1 Chronicles 9:28

And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(28) The care of the sacred vessels of gold and silver. These were counted when brought out of the store rooms, and when replaced, to make sure that none was purloined. (Comp. Ezra 8:20 et seq.)

Tale.—“Reckoning,” “number.:”—

“ And every shepherd tells his tale

Under the hawthorn in the dale.”

Literally, for by number they used to bring them in (to the sanctuary), and by number they used to take them out.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

9:1-44 Genealogies. - This chapter expresses that one end of recording all these genealogies was, to direct the Jews, when they returned out of captivity, with whom to unite, and where to reside. Here is an account of the good state into which the affairs of religion were put, on the return from Babylon. Every one knew his charge. Work is likely to be done well when every one knows the duty of his place, and makes a business of it. God is the God of order. Thus was the temple a figure of the heavenly one, where they rest not day nor night from praising God, Re 4:8. Blessed be His name, believers there shall, not in turn, but all together, without interruption, praise him night and day: may the Lord make each of us fit for the inheritance of the saints in light.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

By tale - literally, "by number." The vessels for service taken out of the treasury were counted, that the same number should be returned to the treasury after the service was over,

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

18. the king's gate—The king had a gate from his palace into the temple (2Ki 16:18), which doubtless was kept constantly closed except for the monarch's use; and although there was no king in Israel on the return from the captivity, yet the old ceremonial was kept up, probably in the hope that the scepter would, ere long, be restored to the house of David. It is an honor by which Eastern kings are distinguished, to have a gate exclusively devoted to their own special use, and which is kept constantly closed, except when he goes out or returns (Eze 44:2). There being no king then in Israel, this gate would be always shut.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale. Which the priests used in sacrificing, and which the Levites brought to them, and returned again to their proper places.

Geneva Study Bible

And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

28, 29. Duties of the Levites

28. And certain of them] The reference is to the Levites. The contents of 1 Chronicles 9:28-29 clearly refer to Levitical duties (cp. 1 Chronicles 23:29), and the transition from porters to Levites is made easier by the fact that the four porters last mentioned (1 Chronicles 9:26-27) are Levites.

the ministering vessels] R.V. the vessels of service.

that they should bring them in and out by tale] R.V. for by tale were they brought in and by tale were they taken out.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 28. - That they should bring them in by tale and by tale carry them out. That is, that they should scrupulously number them. 1 Chronicles 9:28

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

And of them (the Levites), some were over the vessels of the service, by which we are probably to understand the costly vessels, e.g., the golden cups for the libations, etc., which were brought from the treasure-chamber only for a short time for use in the service. They were brought, according to the number, into the place where the service took place, and after being again numbered, were again carried forth; and according to 1 Chronicles 9:29, other Levites were set over הכּלים and over הקּדשׁ כּלי.