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F I R S T C H R O N I C L E S
CHAP. IX.
This chapter intimates to us that one end of recording all these
genealogies was to direct the Jews, now that they had returned out of
captivity, with whom to incorporate and where to reside; for here we
have an account of those who first took possession of Jerusalem after
their return from Babylon, and began the rebuilding of it upon the old
foundation.
I. The Israelites,
II. The priests,
III. The Levites and other Nethinim,
IV. Here is the particular charge of some of the priests and Levites,
V. A repetition of the genealogy of king Saul,
| Genealogies. | B. C. 700. |
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1 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.
2 Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions
in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and
the Nethinims.
3 And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Judah, and of the
children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim, and
Manasseh;
4 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.
5 And of the Shilonites; Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons.
6 And of the sons of Zerah; Jeuel, and their brethren, six
hundred and ninety.
7 And of the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the
son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah,
8 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;
9 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.
10 And of the priests; Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, and Jachin,
11 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;
12 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;
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.
looks back upon the foregoing genealogies, and tells us they were
gathered out of the books of the kings of Israel and Judah, not
that which we have in the canon of scripture, but another civil record,
which was authentic, as the king’s books with us. Mentioning Israel
and Judah, the historian takes notice of their being carried away to
Babylon for their transgression. Let that judgment never be
forgotten, but ever be remembered, for warning to posterity to take
heed of those sins that brought it upon them. Whenever we speak of any
calamity that has befallen us, it is good to add this, “it was for my
transgression,” that God may be justified and clear when he judges.
Then follows an account of the first inhabitants, after their return
from captivity, that dwelt in their cities, especially in Jerusalem.
1. The Israelites. That general name is used
(v. 2)
because with those of Judah and Benjamin there were many of Ephraim and
Manasseh, and the other ten tribes
(v. 3),
such as had escaped to Judah when the body of the ten tribes were
carried captive or returned to Judah upon the revolutions in Assyria,
and so went into captivity with them, or met them when they were in
Babylon, associated with them, and so shared in the benefit of their
enlargement. It was foretold that the children of Judah and of
Israel should be gathered together and come up out of the
land
(Hos. i. 11),
and that they should be one nation again,
Trouble drives those together that have been at variance; and the
pieces of metal that had been separated will run together again when
melted in the same crucible. Many both of Judah and Israel staid behind
in captivity; but some of both, whose spirit God stirred up, enquired
the way to Zion again. Divers are here named, and many more numbered,
who were chief of the fathers
(v. 9),
who ought to be remembered with honour, as Israelites indeed. 2. The
priests,
It was their praise that they came with the first. Who should lead in a
good work if the priests, the Lord’s ministers, do not? It was the
people’s praise that they would not come without them; for who but the
priests should keep knowledge? Who but the priests should bless them
in the name of the Lord?
(1.) It is said of one of them that he was the ruler of the house of
God
(v. 11)
not the chief ruler, for Joshua was then the high priest, but the
sagan, and the next under him, his deputy, who perhaps applied more
diligently to the business than the high priest himself. In the house
of God it is requisite that there be rulers, not to make new laws, but
to take care that the laws of God be duly observed by priests as well
as people.
(2.) It is said of many of them that they were very able men for the
service of the house of God,
v. 13.
In the house of God there is service to be done, constant service; and
it is well for the church when those are employed in that service who
are qualified for it, able ministers of the New Testament,
2 Cor. iii. 6.
The service of the temple was such as required at all times, especially
in this critical juncture, when they had newly come out of Babylon,
great courage and vigour of mind, as well as strength of body; and
therefore they are praised as mighty men of valour.
| Genealogies; the Employment of the Priests. | B. C. 1400. |
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14 And of the Levites; Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of
Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;
15 And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of
Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph;
16 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.
17 And the porters were, Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and
Ahiman, and their brethren: Shallum was the chief;
18 Who hitherto waited in the king’s gate eastward: they
were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.
19 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.
20 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in
time past, and the LORD was with him.
21 And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the
door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
22 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.
23 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.
24 In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west,
north, and south.
25 And their brethren, which were in their villages, were
to come after seven days from time to time with them.
26 For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their
set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the
house of God.
27 And they lodged round about the house of God, because the
charge was upon them, and the opening thereof every morning
pertained to them.
28 And certain of them had the charge of the ministering
vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale.
29 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.
30 And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of
the spices.
31 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.
32 And other of their brethren, of the sons of the
Kohathites, were over the showbread, to prepare it every
sabbath.
33 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.
34 These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout
their generations; these dwelt at Jerusalem.
We have here a further account of the good posture which the affairs of
religion were put into immediately upon the return of the people out of
Babylon. They had smarted for their former neglect of ordinances and
under the late want of ordinances. Both these considerations made them
very zealous and forward in setting up the worship of God among them;
so they began their worship of God at the right end. Instances hereof
we have here.
