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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>F I R S T C H R O N I C L E S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. VI.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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Though Joseph and Judah shared between them the forfeited honours of
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the birthright, yet Levi was first of all the tribes, dignified and
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distinguished with an honour more valuable than either the precedency
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or the double portion, and that was the priesthood. That tribe God set
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apart for himself; it was Moses's tribe, and perhaps for his sake was
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thus favoured. Of that tribe we have an account in this chapter.
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I. Their pedigree, the first fathers of the tribe
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:1-3">ver. 1-3</A>),
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the line of the priests, from Aaron to the captivity
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:4-15">ver. 4-15</A>),
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and of some other of their families,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:16-30">ver. 16-30</A>.
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II. Their work, the work of the Levites
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:31-48">ver. 31-48</A>),
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of the priests,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:49-53">ver. 49-53</A>.
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III. The cities appointed them in the land of Canaan,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:54-81">ver. 54-81</A>.</P>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Genealogies.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1450.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 The sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
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2 And the sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.
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3 And the children of Amram; Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. The
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sons also of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
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4 Eleazar begat Phinehas, Phinehas begat Abishua,
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5 And Abishua begat Bukki, and Bukki begat Uzzi,
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6 And Uzzi begat Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begat Meraioth,
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7 Meraioth begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub,
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8 And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Ahimaaz,
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9 And Ahimaaz begat Azariah, and Azariah begat Johanan,
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10 And Johanan begat Azariah, (he <I>it is</I> that executed the
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priest's office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem:)
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11 And Azariah begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub,
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12 And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Shallum,
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13 And Shallum begat Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begat Azariah,
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14 And Azariah begat Seraiah, and Seraiah begat Jehozadak,
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15 And Jehozadak went <I>into captivity,</I> when the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> carried
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away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
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16 The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
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17 And these <I>be</I> the names of the sons of Gershom; Libni, and
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Shimei.
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18 And the sons of Kohath <I>were,</I> Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron,
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and Uzziel.
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19 The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. And these <I>are</I> the
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families of the Levites according to their fathers.
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20 Of Gershom; Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son,
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21 Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeaterai his son.
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22 The sons of Kohath; Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir
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his son,
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23 Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir his son,
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24 Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his
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son.
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25 And the sons of Elkanah; Amasai, and Ahimoth.
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26 <I>As for</I> Elkanah: the sons of Elkanah; Zophai his son, and
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Nahath his son,
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27 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son.
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28 And the sons of Samuel; the firstborn Vashni, and Abiah.
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29 The sons of Merari; Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son,
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Uzza his son,
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30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The priests and Levites were more concerned than any other Israelites
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to preserve their pedigree clear and to be able to prove it, because
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all the honours and privileges of their office depended upon their
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descent. And we read of those who, though perhaps they really were
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children of the priests, yet, because they could not find the register
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of their genealogies, nor make out their descent by any authentic
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record, were, <I>as polluted, put from the priesthood,</I> and
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forbidden to eat of the holy things,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+2:62,63">Ezra ii. 62, 63</A>.
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It is but very little that is here recorded of the genealogies of this
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sacred tribe.
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I. The first fathers of it are here named twice,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:1,16"><I>v.</I> 1, 16</A>.
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Gershom, Kohath, and Merari, are three names which we were very
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conversant with in the book of Numbers, when the families of the
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Levites were marshalled and had their work assigned to them. Aaron, and
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Moses, and Miriam, we have known much more of than their names, and
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cannot pass them over here without remembering that this was that Moses
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and Aaron whom God honoured in making them instruments of Israel's
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deliverance and settlement and <I>figures of him that was to come,</I>
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Moses as a prophet and Aaron as a priest. And the mention of Nadab and
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Abihu (though, having no children, there was no occasion to bring them
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into the genealogy) cannot but remind us of the terrors of that divine
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justice which they were made monuments of for offering strange fire,
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that we may always fear before him.
