Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Chronicles 9:20

"And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them in time past, [and] Jehovah was with him." — 1 Chronicles 9:20 (ASV)

And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past. —Or, formerly. Phinehas may have held this office of president (nagîd, 1 Chronicles 9:11) of the warders before he became high priest, just as Eleazar had held a similar position during the lifetime of Aaron (Numbers 3:32). Nothing is said of it elsewhere.

And the Lord was with him. —Rather, The Lord be with him! a pious exclamation, such as the Jews of later times were accustomed to use when speaking of a departed worthy; and of interest to us as indicating a belief in continued existence after death. (Compare 1 Chronicles 22:11; 1 Chronicles 22:16.)