“But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office.”
Before. Hebrew, “in the presence of.” See Leviticus x. 2. — Priesthood, under Aaron. Eleazar succeeded him, and the posterity of Ithamar obtained the dignity under Heli.
“And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service.”
Ahimelech is styled also Achimelech and Abiathar, ver. 6, 21., and chap. xviii. 16. (Calmet) — Courses, twenty-four, which were to serve by lot, that no one might complain, as they were equally princes, ver. 5. Hence St. Dionisius styles Zachary “prince of the priests.” But the pontiff was over all. (Tirinus)
“And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers.”
Houses. The descendants of Eleazar were far more numerous.
“Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.”
Of God, great. Elohim also signifies “judges,” and we might translate, “princes of the judges.” (Grotius) (Du Hamel) — These men occupied the first dignities of the priesthood, and of the judicature, or they were princes in all sacred affairs. (Calmet) — They were to offer sacrifice, and to enjoy spiritual jurisdiction, in the house of God. (Worthington) — As their claims were therefore equal, the decision was left to lots. (Menochius) — It would have been otherwise difficult for all to be satisfied. See Josue vii. 14. (Calmet)
“And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar. principal: Heb. house of the father”
Ithamar. All was done with the utmost order, and the priests took care to observe the regulation, till the end of the republic. (Josephus, [Antiquities?] vii. 2., and contra Apion i., and ii., and Luke i. 5.) — The family of Eleazar had many prerogatives over the rest, as it was longer in possession of the high priesthood, and more numerous; but that of Ithamar, gave pontiffs to the nation at the time of this regulation. The Hebrew is very obscure, and is deemed incorrect. (Cap.) (Grotius) (Calmet) — Protestants, “one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.” — The insertion of “one,” which is in the Septuagint, removes the difficulty. (Haydock) — The two families were enregistered alternately, (Menochius) till the eight families of Ithamar were done. (Haydock)
“The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,”
Abia, the progenitor of St. John the Baptist, Luke i. 5. Yet whether his father was “chief of the priests” of his course, as St. Dionisius asserts, or whether he sprung from Eleazar, or from Ithamar, is uncertain. (Tirinus)
“These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.”
Aaron, and his successors. The former might have given some directions, which tradition had preserved. (Calmet)
“And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram; Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdeiah.”
Subael, grandson of Moses, chap. xxiii. 16.
“Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah.”
Rohobia was in the same degree, by Eliezer. (Menochius)
“And the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.”
And his. Protestants, “the sons of Hebron, Jeriah, the first.” The words underlined, shew what omissions are in the text, (Haydock) which is probably corrupted, as well as the Septuagint. Jeria and Amarias were sons of Hebron, chap. xxiii. 19., and xxvi. 31. Jahath may, therefore, be the same with Hebron. (Calmet)
“The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi: the sons of Jaaziah; Beno.”
The son. Hebrew, “the son of Jehasia, or of Oziau….” But the name of this son is lost. It is wonderful that the posterity of Gersom are passed over. (Calmet) — Protestants, “the sons of Jaaziah; Beno. — 27. The sons of Merari, by Jaaziah; Beno, and Shoam.” (Haydock) — Septuagint vary, and the original text is supposed to be changed by some transcriber, (Capel. &c.) as we read only of Moholi and Musi, ver. 26., and chap. xxiii. 21.
“These likewise cast lots over against their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren.”
Over-against, in imitation of the priests, (Calmet) being likewise divided into twenty-four classes. (Tirinus) — Both, &c. Hebrew, “the principal fathers over-against their younger brethren.” All the rest is omitted. Lots decided the place and functions both of father and children. (Haydock)