“The sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Gershon: or, Gershom”
Levi. The genealogy of the Levites is given with more exactitude than any of the preceding. Caath formed two branches, 1. the priests, descended from Aaron; 2. all his other children, who were simply Levites. (Calmet) — Hence they are placed after the priests. (Menochius)
“And the sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.”
Isaar, or Aminadab, ver. 22.
“And the children of Amram; Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. The sons also of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.”
Abiu. These died without children. The genealogy of Eleazar is given, as his family enjoyed the pontificate a long time, while that of Ithamar is neglected, (Calmet) as only Heli and a few others were raised to that dignity. (Haydock)
“Eleazar begat Phinehas, Phinehas begat Abishua,”
Eleazar. The nine following generations to Sadoc may be immediate. (Du Hamel)
“And Abishua begat Bukki, and Bukki begat Uzzi,”
Abisue. He is mentioned no where else. Josephus ([Antiquities?] v. ultra) calls him Abiezer. (Calmet) — Many of these high priests were very obscure. (Menochius) — Ozi, after whom Heli is supposed to have reigned, so that Zaraias and the three following were excluded, (Calmet) while Heli, and four of the same family of Ithamar, were acknowledged as high priests. (Tirinus) — Abiathar was then forced to give place to Sadoc, (3 Kings ii. 26.; Haydock) whose family was in power at the captivity, ver. 15. (Tirinus) — Nicephorus (ii. 4.) and Josephus ([Antiquities?] x. 11.) mention other high priests besides these. (Worthington)
“And Ahimaaz begat Azariah, and Azariah begat Johanan,”
Azarias. Perhaps the same who is called Amarias, (2 Paralipomenon xix. 11.) as Johanan is probably the illustrious Joiada, 4 Kings xi. 4.
“And Johanan begat Azariah, (he it is that executed the priest's office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem:) in the temple: Heb. in the house”
This may refer to either. (Calmet) — The Holy Ghost gives an encomium to Joiada, for re-establishing the divine worship, (Junius) or to Azarias, for withstanding the impious attempt of king Osias. (Estius; Tirinus, &c.) (2 Paralipomenon xxvi. 17. (Menochius)
“And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Shallum, Shallum: or, Meshullam”
Sellum, or Mosollam, chap ix. 11. (Calmet)
“And Jehozadak went into captivity, when the LORD carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.”
Went out, into captivity, while his father was slain, 4 Kings xxv. 18. More than 22 priests would be requisite to fill up near 900 years. See Salien.
“The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. Gershom: or, Gershon”
Gerson. Hebrew here reads Gersom, though it had Gerson before, ver. 1.
“And the sons of Kohath were, Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.”
The, &c. This verse is repeated from ver. 2., as the author is now going to continue the genealogy of the Levites, in their natural order, (Haydock) to Samuel. (Du Hamel)
“Of Gershom; Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son,”
Jahath. See ver. 42, 43. — Zamma springs from Semei, Jeth, Gerson, and has a son named Ethan, who has Adaia; as Zara begot Athanai, ver. 41. Almost all the names are rather different
“The sons of Kohath; Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, Amminadab: or, Izahar.ver.2.18.”
Asir. While Core perished, his children were preserved, Numbers xvi. 30., and xxvi. 11. (Haydock)
“Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir his son,”
Asir. This name seems superfluous (ver. 36., and Exodus vi. 24.; Calmet) perhaps taken from the preceding verse. (Haydock) — The two former were sons of Core, ver. 25, 37. (Calmet)
“As for Elkanah: the sons of Elkanah; Zophai his son, and Nahath his son, Zophai: or, Zuph”
Sophai, Nahath, and Eliab, are called Suph, Thohu, (ver. 34.; Calmet) and Eliel. (Haydock) — Sophai may be a surname of Elcana. (Poole) (Du Hamel)
“Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son.”
Elcana, his son. It seems necessary to supply, “Samuel, his son,” (Haydock) as he descended from the 3d Elcana. (Du Hamel)
“And the sons of Samuel; the firstborn Vashni, and Abiah. Vashni: called also Joel”
Vasseni. Some Latin copies subjoin “Joel,” who was the first-born, (ver. 33.) (La Haye) — Vasseni means, “and the second;” which can hardly be considered as the name of the eldest son, tough some have taken it as such, in like manner as they have explained six, chap. iii. 22. But then the v ought at least to be omitted, (Calmet) as it is in the Vatican and Alexandrian Septuagint, “Sani and Abia.” (Haydock) — Other editions insert “Joel,” with the Syriac and Arabic. (Calmet) — This person had therefore either two names, or Joel has been omitted, and we should translate “Joel and the second, Abia.” (Menochius) — These brothers acted so ill as judges, that the people took occasion to demand a king, 1 Kings viii. 3.
“And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after that the ark had rest.”
The singing. Hebrew, “the hands or places of the canticle,” the two tribunes on each side of the altar. Heman presided over the band in the middle, while Asaph directed those on the right, and Ethan those on the left, ver. 33, 39, and 44. (Calmet) — Placed. Hebrew, “rested,” as before David’s time it had been carried about. He erected a tabernacle for it on Sion, and directed the Levites to attend in order, (chap. xxv.) so that some should be present every day (Menochius) to honour God, both by instruments and vocal music, while the priests performed their sacred functions with the utmost decency.
“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, waited: Heb. stood”
Heman. Some families among the Levites were more distinguished than the rest, having authority to regulate the singers, and to give the tune. Hence many psalms are addressed to these masters of music. Yet from those titles we cannot surely infer that those psalms were composed by Asaph, &c. (Calmet)
“The son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,”
Eliel. Many of the genealogies do not seem to agree in these first 10 chapters, as some more obscure names have been passed over, (Menochius) or the people had different names, or, through the fault of transcribers, some alteration has taken place, which could hardly be avoided, without a constant miracle. (Haydock)
“And his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea,”
Brother, or relation, though of the family of Gerson. He also followed the same profession as Ethan did, ver. 44.
