Matthew Poole's Commentary The sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. The sons of Levi: the line of the high priests from Aaron to the captivity, 1 Chronicles 6:1-15. The families of Gershom, Merari, and Kohath, 1 Chronicles 6:16-48. The office of Aaron and his line unto Ahimaaz, 1 Chronicles 6:49-53. The cities of the priests and Levites, 1 Chronicles 6:54-81. No text from Poole on this verse. And the sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel. Izhar, called also 1 Chronicles 6:22: compare Exodus 6:21. And the children of Amram; Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. The sons also of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. No text from Poole on this verse. Eleazar begat Phinehas, Phinehas begat Abishua, No text from Poole on this verse. And Abishua begat Bukki, and Bukki begat Uzzi, In the days of Uzzi 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. And Uzzi begat Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begat Meraioth, No text from Poole on this verse. Meraioth begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub, No text from Poole on this verse. And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Ahimaaz, No text from Poole on this verse. And Ahimaaz begat Azariah, and Azariah begat Johanan, No text from Poole on this verse. And Johanan begat Azariah, (he it is that executed the priest's office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem:) He it is that executed the priest’s office: so did all the rest, but it is implied that lie did it worthily, he filled his place and valiantly discharged his office in Uzziah’s time; of which see 2 Chronicles 26:17, &c. Or this he may relate to Johanan, otherwise called Jehoiada, who is so highly commended for the good service which he did to the house of God and of the king; of whom see 2Ki 11. In the temple that Solomon built; in Solomon’s temple; so called to distinguish it from the second temple, which was built or in building when these books were written. And Azariah begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub, No text from Poole on this verse. And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Shallum, No text from Poole on this verse. And Shallum begat Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begat Azariah, No text from Poole on this verse. And Azariah begat Seraiah, and Seraiah begat Jehozadak, Seraiah, who was slain by Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah, 2 Kings 25:18,21. And Jehozadak went into captivity, when the LORD carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. No text from Poole on this verse. The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. This he repeats, as the foundation of the following genealogy of those Levites who were not priests. And these be the names of the sons of Gershom; Libni, and Shimei. No text from Poole on this verse. And the sons of Kohath were, Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel. No text from Poole on this verse. The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers. Who are distinguished and named from their fathers. And the following catalogue is thought to contain the successive heads or chiefs of their several families until thee times of David, by whom they were distributed into several ranks or courses. Of Gershom; Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, i.e. His grandson, by his son Shimei, as appears from 1 Chronicles 6:42,43, the names of father and son being oft used in scripture of more remote progenitors or successors. Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeaterai his son. No text from Poole on this verse. The sons of Kohath; Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, No text from Poole on this verse. Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir his son, No text from Poole on this verse. Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son. Uriel, called also Zephaniah, 1 Chronicles 6:36, where also Uzziah here following is called Azariah. And the sons of Elkanah; Amasai, and Ahimoth. Elkanah, the son of that Korah mentioned above, 1 Chronicles 6:22, as is manifest by 1 Chronicles 6:35-37 and by Exodus 6:23,24 As for Elkanah: the sons of Elkanah; Zophai his son, and Nahath his son, Elkanah; 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, called also Toah, 1 Chronicles 6:31, and Tohu, 1 Samuel 1:1. Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son. Elkanah; the father of the prophet Samuel, 1 Samuel 1:1, who therefore follows here. And the sons of Samuel; the firstborn Vashni, and Abiah. No text from Poole on this verse. The sons of Merari; Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzza his son, No text from Poole on this verse. Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son. No text from Poole on this verse. And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after that the ark had rest. These are they, whose names here follow. The service, Heb. the hands. Hand put for ministry or service, which is commonly performed by the hand. Thus God is frequently said to speak or command things by the hand (i.e. the ministry) of Moses. Compare 2 Chronicles 29:27. After that the ark had rest; which was in David’s time, 2 Samuel 6:17. And they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem: and then they waited on their office according to their order. The dwelling-place of the tabernacle, or, the tabernacle of the tent, as the same Hebrew words are translated, Exodus 39:32 40:2,6. According to their order; which David had appointed by the Spirit, as it follows in this book. And these are they that waited with their children. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel, These, to wit, Heman here mentioned; and Asaph, 1 Chronicles 6:39; and Ethan, 1 Chronicles 6:44. Shemuel, or, Samuel the prophet. The son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah, No text from Poole on this verse. The son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai, No text from Poole on this verse. The son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah, No text from Poole on this verse. The son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, No text from Poole on this verse. The son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel. No text from Poole on this verse. And his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea, Asaph is here called Heman’s brother, both by birth, being of the same tribe and father, Levi; and by his office and employment, which was thee same with his. The son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchiah, No text from Poole on this verse. The son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah, No text from Poole on this verse. The son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei, No text from Poole on this verse. The son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi. No text from Poole on this verse. And their brethren the sons of Merari stood on the left hand: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch, Ethan, called also Jeduthun, 1 Chronicles 9:16,2 Chronicles 35:15, and in the titles of divers psalms. The son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah, No text from Poole on this verse. The son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shamer, No text from Poole on this verse. The son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi. No text from Poole on this verse. Their brethren also the Levites were appointed unto all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God. The Levites; such of them as had no skill in singing were otherwise employed. But Aaron and his sons offered upon the altar of the burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, and were appointed for all the work of the place most holy, and to make an atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded. Having mentioned the work and employment of the high priests, he briefly rehearseth the names of the persons who successively performed it. And these are the sons of Aaron; Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son, No text from Poole on this verse. Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son, No text from Poole on this verse. Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son, No text from Poole on this verse. Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son. No text from Poole on this verse. 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. Or, this lot or portion which here follows. Or, the first lot, as appears by the sequel. And they gave them Hebron in the land of Judah, and the suburbs thereof round about it. No text from Poole on this verse. But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh. No text from Poole on this verse. 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, They gave the cities, or, out of the cities; the Hebrew eth being put for meeth, as hath been oft noted. And Hilen with her suburbs, Debir with her suburbs, No text from Poole on this verse. And Ashan with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs: No text from Poole on this verse. And out of the tribe of Benjamin; Geba with her suburbs, and Alemeth with her suburbs, and Anathoth with her suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities. Whereof eleven are here numbered, and two more added to them, Joshua 21:13. And unto the sons of Kohath, which were left of the family of that tribe, were cities given out of the half tribe, namely, out of the half tribe of Manasseh, by lot, ten cities. Which were left, over and above the priests who were of the same family of Kohath and tribe of Levi. By lot, ten cities, or, by lot (with a full point, for there the sense ends). All their cities were ten cities, as it is expressly said, Joshua 21:6. These words, all their cities were, are to be understood out of the former verse; which is not unusual in the Holy Scripture. And so this sacred writer explains himself, 1 Chronicles 6:66, &c., where eight of these cities are named, whereof only two are taken out of this half tribe of Manasseh, 1 Chronicles 6:70, the other two being named, Joshua 21:21, &c., where these things are more plainly and fully declared. And to the sons of Gershom throughout their families 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. To the sons of Gershom; understand here, cities were given, which is also understood 1 Chronicles 6:61, and expressed 1 Chronicles 6:64. 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. No text from Poole on this verse. And the children of Israel gave to the Levites these cities with their suburbs. To the Levites, i.e. to the tribe of Levi, consisting of priests and other Levites. These cities, which are numbered or named in this chapter. 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. They gave, to wit, to those Levites of the family of Kohath who were priests, as appears both by 1 Chronicles 6:57, &c., where the cities given to the Aaronites are said to be taken out of the tribes here named, even out of Judah (under which Simeon is comprehended, because his lot lay within that of Judah) and Benjamin; and by the next verse, where the other Kohathites who were not priests are called the residue of the families of the sons of Kohath, by way of distinction from those of them to whom this 1 Chronicles 6:65 relates. Which are called by their names; which are expressed by their names above, 1 Chronicles 6:57, &c. And the residue of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their coasts out of the tribe of Ephraim. Of their coasts, or, of their borders, i.e. of their country contained within its borders, as that word is oft used, as hath been noted before. And they gave unto them, of the cities of refuge, Shechem in mount Ephraim with her suburbs; they gave also Gezer with her suburbs, They gave; either the Ephraimites; or rather, the children of Israel, as it is expressed, 1 Chronicles 6:64, who gave part out of Ephraim, and part out of the half tribe of Manasseh, as it here follows. But the Ephraimites could not give away any cities belonging to the Manassites. Unto them, i.e. to the residue of the Kohathites last mentioned. Of the cities of refuge, or, the cities (i.e. the city, the plural number used of one; of which frequent examples have been given before: see 1 Chronicles 7:3,12,14) of refuge. Or, cities, (the construct form being put for the absolute, of which there want not examples in the Hebrew language,) the city of refuge. As to the names of these cities, divers of them are differing from those names which were given to them, Joshua 21:13. Nor is it at all strange that the names of places should be changed in so many hundreds of years as were between Joshua and this time. And to the cities themselves, this is further to be observed, that they are dispersed among all the tribes, partly that Jacob’s prophecy might be fulfilled concerning the scattering of Levi. Genesis 49:7: and partly that every tribe might have teachers among them, by whom they might be directed in and quickened to the observation of God’s laws, upon which their safety and happiness wholly depended. And Jokmeam with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs, No text from Poole on this verse. And Aijalon with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs: No text from Poole on this verse. And out of the half tribe of Manasseh; Aner with her suburbs, and Bileam with her suburbs, for the family of the remnant of the sons of Kohath. No text from Poole on this verse. 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: No text from Poole on this verse. And out of the tribe of Issachar; Kedesh with her suburbs, Daberath with her suburbs, No text from Poole on this verse. And Ramoth with her suburbs, and Anem with her suburbs: No text from Poole on this verse. And out of the tribe of Asher; Mashal with her suburbs, and Abdon with her suburbs, No text from Poole on this verse. And Hukok with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs: No text from Poole on this verse. And out of the tribe of Naphtali; Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, and Hammon with her suburbs, and Kirjathaim with her suburbs. No text from Poole on this verse. Unto the rest of the children of Merari were given out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmon with her suburbs, Tabor with her suburbs: No text from Poole on this verse. 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, No text from Poole on this verse. Kedemoth also with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs: No text from Poole on this verse. And out of the tribe of Gad; Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahanaim with her suburbs, No text from Poole on this verse. And Heshbon with her suburbs, and Jazer with her suburbs. No text from Poole on this verse. |
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