And they lodged around the house of God, for on them lay the duty of watching, and they had charge of opening it every morning.
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
And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices. For though the Levites had the care of the spices, they might not make the ointment with them, only the priests, see Exo 30:23. . 1 Chronicles 9:31 ch1 9:31 ch1 9:31 ch1 9:31And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite,....
1Ch 9:27 1Ch 9:27 refers again to the doorkeepers. They passed the night around the house of God, because the care of or watch over it was committed to them, and “they were over the key, and that every morning,” i.e., they had to open the door every morning. מפתּח occurs again in Jdg 3:25 and Isa 22:22, in the signification key, which is suitable here also.