_A.M. 2704. B.C. 1300._ The first fathers of the tribe of Levi, 1 Chronicles 6:1. The line of the priests from Aaron to the captivity, 1 Chronicles 6:4. Of some other families, 1 Chronicles 6:16. The work of the Levites, 1 Chronicles 6:31. Of the priests, 1 Chronicles 6:49. The cities of the priest... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bukki begat Uzzi_ In whose days it is supposed that the high- priesthood was translated from Eleazar's family to Ithamar's, for some cause now unknown, in whose line it continued for some successions.... [ Continue Reading ]
_He it is that executed the priest's office_, &c. So did all the rest: but it is implied that he did it worthily; he filled his place well, and valiantly discharged his office. For it is supposed this was that Azariah who boldly opposed the presumption of King Uzziah, when he invaded the priest's of... [ Continue Reading ]
_The sons of Levi, Gershom_, &c. This he repeats as the foundation of the following genealogy of those Levites who were not priests.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The families of the Levites according to their fathers _ That is, these were the heads of the families which sprang from them. And it is thought the following catalogue contains the successive heads or chiefs of their several families until the times of David, by whom they were distributed into se... [ Continue Reading ]
_As for Elkanah_, &c. This was another Elkanah, son or grandson of the former Elkanah, and either the son or brother of Ahimoth, last mentioned, or of Amasai. _Nahath his son_ Called also _Toah, 1 Chronicles 6:34_, and _Tohu, 1 Samuel 1:1_. The Elkanah mentioned in the next verse was the father of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_And these_ Whose names follow, _are they whom David set over the service_ Appointed to minister to God by singing songs of praise in his house; _after that the ark had rest_ After David had brought it from the house of Obed-edom, and settled it in Jerusalem, 2 Samuel 8:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
_They ministered before the tabernacle_, &c. Which David had prepared for the ark when it came to Jerusalem. _According to their order _ The order which David himself had constituted a little before his death, as we read in the latter end of this book.... [ Continue Reading ]
_His brother Asaph_ Asaph is here called Heman's brother, according to the Hebrew phraseology, by which all near relations are brothers; and because he was of the same office and employment.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The sons of Merari stood on the left hand_ The children of the next son of Levi are here mentioned, who had the lowest place assigned them, because they were of the youngest family. So there were three principal singers, who were masters and governors of the whole choir: Heman, descended from Koath... [ Continue Reading ]
_Their brethren were appointed_, &c. Such of them as had no skill in singing were otherwise employed; being porters, keepers of the vessels of the sanctuary, occupied in preparing the sacrifices, and such like things. It is observable, that in all the genealogies of the Levites, there is not a word... [ Continue Reading ]
_But Aaron and his sons offered upon the altar_ The noblest part of the ministry was reserved for them. Aaron alone, and his successors in the high-priesthood, made atonement and ministered in the _most holy_ place. But his sons, the other priests, offered on the altars of _burnt- offering_, and of... [ Continue Reading ]
_These are the sons of Aaron_ Having mentioned the work of the high-priests, he here briefly rehearseth the names of the persons who successively performed it.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Throughout their castles_ So called, not only because walled and well guarded by the country, but because they and their possessions were in a particular manner the care of Divine Providence. As God was their portion, so God was their protector. And a cottage will be a castle to those that abide un... [ Continue Reading ]
_All their cities were thirteen_ Of which eleven are here numbered, and two more are mentioned Joshua 21:16, namely, Jattah and Gibeon; which, perhaps, were in ruins when this book was written.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Had cities of their coasts_ Or, of _their borders_, that is, of their country contained within its borders: these cities were assigned the families of the sons of Kohath, though they were not priests, for their support in a lower ministry.... [ Continue Reading ]
_They gave unto them of the cities of refuge_ That is, the children of Israel, as it is expressed 1 Chronicles 6:64, gave to the residue of the Kohathites the following cities, part out of Ephraim, and part out of the half-tribe of Manasseh. As to the names of these cities, divers of them differ fro... [ Continue Reading ]