mh_parser/vol_split/13 - 1Chronicles/Chapter 6.xml

<div2 id="iCh.vii" n="vii" next="iCh.viii" prev="iCh.vi" progress="74.26%" title="Chapter VI">
<h2 id="iCh.vii-p0.1">F I R S T   C H R O N I C L E
S</h2>
<h3 id="iCh.vii-p0.2">CHAP. VI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iCh.vii-p1">Though Joseph and Judah shared between them the
forfeited honours of the birthright, yet Levi was first of all the
tribes, dignified and distinguished with an honour more valuable
than either the precedency or the double portion, and that was the
priesthood. That tribe God set apart for himself; it was Moses's
tribe, and perhaps for his sake was thus favoured. Of that tribe we
have an account in this chapter. I. Their pedigree, the first
fathers of the tribe (<scripRef id="iCh.vii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.1-1Chr.6.3" parsed="|1Chr|6|1|6|3" passage="1Ch 6:1-3">ver.
1-3</scripRef>), the line of the priests, from Aaron to the
captivity (<scripRef id="iCh.vii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.4-1Chr.6.15" parsed="|1Chr|6|4|6|15" passage="1Ch 6:4-15">ver. 4-15</scripRef>),
and of some other of their families, <scripRef id="iCh.vii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.16-1Chr.6.30" parsed="|1Chr|6|16|6|30" passage="1Ch 6:16-30">ver. 16-30</scripRef>. II. Their work, the work of
the Levites (<scripRef id="iCh.vii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.31-1Chr.6.48" parsed="|1Chr|6|31|6|48" passage="1Ch 6:31-48">ver.
31-48</scripRef>), of the priests, <scripRef id="iCh.vii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.49-1Chr.6.53" parsed="|1Chr|6|49|6|53" passage="1Ch 6:49-53">ver. 49-53</scripRef>. III. The cities appointed them
in the land of Canaan, <scripRef id="iCh.vii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.54-1Chr.6.81" parsed="|1Chr|6|54|6|81" passage="1Ch 6:54-81">ver.
54-81</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iCh.vii-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6" parsed="|1Chr|6|0|0|0" passage="1Ch 6" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iCh.vii-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.1-1Chr.6.30" parsed="|1Chr|6|1|6|30" passage="1Ch 6:1-30" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Chr.6.1-1Chr.6.30">
<h4 id="iCh.vii-p1.9">Genealogies. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.vii-p1.10">b. c.</span> 1450.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iCh.vii-p2">1 The sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
  2 And the sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, and Hebron, and
Uzziel.   3 And the children of Amram; Aaron, and Moses, and
Miriam. The sons also of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and
Ithamar.   4 Eleazar begat Phinehas, Phinehas begat Abishua,
  5 And Abishua begat Bukki, and Bukki begat Uzzi,   6
And Uzzi begat Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begat Meraioth,   7
Meraioth begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub,   8 And
Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Ahimaaz,   9 And Ahimaaz
begat Azariah, and Azariah begat Johanan,   10 And Johanan
begat Azariah, (he <i>it is</i> that executed the priest's office
in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem:)   11 And
Azariah begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub,   12 And
Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Shallum,   13 And Shallum
begat Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begat Azariah,   14 And Azariah
begat Seraiah, and Seraiah begat Jehozadak,   15 And Jehozadak
went <i>into captivity,</i> when the <span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.vii-p2.1">Lord</span> carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the
hand of Nebuchadnezzar.   16 The sons of Levi; Gershom,
Kohath, and Merari.   17 And these <i>be</i> the names of the
sons of Gershom; Libni, and Shimei.   18 And the sons of
Kohath <i>were,</i> Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.
  19 The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. And these
<i>are</i> the families of the Levites according to their fathers.
