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1 Paralipomenon ix.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1. Israel.
These registers were preserved by those who fled from the arms of Salmanasar, into the kingdom of Juda. Such records were
preserved with the utmost care, and were collected by the author; who could give an account of what happened during and after
the captivity, as he was an irreproachable eye-witness; not to mention the divine inspiration, which places his testimony
out of the reach of criticism. (Calmet) --- And Juda; perhaps by some historian. (Menochius) --- Babylon, while
Israel was removed elsewhere, by the Assyrians. (Haydock) --- The genealogies of Israel being hitherto recited, now those
who came back from captivity appear. (Worthington)
Ver. 2. First.
He only treats of those who returned first, (Tirinus) under Esdras. (Haydock) --- Nehemias brought back others, and more returned
afterwards. Many also retook possession of their lands, which they had enjoyed before the captivity, 1 Esdras iii. 12. ---
Nathineans. These were the posterity of the Gabaonites, whose office was to bring wood, water, &c., for the service
of the temple. (Challoner) (Josue ix. 27.) --- David and Solomon consigned others of the Chanaanites, whose lives they spared,
to perform the same office. They were like public slaves. The number of those who returned was so small, that days were appointed
for all the people to help to carry wood for the temple. At Jerusalem the Nathineans, "or people given," resided on the east
side of the city; (2 Esdras ii. 26.) and other towns were assigned them, 1 Esdras ii. 70. (Calmet) --- The people continued
to be divided into four classes, as they had been before the captivity. (Malvenda)
Ver. 3. Manasses.
People from these tribes particularly, (Haydock) as well as from others, had fled to the kingdom of Juda, when the Assyrians
took their brethren prisoners; and these returned to Jerusalem. (Menochius) --- Cyrus gave a general leave for all Israel
to return. The country was too spacious for them; and it was found necessary to force the tenth part of the people, by lot,
to repair to Jerusalem, as it wanted inhabitants, 2 Esdras xi. 1.
Ver. 4. Othei;
perhaps Hathaia, son of Husias. The Hebrew names are differently pronounced. (Calmet)
Ver. 5. Siloni
may mean a native of Silo, or a descendant of Sela. See Numbers xxvi. 20., and 2 Esdras xi. 5. (Calmet)
Ver. 7. Oduia,
or Johed, or Juda, 2 Esdras xi., and vii. 9. (Junius)
Ver. 11. Azarias,
or Saraias, ibid. 11.[2 Esdras xi. 11.?] --- Mosollam, or Sellum, chap. vi. 12. (Calmet) --- High is not expressed
in Pontifex; and this Azarias was only (Haydock) one of the principal families; (Menochius; Du Hamel) perhaps the second
in dignity; (4 Kings xxv. 18.) while Jesus was the successor of Aaron, 1 Esdras iii. 8. (Calmet) --- Hebrew and Septuagint,
"the ruler," (Haydock) or "captain of the guard of the house." (Calmet) --- They were styled pontiffs, or princes of the priests.
(Tirinus)
Ver. 12.
Phassur, Pheshur, (Haydock) or Phetur. From him sprung Zacharias, Amsi, Phelelia, Jehoram; so that the last was only
the great-grandson of Phassur, 2 Esdras xi. 12. --- Maasai. In Esdras (v. 13) Amassai, the son of Azreel, the son
of Ahazi.
Ver. 14. Levites,
established at Jerusalem.
Ver. 15. Carpenter.
Hebrew Cheresh, is taken by some to be a surname. Septuagint, "And Ares." It is asserted that the priests and Levites
could follow no mechanical profession, (Abulensis) and the Bacbacar only presided over the carpenters, who wrought in the
temple. (Menochius) (Tirinus) --- But why might not people of this order employ themselves in such arts and labours, which
were never deemed degrading among the Hebrews, nor incompatible with the sacred ministry, during the leisure hours? (Calmet)
--- St. Paul did not disdain to make tents. (Haydock)
Ver. 16. Suburbs,
or "courts," atriis. (Haydock) --- Hebrew, "villages." (Menochius) --- Netophati was a town of Juda. The ancient regulations
could not be observed exactly. (Calmet) --- The priests received the Levites into their cities. (Du Hamel)
Ver. 17. Sellum
had the superintendency over all the porters. (Haydock) --- He was also at the head of one of the four bands which guarded
the doors, east, west, north, and south of the temple, with various apartments, ver. 26. (Calmet) --- Brother. Hebrew,
"brethren," or bands. (Haydock)
Ver. 18. Time.
