Nehemiah 11:16

Shabbethai … Jozabad See these names in Nehemiah 8:7. They do not occur in the parallel list of 1 Chronicles 9:15-16, where however three other names, Heresh, Galal, and Berechiah are inserted.

chief R.V. chiefs.

had the oversight R.V. who had the oversight.

the outward business of the house of God For the use of the adjective -outward" here, cf. 1 Chronicles 26:29, -of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward businessover Israel, for officers and judges."

Whatever -the outward business of the house of God" was, it is clearly meant to be contrasted with -the business, orwork, of the house of God" (cf. Nehemiah 11:22 and 1 Chronicles 23:4) consisting in the worship and its ritual. It must not be limited in application to the maintenance of the fabric of the Temple and its courts. The significance of the expression appears from a comparison of the two passages quoted above. The Levites had duties as -officers and judges," see 1 Chronicles 23:4; 1 Chronicles 26:29; 2Ch 19:8; 2 Chronicles 19:11; and this section formed one-sixth of their whole number (1 Chronicles 23:4).