  20 Of Gershom; Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his
son,   21 Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeaterai
his son.   22 The sons of Kohath; Amminadab his son, Korah his
son, Assir his son,   23 Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his
son, and Assir his son,   24 Tahath his son, Uriel his son,
Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son.   25 And the sons of
Elkanah; Amasai, and Ahimoth.   26 <i>As for</i> Elkanah: the
sons of Elkanah; Zophai his son, and Nahath his son,   27
Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son.   28 And the
sons of Samuel; the firstborn Vashni, and Abiah.   29 The sons
of Merari; Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzza his son,
  30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.vii-p3">The priests and Levites were more concerned
than any other Israelites to preserve their pedigree clear and to
be able to prove it, because all the honours and privileges of
their office depended upon their descent. And we read of those who,
though perhaps they really were children of the priests, yet,
because they could not find the register of their genealogies, nor
make out their descent by any authentic record, were, <i>as
polluted, put from the priesthood,</i> and forbidden to eat of the
holy things, <scripRef id="iCh.vii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.62-Ezra.2.63" parsed="|Ezra|2|62|2|63" passage="Ezr 2:62,63">Ezra ii. 62,
63</scripRef>. It is but very little that is here recorded of the
genealogies of this sacred tribe. I. The first fathers of it are
here named twice, <scripRef id="iCh.vii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.1 Bible:1Chr.6.16" parsed="|1Chr|6|1|0|0;|1Chr|6|16|0|0" passage="1Ch 6:1,16"><i>v.</i> 1,
16</scripRef>. Gershom, Kohath, and Merari, are three names which
we were very conversant with in the book of Numbers, when the
families of the Levites were marshalled and had their work assigned
to them. Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam, we have known much more of
than their names, and cannot pass them over here without
remembering that this was that Moses and Aaron whom God honoured in
making them instruments of Israel's deliverance and settlement and
<i>figures of him that was to come,</i> Moses as a prophet and
Aaron as a priest. And the mention of Nadab and Abihu (though,
having no children, there was no occasion to bring them into the
genealogy) cannot but remind us of the terrors of that divine
justice which they were made monuments of for offering strange
fire, that we may always fear before him. 2. The line of Eleazar,
the successor of Aaron, is here drawn down to the time of the
captivity, <scripRef id="iCh.vii-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.4-1Chr.6.15" parsed="|1Chr|6|4|6|15" passage="1Ch 6:4-15"><i>v.</i>
4-15</scripRef>. It begins with Eleazar, who came out of the house
of bondage in Egypt, and ends with Jehozadak, who went into the
house of bondage in Babylon. Thus, for their sins, they were left
as they were found, which might also intimate that the Levitical
priesthood did not make anything perfect, but this was to be done
by the <i>bringing in of a better hope.</i> All these here named
were not high priests; for, in the time of the judges, that dignity
was, upon some occasion or other, brought into the family of
Ithamar, of which Eli was; but in Zadok it returned again to the
right line. Of Azariah it is here said (<scripRef id="iCh.vii-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.10" parsed="|1Chr|6|10|0|0" passage="1Ch 6:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>), <i>He it is that executed the
priest's office in the temple that Solomon built.</i> It is
supposed that this was that Azariah who bravely opposed the
presumption of king Uzziah when he invaded the priest's office
(<scripRef id="iCh.vii-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.26.17-2Chr.26.18" parsed="|2Chr|26|17|26|18" passage="2Ch 26:17,18">2 Chron. xxvi. 17,
18</scripRef>), though he ventured his neck by so doing. This was
done like a priest, like one that was truly zealous for his God. He
that thus boldly maintained and defended the priest's office, and
made good its barriers against such a daring insult, might well be
said to <i>execute it;</i> and this honour is put upon him for it;
while Urijah, one of his successors, for a base compliance with
King Ahaz, in building him an idolatrous altar, has the disgrace
put upon him of being left out of this genealogy, as perhaps some
others are. But some think that this remark upon this Azariah
should have been added to his grandfather of the same name
(<scripRef id="iCh.vii-p3.6" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.9" parsed="|1Chr|6|9|0|0" passage="1Ch 6:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>), who was the