Hebrew, "and hitherto." This custom has been observed at the king's gate, who entered his tribune by the eastern gate of the
temple, 4 Kings xvi. 18. So far the ancient records reach. Some would infer from this passage, that a guard was still kept
at the king's gate, even though there was none sitting upon the throne after the captivity. (Calmet) --- Protestants, ("who
hitherto waited in the king's gate eastward.) They were porters in the companies of the children of Levi." (Haydock)
--- These different bands attended by turns. (Menochius) --- But the captains were on duty every day, ver. 25, and 26, and
34.
Ver. 19. Service,
to keep watch. (Calmet) --- Families. Hebrew, "fathers over the host, (Haydock) or camp of the Lord: keepers of the
entry." The Corites, though not perhaps alone, performed what their fathers had done before the tabernacle, in the desert,
and in the temple of Solomon; which were considered as the camp of the great king.
Ver. 20. Before.
Hebrew, "the Lord with him," an usual form of blessing, (Calmet) or of wishing well (Haydock) to the deceased. (Calemt) ---
This Phinees lived after the captivity, (Menochius) and possessed the same power as Eleazar and Joiada, chap. xii. 27., and
Numbers iii. 32. It is not necessary to refute the fables of the Rabbins, who pretend that the famous Phinees was an angel,
who appeared at different times, and particularly at the return from Babylon. (Calmet) --- Hebrew may refer to the ancient
Phinees: "And Phinees....was ruler over them formerly, and the Lord was with him." (Du Hamel)
Ver. 21. Gate,
leading to the holy place, which corresponded with the tabernacle.
Ver. 22. Towns,
where they resided, when they were not on duty. (Menochius) --- Seer, or prophet. (Haydock) --- We read not of his
making any such regulation. But he probably made it after the misconduct of the sons of Heli, and when the ark was brought
back. (Calmet) --- He might also give private instructions to David for the same purpose; (Haydock) as Gad and Nathan did,
2 Paralipomenon xxix. 25. The same plans were still adopted, though the number of Levites was smaller. (Calmet) --- Trust,
while they were at the head of affairs, and acting by God's authority. Literally, "in their faith;" (Haydock) enlightened
from above, and regulating matters according to the dispositions, which they discovered in the sacred ministers: or rather
Hebrew, "in their established employment," which was to subsist in future ages. (Calmet)
Ver. 24. Quarters:
literally, "by the four winds."
Ver. 25. Up
on. Hebrew, "after seven days....with them," to take their place for a week.
Ver. 26. To
these. Hebrew, "for these Levites, (Sellum, &c.; ver. 17) four chief porters were in their set office," for
life, or as long as they were able to serve, and did not change every week like the rest. --- Lord: the apartments
of the priests, and the storehouses, (Haydock) where all precious ornaments, wine, &c., were kept. (Calmet)
Ver. 30. Priests.
They alone were allowed to make the composition, which no mortal was permitted to use (Calmet) for his own pleasure. (Haydock)
(Exodus xxx. 34.)
Ver. 31. Pan,
to be offered on the altar of holocausts, (Leviticus ii. 4., and vii. 12.) or to be eaten by the priests, Ezechiel xlvi. 20.
Mathathias was to take care that all this was done with decency, (Calmet) and to look after the utensils.
Ver. 32. Proposition.
Hebrew, "of arrangement;" (Exodus xxxv. 13.) "of faces." These loaves were made by the Levites, but arranged upon the golden
table every week (Calmet) before the ark. See chap. xxiii. 92.
