15 And Jehozadak went into captivity, when 30 Shimei his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah the LORD carried away Judah and Jerusalem || his son.

by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

4

B. C. 1280.

31 And these are they whom Da- About 16 The sons of Levi; 'Gershom, Kohath, vid set over the service of song in and Merari. the house of the LORD, after that the ark had

17 And these be the names of the sons of rest. Gershom; Libni, and Shimei.

32 And they ministered before the dwelling

18 And the sons of Kohath were Amram, and place of the tabernacle of the congregation with Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.

19 The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers.

singing, until Solomon had built the house of
the LORD in Jerusalem: and then they waited
on their office, according to their order.

33 And these are they that 12 waited with

20 ¶ Of Gershom; Libni his son, Jahath his their children. Of the sons of the Kohathson, Zimmah his son,

ites; Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son

21 Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his of Shemuel, son, "Jeaterai his son.

8

34 The son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham,

22 The sons of Kohath; Amminadab his the son of Eliel, the son of 13 Toah, son, Korah his son, Assir his son,

35 The son of 14 Zuph, the son of Elkanah,

23 Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai, and Assir his son,

9

36 The son of Elkanah, the son of 15 Joel,

24 Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah, son, and Shaul his son.

37 The son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the

r

25 And the sons of Elkanah: "Amasi, and son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, Ahimoth.

38 The son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.

39 And his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berechiah, the son of Shimea,

Toah, verse 34, and Tohu, 1 Sam. i. 1. The El-
kanah mentioned in the next verse was the father
of the Prophet Samuel, whose name therefore
follows.

Verse 16. The sons of Levi, Gershom, &c.—This
he repeats as the foundation of the following genea-
logy of those Levites who were not priests.
Verses 19, 20. The families of the Levites ac-
cording to their fathers-That is, these were the
Verse 31. And these-Whose names follow, are
heads of the families which sprang from them. And they whom David set over the service-Appointed
it is thought the following catalogue contains the to minister to God by singing songs of praise in his
successive heads or chiefs of their several families house; after that the ark had rest-After David had
until the times of David, by whom they were distri-brought it from the house of Obed-edom, and settled
buted into several courses. Zimmah his son-
-His it in Jerusalem, 2 Sam. viii. 17.
grandson by his son Shimei, as appears from verses
42, 43; the names of father and son being often
used in Scripture of more remote progenitors or suc-

cessors.

Verse 26. 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

Verse 32. 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.

Verse 39. His brother Asaph—Asaph is here called Heman's brother, according to the Hebrew phra

The cities of the

A. M. 2704.
B. C. 1300.

I. CHRONICLES.

priests and Levites. 40 The son of Michael, the son of || his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua A. M. 2560 Baaseiah, the son of Malchiah, his son,

8

41 The son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,

42 The son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei,

43 The son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.

44 And their brethren the sons of Merari stood on the left hand: 16 Ethan the son of 17 Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,

B. C. 1444.

51 Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son,

52 Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son,

53 Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son. 54 Now these are their dwelling-places throughout their castles in their coasts, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites: for theirs was the lot.

55 And they gave them Hebron in the land

45 The son of Hashabiah, the son of Ama- of Judah, and the suburbs thereof round about it. ziah, the son of Hilkiah,

56 But the fields of the city, and the vil

46 The son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son lages thereof, they gave to Caleb the son of Jeof Shamer,

47 The son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.

48 Their brethren also the Levites were appointed unto all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.

phunneh.

57 And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah, namely, Hebron, the city of refuge, and Libnah with her suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa, with their suburbs,

58 And 18 Hilen with her suburbs, Debir with her suburbs,

59 And 19 Ashan with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs:

60 And out of the tribe of Benjamin; Geba with her suburbs, and 20 Alemeth with her suburbs, and Anathoth with her suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thir

seology, by which all near relations are brothers; and because he was of the same office and employ

ment.

Verse 44. 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, was the prime, who, together with his sons, stood in the middle: Asaph, descended from Gershom, with his sons, stood on his right hand: and Ethan, (called also Jeduthun, 1 Chron. ix. 16; 2 Chron. xxxv. 15, and in the title of divers Psalms,) descended from Merari, on the left.

y Joshua xxi. 11. Joshua xiv. 13; xv. 13.- Josh. xxi. 13.- 18 Or, Holon, Josh. xxi. 15.-19 Or, Ain, Josh. xxi. 16. 20 Or, Almon, Josh. xxi. 18.

