1 Paralipomenon vi.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1. 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)
Ver. 2. Isaar, or Aminadab, ver. 22.
Ver. 3. 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)
Ver. 4. Eleazar. The nine following generations to Sadoc may be immediate. (Du Hamel)
Ver. 5. 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)
Ver. 9. Azarias. Perhaps the same who is called Amarias, (2 Paralipomenon xix. 11.) as Johanan is probably the illustrious Joiada, 4 Kings xi. 4.
Ver. 10. 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)
Ver. 12. Sellum, or Mosollam, chap ix. 11. (Calmet)
Ver. 15. 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.
Ver. 16. Gerson. Hebrew here reads Gersom, though it had Gerson before, ver. 1.
Ver. 18. 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)
Ver. 20. 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
Ver. 22. Asir. While Core perished, his children were preserved, Numbers xvi. 30., and xxvi. 11. (Haydock)
Ver. 23. 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)
Ver. 26. Sophai, Nahath, and Eliab, are called Suph, Thohu, (ver. 34.; Calmet) and Eliel. (Haydock) — Sophai may be a surname of Elcana. (Poole) (Du Hamel)
Ver. 27. Elcana, his son. It seems necessary to supply, “Samuel, his son,” (Haydock) as he descended from the 3d Elcana. (Du Hamel)
Ver. 28. 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.
Ver. 31. 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.
Ver. 33. 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)
Ver. 34. 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)
Ver. 39. Brother, or relation, though of the family of Gerson. He also followed the same profession as Ethan did, ver. 44.
Ver. 44. Ethan is also called Idithun (chap. xxv. 1, 8.[6.?]) in the Psalms. (Calmet)
Ver. 48. Brethren. All the other Levites, who were not Cantors. (Menochius)
Ver. 49. Offerings, which is here the meaning of incensum; as “incense” was not burnt on this altar, but only victims, Exodus xxix. 13.
Ver. 53. 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.
Ver. 55. Suburbs, or 2000 cubits round the city. See Josue xx., and xxi. (Calmet)
Ver. 57. 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)
Ver. 59. 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)
Ver. 60. 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)
Ver. 61. 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)
Ver. 65. 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)
Ver. 66. The cities, or rather “some cities,” as all were not in the tribe of Ephraim. (Haydock)
Ver. 67. 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.
Ver. 68. 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.
Ver. 70. 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.
Ver. 71. Astharoth, or Bosra. (Calmet) — Hebrew Hashtaroth, Josue xxi. 27. (Haydock)
Ver. 72. Cedes….Ramoth, and Anem, are Cesion, Jaramoth, and Engannim, Josue xxi. 28, 29.
Ver. 75. Hucac….Hamon, and Cariathaim, are Helcath, Hammoth-Dor, and Carthan.
Ver. 77. 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)
Bible Text & Cross-references:
The genealogies of Levi, and of Aaron: the cities of the Levites.
1 The *sons of Levi were, Gerson, Caath, and Merari.
2 The sons of Caath: Amram, Isaar, Hebron, and Oziel.
3 The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Maria. The sons of Aaron: Nadab and Abiu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
4 Eleazar begot Phinees, and Phinees begot Abisue;
5 And Abisue begot Bocci, and Bocci begot Ozi;
6 Ozi begot Zaraias, and Zaraias begot Merajoth;
7 And Merajoth begot Amarias, and Amarias begot Achitob;
8 Achitob begot Sadoc, and Sadoc begot Achimaas;
9 Achimaas begot Azarias, Azarias begot Johanan;
10 Johanan begot Azarias. This is he that executed the priestly office in the house which Solomon built in Jerusalem.
11 And Azarias begot Amarias, and Amarias begot Achitob;
12 And Achitob begot Sadoc, and Sadoc begot Sellum;
13 Sellum begot Helcias, and Helcias begot Azarias;
14 Azarias begot Saraias, and Saraias begot Josedec.
15 Now Josedec went out, when the Lord carried away Juda, and Jerusalem by the hands of Nabuchodonosor.
16 So the sons *of Levi were, Gerson, Caath, and Merari.
17 And these are the names of the sons of Gerson: Lobni and Semei.
18 The sons of Caath: Amram, and Isaar, and Hebron, and Oziel.
19 The sons of Merari: Moholi and Musi. And these are the kindred of Levi according to their families;
20 Of Gerson; Lobni, his son, Jahath, his son, Zamma, his son,
21 Joah, his son, Addo, his son, Zara, his son, Jethrai. his son.
22 The sons of Caath: Aminadab, his son, Core, his son, Asir, his son,
23 Elcana, his son, Abiasaph, his son, Asir, his son,
24 Thahath, his son, Uriel, his son, Ozias, his son, Saul, his son.
25 The sons of Elcana: Amasai, and Achimoth,
26 And Elcana. The sons of Elcana: Sophai, his son, Nahath, his son,
27 Eliab, his son, Jeroham, his son, Elcana, his son;
28 The sons of Samuel: the first-born, Vasseni, and Abia.
29 And the sons of Merari: Moholi, Lobni, his son. Semei, his son, Oza, his son,
30 Samaa, his son, Haggia, his son, Asaia, his son.
31 These are they, whom David set over the singing men of the house of the Lord, after that the *ark was placed:
32 And they ministered before the tabernacle of the testimony with singing, until Solomon built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem; and they stood according to their order in the ministry.