son of Ahimaaz, and that he was the priest who first officiated in
Solomon's temple. 3. Some other of the families of the Levites are
here accounted for. One of the families of Gershom (that of Libni)
is here drawn down as far as Samuel, who had the honour of a
prophet added to that of a Levite. One of the families of Merari
(that of Mahli) is likewise drawn down for several descents,
<scripRef id="iCh.vii-p3.7" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.29-1Chr.6.30" parsed="|1Chr|6|29|6|30" passage="1Ch 6:29,30"><i>v.</i> 29, 30</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iCh.vii-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.31-1Chr.6.53" parsed="|1Chr|6|31|6|53" passage="1Ch 6:31-53" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Chr.6.31-1Chr.6.53">
<h4 id="iCh.vii-p3.9">Genealogies. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.vii-p3.10">b. c.</span> 1015.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iCh.vii-p4">31 And these <i>are they</i> whom David set over
the service of song in the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.vii-p4.1">Lord</span>, after that the ark had rest.   32 And
they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the
congregation with singing, until Solomon had built the house of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.vii-p4.2">Lord</span> in Jerusalem: and <i>then</i>
they waited on their office according to their order.   33 And
these <i>are</i> they that waited with their children. Of the sons
of the Kohathites: Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of
Shemuel,   34 The son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son
of Eliel, the son of Toah,   35 The son of Zuph, the son of
Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,   36 The son of
Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,
  37 The son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph,
the son of Korah,   38 The son of Izhar, the son of Kohath,
the son of Levi, the son of Israel.   39 And his brother
Asaph, who stood on his right hand, <i>even</i> Asaph the son of
Berachiah, the son of Shimea,   40 The son of Michael, the son
of Baaseiah, the son of Malchiah,   41 The son of Ethni, the
son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,   42 The son of Ethan, the
son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei,   43 The son of Jahath, the
son of Gershom, the son of Levi.   44 And their brethren the
sons of Merari <i>stood</i> on the left hand: Ethan the son of
Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,   45 The son of
Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,   46 The
son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shamer,   47 The son
of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.
  48 Their brethren also the Levites <i>were</i> appointed
unto all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.
  49 But Aaron and his sons offered upon the altar of the
burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, <i>and were
appointed</i> for all the work of the <i>place</i> most holy, and
to make an atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the
servant of God had commanded.   50 And these <i>are</i> the
sons of Aaron; Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,
  51 Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son,   52
Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son,   53 Zadok
his son, Ahimaaz his son.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.vii-p5">When the Levites were first ordained in the
wilderness much of the work then appointed them lay in carrying and
taking care of the tabernacle and the utensils of it, while they
were in their march through the wilderness. In David's time their
number was increased; and, though the greater part of them was
dispersed all the nation over, to teach the people the good
knowledge of the Lord, yet those that attended the house of God
were so numerous that there was not constant work for them all; and
therefore David, by special commission and direction from God,
new-modelled the Levites, as we shall find in the latter part of
this book. Here we are told what the work was which he assigned
them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.vii-p6">I. Singing-work, <scripRef id="iCh.vii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.31" parsed="|1Chr|6|31|0|0" passage="1Ch 6:31"><i>v.</i> 31</scripRef>. David was raised up on high to
be the sweet psalmist of Israel (<scripRef id="iCh.vii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.23.1" parsed="|2Sam|23|1|0|0" passage="2Sa 23:1">2
Sam. xxiii. 1</scripRef>), not only to pen psalms, but to appoint
the singing of them in the house of the Lord (not so much because
he was musical as because he was devout), and this he did <i>after