Ver. 33. These;
probably Sellum, &c., (ver. 17) though it is not certain that the chief porters presided also over the singers, chap.
xv., and xvi. Hebrew, "And these are the singers, chief of the families (Calmet; or fathers) of the Levites, in the chambers
(of the temple) free" from all other avocations, (Haydock) that they may watch over the porters and musicians. Septuagint
is clearer: (Calmet) "And these are the masters of music over the bands of Levites, observing their daily courses, because
they are day and night over them in the works." (Haydock) --- The sons of Caath seem to be chiefly specified, (ver.
32) though other families sung, chap. vi. 39. --- Chambers, at a distance from their wives, to trim the lamps in the
evening, and to see that none were extinguished, (Menochius) as also to teach music, &c. The Synagogues were used afterwards.
(Du Hamel)
Ver. 34. Jerusalem,
having no substitute; (chap. xxvi.; Haydock) or the chiefs of each family resided there. (Menochius)
Ver. 35. And
in. These verses are repeated from the last chapter, in order to bring us to the death of Saul, (Menochius) and the reign
of David. (Calmet) --- "Tis difficult to account for the repetition, provided they were repeated originally; but if they have
been repeated through the blunder of a transcriber, the existence of the same words" before them may be the reason. (Kennicott)
--- The father of Gabaon. This is the explanation of Abigabaon, chap. viii. 29. (Haydock) --- Wife. So
the former chapter, and all the ancient versions, with some Hebrew manuscripts, read, instead of the printed Hebrew, "sister,"
(Kennicott) which seems to be corrupted; (Calmet) and the Protestants venture to correct it. (Haydock)
Ver. 41. Tharaa.
Hebrew, "Tachrea." (Kennicott) e, is substituted for a. (Haydock) --- And Ahaz, is omitted in Hebrew,
(Kennicott) and Septuagint.
Ver. 42. Jara.
Hebrew Yahra instead of Jeuáde, or Johada, (Calmet) chap. viii. 36, twice. Septuagint, Jada here, and
Joiada above. (Haydock)
Ver. 43. Raphaia,
called Rapha before. (Calmet)
Ver. 44. These.
All is omitted, though it is found [in] chap. viii. 38, and in manuscript ii. (Kennicott) --- These remarks, which may
appear to some minute, shew that all Hebrew manuscripts are not absolutely alike, as some once pretended; and that the Hebrew
Bible is not printed from the best copies. (Haydock) --- "The sacred volume in Hebrew has, therefore, been published with
such carelessness, as no other printed copy with which I am acquainted." (Houbigant, prol. p. 2.) --- Yet this is the copy,
which alone Protestants hold up as the standard of perfection, and the Rule of Faith! (Haydock)
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Bible Text & Cross-references:
The Israelites, Priests, and Levites, who first dwelt
in Jerusalem after the captivity. A repetition of the genealogy of Saul.
1 And all Israel was numbered: and the sum of them was written in the
Book of the kings of Israel and Juda: and they were carried away to Babylon for their transgression.
2 Now the first that dwelt in their possessions, and in their cities,
were the Israelites, and the priests, and the Levites, and the Nathineans.
3 And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Juda, and of the children
of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim, and of Manasses.
4 Othei, the son of Ammiud, the son of Amri, the son of Omrai, the son
of Bonni, of the sons of Phares, the son of Juda;
5 And of Siloni: Asaia, the first-born, and his sons:
6 And of the sons of Zara: Jehuel, and their brethren, six hundred and
ninety.
7 And of the sons of Benjamin: Salo, the son of Mosollam, the son of
Oduia, the son of Asana.
8 And Jobania, the son of Jeroham: and Ela, the son of Ozi, the son of
Mochori: and Mosallam, the son of Saphatias, the son of Rahuel, the son of Jebania:
9 And their brethren by their families, nine hundred and fifty-six. All
these were heads of their families by the houses of their fathers.
