Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Chronicles 6

2 And the sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar , and Hebron, and Uzziel.

Called also Amminadab, v. 22. compare Exod. 6. 21.

5 And Abishua begat Bukki, and Bukki begat Uzzi ,

In whose days it is supposed that the High-Priesthood was translated from Eleazars Family to Ithamars, for some Cause now unknown, in whose Line it continued for some Successions.

10 And Johanan begat Azariah, ( he it is that executed the priests office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem.)

So did all the rest, but it is implied that he did it worthily, he filled his place and valiantly discharged his Office in Uzziahs time; of which see 2 Chron. 26. 17, &c. Or this, he, may relate to Iohanan, otherwise called Iehojada[illegible: 1+ letters], who is so highly commended for the good Service which he did to the House of God and of the King: of whom see 2 Kings 11.

In Solomons Temple; so called to distinguish it from the second Temple which was built or in building when these Books were written.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span]; Heb. i[illegible: 1+ letters] the house.; [illegible: 1 span]

14 And Azariah begat Serajah , and Serajah begat Jehozadak,

Who was slain by Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah, 2 Kings 25. 18, 21.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span].

16 The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and Merari .

This he repeats, as the Foundation of the following Genealogy of those Levites who were not Priests.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] ▪ 6. 16.; [illegible: 1 span].

19 The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers .

Who are distinguished and named from their Fathers. And the following Catalogue is thought to contain the successive Heads or Chiefs of their several Families until the Times of David, by whom they were distributed into several Ranks or Courses.

20 Of Gershom; Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son .

i. e. His Grandson, by his Son Shimei, as appears from v. 42, 43. the Names of Father and Son being oft used in Scripture of more remote Progenitors or Successors.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span]

24 Tahath his son, Uriel his son, ‖ Uzziah his son; and Shaul his son.

Called also Zephaniah, v. 36. where also Uzziah here following is called Azariah.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span]; [illegible: 1 span].

25 And the sons of Elkanah ; Amasai, and Abimoth.

The Son of that Korah mentioned above, v. 22. as is manifest by v. 35, 36, 37. and by Exod. 6. 23, 24.

Marginal references: See [illegible: 1 word] ▪ 35, 1▪

26 As for Elkanah : the sons of Elkanah; Zophai his son, and Nahath his son,

This was another Elkanah Son or Grandson of the former Elkanah, and either the Son or Brother of Ahimoth last mentioned, or of Amasai.

Called also Toah, v. 34. and Tohu, 1 Sam. 1. 1.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span].

27 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanali his son.

The Father of the Prophet Samuel, 1 Sam. 1. 1. who therefore follows here.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span].

31 And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after that the ark had rest .

Whose Names here follow.

Heb. the Hands. Hand put for [illegible: 1 word] or Service, which is commonly performed by the Hand. Thus God is frequently said to speak or command things by the Hand (i. e. the Ministery) of Moses. Compare 2 Chron. 29. 27.

Which was in Davids Time, 2 Sam. 6. 17.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word].; [illegible: 1 word]. 16. 1.

32 And they ministred before the dwelling-place of the tabernacle of the congregation, with singing, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem: and then they waited on their office according to their order .

Or, the Tabernacle of the Tent, as the same Hebrew words are translated, Exod. 39. 32. & 40 2, 6.

Which David had appointed by the Spirit, as it follows in this Book.

33 And these are they that waited with their children: of the sons of the Kohathite; Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel ,

To wit, Heman here mentioned; and Asaph, v. [illegible: 1+ letters]9. and Ethan, v. 44.

Or, Samuel the Prophet.

Marginal references: Heb. st[illegible: 1+ letters]od.

39 And his brother Asaph (who stood on his right hand) even Asaph the son of Berechiah, the son of Shimea,

Asaph is here called Hemans Brother both by birth being of the same Tribe and Father, Levi; and by his Office and Employment, which was the same with his.

