1 Chronicles 9:13

heads of the house of their fathers R.V. heads of their fathers" houses.

a thousand and seven hundred and threescore Only the five -courses" of priests mentioned above (viz., Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, and Jachin, 1 Chronicles 9:10, and Malchijah and Immer, 1 Chronicles 9:12) seem to be included in this reckoning. Some commentators however regard Azariah (Seraiah) in 1 Chronicles 9:11 as the name of a new course, which after the Exile took the place of one of the old courses reckoned in 1 Chronicles 24:7-18. If this be right we have here the sum of sixcourses.

In Nehemiah 11:12-14 the number of the priests is given on a different plan; eight hundred and twenty-two"did the work of the house"; two hundred and forty-twowere "chiefs of fathers" houses"; an hundred and twenty-eightwere "mighty men of valour." The total falls far short of the thousand and seven hundred and threescoreof Chron. We have not sufficient data on which to base any attempt at reconciling the two totals.

very able men Render, mighty men of valour. The Heb. is the same as in Nehemiah 11:14. Cp. 2 Chronicles 26:17.