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2. The line of Eleazar, the successor of Aaron, is here drawn down to
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the time of the captivity,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:4-15"><I>v.</I> 4-15</A>.
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It begins with Eleazar, who came out of the house of bondage in Egypt,
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and ends with Jehozadak, who went into the house of bondage in Babylon.
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Thus, for their sins, they were left as they were found, which might
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also intimate that the Levitical priesthood did not make anything
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perfect, but this was to be done by the <I>bringing in of a better
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hope.</I> All these here named were not high priests; for, in the time
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of the judges, that dignity was, upon some occasion or other, brought
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into the family of Ithamar, of which Eli was; but in Zadok it returned
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again to the right line. Of Azariah it is here said
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
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<I>He it is that executed the priest's office in the temple that
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Solomon built.</I> It is supposed that this was that Azariah who
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bravely opposed the presumption of king Uzziah when he invaded the
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priest's office
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+26:17,18">2 Chron. xxvi. 17, 18</A>),
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though he ventured his neck by so doing. This was done like a priest,
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like one that was truly zealous for his God. He that thus boldly
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maintained and defended the priest's office, and made good its barriers
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against such a daring insult, might well be said to <I>execute it;</I>
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and this honour is put upon him for it; while Urijah, one of his
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successors, for a base compliance with King Ahaz, in building him an
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idolatrous altar, has the disgrace put upon him of being left out of
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this genealogy, as perhaps some others are. But some think that this
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remark upon this Azariah should have been added to his grandfather of
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the same name
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
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who was the son of Ahimaaz, and that he was the priest who first
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officiated in Solomon's temple.
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3. Some other of the families of the Levites are here accounted for.
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One of the families of Gershom (that of Libni) is here drawn down as
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far as Samuel, who had the honour of a prophet added to that of a
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Levite. One of the families of Merari (that of Mahli) is likewise drawn
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down for several descents,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:29,30"><I>v.</I> 29, 30</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Genealogies.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1015.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>31 And these <I>are they</I> whom David set over the service of song
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in the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, after that the ark had rest.
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32 And they ministered before the dwelling place of the
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tabernacle of the congregation with singing, until Solomon had
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built the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> in Jerusalem: and <I>then</I> they waited
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on their office according to their order.
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33 And these <I>are</I> they that waited with their children. Of the
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sons of the Kohathites: Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son
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of Shemuel,
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34 The son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel,
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the son of Toah,
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35 The son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the
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son of Amasai,
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36 The son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the
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son of Zephaniah,
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37 The son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph,
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the son of Korah,
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38 The son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the
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son of Israel.
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39 And his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, <I>even</I>
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Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea,
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40 The son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of
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Malchiah,
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41 The son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,
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42 The son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei,
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43 The son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.
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44 And their brethren the sons of Merari <I>stood</I> on the left
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hand: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of
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Malluch,
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45 The son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of
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Hilkiah,
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46 The son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shamer,
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47 The son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the
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son of Levi.
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48 Their brethren also the Levites <I>were</I> appointed unto all
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manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.
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49 But Aaron and his sons offered upon the altar of the burnt
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offering, and on the altar of incense, <I>and were appointed</I> for
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all the work of the <I>place</I> most holy, and to make an atonement
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for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had
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commanded.
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50 And these <I>are</I> the sons of Aaron; Eleazar his son, Phinehas
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his son, Abishua his son,
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51 Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son,
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52 Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son,
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53 Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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When the Levites were first ordained in the wilderness much of the work
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then appointed them lay in carrying and taking care of the tabernacle
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and the utensils of it, while they were in their march through the
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wilderness. In David's time their number was increased; and, though the
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greater part of them was dispersed all the nation over, to teach the
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people the good knowledge of the Lord, yet those that attended the
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house of God were so numerous that there was not constant work for them
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all; and therefore David, by special commission and direction from God,
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new-modelled the Levites, as we shall find in the latter part of this
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book. Here we are told what the work was which he assigned them.</P>
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<P>
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I. Singing-work,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>.
