Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Ch. 1 Chronicles 24:1-19. David’s Organization of the Priests by courses1. Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron] R.V. And the courses of the sons of Aaron were these. the sons of Aaron] Song of Solomon 6:3; Exodus 6:23. But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office. 2. Nadab and Abihu died] By fire from heaven as a punishment for sacrilege; Leviticus 10:1-2; Numbers 3:4.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. 3. David distributed them, both Zadok … and Ahimelech] R.V. David with Zadok … and Ahimelech … divided them.Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar] The colleague of Zadok in the priesthood is variously named in different passages:— 1 Chronicles 24:3. Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar. 1 Chronicles 24:6. Ahimelech the son of Abiathar. 1 Chronicles 18:16. Abimelech the son of Abiathar. Probably the same person is meant throughout, the confusion springing from a false reading in 1 Samuel 8:17, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar for Abiathar the son of Ahimelech; see Kirkpatrick, in loco. according to their offices] R.V. according to their ordering, i.e. according to the arrangement which follows; cp. 1 Chronicles 24:19. 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. 4. moe] Cp. 1 Chronicles 14:3, note.Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers] R.V. of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of fathers’ houses. and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers] R.V. and of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers’ houses, eight. 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. 5. one sort with another] i.e. sons of Eleazar with sons of Ithamar.the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God were of the sons, etc.] R.V. there were princes of the sanctuary, and prices of God, both of the sons etc. The princes of the sanctuary (Isaiah 43:28) are probably the same as the princes of God and as the chiefs of the priests (2 Chronicles 36:14). The Heb. expression in 2 Chronicles 35:8 is different (rulers of the house of God). 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. 6. the scribe, one of the Levites] Particularly described in order to distinguish him from the king’s scribe (cp. 2 Chronicles 24:11).one principal household] R.V. one fathers’ house. one taken] R.V. one taken (without italics) by an easy emendation of the Hebrew. The alternate drawing here described could have lasted only for the first sixteen lots; in the last eight drawings the descendants of Eleazar must have drawn against each other only; cp. 1 Chronicles 24:4. Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, 7. Jehoiarib] Lists of the priestly families occur also Nehemiah 10:2-8; Nehemiah 12:1-7; Nehemiah 12:12-21. Cp. Ryle (on Nehemiah 12:1] for a discussion of the names. For Jehoiarib see 1 Chronicles 9:10, note.The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, 8. Harim] So Nehemiah 10:5; Nehemiah 12:15, but in Nehemiah 12:3, “Rehum.” The confusion of form is easy in Hebrew writing.The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin, 9. Mijamin] So Nehemiah 10:7; Nehemiah 12:5; but 1 Chronicles 12:17, “Miniamin.”The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, 10. Hakkoz] Called “Koz” in Ezra 2:61; Nehemiah 3:4; Nehemiah 3:21 (R.V. “Hakkoz” in all three places).Abijah] So Nehemiah 10:7; Nehemiah 12:4; Nehemiah 12:17. Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, was of the course of Abiah (R.V. Abijah); Luke 1:5. The ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah, 11. Jeshua] This is the Hebrew name expressed by Ἰησοῦς in Greek, and by “Jesus” in English. The highpriest under whom the Temple was built bore this name according to Ezra 3:2; Ezra 5:2.Shecaniah] So Nehemiah 12:3; but ib. Nehemiah 10:4, Nehemiah 12:14 “Shebaniah.” The confusion of B and C is very easy in Hebrew. The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim, 12. Eliashib] A priest of this name is mentioned Nehemiah 13:4-7.The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, 14. Bilgah] “Bilgah” (Nehemiah 12:5) appears as a priest or priestly family in the time of the Return, and (under the form “Bilgai,” Nehemiah 10:8) in the time of Nehemiah.Immer] Cp. 1 Chronicles 9:12; Ezra 2:37; Jeremiah 20:1. The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses, 15. Aphses] R.V. Happizzez.The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel, 16. Jehezekel] R.V. Jehezkel, which is the correct form of “Ezekiel” the name of the priest-prophet of the Captivity. It is possible that the prophet belonged to this twentieth coarse and that the name here given to it is derived from him.The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul, 17. Jachin] Cp. 1 Chronicles 9:10 (= Nehemiah 11:10).The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah. 18. Maaziah] Nehemiah 10:8 (1 Chronicles 10:9, Heb.).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. 19. These were the orderings] R.V. This was the ordering.their manner, under Aaron] R.V. the ordinance given unto them by the hand of Aaron. the Lord God of Israel] R.V. the Lord the God of Israel. And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram; Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdeiah. 20. And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of etc.] R.V. And of the rest of the sons of Levi: of etc.Amram] The four Kohathite families are now noticed in order, viz. Amram, Izhar (1 Chronicles 24:22), Hebron (1 Chronicles 24:23), Uzziel (1 Chronicles 24:24). Shubael] Called “Shebuel” in 1 Chronicles 23:16; 1 Chronicles 26:24. 20–31 (cp. 1 Chronicles 23:13-23). Families of the Levites These verses repeat the list of Levitic families given in 1 Chronicles 23:6-23 with the important omission of the whole of the Gershonites (1 Chronicles 23:6-11), but with some additions to the Kohathite and Merarite families. Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah. 21. Concerning Rehabiah] R.V. Of Rehabiah. He (like Shubael) was descended from Moses; 1 Chronicles 23:15-17.Of the Izharites; Shelomoth: of the sons of Shelomoth; Jahath. 22. Shelomoth] Called “Shelomith” in 1 Chronicles 23:18.And the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth. 23. And the sons of Hebron] The text of this verse is mutilated, but it has been restored in A.V. (so also R.V.) from 1 Chronicles 23:19.Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah: of the sons of Michah; Shamir. 24. Michah] R.V. Micah (as 1 Chronicles 23:20).The brother of Michah was Isshiah: of the sons of Isshiah; Zechariah. 25. Isshiah] This is the correct form; in 1 Chronicles 23:20 (A.V.) “Jesiah” is wrong.The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi: the sons of Jaaziah; Beno. 26. The sons of Merari] In 1 Chronicles 23:21 only two families of Merari are mentioned, viz., Mahli and Mushi. Here however a third family “the sons of Jaaziah” is mentioned. Probably the fuller text is right.Beno] Translate “his son”; the word describes Jaaziah as son of Merari; cp. 1 Chronicles 24:27. The sons of Merari by Jaaziah; Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri. 27. by Jaaziah; Beno and Shoham] Translate (with a slight emendation of the Heb. text): by Jaaziah his son: Shoham. Three families traced their descent from Merari through Jaaziah.Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons. 28. Eleazar] Cp. 1 Chronicles 23:22.Concerning Kish: the son of Kish was Jerahmeel. 29. Concerning Kish] R.V. Of Kish.The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after the house of their fathers. 30. Jerimoth] Spelt “Jeremoth” in 1 Chronicles 23:23.the house of their fathers] R.V. their fathers’ houses. 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. 31. over against their brethren] R.V. even as their brethren.and Ahimelech] We expect and Abiathar; cp. 1 Chronicles 24:3; 1 Chronicles 15:11; 1 Chronicles 18:16; with the notes. the chief of the fathers] R.V. the heads of the fathers’ houses. even the principal … brethren] R.V. the fathers’ houses of the chief even as those of his younger brother. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission. Bible Hub |
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