“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, Kishi: or, Kushaiah”
Ethan is also called Idithun (chap. xxv. 1, 8.[6.?]) in the Psalms. (Calmet)
“Their brethren also the Levites were appointed unto all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.”
Brethren. All the other Levites, who were not Cantors. (Menochius)
“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.”
Offerings, which is here the meaning of incensum; as “incense” was not burnt on this altar, but only victims, Exodus xxix. 13.
“Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.”
Sadoc. By God’s ordinance Heli had been appointed. But the dignity still subsisted in Aaron’s family. (Worthington) — Achimaas, who was pontiff in the days of Solomon. This genealogy had been brought down to the Captivity, ver, 3, &c.) which shews that the author give extracts from different records.
“And they gave them Hebron in the land of Judah, and the suburbs thereof round about it.”
Suburbs, or 2000 cubits round the city. See Josue xx., and xxi. (Calmet)
“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,”
Of, is not authorized by the Vulgate civitates, but is added, to signify that all these 13 cities were not thus privileged. (Haydock) — There were only six cites of refuge, of which Hebron was one. See Josue xx. 7. (Calmet) (Menochius) — Protestants, “And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Juda, namely, Hebron, the city of refuge.” But “such a licence to insert words at pleasure, cannot be allowed.” Hebrew literally, “they gave cities of Hebrew refuge, Hebron,” &c. The “sense absolutely disallows the word Judah,” which is omitted , (Josue xxi. 13.) as well as in some Hebrew manuscripts in the Bamberg and Complutensian editions, and in those of Jablonski and Michaelis. — Hari, “cities,” ought to be hir, “a city,” as only one is meant. We should also add with the Arabic and Syriac, and the parallel passage in Josue, “and her suburbs,” after Hebron. (Kennicott) — “Juda” is not found in the Septuagint, &c.: and Buxtorf acted with little wisdom, when he thought he had sufficiently answered Capellus, by observing that the Masora declared the word to be authentic. (Anticrit.) It is a great misfortune that most of the printed Hebrew editions have been given under such influence; and that the Masorets have defaced so many manuscripts by their corrections. (Haydock) — Hence they probably burnt all the first edition of Naples, 1487, except part of a single copy, comprising the Cethubim given to Eton college by Dr. Pellet, which omits the word Juda. (Kennicott, Dis. i. p. 520-2)
“And Ashan with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs: Ashan: or, Ain”
Asan, perhaps Jethnan, or Ain, Josue xv. 23., and xxi. 15. Syriac adds Ethra. (Calmet) — Bethsemes. Alexandrian Septuagint subjoins, “Baither and its suburbs.” (Haydock) — All these cities were in the tribes of Juda and of Simeon. (Menochius)
“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. Alemeth: or, Almon”
Almath. Josue, Almon. — Thirteen; but Geta and Gabaon are not here expressed, Josue xxi. 16, 17. (Calmet) — Alexandrian Septuagint inserts, “Labee,” before, and “Anchos, with its suburbs,” after Anathoth, thus making 14; but these additional cities were not sacerdotal. (Haydock)
“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.”
Out of. We may supply, “the tribe of Dan, Ephraim, &c.,” as only two cities belonged to Manasses, Josue xxi. 25. (Calmet) — Double that number was taken from the two other tribes. (Menochius)
“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.”
Them. The priests, ver. 54. (Du Hamel) — Names. Some being styled of the priests, (Calmet) other of the Levites, (Menochius) whose dominion as thus asserted. (Calmet)
“And the residue of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their coasts out of the tribe of Ephraim.”
The cities, or rather “some cities,” as all were not in the tribe of Ephraim. (Haydock)
“And they gave unto them, of the cities of refuge, Shechem in mount Ephraim with her suburbs; they gave also Gezer with her suburbs,”
Of the. Literally, “cities to flee to, (or of refuge) Sichem,” (Haydock) which might induce some to suppose that all these cities were of this description; but, in reality, only Sichem had that privilege. (Calmet) — Septuagint is liable to the same ambiguity. See ver. 57., (Haydock) Josue xx. 7., and xxi. 21.
“And Jokmeam with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs,”
Jecmaan, or Cibsaim, (Josue) as Helon is put for Aialon below. And of the tribe of Dan, Eltheco and Gabathon is omitted. See Josue xxi. 23.
“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.”
Aner and Baalam, perhaps the same as Thanach and Gethremmon, which were given to the children of Caath of the inferior degree, (Josue xxi. 26.; Calmet) or, who were left out of the rank of priests, (Menochius) or before unprovided for, as the partition was made at different times. — Baalam. Hebrew, “Balaam.” Septuagint, “Iblaam” is the Jeblaam, Josue xvii. 11.
“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:”
Astharoth, or Bosra. (Calmet) — Hebrew Hashtaroth, Josue xxi. 27. (Haydock)
“And out of the tribe of Issachar; Kedesh with her suburbs, Daberath with her suburbs,”
Cedes….Ramoth, and Anem, are Cesion, Jaramoth, and Engannim, Josue xxi. 28, 29.
“And Hukok with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs:”
Hucac….Hamon, and Cariathaim, are Helcath, Hammoth-Dor, and Carthan.
“Unto the rest of the children of Merari were given out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmon with her suburbs, Tabor with her suburbs:”
Remmono and Thabor, or, Jecham and Cartha. (Haydock) — Damna and Naalol are here omitted, Josue xxi. 35. There was formerly a town on Thabor, perhaps called Ceselet Thabor, Josue xix. 12., and Judges iv. 6. (Calmet)