1Ch 6:1 The sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
The sons of Levi - The priests and Levites were more concerned than any other Israelites, to preserve their descent clear, and to be able to prove it; because all the honors and privileges of their office depended upon their descent.
The sons of Levi - After an account of the chief of the tribes of Judah and Simeon, of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, follows that of Levi, and his descendents; the kingdom being given to Judah, the birthright to Joseph, and the priesthood to Levi:The genealogy of the high priestly stem to the captivity. It has been well remarked that the genealogy of Levi is given here more ample and correct than that of any of the others.
The sons of Levi - The family of Aaron, or the high-priestly line of Aaron, to the time of the Babylonian exile. - 1Ch_6:1-3. In order to exhibit the connection of Aaron with the patriarch Levi, the enumeration begins with the three sons of Levi, who are given in 1Ch_6:1 as in Gen_46:11; Exo_6:16, and in other passages. Of Levi's grandchildren, only the four sons of Kohath (1Ch_6:2) are noticed; and of these, again, Amram is the only one whose descendants - Aaron, Moses, and Miriam - are named (1Ch_6:3); and thereafter only Aaron's sons are introduced, in order that the enumeration of his family in the high-priestly line of Eleazar might follow. As Nadab and Abihu were slain when they offered strange fire before the Lord (Lev_10:1.), Aaron's race was continued only by his sons Eleazar and Ithamar. After Aaron's death, his eldest son Eleazar was chosen by God to be his successor in the high priest's office, and thus the line of Eleazar came into possession of the high-priestly dignity.
1Ch 6:2 And the sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.
And the sons of Kohath - Given in the same order as in Exo_6:18.
1Ch 6:3 And the children of Amram; Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. The sons also of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
And the children of Amram - Very memorable persons: Aaron was the high priest, Moses the prophet and lawgiver, and Miriam a prophetess.
Nadab and Abihu - destroyed by fire from heaven for offering strange fire, Lev_10:1
Eleazar - succeeded his father in the high priesthood; the line of which is drawn from Aaron through him unto the Babylonish captivity, from hence to the end of the fifteenth verse, where it ends:
1Ch 6:4 Eleazar begat Phinehas, Phinehas begat Abishua,
Eleazar begat Phinehas - As the high priesthood continued in this family for a long time, the sacred historian confines himself to this chiefly, omitting Nadab and Abihu, and even the family of Ithamar. In 1Ch_6:4-15 the descendants of Eleazar are enumerated in twenty-two generations. The son was, when he lived after his father, the heir of the high-priestly dignity. Thus Phinehas the son of Eleazar (Exo_6:25) is found in possession of it in Jdg_20:28. From this the older commentators have rightly drawn the inference that the purpose of the enumeration in 1Ch_6:4-15 was to communicate the succession of high priests from Eleazar, who died shortly after Joshua (Jos_24:33), to Jehozadak, whom Nebuchadnezzar caused to be carried away into Babylon . The list presents the line of Eleazar as an uninterrupted possession of the high-priestly dignity; but in the historical books of the Old Testament another line of high priests, beginning with Eli, is mentioned, which, according to 1Ch_24:5, and Joseph. Ant. v. 11. 5, belonged to the family of Ithamar. The list is as follows: Eli (1Sa_2:20); his son Phinehas, who, however, died before Eli (1Sa_4:11; his son Ahitub (1Sa_14:3); his son Ahijah, who was also called Ahimelech (1Sa_14:3; 1Sa_22:9, 1Sa_22:11, 1Sa_22:20); his son Abiathar (1Sa_22:20), from whom Solomon took away the high-priesthood (1Ki_2:26.), and set Zadok in his place (1Ki_2:35). According to Josephus, the high-priestly dignity remained with the line of Eleazar, from Eleazar to Ozi (1Ch_6:4-6); it then fell to Eli and his descendants, until with Zadok it returned to the line of Eleazar. These statements manifestly rest upon truthful historical tradition. Another problem with the list is that the register on the one hand gives too many names for one period and too few for another. Clearly, therefore, intermediate names must have been omitted in this register.
