(13) Also (and) for the courses of the priests and the Levites.--This connects immediately with the phrase "all the chambers round about," in 1Chronicles 28:12. The chambers or cells round the Temple court were intended not only for the stowage of the treasures, but also for the use of the priests and Levites who would sojourn in them by, course. The LXX. and the Vulg, render (David gave him) a description of the courses of the priests and Levites, a sense which the Hebrew admits, and which the Authorised version has adopted; but the former connexion of the words is preferable.

For all the work of the service.--Such as cooking the flesh which fell to the priests from the sacrifices, and baking the shewbread. "The vessels of service," that is, the utensils used by the Levites in the work just specified, would naturally be kept in the cells.

The Syriac version paraphrases 1Chronicles 28:11-13 as follows:--"And David gave to Solomon his son the likeness of the porch, and the measure of the house and of the colonnade (k?sost?ron = ??????), and of the upper chambers; and of the inner cloisters ('est?we=?????), and of the outer cloisters, and of the upper and of the lower (storeys); and of the treasury (beth gazz?), and of the house of service of the Lord's house, and of the kitchens, and of the house of the water-carriers (or cupbearers), and of the house of lampmen." The last words are interesting, as explaining the nature of "the work of the service" (1Chronicles 28:13).

Verse 13. - This verse either continues the subject of the giving of the patterns, which will read rather harshly, as preceding the courses of the priests and the Levites, and could only mean directions or instructions for their interchange, etc.; or it may continue the subject of the "chambers round about" "for the treasures of the house of God," etc., also for the convenience "of the courses of the priests," etc., and "for all the work," etc., and for keeping "all the vessels of service," etc. Bertheau and Keil somewhat scout the former supposition, and adhere to the latter.

28:11-21 The temple must be a sacred thing, and a type of Christ; it must be framed by Divine teaching. Christ is the true temple, the church is the gospel temple, and heaven the everlasting temple; all are framed according to the Divine counsels, and the plan laid in the Divine wisdom, ordained before the world, for God's glory and our good. David gave this pattern to Solomon, that he might go by rule. Materials were provided for the most costly utensils of the temple. Directions were given which way to look for help in this great undertaking. Be not dismayed; God will help thee, and thou must look up to him in the first place. We may be sure that God, who owned our fathers, and carried them through the services of their day, will, in like manner, never leave us, while he has any work to do in us, or by us. Good work is likely to go on, when all concerned are hearty in furthering it. Let us hope in God's mercy; if we seek him, he will be found of us.And also for the courses of the priests and Levites,.... Where they should serve, of which, as fixed and ordered by David, see 1 Chronicles 24:1.

and for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord; they should be employed in:

and for all the vessels of service in the house of the Lord; which they should use therein.