So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression.
So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression.
in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. Not the existing books of Samuel and Kings, but another book, being a collection of matters from them. Referred to in 2Ch 16:11 ; 2 Chronicles 25:26 ; 2 Chronicles 27:7 ; 2Ch 28:26 ; 2 Chronicles 32:32 ; 2 Chronicles 35:27 ; 2 Chronicles 36:8 .
Israel. Punctuate and read "Israel: and Judah was carried away", &c.
transgression = defection. Hebrew. ma'al .
Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims.
the first inhabitants: i.e. after the reoccupation on the return from Babylon, under Zerubbabe], Joshua, Nehemiah, and Ezra 454-400 B.C. See App-50 .
the Israelites. Hebrew "Israel": i.e. the "Israel of God". Compare Nehemiah 11:3 . See note on "Israel" (Genesis 32:28 ; Genesis 43:6 ; Genesis 45:26 , Genesis 45:28 ). Called "Israel", although only the return of Judah and Benjamin. See note on 1 Kings 12:17 .
Levites = the Levites.
the Nethinims. Taken from the people in proportion of one in fifty to assist the Levites (Numbers 31:47 . Ezra 8:20 ).
And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim, and Manasseh;
Jerusalem. As distinct from the Land (1 Chronicles 9:2 ). Compare Nehemiah 11:1 .
children = sons.
Ephraim, and Manasseh. So that others beside Judah and Benjamin were included in the People now known as "Jews". Compare Ezra 6:21 .Nehemiah 10:28 , Nehemiah 10:29 . See note on 1 Kings 12:17 .
Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Pharez the son of Judah.
And of the Shilonites; Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons.
Shilonites = Shelonites. Not from the place Shiloh, but from Shelah the son of Judah. Compare 1 Chronicles 2:3 .Numbers 26:28 . Nehemiah 9:5 . So that some from each of the three lines of Judah were included, viz. Pharez, Shelah, Judah.
And of the sons of Zerah; Jeuel, and their brethren, six hundred and ninety.
their: i.e. Uthai (1 Chronicles 9:4 ) and Asaiah (1 Chronicles 9:5 ). (Jewish.) six hundred and ninety. These were the sons of Zerah. The 468 in Nehemiah 11:6 were sons of Perez (i.e. Pharez).
And of the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah,
Sallu. At the head of the Benjamites (Nehemiah 11:7 ).
Hasenuah. In Nehemiah 11:9 called Senuah.
And Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephathiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;
And their brethren, according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty and six. All these men were chief of the fathers in the house of their fathers.
nine hundred and fifty and six. In Nehemiah 11:8 we have 928. The dates of the enumeration are independent and not identical.
And of the priests; Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, and Jachin,
Jedaiah, &c. Compare Nehemiah 11:10 with Nehemiah 12:6 .
And Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God;
Azariah. In Nehemiah 11:11 the same enumeration, but Seraiah. This is explained in 1 Chronicles 6:12-14 above.
the ruler of the house of God. Applied to the high priest: at this time Ahitub (1 Chronicles 6:11 ). Later it was Joshua the high priest (Ezra 3:2 .Zechariah 3:1-8 ; Zechariah 6:11-13 ). Compare 2 Chronicles 31:13 ; 2 Chronicles 35:8 .
God. Hebrew. Elohim. (with Art.) = the (true) God. App-4 .
And Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasiai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;
Adaiah. Compare Nehemiah 11:12 .
Maasiai. Compare 1 Chronicles 24:14 and Nehemiah 11:13 .
And their brethren, heads of the house of their fathers, a thousand and seven hundred and threescore; very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.
a thousand and seven hundred and threescore. In Nehemiah 11:12-14 , it is 1192, which must have been before the priests had settled in the priestly cities.
very able men = mighty men of valour. Hebrew. gibbor. App-14 .
And of the Levites; Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;
Shemaiah. Compare Nehemiah 11:15 .
And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph;
And Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites.
Asa. Some codices, with two early printed editions (one margin), and Syriac, read "Asaph".
dwelt in the villages. Till the priestly cities were rebuilt.
Netophathites. Compare Nehemiah 12:28 .
And the porters were, Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren: Shallum was the chief;
porters = gatekeepers. Compare Nehemiah 12:25 .
Who hitherto waited in the king's gate eastward: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.
hitherto. Referring to the ancient practice.
the king's gate. Leading from the royal palace to the Temple.
And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their fathers, being over the host of the LORD, were keepers of the entry.
Korahites. The descendants of Korah. Compare Numbers 16 ; Numbers 26:9-11 ; and see Psalms 42 ; Psalms 44 ; Psalms 45 ; Psalms 47 ; Psalms 48 ; Psalms 49 ; Psalms 84 ; Psalms 85 ; Psalms 87 ; Psalms 88 .
gates = thresholds.
tabernacle = tent. Hebrew. 'ohel . See App-40 .
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the Lord was with him.
Phinehas. Compare Exodus 6:23 .
in time past: i.e. previous to the writing of this history. 1434-1383?
And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
door = entrance.
All these which were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office.
two hundred and twelve. These were for the Tabernacle (1 Chronicles 9:21 ). In Nehemiah 11:19 , it is 172, excluding those in the villages. Not the 4,000 of 1 Chronicles 23:5 , or their ninety-three heads (1 Chronicles 26 ), which were for the future Temple.
their genealogy = [Was registered] in their villages. There is no record of this. But Samuel stood at the head.
did ordain = founded Compare 1 Chronicles 23:1-6 . Compare Acts 3:24 .
So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the Lord, namely, the house of the tabernacle, by wards.
wards = watches, twenty-four quarters. Hebrew. ruach = winds.
In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south.
And their brethren, which were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them.
For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.
chief. Hebrew. gibbor. App-14 . Some codices, with one early printed edition, Septuagint and Syriac, read "mighty men of the gates".
set office = trust.
chambers = = storehouses.
And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them.
opening thereof, &c. = were over the key. Compare Judges 3:25 .Isaiah 22:22 .
And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale.
ministering vessels = vessels of service.
by tale = by number.
Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.
and the fine flour = and over the fine flour.
spices. Compare Exodus 30:22-38 .
And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices.
made = compounded.
And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans.
in the pans = on the flat plates.
And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the shewbread, to prepare it every sabbath.
every sabbath. Compare Exodus 25:30 . Leviticus 24:5-8 .
And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.
these are the singers. Referring to verses: 1 Chronicles 9:14-16 , and Nehemiah 11:22 .
free = exempt from duty.
These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations; these dwelt at Jerusalem.
And in Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jehiel, whose wife's name was Maachah:
in Gibeon dwelt. Verses 35-44 are an abridgment of 1 Chronicles 8:29-38 . Could not suitably be introduced there. Reserved to be inserted here, to lead up to Saul's death in 1 Chronicles 10 .
the father of Gibeon = parent-family of Gibeon: Jehiel, &c.
Jehiel. Had another name, "Zoror", in 1 Samuel 9:1 . See note on 1 Chronicles 8:33 . 1 Chronicles 8:39 Ner begat Kish. See note on 1 Chronicles 8:33 .
And his firstborn son Abdon, then Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab,
And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth.
And Mikloth begat Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their brethren at Jerusalem, over against their brethren.
And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and Esh-baal.
And the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal: and Merib-baal begat Micah.
And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, and Ahaz.
And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;
And Moza begat Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.
And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan: these were the sons of Azel.
Azrikam, Bocheru. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Septuagint and Syriac, read "Azrikam his firstborn".