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David was raised up on high to be the sweet psalmist of Israel
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+23:1">2 Sam. xxiii. 1</A>),
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not only to pen psalms, but to appoint the singing of them in the house
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of the Lord (not so much because he was musical as because he was
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devout), and this he did <I>after that the ark had rest.</I> While that
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was in captivity, obscure, and unsettled, the harps were hung upon the
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willow-trees: singing was then thought unseasonable (when the
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bridegroom is taken away they shall fast); but the harps being resumed,
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and the songs revived, at the bringing up of the ark, they were
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continued afterwards. For we should rejoice as much in the prolonging
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of our spiritual privileges as in the restoring of them. When the
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service of the ark was much superseded by its rest they had other work
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cut out for them (for Levites should never be idle) and were employed
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in the service of song. Thus when the people of God come to the rest
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which remains for them above they shall take leave of all their burdens
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and be employed in everlasting songs. These singers kept up that
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service in the tabernacle till the temple was built, and then they
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<I>waited on their office</I> there,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>.
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When they came to that stately magnificent house they kept as close
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both to their office and to their order as they had done in the
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tabernacle. It is a pity that the preferment of the Levites should ever
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make them remiss in their business. We have here an account of the
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three great masters who were employed in the service of the sacred
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song, with their respective families; for they <I>waited with their
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children,</I> that is, such as descended from them or were allied to
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them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>.
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Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were the three that were appointed to this
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service, one of each of the three houses of the Levites, that there
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might be an equality in the distribution of this work and honour, and
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that every one might know his post, such an admirable order was there
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in this choir service.
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1. Of the house of Kohath was Heman with his family
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>),
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a man of a sorrowful spirit, if it be the same Heman that penned the
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+88:1-18">88th psalm</A>,
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|
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>
|
|
|
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+8:2,3">1 Sam. viii. 2, 3</A>);
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:39">v. 39</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:30">2 Chron. xxix. 30</A>.
|
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|
|
His pedigree is traced up here, through names utterly unknown, as high
|
|
as Levi,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:39-43"><I>v.</I> 39-43</A>.
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3. Of the house of Merari was Ethan
|
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|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:44"><I>v.</I> 44</A>),
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|
|
who was appointed to Heman's left hand. His pedigree is also traced up
|
|
to Levi,
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:47"><I>v.</I> 47</A>.
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If these were the Heman and Ethan that penned the
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+88:1-89:52">88th and 89th psalms</A>,
|
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|
|
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
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+2:6"><I>ch.</I> ii. 6</A>,
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and who were the sons of Zerah.</P>
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<P>
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II. There was serving-work, abundance of service to be done <I>in the
|
|
tabernacle of the house of God</I>
|
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|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:48"><I>v.</I> 48</A>),
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|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
III. There was sacrificing-work, and that was to be done by the priests
|
|
only,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:49"><I>v.</I> 49</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
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|
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<A NAME="1Ch6_54"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch6_55"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch6_81"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Cities of the Levites.</I></FONT></TD>
|
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1444.</TD></TR>
|
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
|
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<FONT SIZE=+1>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.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here an account of the Levites' cities. They are here called
|
|
their <I>castles</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:54"><I>v.</I> 54</A>),
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+21:1-45">Josh. xxi.</A>
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:58"><I>v.</I> 58</A>)
|
|
|
|
and <I>Holon</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+21:15">Josh. xxi. 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Ashan</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:59"><I>v.</I> 59</A>)
|
|
|
|
and <I>Ain</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+21:16">Josh. xxi. 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Alemeth</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+6:60"><I>v.</I> 60</A>)
|
|
|
|
and <I>Almon</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+21:18">Josh. xxi. 18</A>);
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+49:7">Gen. xlix. 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
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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