“So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.”
Full, satisfied, in the last year of his reign, and the 70th of his age. (Du Hamel) — Cur non ut plenus vitæ conviva recedit? (Lucretius iii.) — Israel. This example was much followed by succeeding kings. (Calmet) — Yet this is controverted. (Houbigant) (Haydock)
“And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.”
Princes, heads of families, or officers of the army, chap. xxv. 1. (Menochius)
“Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand.”
Numbered at the same time, when David caused his son to be crowned, and made these fresh regulations, ver. 27., and chap. xxvi. 31. — Upwards, according to the plan given by Moses. David afterwards ordered people of twenty years of age, to begin to serve in the tabernacle, as it was now fixed, and consequently the labours were diminished. This tended to augment the splendour of the religious worship, and to edify the people, who could not attend so constantly, in person.
“Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the LORD; and six thousand were officers and judges: set: or, oversee”
Overseers. Hebrew shoterim. Septuagint, “scribes.” Others suppose “lictors and executioners,” who attended the judges. (Grotius) — These were functions from which the priests were exempted; (Calmet) so that the Levites alone are meant. (Menochius) — Judges. They had to decide the causes of the people, 2 Paralipomenon xxix. (Du Hamel)
“Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.”
David. Literally, “he.” Septuagint, “they.” Protestants, “which I made (said David) to praise therewith.” (Haydock)
“And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. courses: Heb. divisions”
Into 24 courses, like the priests, that each class might serve twice a year for a whole week, chap. xxiv. 31. (Tirinus) — God had already made choice of the posterity of Levi; and David, with the princes, Sadoc, &c., disposed of them by lots, (chap. xxiv. 6.) to serve in the tabernacle, and in the future temple. (Worthington)
“Of the Gershonites were, Laadan, and Shimei. Laadan: or, Libni”
Leedan, or Lebni, Numbers iii. 18. (Menochius)
“The sons of Laadan; the chief was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.”
Chief, head of the rest; (Haydock) or all these three were chiefs, (Junius) no less than the sons of Semei, ver. 9.
“The sons of Shimei; Shelomith , and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief of the fathers of Laadan.”
Semei; perhaps (Calmet) sons of Joel. (Du Hamel) — The brother of Leedan had four sons, ver. 10. (Menochius)
“And the sons of Shimei were, Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei. Zina: or, Zizah”
Ziza. Hebrew has “Zina,” but reads “Ziza,” ver. 11. (Calmet)
“And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons; therefore they were in one reckoning, according to their father's house. had: Heb. did not multiply sons”
Children. All together were not more than the children of each of the preceding, so that they only formed one class. (Tirinus) — It would have been too burdensome for them to have performed the same service with those who were far more numerous: (Haydock) therefore the sons of Semei were joined with the family of Leedan: (Calmet) or rather Jaus and Baria went together, as one family. — Counted. Hebrew, “in one class, according to their father’s house.” (Haydock)
“The sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name for ever.”
Minister. Hebrew, “to sanctify the holy of holies.” — His. Hebrew, “in his name,” with solemnity, Numbers vi. 23. The Levites might bless the name of the Lord.
“Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi.”
Levi, but not among the priests, (Calmet) though their father was an extraordinary priest, appointed by God to anoint Aaron, Psalm xcviii. (Du Hamel)
“The sons of Moses were, Gershom, and Eliezer.”
Eliezer. His being uncircumcised, had almost proved fatal to his father, Exodus iv. 24. (Menochius) — First. He might have other brothers, (Calmet) though the title may be given to an only son, ver. 17., and Matthew i. 25. Subuel was perhaps (Haydock) chief of a family, (Calmet) and was appointed over the treasury, chap. xxvi. 24. (Menochius)
“These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and upward.”
Old. See ver. 3., and Numbers iv. 3. — And upwards; as long as they were able to serve. They were excused from carrying the tabernacle, &c., at fifty years of age, Numbers viii. 25. (Abulensis) (Menochius) — To those who were turned of thirty, the higher offices were entrusted; while the Levites began at twenty, to exercise themselves in things of less consequence, under the direction of their elder brethren. (Tirinus) — The kings might declare, by the advice of the Sanhedrim, what laws were of a temporary nature. (Grotius) (Du Hamel)
“For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever: that: or, and he dwelleth in Jerusalem, etc”
Ever. They will not have to carry, the sacred vessels about, as formerly. (Haydock) — In order that they may not be idle, we must therefore provide them some other employment, ver. 28, &c. (Tirinus)
“Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God; their: Heb. their station was at the hand of the sons of Aaron”
Place. Hebrew, “purifying all that is holy;” (Haydock) keeping clean all that is used about the sacred ministry. (Calmet)
“Both for the shewbread , and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size; pan: or, flat plate”
And the priests, &c. This is not found in Hebrew or Septuagint. The Levites might prepare these things; though the priests alone were to offer them in sacrifice. (Tirinus) (Chap. ix. 32., and Leviticus xxiv. 8.) — Others think that (Calmet) the priests received flour from the people, and baked it. (Menochius) — But St. Jerome follows the tradition of the Jews, intimating that the priests sowed the corn, and did every thing about the loaves of proposition, Malachias i. 6. — Flour, Leviticus ii. 1. — Cakes, Exodus xxix. 2. — Roasting the first-fruits, Leviticus ii. 14. (Menochius) — Measure. A standard was kept in the temple, (Exodus xxx. 13.; Calmet) to prevent any fraud. The Ediles at Rome performed the same office. (Tirinus) — There were not two measures in the country, as that would have caused confusion. (Du Hamel)
“And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even;”
And the Levites. This also is omitted in Hebrew, “and to stand,” &c., as all the preceding offices pertained to the Levites, (Haydock) and priests were bound equally with them to praise the Lord.
“And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD:”
Lord. Music accompanied this service twice a day, as it did the sacrifices which were offered for the prince, or for the nation, Numbers x. 10. (Calmet) — Rest. Hebrew, “the set festivals, by number, according to the order prescribed unto them continually,” &c. (Haydock)
“And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the house of the LORD.”
Brethren. Let them follow the directions of the high priests, who are of the same tribe. (Menochius)