33 And these are they that stood with their sons, of the sons of Caath, Heman, a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,
34 The son of Elcana, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Thohu,
35 The son of Suph, the son of Elcana, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,
36 The son of Elcana, the son of Johel, the son of Azarias, the son of Sophonias,
37 The son of Thahath, the son of Asir, the son or Abiasaph, the son of Core,
38 The son of Isaar, the son of Caath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.
39 And his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, Asaph, the son of Barachias, the son of Samaa,
40 The son of Michael, the son of Basaia, the son of Melchia,
41 The son of Athanai, the son of Zara, the son of Adaia,
42 The son of Ethan, the son of Zamma, the son of Semei,
43 The son of Jeth, the son of Gerson, the son of Levi.
44 And the sons of Merari, their brethren, stood on the left hand, Ethan, the son of Cusi, the son of Abdi, the son of Maloch,
45 The son of Hasabia, the son of Amasia, the son of Helcias,
46 The son of Amasai, the son of Boni, the son of Somer,
47 The son of Moholi, the son of Musi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.
48 Their brethren also, the Levites, who were appointed for all the ministry of the tabernacle of the house of the Lord.
49 But Aaron and his sons offered burnt-offerings upon the altar of holocaust, and upon the altar of incense, and were for every work of the holy of holies: and to pray for Israel, according to all that Moses, the servant of God, had commanded.
50 And these are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar, his son, Phinees, his son, Abisue, his son,
51 Bocci, his son, Ozi, his son, Zarahia, his son,
52 Meraioth, his son, Amarias, his son, Achitob, his son,
53 Sadoc, his son, Achimaas, his son.
54 And these are their dwelling places by the towns and confines; to wit, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Caathites: for they fell to them by lot.
55 And they gave them Hebron, in the land of Juda, and the suburbs thereof round about:
56 But the fields of the city, and the villages, to Caleb, son of Jephone.
57 And to the sons of Aaron they gave of the cities for refuge, Hebron, and Lobna, and the suburbs thereof;
58 And Jether, and Esthemo, with their suburbs, and Helon, and Dabir, with their suburbs:
59 Asan also, and Bethsemes, with their suburbs.
60 And out of the tribe of Benjamin: Gabee, and its suburbs, Almath, with its suburbs, Anathoth also with its suburbs: all their cities throughout their families, were thirteen.
61 And to the sons of Caath, that remained of their kindred, they gave out of the half tribe of Manasses, ten cities in possession.
62 And to the sons of Gerson, by their families, out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Aser, and out of the tribe of Nephthali, and out of the tribe of Manasses, in Basan, thirteen cities.
63 And to the sons of Merari, by their families, out of the tribe of Ruben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zabulon, they gave by lot twelve cities.
64 And the children of Israel gave to the Levites the cities, and their suburbs:
65 And they gave them by lot, out of the tribe of the sons of Juda, and out of the tribe of the sons of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the sons of Benjamin, these cities, which they called by their names,
66 And to them, that were of the kindred of the sons of Caath, *and the cities in their borders were of the tribe of Ephraim.
67 And they gave of the cities of refuge, Sichem, with its suburbs, in Mount Ephraim, and Gazer, with its suburbs,
68 Jecmaan also, with its suburbs, and Bethhoron, in like manner;
69 Helon also, with its suburbs, and Gethremmon, in like manner:
70 And out of the half tribe of Manasses, Aner, and its suburbs, Baalam, and its suburbs: to wit, to them that were left of the family of the sons of Caath.
71 And to the sons of Gersom, out of the kindred of the half tribe of Manasses, Gaulon, in Basan, and its suburbs, and Astharoth, with its suburbs.
72 Out of the tribe of Issachar, Cedes, and its suburbs, and Dabereth, with its suburbs,
73 Ramoth also, and its suburbs, and Anem with its suburbs.
74 And out of the tribe of Aser, Masal, with its suburbs, and Abdon, in like manner,
75 Hucac also, and its suburbs, and Rohob, with its suburbs.
76 And out of the tribe of Nephthali, Cedes, in Galilee, and its suburbs, Hamon, with its suburbs, and Cariathaim, and its suburbs.
77 And to the sons of Merari that remained, out of the tribe of Zabulon, Remmono, and its suburbs, and Thabor, with its suburbs:
78 Beyond the Jordan also, over-against Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, out of the tribe of Ruben, Bosor, in the wilderness, with its suburbs, and Jassa, with its suburbs.
79 Cademoth also, and its suburbs, and Mephaath, with its suburbs.
80 Moreover also out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth, in Galaad, and its suburbs, and Manaim, with its suburbs,
81 Hesebon also, with its suburbs, and Jezer, with its suburbs.
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*
1: Genesis xlvi. 11.; 1 Paralipomenon xxiii. 6.
16: Exodus vi. 16.
31: 2 Kings vi. 1. and 17.; Year of the World 2959, Year before Christ 1045.
66: Josue xxi. 21.