that the ark had rest.</i> While that was in captivity, obscure,
and unsettled, the harps were hung upon the willow-trees: singing
was then thought unseasonable (when the bridegroom is taken away
they shall fast); but the harps being resumed, and the songs
revived, at the bringing up of the ark, they were continued
afterwards. For we should rejoice as much in the prolonging of our
spiritual privileges as in the restoring of them. When the service
of the ark was much superseded by its rest they had other work cut
out for them (for Levites should never be idle) and were employed
in the service of song. Thus when the people of God come to the
rest which remains for them above they shall take leave of all
their burdens and be employed in everlasting songs. These singers
kept up that service in the tabernacle till the temple was built,
and then they <i>waited on their office</i> there, <scripRef id="iCh.vii-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.32" parsed="|1Chr|6|32|0|0" passage="1Ch 6:32"><i>v.</i> 32</scripRef>. When they came to that
stately magnificent house they kept as close both to their office
and to their order as they had done in the tabernacle. It is a pity
that the preferment of the Levites should ever make them remiss in
their business. We have here an account of the three great masters
who were employed in the service of the sacred song, with their
respective families; for they <i>waited with their children,</i>
that is, such as descended from them or were allied to them,
<scripRef id="iCh.vii-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.33" parsed="|1Chr|6|33|0|0" passage="1Ch 6:33"><i>v.</i> 33</scripRef>. Heman, Asaph,
and Ethan, were the three that were appointed to this service, one
of each of the three houses of the Levites, that there might be an
equality in the distribution of this work and honour, and that
every one might know his post, such an admirable order was there in
this choir service. 1. Of the house of Kohath was Heman with his
family (<scripRef id="iCh.vii-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.33" parsed="|1Chr|6|33|0|0" passage="1Ch 6:33"><i>v.</i> 33</scripRef>), a
man of a sorrowful spirit, if it be the same Heman that penned the
<scripRef id="iCh.vii-p6.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.88.1-Ps.88.18" parsed="|Ps|88|1|88|18" passage="Ps 88:1-18">88th psalm</scripRef>, and yet a
singer. He was the grandson of Samuel the prophet, the son of Joel,
of whom it is said that <i>he walked not in the ways of Samuel</i>
(<scripRef id="iCh.vii-p6.7" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.8.2-1Sam.8.3" parsed="|1Sam|8|2|8|3" passage="1Sa 8:2,3">1 Sam. viii. 2, 3</scripRef>); but
it seems, though the son did not, the grandson did. Thus does the
blessing entailed on the seed of the upright sometimes pass over
one generation and fasten upon the next. And this Heman, though the
grandson of that mighty prince, did not think it below him to be a
precentor in the house of God. David himself was willing to be a
door-keeper. Rather we may look upon this preferment of the
grandson in the church as a recompense for the humble modest
resignation which the grandfather made of his authority in the
state. Many such ways God has of making up his people's losses and
balancing their disgraces. Perhaps David, in making Heman the
chief, had some respect to his old friend Samuel. 2. Of the house
of Gershom was Asaph, called <i>his brother,</i> because in the
same office and of the same tribe, though of another family. He was
posted on Heman's right hand in the choir, <scripRef id="iCh.vii-p6.8" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.39" parsed="|1Chr|6|39|0|0" passage="1Ch 6:39">v. 39</scripRef>. Several of the psalms bear his name,
being either penned by him or tuned by him as the chief musician.
It is plain that he was the penman of some psalms; for we read of
those that praised the Lord in the words of David and of Asaph. He
was a seer as well as a singer, <scripRef id="iCh.vii-p6.9" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.30" parsed="|2Chr|29|30|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:30">2
Chron. xxix. 30</scripRef>. His pedigree is traced up here, through
names utterly unknown, as high as Levi, <scripRef id="iCh.vii-p6.10" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.39-1Chr.6.43" parsed="|1Chr|6|39|6|43" passage="1Ch 6:39-43"><i>v.</i> 39-43</scripRef>. 3. Of the house of Merari
was Ethan (<scripRef id="iCh.vii-p6.11" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.44" parsed="|1Chr|6|44|0|0" passage="1Ch 6:44"><i>v.</i> 44</scripRef>),
who was appointed to Heman's left hand. His pedigree is also traced
up to Levi, <scripRef id="iCh.vii-p6.12" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.47" parsed="|1Chr|6|47|0|0" passage="1Ch 6:47"><i>v.</i> 47</scripRef>.