10 And of the priests: Jedaia, Joiarib, and Jachin:
11 And Azarias, the son of Helcias, the son of Mosollam, the son of Sadoc,
the son of Maraioth, the son of Achitob, high priest of the house of God.
12 And Adaias, the son of Jeroham, the son of Phassur, the son of Melchias:
and Maasai, the son of Adiel, the son of Jezra, the son of Mosollam, the son of Mosollamith, the son of Emmer.
13 And their brethren, heads in their families, a thousand seven hundred
and threescore; very strong and able men for the work of the ministry in the house of God.
14 And of the Levites: Semeia, the son of Hassub, the son of Ezricam,
the son of Hasebia, of the sons of Merari.
15 And Bacbacar, the carpenter, and Galal, and Mathania the son of Micha,
the son of Zachri, the son of Asaph:
16 And Obdia, the son of Semeia, the son of Galal, the son of Idithun:
and Barachia, the son of Asa, the son of Elcana, who dwelt in the suburbs of Netophati.
17 And the porters were, Sellum, and Accub, and Telmon, and Ahimam: and
their brother, Sellum, was the prince.
18 Until that time, in the king's gate eastward, the sons of Levi waited
by their turns.
19 But Sellum, the son of Core, the son of Abiasaph, the son of Core,
with his brethren, and his father's house, the Corites, were over the works of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle:
and their families in turns were keepers of the entrance of the camp of the Lord.
20 And Phinees, the son of Eleazar, was their prince before the Lord;
21 And Zacharias, the son of Mosollamia, was porter of the gate of the
tabernacle of the testimony.
22 All these that were chosen to be porters at the gates, were two hundred
and twelve: and they were registered in their proper towns: whom David, and Samuel, the seer, appointed in their trust;
23 As well them as their sons, to keep the gates of the house of the
Lord, and the tabernacle, by their turns.
24 In four quarters were the porters: that is to say, toward the east,
and west, and north, and south.
25 And their brethren dwelt in villages, and came up on their sabbath-days
from time to time.
26 To these four Levites were committed the whole number of the porters,
and they were over the chambers, and treasures of the house of the Lord.
27 And they abode in their watches round about the temple of the Lord:
that when it was time, they might open the gates in the morning.
28 And some of their stock had the charge of the vessels for the ministry:
for the vessels were both brought in and carried out by number.
29 Some of them also had the instruments of the sanctuary committed unto
them, and the charge of the fine flour, and wine, and oil, and frankincense, and spices.
30 And the sons of the priests made the ointments of the spices.
31 And Mathathias, a Levite, the first-born of Sellum, the Corite, was
overseer of such things as were fried in the frying-pan.
32 And some of the sons of Caath, their brethren, were over the leaves
of proposition, to prepare always new for every sabbath.
33 These are the chief of the singing men, of the families of the Levites,
who dwelt in the chambers, by the temple, that they might serve continually, day and night, in their ministry.
34 The heads of the Levites, princes in their families, abode in Jerusalem.
35 And *in Gabaon dwelt Jehiel, the father of Gabaon, and the name of
his wife was Maacha.
36 His first-born son, Abdon, and Sur, and Cis, and Baal, and Ner, and
Nadab,
37 Gedor also, and Ahio, and Zacharias, and Macelloth.
38 And Macelloth begot Samaan: these dwelt over-against their brethren
in Jerusalem, with their brethren.
39 *Now Ner begot Cis, and Cis begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, and
Melchisua, and Abinadab, and Esbaal.
40 And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal: and Meribbaal begot Micha.
41 And the sons of Micha, were Phithon, and Melech, and Tharaa, and Ahaz.
42 And Ahaz begot Jara, and Jara begot Alamath, and Azmoth, and Zamri.
And Zamri begot Mosa:
43 And Mosa begot Banaa: whose son Raphaia begot Elasa: of whom was born
Asel.
44 And Asel had six sons whose names are, Ezricam, Bochru, Ismahel, Saria,
Obdia, Hanan: these are the sons of Asel.
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*
35: 1 Paralipomenon viii. 29.
39: 1 Paralipomenon viii. 33.
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