And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them.

And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge thereof was upon them; and to them pertained the opening thereof morning by morning.

And they abode in their watches round about the temple of the Lord: that when it was time, they might open the gates in the morning.

for they stayed round about the house of God during the night, because the charge was upon them, and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them.

and round about the house of God they lodge, for on them is the watch, and they are over the opening, even morning by morning.

Their sleeping-rooms were round the house of God, for they had the care of it, and were responsible for opening it morning by morning.

And they remained in their watches, on all sides of the temple of the Lord, so that, when the time had arrived, they might open the gates in the morning.

And they lodged round about the house of God,.... In chambers on the outward wall about it, that they might be near to do their office:
because the charge was upon them; to guard the house:
and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them; that is, the opening of the doors of the mountain of the house, and the court of women; for as for others, that appertained to the priests, as Dr. Lightfoot (u) observes; under the second temple, it is said (w), Ben Geber was over the shutting of the gates in the evening, and so of opening in the morning.
(u) Temple-Service, c. 7. sect. 1. (w) Misn. Shekalim, c. 5. sect. 1.

1-Chronicles 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 Judges 3:25 and Isaiah 22:22, in the signification key, which is suitable here also.