Verse 49. 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 incense.

Verse 50. 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.

Verse 54. 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 Pro&c.-vidence. As God was their portion, so God was their protector. And a cottage will be a castle to those that abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Theirs was the lot-Or, the first lot.

Verse 48. Their brethren were appointed, 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 said of the sons of Moses and their posterity, he having no ambition to prefer them unto any great

office.

Verse 60. All their cities were thirteen-Of which eleven are here numbered, and two more are mentioned Josh. xxi. 16, 17, namely, Jattah and Gibeon; which, perhaps, were in ruins when this book

was written.

The cities of the

B. C. 1444.

B. C. 1444.

A. M. 2560. 61 And unto the sons of Kohath || suburbs, for the family of the remnant A. M. 2560
b which were left of the family of that of the sons of Kohath.
tribe, were cities given out of the half-tribe,
namely, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, by
lot, ten cities.

62 And to the sons of Gershom, throughout their families, were given out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.

63 Unto the sons of Merari were given by lot, throughout their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.

64 And the children of Israel gave to the Levites these cities with their suburbs.

65 And they gave by lot out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, these cities, which are called by their names.

e

66 And the residue of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their coasts out of the tribe of Ephraim.

67 And they gave unto them, of the cities of refuge, Shechem in mount Ephraim with her suburbs; they gave also Gezer with her suburbs, 68 And Jokmeam with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs,

71 Unto the sons of Gershom were given out of the family of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, and Ashtaroth with her suburbs:

72. And out of the tribe of Issachar; Kedesh
with her suburbs, Daberath with her suburbs,
73 And Ramoth with her suburbs, and Anem
with her suburbs:

74 And out of the tribe of Asher; Mashal with
her suburbs, and Abdon with her suburbs,
75 And Hukok with her suburbs, and Rehob
with her suburbs:

76 And out of the tribe of Naphtali; Ke-
desh in Galilee with her suburbs, and Ham-
mon with her suburbs, and Kirjathaim with her
suburbs.

77 Unto the rest of the children of Merari were given out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmon with her suburbs, Tabor with her suburbs:

78 And on the other side Jordan by Jericho, on the east side of Jordan, were given them out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with her suburbs, and Jahzah with her suburbs.

79 Kedemoth also with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs:

80 And out of the tribe of Gad; Ramoth in 69 And Ajalon with her suburbs, and Gath- Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahanaim with rimmon with her suburbs :

Verse 66. 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.

her suburbs,

81 And Heshbon with her suburbs and Jazer with her suburbs.

Joshua xxi. 22-25, where many of these cities have other

names.

Nor is it strange that the names of places should be changed in so many hundreds of years as had intervened between Joshua and this time. And as to the cities themselves, it is further to be observed, that they were dispersed among all the tribes, partly Verse 67. They gave unto them of the cities of that Jacob's prophecy might be fulfilled concernrefuge-That is, the children of Israel, as it is ex-ing the scattering of the tribe of Levi, Gen. xlix. 7; pressed verse 64, gave to the residue of the Kohath- and partly that every tribe might have teachers ites the following cities, part out of Ephraim, and among them by whom they might be directed in, part out of the half-tribe of Manasseh. As to the and quickened to, the observation of God's laws, names of these cities, divers of them differ from upon which their safety and happiness wholly dethose mentioned as given to them Josh. xxi. 15. || pended.

R

CHAPTER VII.

The posterity of Issachar, 1-5. Of Benjamin, 6-12. Of Naphtali, 13. Of Manasseh, 14-19. Of Ephraim, 20–29. Of

Asher, 30-40.

Genealogy of Issachar, Benjamin,

I. CHRONICLES.

Naphtali, and Manasseh.

B. C.

1

B. C. 1400.

A. M. 2004. NOW the sons of Issachar were ||alogy by their generations, heads of A. M. 2604. a Tola, and 1 Puah, Jashub, and the house of their fathers, mighty men of valour, was twenty thousand and two hundred.

Shimron, four.