If these were the Heman and Ethan that penned the <scripRef id="iCh.vii-p6.13" osisRef="Bible:Ps.88.1-Ps.89.52" parsed="|Ps|88|1|89|52" passage="Ps 88:1-89:52">88th and 89th psalms</scripRef>, there
appears no reason here why they should be called <i>Ezrahites</i>
(see the titles of those psalms), as there does why those should be
called so who are mentioned <scripRef id="iCh.vii-p6.14" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.6" parsed="|1Chr|2|6|0|0" passage="1Ch 2:6"><i>ch.</i>
ii. 6</scripRef>, and who were the sons of Zerah.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.vii-p7">II. There was serving-work, abundance of
service to be done <i>in the tabernacle of the house of God</i>
(<scripRef id="iCh.vii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.48" parsed="|1Chr|6|48|0|0" passage="1Ch 6:48"><i>v.</i> 48</scripRef>), to provide
water and fuel,—to wash and sweep, and carry out ashes,—to kill,
and flay, and boil the sacrifices; and to all such services there
were Levites appointed, those of other families, or perhaps those
that were not fit to be singers, that had either no good voice or
no good ear. <i>As every one has received the gift, so let him
minister.</i> Those that could not sing must not therefore be laid
aside as good for nothing; though they were not fit for that
service, there was other service they might be useful in.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.vii-p8">III. There was sacrificing-work, and that
was to be done by the priests only, <scripRef id="iCh.vii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.49" parsed="|1Chr|6|49|0|0" passage="1Ch 6:49"><i>v.</i> 49</scripRef>. They only were to sprinkle the
blood and burn the incense; as for <i>the work of the most holy
place,</i> that was to be done by the high priest only. Each had
his work, and they both needed one another and both helped one
another in it. Concerning the work of the priests we are here told,
1. What was the end they were to have in their eye. They were to
<i>make an atonement for Israel,</i> to mediate between the people
and God; not to magnify and enrich themselves, but to serve the
public. They were <i>ordained for men.</i> 2. What was the rule
they were to have in their eye. They presided in God's house, yet
must do as they were bidden, according to all that God commanded.
That law the highest are subject to.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iCh.vii-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.54-1Chr.6.81" parsed="|1Chr|6|54|6|81" passage="1Ch 6:54-81" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Chr.6.54-1Chr.6.81">
<h4 id="iCh.vii-p8.3">The Cities of the Levites. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.vii-p8.4">b. c.</span> 1444.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iCh.vii-p9">54 Now these <i>are</i> their dwelling places
throughout their castles in their coasts, of the sons of Aaron, of
the families of the Kohathites: for theirs was the lot.   55
And they gave them Hebron in the land of Judah, and the suburbs
thereof round about it.   56 But the fields of the city, and
the villages thereof, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
  57 And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah,
<i>namely,</i> Hebron, <i>the city</i> of refuge, and Libnah with
her suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa, with their suburbs,  
58 And Hilen with her suburbs, Debir with her suburbs,   59
And Ashan with her suburbs, and Beth-shemesh with her suburbs:
  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 <i>were</i> thirteen cities.
  61 And unto the sons of Kohath, <i>which were</i> left of
the family of that tribe, <i>were cities given</i> out of the half
tribe, <i>namely, out of</i> the half <i>tribe</i> of Manasseh, by
lot, ten cities.   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.   63 Unto the sons of
Merari <i>were given</i> by lot, throughout their families, out of
the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the
tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.   64 And the children of
Israel gave to the Levites <i>these</i> cities with their suburbs.
