What Does 1 Chronicles 26:18 Mean in the King James?

At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.

1 Chronicles 26:18 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The causeway is a raised way (⁨מְסִלָּה⁩, mesillah), so the passage itself, not just its destination, has a place in the count.

THE MEANING

This verse gives the western causeway and Parbar their own counted places: four at the causeway and two at Parbar. The route between thresholds is itself attended; movement has a prepared way, not empty space.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

A passage is just empty space between the places that matter.

THE ROOT

מְסִלָּה

mesillah

GROWS FROM

סלל

salal

To raise, heap up, or lift high.

The word translated “causeway” carries the image of a way raised into being. The verse counts people at that made passage itself, joining the work of opening a route with the attention it receives.

ALSO GROWS

mesillah: A raised road, highway, or causeway.

מְסִלָּה

This is the word in the verse; its root makes the passage sound like a prepared, raised way.

solelah: A mound or siege ramp, something piled up.

סֹלְלָה

The same root can describe ground raised into a structure, showing how a route is made by shaping what lies in its way.

THE PATTERN

Shared space is sustained by attention at both the threshold and the route through it.

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

1 Chronicles 9:27 · KJVThe house and its opening are both attended, so access has a place in the work of keeping the space.

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Psalm 84:10 · KJVThe doorkeeper’s place at the threshold is treated as meaningful in its own right.

To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

John 10:3 · KJVThe guarded opening makes a way for those who are called to pass through.

THE THREAD

Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.

Isaiah 62:10 · KJV

“Highway” here is ⁨מְסִלָּה⁩ (mesillah), from the same root ⁨ס⁩.⁨ל⁩.⁨ל⁩ (salal) as the causeway in 1 Chronicles. The shared word reveals the route as something raised and prepared, where passage can happen.

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