Some of the Levites were appointed to be porters in the Temple. They were responsible for guarding all the avenues that led to it, opening and shutting all the outer gates, directing and instructing the coming worshipers in the decorum that they were to observe, encouraging those who were timorous, sending back the unclean, and guarding against thieves and others who were enemies to the house of God. In allusion to this office, ministers are said to have the keys of the kingdom of heaven committed to them (Matt. 16:19), so that they may admit or exclude persons, according to the law of Christ.

Sixty-two members of the family of Obed-edom were employed in this office of porter. This was the man who reverently and cheerfully housed the Ark of God in his home (chapter 13:14); and here we see how he was rewarded for it, for the Lord blessed him with eight sons (verse 5). The building up of families is to be attributed to the Divine blessing; and it is a great blessing indeed for a family to have many children, especially when (like these) they are diligent in the Lord’s service. Obed-edom’s sons were advanced to places of trust in the sanctuary. They had faithfully attended the Ark in their own home, and now they were called to attend upon it in God’s house. Those who are trustworthy in little matters shall be trusted with more. He who keeps God’s ordinances in his own house is fit to have the care of them in God’s tabernacle (1 Tim. 3:4-5).

The porters, like the singers, had their posts assigned to them by lot – so many at such a gate, and so many at another – so that everyone might know his duty (verse 13). Happy are those who dwell in God’s house; for they are well-fed, well-taught, well-employed, and also well-guarded! Men guarded the gates of the Temple, but angels attend the gates of the New Jerusalem! (Rev. 21:12)

Treasures were kept in the house of God, for a great house cannot be well-kept without stores of all manner of provisions! Much was expended daily upon the altar of sacrifice – flour, wine, oil, salt, and fuel; not to mention the fuel required for the lamps. Quantities of these items were kept in stock, and the sacred garments and utensils needed a place for storage as well. These treasures represent the abundant plenty that is in our heavenly Father’s house – enough and to spare! In Christ, the true Temple, are hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge and unsearchable riches.

These treasures that were in the Lord’s house had treasurers over them (verses 20 and 26). Their job was to keep them safe so that neither moth nor rust might corrupt them, nor thieves break through and steal. It was also their responsibility to give out what was needed, and to see that they were not wasted or embezzled or taken out for common use; and it is probable that they also kept accounts of all that was brought in and how it was laid out.

All the offices of the house of God were well-filled with Levites; and the last few verses (29-32) of this chapter give us an account of those who were employed as officers and judges in everyday business, which was not to be neglected – not even for the Temple itself. Some of the Levites were employed in the administration of justice according to the law, in concurrence with the princes and elders of the various tribes; for they probably would not have understood the law of God as well as the Levites, who made it their chief business to study it. These Levites who served as “officers and judges” (verse 29) were to deal in all business of the Lord, and in the service of the king (verses 30 and 32). They managed the affairs of the country, both ecclesiastical and civil; they took care of both God’s tithes and the king’s taxes; they punished offences which were committed directly against God and His honor, as well as those which were against the government and the public peace; they guarded against idolatry and injustice, and took care to put the laws in execution against both. Some of these Levites probably applied themselves exclusively to the affairs of religion, while others devoted themselves strictly to the secular affairs; and thus, between them, both God and the king were well-served. It is a happy thing for a kingdom when its civil and sacred interests are thus interwoven and jointly minded and advanced.

There were more Levites employed as judges among the 2½ tribes on the eastern side of the Jordan River, than among all the rest of the tribes on the western side. Among the former, there were 2,700 of these Levites; whereas among the latter, there were 1,700. This was possibly because the eastern 2½ tribes – lying furthest from Jerusalem, and on the borders of the neighboring heathen nations – were the most in danger of being infected with idolatry; and therefore, they were the most in need of the help of these Levites to prevent it.

All these arrangements are said to have been made in the fortieth year of the reign of King David (verse 31), which was the last year of his reign (1015 BC). We should be so much more industrious to do good as we see our final days approaching, and we should not grudge the fruit of our labors to those who shall come after us.

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