Who hitherto waited in the king's gate eastward: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi. Who hitherto waited in the king's gate eastward х `ad (H5704) heenaah (H2008), until now]. But Houbigant and others consider these words as a proper name: 'And Adana was over the king's gate eastward'-the only one of the gates that is particularly mentioned, probably because of its magnificence and pre-eminent importance as the entrance of the kings of Judah into the temple.
They were porters in the companies of the children of Levi - i:e., according to the orders or courses into which the tribe was divided did they render this service; because the office of porter about the doors of the tabernacle was one which was assigned exclusively to Levites. The king had a gate from his palace into the temple (2 Kings 16:18), which doubtless was kept constantly close except for the monarch's use; and although there was no king in Israel on the return from the captivity, yet the old ceremonial was kept up, probably in the hope that the sceptre would, ere long, be restored to the house of David. It is an honour, by which Eastern kings are distinguished, to have a gate exclusively devoted to their own special use, and which is kept constantly closed, except when he goes out or returns (Ezekiel 44:2). There being no king then in Israel, this gate would be always shut.