The genealogy I. CHRONICLES. of Benjamin. A. M. 2604. of their father's house, choice and genealogy of them that were apt to A. M. 2604. mighty men of valour, chief of the the war and to battle was twenty princes. And the number throughout the and six thousand men. B. C. 1400. B. C. 1400. longed to Ephraim. Unto Gaza-Not the Gaza of same name. Or rather Ad-azza, as in the margin; the Philistines, which belonged to another tribe, and the particle ad, here rendered unto, being part of was remote from Ephraim, but another place of the || the name. CHAPTER VIII. Some of the heads of the tribe of Benjamin, 1–32. The family of Saul, 33-40. a A. M. 2604. NOW Benjamin begat Bela his || of the fathers of the inhabitants of A. M. 2604 firstborn, Ashbel the second, and B. Aharah the third, Ajalon, who drove away the inhabit- B. C. 1400 14 And Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth, 15 And Zebadiah, and Arad, and Ader, 16 And Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah; 17 And Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hezeki, and Heber, 18 Ishmerai also, and Jezliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal; 19 And Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi, 20 And Elienai, and Zilthai, and Eliel, 21 And Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of 3 Shimhi; 22 And Ishpan, and Heber, and Eliel, 23 And Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan, 24 And Hananiah, and Elam, and Antothijah, 25 And Iphedeiah, and Penuel, the sons of NOTES ON CHAPTER VIII. Verse 1. Now Benjamin begat Bela-He had spoken something of this tribe before, chap. vii. 6; but now he treats of it again, and that more fully and exactly: partly for Saul's sake, who was of this tribe; and partly because this tribe adhered to David, and the kingdom of Judah, and went with Judah into Babylon; and now were returned from thence in greater numbers than the other tribes, except Judah. Bela his firstborn-So called by Moses: but the names of the rest vary from those in Moses. Therefore either these were Benjamin's grand children, or the same person had two or more names, which was not unusual. Verse 6. These are the sons of Ehud-These following, verse 7, because he here speaks of them who were removed. He describes the sons of Benjamin by the places of their habitation, without an exact account of their parents; because their genealogies were broken by that almost total extirpation of this tribe, Judg. xx. Verse 28. Heads of the fathers, &c.: these dwelt at Jerusalem-All these named from verse 14 to this place. Particular notice is taken of these, that The first inhabitants B. C. 1400, CHAPTER IX. h of Jerusalem. B. C. 1400. A. M. 2004. generations, chief men. These dwelt || 36 And Ahaz begat Jehoadah; A. M. 2604. in Jerusalem. and Jehoadah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza. 29 And at Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon; whose wife's name was Maachah: d 30 And his firstborn son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab, 31 And Gedor, and Ahio, and 5 Zacher. 6 32 And Mikloth begat Shimeah. And these also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against them. е 33 And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal. 7 34 And the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; g and Merib-baal begat & Micah. 37 And Moza begat Binea: Rapha was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. 38 And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel. 39 And the sons of Eshek his brother were, Ulam his firstborn, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the third. 40 And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valour, archers, and had many sons, and 35 And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and sons' sons, a hundred and fifty. All these are Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz. The chief of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh, who returned from captivity and dwelt at Jerusalem, 1-9. The priests, 10-13. The Levites, 14-16. Their various offices in the temple, 17-34. The family of Saul, 35-44. NOTES ON CHAPTER IX. Verse 1. They were written in the book—In the public records, wherein there was an account of that kingdom, and of the several families in it. Verse 2. The firstAfter the return from Babylon. That dwelt in their possessions-That took possession of their own lands and cities, which had been formerly allotted them, but of late years had been taken from them for their sins, and possessed by other people. Israelites-The common people of Judah and Israel, called here by the general name of Israelites, which was given them before that unhappy division of the kingdoms; and now is restored to them, when the Israelites are united with the Jews in one and the same commonwealth, that so all the names and signs of their former division might be blotted out. And though the generality of the ten tribes were yet in captivity, yet divers of 6 And of the sons of Zerah; Jeuel, and their their fathers, a thousand and seven hundred and brethren, six hundred and ninety. 7 And of the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah, 8 And Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah || the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah; threescore; 2 very able men for the work of the service of the house of God. 14 And of the Levites; Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari; 15 And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph; 16 And Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelt in the villages of the Neto 9 And their brethren, according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty and six. All these men were chief of the fathers in the house of their fathers. 