(14) And he appointed.--Caused to stand. (1Chronicles 6:16; 1Chronicles 15:16.)

According to the order of David his father.--Order, i.e., ordinance or institution.

The courses of the priests.--See 1 Chronicles 24.

Charges.--Watches, wards, stations.

To praise.--See 1Chronicles 25:3.

And minister before the priests.--1Chronicles 23:28.

As the duty of every day required.--For a day's matter (i.e., prescribed work) on its day. (Comp. 2Chronicles 8:13.)

The porters also.--See 1Chronicles 26:1-19. The construction is, and he appointed, or stationed, the warders.

For so had David . . .--See margin. A similar phrase occurs in Nehemiah 12:24.

Verse 14. - The courses of the priests... the Levites to their charges... the porters also by their courses at every gate. (For the particulars of this verse, see, with the exposition to them, 1 Chronicles 24:1-35; 1 Chronicles 25:1-7; 26; 9:17-28.) David the man of God. This title occurs only once in 1 Chronicles, viz. 1 Chronicles 23:14, where it is used of Moses; and six times in 2 Chronicles, viz. here to David; 2 Chronicles 11:2, to Shemaiah; three times, 2 Chronicles 25:7, 9, to an unnamed prophet; and once again to Moses, 2 Chronicles 30:16; the expression occurs much more frequently in Kings.

8:1 - 18 Solomon's buildings and trade. - It sometimes requires more wisdom and resolution to govern a family in the fear of God, than to govern a kingdom with reputation. The difficulty is increased, when a man has a hinderance instead of a help meet in the wife of his bosom. Solomon kept up the holy sacrifices, according to the law of Moses. In vain had the altar been built, in vain had fire come down from heaven, if sacrifices had not been constantly brought. Spiritual sacrifices are required of us, which we are to bring daily and weekly; it is good to be in a settled method of devotion. When the service of the temple was put into good order, it is said, The house of the Lord was perfected. The work was the main matter, not the place; the temple was unfinished till all this was done. Canaan was a rich country, and yet must send to Ophir for gold The Israelites were a wise people, but must be beholden to the king of Tyre for men that had knowledge of the seas. Grace, and not gold, is the best riches, and acquaintance with God and his law, the best knowledge. Leaving the children of this world to scramble for the toys of this world, may we, as the children of God, lay up our treasure in heaven, that where our treasure is, our hearts also may be.And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service,.... The twenty four courses which served weekly in their turns, 1 Chronicles 24:1.

and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as duty of every day required; who also had their courses by lot, to sing the praises of God, when the priests sacrificed, or blew the trumpets, 1 Chronicles 25:1,

the porters also by their courses at every gate; from hence Dr. Lightfoot concludes that these were divided into twenty four classes, as the priests and Levite singers were:

for so had David the man of God commanded, 1 Chronicles 26:1, who in all these affairs acted as a prophet, under the inspiration and direction of the Holy Spirit of God.