  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 <i>their</i> names.   66 And <i>the residue</i> of
the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their coasts out
of the tribe of Ephraim.   67 And they gave unto them,
<i>of</i> the cities of refuge, Shechem in mount Ephraim with her
suburbs; <i>they gave</i> also Gezer with her suburbs,   68
And Jokmeam with her suburbs, and Beth-horon with her suburbs,
  69 And Aijalon with her suburbs, and Gath-rimmon with her
suburbs:   70 And out of the half tribe of Manasseh; Aner with
her suburbs, and Bileam with her suburbs, for the family of the
remnant of the sons of Kohath.   71 Unto the sons of Gershom
<i>were given</i> out of the family of the half tribe of Manasseh,
Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, and Ashtaroth with her suburbs:
  72 And out of the tribe of Issachar; Kedesh with her
suburbs, Daberath with her suburbs,   73 And Ramoth with her
suburbs, and Anem with her suburbs:   74 And out of the tribe
of Asher; Mashal with her suburbs, and Abdon with her suburbs,
  75 And Hukok with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs:
  76 And out of the tribe of Naphtali; Kedesh in Galilee with
her suburbs, and Hammon with her suburbs, and Kirjathaim with her
suburbs.   77 Unto the rest of the children of Merari <i>were
given</i> out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmon with her suburbs,
Tabor with her suburbs:   78 And on the other side Jordan by
Jericho, on the east side of Jordan, <i>were given them</i> out of
the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with her suburbs, and
Jahzah with her suburbs,   79 Kedemoth also with her suburbs,
and Mephaath with her suburbs:   80 And out of the tribe of
Gad; Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahanaim with her
suburbs,   81 And Heshbon with her suburbs, and Jazer with her
suburbs.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.vii-p10">We have here an account of the Levites'
cities. They are here called their <i>castles</i> (<scripRef id="iCh.vii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.54" parsed="|1Chr|6|54|0|0" passage="1Ch 6:54"><i>v.</i> 54</scripRef>), not only because
walled and fortified, and well guarded by the country (for it is
the interest of every nation to protect its ministers), but because
they and their possessions were, in a particular manner, the care
of the divine providence: as God was their portion, so God was
their protection; and a cottage will be a castle to those that
abide under the shadow of the Almighty. This account is much the
same with that which we had, <scripRef id="iCh.vii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.21.1-Josh.21.45" parsed="|Josh|21|1|21|45" passage="Jos 21:1-45">Josh.
xxi.</scripRef> We need not be critical in comparing them (what
good will it do us?) nor will it do any hurt to the credit of the
holy scripture if the names of some of the places be not spelt just
the same here as they were there. We know it is common for cities
to have several names. <i>Sarum</i> and <i>Salisbury, Salop</i> and
<i>Shrewsbury,</i> are more unlike than <i>Hilen</i> (<scripRef id="iCh.vii-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.58" parsed="|1Chr|6|58|0|0" passage="1Ch 6:58"><i>v.</i> 58</scripRef>) and <i>Holon</i>
(<scripRef id="iCh.vii-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Josh.21.15" parsed="|Josh|21|15|0|0" passage="Jos 21:15">Josh. xxi. 15</scripRef>),
<i>Ashan</i> (<scripRef id="iCh.vii-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.59" parsed="|1Chr|6|59|0|0" passage="1Ch 6:59"><i>v.</i> 59</scripRef>)
and <i>Ain</i> (<scripRef id="iCh.vii-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:Josh.21.16" parsed="|Josh|21|16|0|0" passage="Jos 21:16">Josh. xxi.
16</scripRef>), <i>Alemeth</i> (<scripRef id="iCh.vii-p10.7" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.60" parsed="|1Chr|6|60|0|0" passage="1Ch 6:60"><i>v.</i> 60</scripRef>) and <i>Almon</i> (<scripRef id="iCh.vii-p10.8" osisRef="Bible:Josh.21.18" parsed="|Josh|21|18|0|0" passage="Jos 21:18">Josh. xxi. 18</scripRef>); and time changes
names. We are only to observe that in this appointment of cities
for the Levites God took care, 1. For the accomplishment of dying
Jacob's prediction concerning this tribe, that it should be
<i>scattered in Israel,</i> <scripRef id="iCh.vii-p10.9" osisRef="Bible:Gen.49.7" parsed="|Gen|49|7|0|0" passage="Ge 49:7">Gen. xlix.
7</scripRef>. 2. For the diffusing of the knowledge of himself and
his law to all parts of the land of Israel. Every tribe had
Levites' cities in it; and so every room was furnished with a
candle, so that none could be ignorant of his duty but it was
either his own fault or the Levites'. 3. For a comfortable
maintenance for those that ministered in holy things. Besides their
tithes and offerings, they had glebe-lands and cities of their own
to dwell in. Some of the most considerable cities of Israel fell to
the Levites' lot. Every tribe had benefit by the Levites, and
therefore every tribe must contribute to their support. <i>Let him
that is taught in the word communicate to him that teacheth,</i>
and do it cheerfully.</p>
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