10 And of the priests; Jedaiah, and Je- || phathites. hoiarib, and Jachin, them, upon Cyrus's general proclamation, associated themselves, and returned with those of Judah and Benjamin. Levites-These took possession of the cities belonging to them, as they had need and opportunity. Nethinims-A certain order of men, either Gibeonites, or others joined with them, who were, nethinim, given to the priests and Levites for performing the servile offices of the tabernacle or temple: accordingly the LXX. in this place render the word by dedoμevol, persons given. Thus Joshua gave the Gibeonites to be hewers of wood, &c., Josh. ix. 21, 27. That they might attend upon their work without distraction, they had certain places and possessions given to them, which they are now said to repossess. Verse 4. Ammihud-That there is so great a diversity of names between this catalogue and that Neh. xi., may be ascribed to two causes. 1st, To the custom of the Hebrews, who used frequently to give several names to one person. And, 2d, To the change of times; for here they are named who came up at the first return: but many of those in Nehemiah might be such as returned afterward, and came and dwelt, either instead of the persons here named, or with them. Verse 7. Sallu the son of Meshullam-Who is mentioned, but described by other parents, (Neh. xi. 7,) or at least by persons under other names. Possibly these were his more immediate, and those his 17 And the porters were Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren: Shallum was the chief; 2 Heb. mighty men of valour. more remote parents: or he might be begotten by the one, and adopted by the other. For it is certain that men are sometimes, in Scripture, called the sons of those that adopted them, or whose right of inheritance fell to them. Verse 9. Nine hundred and fifty-six-They are reckoned but nine hundred and twenty-eight in Neh. xi. 8, either because there he mentions only those that were by lot determined to dwell at Jerusalem, to whom he here adds those who freely offered themselves to it; or because some of the persons first placed there were dead, or removed from Jerusalem upon some emergent occasion. Verse 11. The ruler-Or rather, a ruler in the house of God-Not the high-priest, who was Ezra, (Ezra iii. 8,) but a chief ruler under him. Verse 13. Able men-Hebrew, mighty men of valour; which is here mentioned as an excellent qualification for their place; because the priests might meet with great opposition in the discharge of their office, in the execution of the censures upon all impure persons without exception, and in preserving sacred things from violation by the touch of forbidden hands. Verses 16, 17. The villages of the NetophathiteOr, Netophathites: which were in Judah, chap. ii. 54. Here they now dwelt, either because their proper cities were not yet built; or because they were not yet numerous enough to replenish them. The por The different officers B. C. 1200. B. C. 1200. A. M. 2804. 18 Who hitherto waited in the || in the gates were two hundred and A. M. 2804. king's gate eastward: they were por- twelve. These were reckoned by their ters in the companies of the children of Levi. genealogy in their villages, whom & David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their 5 set office. 23 So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the LORD, namely, the house of the tabernacle, by wards. 24 In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south. 19 And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their fathers, being over the host of the LORD, were keepers of the entry. 3 20 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the LORD was with him. 21 And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 22 All these which were chosen to be porters 'Heb. thresholds.Numbers xxxi. 6.- - Chap. xxvi. 1, 2. h1 Sam. ix. 9. ters were, &c.-Whose office it was to keep all the gates of the temple, that no unclean person or thing might enter into it. Verse 18. King's gate-In the east gate of the temple; which was so called, because the kings of Judah used to go to the temple through that gate. Under this gate he comprehends all the rest, which also were guarded by these porters. In the companies-Or, according to the courses. They kept the gates successively, according to that method into which the Levites were distributed, for the more convenient management of their several offices, among which this of the porters was one. Verse 19. Tabernacle-Namely, in time past, when the tabernacle was standing, before the temple was built. Their fathers-The Kohathites. Being over the host of the Lord-When the Israelites were in the wilderness, encamped in a military manner round about the tabernacle, with whom these were then placed. Keepers of the entry-Of the veil by which they entered into the tabernacle; which he calls the entry, because then there were no gates. The meaning is, that all things were now restored to their primitive order; and the several persons took those offices upon them, which their ancestors had before them. Verse 20. Phinehas was ruler over them-That is over all the porters, and other Levites and priests before mentioned. The Lord was with him to direct, and assist, and bless him in the discharge of his office, which seems to be here observed to encourage his successor, and consequently all the priests and Levites of this time, to go on courageously and resolutely in their work, not doubting but God would stand by them as he had stood by their fathers. Verse 21. Zechariah was porter-Chief porter, namely, in the time of David, as the following verse shows. Of the door of the tabernacle-The door which led out of the priests' court into the taberna cle, in which the ark was placed. Before the temple was built, they had a mean