2 And the sons of Tola; Uzzi, and Rephaiah,|| and Jeriel, and Jahmai, and Jibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their father's house, to wit, of Tola: they were valiant men of might in their generations; whose number was in the days of David two and twenty thousand and six hundred.

b

3 And the sons of Uzzi; Izrahiah: and the sons of Izrahiah; Michael, and Obadiah, and Joel, Ishiah, five; all of them chief men.

4 And with them, by their generations, after the house of their fathers, were bands of soldiers for war, six and thirty thousand men: for they had many wives and sons.

5 And their brethren among all the families of Issachar were valiant men of might, reckoned in all by their genealogies fourscore and seven thousand.

C

10 The sons also of Jediael; Bilhan: and the sons of Bilhan; Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tharshish, and Ahishahar.

3

11 All these the sons of Jediael, by the heads of their fathers, mighty men of valour, were seventeen thousand and two hundred soldiers, fit to go out for war and battle. 12 Shuppim also, and Huppim, the children of 2 Ir, and Hushim, the sons of 3 Aher. 13 The sons of Naphtali; Jahziel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah. 14 The sons of Manasseh; Ashriel, whom she bare, (but his concubine the Aramitess bare Machir the father of Gilead:

e

15 And Machir took to wife the sister of Hup

6 The sons of Benjamin; Bela, and Be- pim and Shuppim, whose sister's name was cher, and Jediael, three.

7 And the sons of Bela; Ezbon, and Uzzi, and Uzziel, and Jerimoth, and Iri, five; heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valour; and were reckoned by their genealogies twenty and two thousand and thirty and four. 8 And the sons of Becher; Zemira, and Joash, and Eliezer, and Elioenai, and Omri, and Je- || rimoth, and Abiah, and Anathoth, and Alameth. All these are the sons of Becher.

9 And the number of them, after their gene

a Genesis xlvi. 13; Numbers xxvi. 23.- Phuvah, Job. b 2 Sam. xiv. 1; Chap. xxvii. 1. Gen. xlvi. 21; Numbers xxvi. 38.

NOTES ON CHAPTER VII. Verse 2. Whose number in the days of David, &c.-That is, when David numbered the people, (2 Sam. xxiv.,) the descendants of Tola, Issachar's firstborn, were found to be thus many; which was very great increase.

Verse 6. The sons of Benjamin, three-They were ten, (Gen. xlvi. 21,) and five of them are named chap. viii. 1, but here only three are mentioned, either because they were most eminent, or because the other families were now extinct.

Verse 7. Heads of the house of their fathersEach of them head of that family to which he belonged. For it may seem, by comparing this with chap. viii. 3, &c., that these were not the immediate sons of Bela, but his grand-children, descended each from a several father.

Verses 13-15. The sons of Bilhah-The grand

Maachah ;) and the name of the second was Zelophehad: and Zelophehad had daughters. 16 And Maachah the wife of Machir bare a son, and she called his name Peresh; and the name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam, and Rakem.

17 And the sons of Ulam; Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.

18 And his sister Hammoleketh bare Ishod, and Abiezer, and Mahalah.

d Num. xxvi. 39, Shupham and Hupham. Or, Iri, Verse 7. 3 Or, Ahiram, Numbers xxvi. 38.- e Genesis xlvi. 24, Shillem. f1 Sam. xii. 11.- Num. xxvi. 30, Jezer.

children; for Bilhah was Jacob's concubine, and mother both to Naphtali, the father of the persons last named, and to Dan. The sons of Manasseh— Grand-children, as in the former verse. Ashriel, whom she bare-Whom his wife bare, his concubine being here opposed to her. Machir took the sister of Huppim-The word sister, though not in the Hebrew, is fitly supplied out of the following clause, where it is expressed, and she is called Maacha, and, verse 16, is said to be the wife of Machir. The name of the second, &c. Of the second son or grand-son of Machir, for such Zelophehad was. Had daughters-That is, only daughters, and no

sons.

Verses 17, 18. These were the sons of GileadNamely, Ashriel and Zelophehad, named verses 14, 15, the relative being here referred to the remoter antecedent, as is frequent in the Hebrew. His

34 And the sons of Shamer; Ahi, and Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram.

35 And the sons of his brother Helem; Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal. 36 The sons of Zophah; Suah, and Harne

26 Laadan his son, Ammihud his son, Elisha-pher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah. ma his son,