I. Before the house of the Lord was built they had the house of the
tabernacle, a plain and movable tent, which they made use of in the
mean time. Those that cannot yet reach to have a temple must not be
without a tabernacle, but be thankful for that and make the best of it.
Never let God’s work be left undone for want of a place to do it
in.
II. In allotting to the priests and Levites their respective
employments, they had an eye to the model that was drawn up by David,
and Samuel the seer,
Samuel, in his time, had drawn the scheme of it, and laid the
foundation, though the ark was then in obscurity, and David afterwards
finished it, and both acted by immediate direction from God. Or David,
as soon as he was anointed had this matter in his mind and consulted
Samuel about it, though he was then in his troubles, and the plan was
formed in concert between them. This perhaps had been little regarded
for many ages; but now, after a long interruption, it was revived. In
dividing the work, they observed these ancient land-marks.
III. The most of them dwelt at Jerusalem
(v. 34),
yet there were some that dwelt in the villages
(v. 16, 22),
because, it may be, there was not yet room for them in Jerusalem.
However they were employed in the service of the tabernacle
(v. 25):
They were to come after seven days from time to time. They had
their week’s attendance in their turns.
IV. Many of the Levites were employed as porters at the gates of the
house of God, four chief porters
(v. 26),
and, under them, others, to the number of 212,
They had the oversight of the gates
(v. 23),
were keepers of the thresholds, as in the margin
(v. 19),
and keepers of the entry. This seemed a mean office; and yet David
would rather have it than dwell in the tents of wickedness,
Ps. lxxxiv. 10.
Their office was,
1. To open the doors of God’s house every morning
(v. 27)
and shut them at night.
2. To keep off the unclean, and hinder those from thrusting in that
were forbidden by the law.
3. To direct and introduce into the courts of the Lord those that came
thither to worship, and to show them where to go and what to do, that
they might not incur punishment. This required care, and diligence, and
constant attendance. Ministers have work to do of this kind.
V. Here is one Phinehas, a son of Eleazar, that is said to be a
ruler over them in time past
(v. 20),
not the famous high priest of that name, but (as is supposed) an
eminent Levite, of whom it is here said that the Lord was with
him, or (as the Chaldee reads it) the Word of the Lord was his
helper–the eternal Word, who is Jehovah, the mighty one on whom
help is laid.
VI. It is said of some of them that, because the charge was upon them,
they lodged round about the house of God,
v. 27.
It is good for ministers to be near their work, that they may give
themselves wholly to it. The Levites pitched about the tabernacle when
they marched through the wilderness. Then they were porters in one
sense, bearing the burdens of the sanctuary, now porters in another
sense, attending the gates and the doors–in both instances keeping the
charge of the sanctuary.
VII. Every one knew his charge. Some were entrusted with the plate, the
ministering vessels, to bring them in and out by tale,
Others were appointed to prepare the fine flour, wine, oil, &c.,
Others, that were priests, made up the holy anointing oil,
Others took care of the meat-offerings,
Others of the show-bread,
As in other great houses, so in God’s house, the work is likely to be
done well when every one knows the duty of his place and makes a
business of it. God is the God of order: but that which is every body’s
work will be nobody’s work.
VIII. The singers were employed in that work day and night,
v. 33.
They were the chief fathers of the Levites that made a business
of it, not mean singing-men, that made a trade of it. They remained in
the chambers of the temple, that they might closely and constantly
attend it, and were therefore excused from all other services. It
should seem, some companies were continually singing, at least at
stated hours, both day and night. Thus was God continually praised, as
it is fit he should be who is continually doing good. Thus devout
people might, at any hour, have assistance in their devotion. Thus was
the temple a figure of the heavenly one, where they rest not day nor
night from praising God,
Blessed are those that dwell in thy house; they will be still
praising thee.
| Genealogies. | B. C. 1400. |
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35 And in Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jehiel, whose
wife’s name was Maachah:
36 And his firstborn son Abdon, then Zur, and Kish, and Baal,
and Ner, and Nadab,
37 And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth.
38 And Mikloth begat Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their
brethren at Jerusalem, over against their brethren.
39 And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat
Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
40 And the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal: and Merib-baal begat
Micah.
41 And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and
Tahrea, and Ahaz.
42 And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth,
and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;
43 And Moza begat Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son,
Azel his son.
44 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.
are the very same with
giving an account of the ancestors of Saul and the posterity of
Jonathan. There it is the conclusion of the genealogy of
Benjamin; here it is an introduction to the story of Saul. We
take the repetition as we find it; but if we admit that there are in
the originals, especially in these books, some errors of the
transcribers, I should be tempted to think this repetition arose from a
blunder. Some one, in copying out these genealogies, having written
those words,
(These dwelt in Jerusalem), cast his eye on the same words,
(These dwelt in Jerusalem), and so went on with what followed
there, instead of going on with what followed here; and, when he
perceived his mistake, was loth to make a blot in his book, and so let
it stand. We have a rule in our law, Redundans non
nocet—Redundancies do no harm.
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