and moveable tent, which they made use of in the mean time. They that cannot yet have a temple, let them be thankful for a tabernacle, and make the best use of it. Never let God's work be left undone, for want of a place to do it in. Verse 22. These were reckoned in their villages Where their usual residence was, and whence they came to Jerusalem in their courses. Whom David and Samuel did ordain-In the times of the judges there was much disorder both in the Jewish state and church, and the Levites came to the tabernacle promiscuously, and as their inclinations or occasions brought them. But Samuel, observing they were greatly increased, began to think of establishing order in their ministration. And these intentions of his, probably, were communicated to David, who, after his own peaceable settlement in his throne, revived and perfected Samuel's design, and took care to put it in execution. Verse 23. They and their children had the oversight-Namely, in David's time. Of the tabernacleThis is added to explain what he means by the house of the Lord: not that tabernacle which David had set up for the ark, but that more solemn tabernacle, which Moses had made by God's express command; which in David's time was at Gibeon; in which God was worshipped until the temple was built. By wards-By turns or courses. Verse 25. Their brethren were to come-From their several villages to the place of worship. After seven days-Every seventh day the courses were changed, and the new-comers were to tarry till the next sabbath day. From time to time with them— To be with them, with the chief porters, who always abode in the place of God's worship. Verses 26, 27. These Levites were in their set office-These were constantly upon the place, in the execution of their office, that they might oversee the Repetition of the genealogy B. C. 1200. I. CHRONICLES. A. M. 2804. God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them. 28 And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale. 29 Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices. 30 And some of the sons of the priests made * the ointment of the spices. 31 And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the 10 set office 1over the things that were made 11 in the pans. 32 And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, m were over the 12 show-bread, to prepare it every sabbath. 33 And these are the singers, chief of the|| fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for 13 they were employed in that work day and night. 34 These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations; these dwelt at Jerusalem. 9 -9 Or, Lev. ii. 5; vi. of Saul and his sons. 35 And in Gibeon dwelt the father A. M. 2804. B. C. 1200. of Gibeon, Jehiel, whose wife's name was Maachah: 36 And his firstborn son Abdon, then Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab, 37 And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth. 38 And Mikloth begat Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their brethren at Jerusalem, over against their brethren. 39 And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Esh-baal. 40 And the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal begat Micah. 41 And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, and Ahaz. ૧ 42 And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza; 43 And Moza begat Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. 44 And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan: these were the sons of Azel. m Lev. xxiv. 8.-12 Heb. bread of ordering.- -n Chap. vi. 31, 13 Heb. upon them. Chap. viii. 29. Chapter - Chap. viii. 35. xxv. 1. 8 Heb. bring them in by tale, and carry them out by tale. vessels. Exod. xxx. 23.- 10 Or, trust. 21.- 11 Or, on flat plates, or, slices. inferior porters in their work. Were over the trea- whensoever they were called to the service of God suries-In which the sacred utensils, and other trea- in the tabernacle. Were free-From all trouble and sures belonging to the temple, were kept. They employment, that they might wholly attend upon lodged round about the house of God-They were their proper work; which was either composing or not permitted to dwell in the villages as their breth-ordering sacred songs, or actually singing, or teachren were, but were obliged to constant residence in the place, because their office required it. Verses 30, 31. The sons of the priests made the ointment-This is added to show, that though the Levites were intrusted with the keeping of this ointment, yet none but the priests could make it. Over the things made in the pans-Was to take care that fine flour might be provided, that when occasion required they might make cakes in pans. ing others to sing them. Day and night-Continually, and particularly in the morning and evening, the two times appointed for solemn service. Thus was God continually praised, as it is fit he should be, who is continually doing us good. Verses 34, 35. These dwelt at Jerusalem-Upon their return from Babylon they were not suffered to choose their habitations in the country, as others were, but were obliged to settle themselves at JeruVerse 33. And these-Others of the Levites; of salem, that they might constantly attend upon God's whose several offices he had spoken before. Are-service there. Whose wife's name was MaachahOr rather, were; which is understood all along in In this and the following verses he repeats Saul's the foregoing and following verses. Remaining in genealogy, that he might make way for the following the chambers-That they might be ready to come history. CHAPTER X. The overthrow and death of Saul, 1-7. The triumph of the Philistines, 8-10. The men of Jabesh-gilead take down and bury the bodies of Saul and his sons, 11, 12. The reason of Saul's death, 13, 14. |