And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the chief officer over them in time past; the LORD was with him.
We have here a further account of the good posture which the affairs of religion were put into immediately upon the return of the people out of Babylon. They had smarted for their former neglect of ordinances and under the late want of ordinances.
Commenting on 1 Chronicles 9:14-34
All those that were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve,.... As fixed in the days of David, and might not be fewer: these were reckoned by their genealogies in their villages; where they dwelt: whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office; the scheme was first drawn by Samuel the prophet, and communicated to David...
And Phinehas - The Targum says, "And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, was ruler over them from ancient times, from the day in which the tabernacle was set up in the wilderness; and the Word of the Lord was his assistant."