they·dedicated] (425) + לְחַזֵּ֖ק [to·strengthen] (145) + לְבֵ֥ית [to·house·of] (442) + יְהֹוָֽה [Hashem] (26) = 2118.
Metzudat David
‘Out of the spoil won in battles,’ etc. — which they dedicated from what they had taken in battle and plundered from the places they had conquered. ‘to repair,’ etc. — to be kept in reserve in the treasury for repairing the house.
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; whoever had dedicated any thing, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren.
verse value 4256
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 71 letters. The shortest word is "all" (כֹּ֚ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Zeruiah" (בֶּן־צְרוּיָ֑ה, 7 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "that·dedicated" (הַהִקְדִּ֜ישׁ), "and·Abner" (וְאַבְנֵ֣ר), "son·of·Ner" (בֶּן־נֵ֔ר). The root בן appears 3 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "son·of·Kish" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "and·his·brothers" (root אח, 95x in I Chronicles); "and·all" (root כל, 81x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'son·of·Zeruiah', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 5 words.
Metzudat David
‘had dedicated’ — meaning, literally ‘that he dedicated’; the letter heh here functions in place of the word ‘asher’ (that/which). ‘under the hand’ — he would hand it over to him, to bring it into the treasury.
Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.
verse value 2565
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 50 letters. The shortest word is "and·his·sons" (וּבָנָ֗יו, 5 letters) and the longest is "the·outward" (הַחִֽיצוֹנָה֙, 7 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "Chenaniah" (כְּנַנְיָ֣הוּ), "for·the·business" (לַמְּלָאכָ֤ה), "the·outward" (הַחִֽיצוֹנָה֙). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·his·sons" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "over·Israel" (root ישראל, 94x in I Chronicles). Full calculation: לַיִּצְהָרִ֞י [of·the·Izharites] (345) + כְּנַנְיָ֣הוּ [Chenaniah] (141) + וּבָנָ֗יו [and·his·sons] (74) + לַמְּלָאכָ֤ה [for·the·business] (126) + הַחִֽיצוֹנָה֙ [the·outward] (174) + עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל [over·Israel] (641) + לְשֹׁטְרִ֖ים [for·officers] (589) + וּלְשֹׁפְטִֽים [and·for·judges] (475) = 2565.
Rashi
Of the Izharites: Chenaniah and his sons to the outside work to the work that was done outside the city, in the forests and in the mountains; to hew cedars and to quarry stones and to plow fields belonging to the Sanctuary.
Ralbag
for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges — I think he calls “the outward business” the service of the house of Hashem that they performed for Israel outside the Temple: guiding the people to pay the half-shekel year by year, and to fulfill their vows, their freewill offerings, and their sacrificial obligations, and whatever else was customary for them — this is called service of the house of Hashem. They also served as officers and judges, judging the people with righteous judgment, for they were scholars of the Torah; and this was service to the king, since it is the king’s duty to see that the people are judged with righteous judgments.
Metzudat David
‘for the outward business’ — over the work done outside the city for the needs of the House — preparing timber and stone and the like — which was imposed on Israel; they served as officers and judges over that matter.
Malbim
'Of the Izharites' — Chenaniah, one of their descendants, was appointed over the outward labor — in the fields, the Sanctuary's forests, and the like — as Rashi explains; and some of them also served as officers and judges.
Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valor, a thousand and seven hundred, had the oversight of Israel beyond the Jordan westward; for all the business of Hashem, and for the service of the king.
verse value 5066
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 82 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֔ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "over" (עַ֚ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·seven·hundred" (וּשְׁבַע־מֵא֗וֹת, 8 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "oversight·of" (פְּקֻדַּ֣ת), "westward" (מַעְרָ֑בָה), "and·for·service·of" (וְלַעֲבֹדַ֖ת). 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 175x in I Chronicles); "and·his·brothers" (root אח, 95x in I Chronicles); "Israel" (root ישראל, 94x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'westward', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 5 words.