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,

Called also Ieduthun, 1 Chron. 9. 16. 2 Chron. 35. 15. and in the Titles of divers Psalms.

Marginal references: Or, Kushajah, Ch. 15. 17.

48 Their brethren also the Levites were appointed unto all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.

Such of them as had no skill in Singing were otherwise employed.

49 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.

Having mentioned the Work and Employment of the High-Priests, he briefly rehearseth the Names of the Persons who successively performed it.

Marginal references: Lev. 1. 9.; Exod. 30. 7.

54 Now these are their dwelling places throughout their castles in their coasts, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathite: for theirs was the lot .

Or, this Lot or Portion which here follows. Or, the first Lot as appears by the sequel.

57 And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah, namely, Hebron the city of refuge, and Libna with her suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa, with their suburbs.

Or, out of the Cities; the Hebrew eth being put for meeth, as hath been oft noted.

60 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.

Whereof 11. are here numbred, and two more added to them, Ios. 21. 13.

Marginal references: Or, Almon, Josh. 21. 18.

61 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 .

Over and above the Priests who were of the same Family of Kohath and Tribe of Levi.

Or, by lot, (with a full Point, for there the Sense ends.) All their Cities were ten cities, as it is expresly said, Ios. 21. 26. Those words, all their cities were, are to be understood out of the former Verse; which is not unusual in the Holy Scripture. And so this sacred Writer explains himself, v. 66, &c. where eight of these Cities are named, whereof onely two are taken out of this half Tribe of Manasseh, v. 70. the other two being named, Ios. 21. 21, &c. where these things are more plainly and fully declared.

Marginal references: Josh. 21. 5.

62 And to the sons of Gershom throughout their families, out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.

Understand here, cities were given, which is also understood v. 61, and expressed, v. 64.

64 And the children of Israel gave to the Levites these cities with their suburbs.

i. e. To the Tribe of Levi, consisting of Priests and other Levites.

Which are numbred or named in this Chapter.

65 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 .

To wit, to those Levites of the Family of Kohath who were Priests, as appears both by v. 57, &c. where the Cities given to the A[illegible: 1+ letters]ronites are said to be taken out of the Tribes here named, even out of Iudah, (under which Simeon is comprehended, because his Lot lay within that of Iudah) and Benjamin; and by the next Verse where the other Kohathites who were not Priests are called, the Residue of the Families of the Sons of Kohath, by way of distinction from those of them to whom this v. 65. relates.

Which are expressed by their Names above, v. 57, &c.

66 And the residue of the families of the sons of Kohath, had cities of their coasts out of the tribe of Ephraim.

Or, of their borders, i. e. of their Country contained within its Borders, as that word is oft used, as hath been noted before.

67 And they gave unto them of the cities of refuge , Shechem in mount Ephraim with her suburbs: they gave also Gezer with her suburbs.

Either the Ephraimiter: or rather the Children of Israel, as it is expressed v. 64. who gave part out of Ephraim, and part out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, as it here follows. But the Eph[illegible: 1+ letters]aimites could not give away any Cities belonging to the Manassites.

i. e. To the residue of the Kohathites last mentioned.

Or, the cities (i. e. the City: the plural Number used of one; of which frequent Examples have been given before, see ch. 7, 3, 12, 14.) of refuge. Or, cities, (the construct form being put for the absolute, of which there wants not Examples in the Hebrew Language) the City of refuge. As to the Names of these Cities, divers of them are differing from those Names which were given to them, Ios. 21. 15. Nor is it at all strange that the Names of Places should be changed in so many hundreds of years as were between Ioshua and this time. And to the Cities themselves, this is further to be observed, that they are dispersed among all the Tribes, partly that Iacobt Prophecy might be fulfilled concerning the scattering of Levi, Gen. 49. 7. and partly that every Tribe might have Teachers among them by whom they might be directed in, and quickned to the observation of Gods Laws, upon which their safety and happiness wholly depended.

Marginal references: Josh. 21. 21.