Rashi
Of the Hebronites: Hashabiah... to all the work of the Lord They are the officers over those who did the work of the Lord in trans-Jordan. and to the service of the king They were also appointed over the dwellers of the king’s heritage and the king’s treasuries, and so [we find] further (v. 32): “for every matter of God and matter of the king.”
Ralbag
had the oversight of Israel — over the administration of Israel that lay across the Jordan, to the west.
Metzudat David
‘had the oversight’ — they were over the treasury affairs of the Israelites who dwelt across the Jordan, in its western part, which faces the land of Israel. ‘for all the business of Hashem,’ etc. — over all the work imposed on them for the house of Hashem and for the house of the king.
Malbim
'Of the Hebronites' — they were appointed over the oversight of Israel on the eastern side of the Jordan; and further, after additional members of the Hebronite family were found — from the sons of Jeriah (as above, 24:23), who was head of his line — and they were found at Jazer, in the land of Gilead, on the eastern side of the Jordan, the king appointed them as well over the tribes on the eastern side. As for Uzziel, [the text] omits them and does not mention their assignment.
Of the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even of the Hebronites, according to their generations by fathers’ houses. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valor at Jazer of Gilead.
verse value 5721
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 86 letters. The shortest word is "among·them" (בָהֶ֛ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "of·the·Hebronites" (לַֽחֶבְרוֹנִי֙, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 306: of·the·Hebronites, of·the·Hebronites. 9 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "Jerijah" (יְרִיָּ֣ה), "to·his·generations" (לְתֹלְדֹתָ֖יו), "for·fathers" (לְאָב֑וֹת). The root חברוני appears 2 times in this verse. 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 182x in I Chronicles); "for·fathers" (root אב, 95x in I Chronicles); "the·chief" (root ראש, 73x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'for·fathers', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 11 words.
Rashi
to his generations to the fathers in the fortieth year, etc. And also all these computations were in the fortieth year.
Ralbag
at Jazer of Gilead — Jazer is the name of a city; Gilead is also the name of a person.
Metzudat David
‘according to their generations by fathers' houses’ — he was head of his family, over all its fathers' houses. ‘they were sought for’ — the sons of Hebron were investigated to determine whether there were men of valor among them. ‘at Jazer of Gilead’ — that is, Jazer, which was located in the land of Gilead.
And his brethren, men of valor, were two thousand and seven hundred, heads of fathers’ houses, whom king David made overseers over the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites, for every matter pertaining to God, and for the affairs of the king.
verse value 4337
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 94 letters. The shortest word is "tribe·of" (שֵׁ֣בֶט, 3 letters) and the longest is "over·the·Reubenites" (עַל־הָראוּבֵנִ֤י, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 95: the·king, the·king. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·he·appointed·them" (וַֽיַּפְקִידֵ֞ם), "over·the·Reubenites" (עַל־הָראוּבֵנִ֤י), "the·Manassites" (הַֽמְנַשִּׁ֔י). The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 182x in I Chronicles); "God" (root אלהים, 117x in I Chronicles); "and·his·brothers" (root אח, 95x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·fathers', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 12 words.
Ralbag
for every matter pertaining to God, and for the affairs of the king — this is the outward service of the house of Hashem and the service of the king, as just mentioned. But the divisions of Israel, it seems, existed for the service of the king alone, and so it says:
Metzudat David
‘And his brethren’ — the associates of Jerijah, who were men of valor, two thousand [seven hundred], etc. ‘over the Reubenites,’ etc. — meaning, those who dwelt in the eastern part [of the Transjordan], for in the western part Hashabiah and his brethren were the officials. ‘for every matter’ — over every matter imposed on them, whether from the service of the house of God or the service of the king.
Metzudat Zion
And made overseers (vayafkidem) - An expression of appointment and being placed in charge of accounts. For every matter (lechol davar) - [Meaning] for every affair; and so, "concerning the matter of Peor" (Numbers 25).
Rashi
Ralbag
Metzudat David
Malbim