1Ch 6:5 And Abishua begat Bukki, and Bukki begat Uzzi,
Uzzi--It is supposed that, in his days, the high priesthood was, for unrecorded reasons, transferred from Eleazar's family to Ithamar's, in which it continued for several generations. According to Josephus, and other Jewish writers, in the times of Uzzi, 1Ch_6:6 the priesthood was translated into the family of Ithamar, of which Eli was the first high priest; where it continued to the times of Solomon, when it was restored to Zadok, of the line of Eleazar.
1Ch 6:6 And Uzzi begat Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begat Meraioth,
1Ch 6:7 Meraioth begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub,
1Ch 6:8 And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Ahimaaz,
Ahitub begat Zadok - Through this person (Zadok) the high priesthood came again into the family of Eleazar.
1Ch 6:9 And Ahimaaz begat Azariah, and Azariah begat Johanan,
1Ch 6:10 And Johanan begat Azariah, (he it is that executed the priest's office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem:)
Johanan - Supposed to be the same as Jehoiada.
Executed the priest’s office - So did all the rest, but it is implied that he did it worthily, he filled his place, and valiantly discharged his office in Uzziah's time. Probably this refers to the dignified manner in which Azariah opposed King Uzziah, who wished to invade the priest’s office, and offer incense in the temple. 2Ch_26:17, 2Ch_26:18.
Executed the priest’s office - It is particularly observed of Azariah, 1Ch_6:10 that he it was that executed the priest's office in the temple built by Solomon; not that he was the first that officiated in it, that was Zadok; but this seems to be Azariah, who was the high priest in the times of Uzziah, who opposed him when he would have offered incense in the temple, 2Ch_26:17, which may be the reason why he is so particularly taken notice of here; though some think this is to be understood of Johanan, the father of Azariah, supposed to the same with Jehoiada, who, in the times of Athaliah, was the instrument of preserving both church and state, 2Ki_11:4, the temple in which he ministered is described as built by Solomon, because at the time of the writing of this there was another temple built, or building, by Zerubbabel.
in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem--described in this particular manner to distinguish it from the second temple, which was in existence at the time when this history was written.
1Ch 6:11 And Azariah begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub,
Ahitub - Between Amariah and Hilkiah 1Ch_6:13 this genealogy is most certainly defective, as it gives three generations only for a period for which nine generations are furnished by the list of the kings of Judah, and which cannot be estimated as much short of 200 years. Further, no one of the names in this part of the list occurs among the High priests of the period, several of whom are mentioned both in the Second Book of Chronicles and in Kings; the explanation of which seems to be that the present is not a list of high priests, but the genealogy of Jozadak or Jehozadak, whose line of descent partly coincided with the list of High priests, partly differed from it. Where it coincided, all the names are given; where it differed, some are omitted, in order (probably) to render the entire list from Phinehas a multiple of seven.
1Ch 6:12 And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Shallum,
1Ch 6:13 And Shallum begat Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begat Azariah,
1Ch 6:14 And Azariah begat Seraiah, and Seraiah begat Jehozadak,
Seraiah - He filled the supreme pontifical office at the destruction of Jerusalem , and, along with his deputy and others, he was executed by Nebuchadnezzar's orders at Riblah (2Ki_25:18, 2Ki_25:21). The line of high priests, under the first temple, which from Zadok amounted to twelve, terminated with him.
Seraiah - Seraiah was carried to Riblah, and there put to death by order of Nebuchadnezzar; so that with him ended the succession of high priests in the first temple. 2Ki_25:18; Ezr_7:1; Neh_11:11; Zec_6:11
1Ch 6:15 And Jehozadak went into captivity, when the LORD carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
Jehozadak - the same with Josedech, Hag_1:1 who went young into Babylon , and whose son Joshua, born in the captivity, came out of it on the proclamation of Cyrus, Ezr_2:2. The meaning of the name is “Jehovah is righteous.” It has been noted as remarkable that the heads of both the priestly and the royal stock carried to Babylon should have had names (Zedekiah and Jehozadak) composed of the same elements, and assertive of the “justice of God,” which their sufferings showed forth so signally.
Jehozadak - the father of Joshua who returned from exile with Zerubbabel, and was the first high priest in the restored community (Ezr_3:2; Ezr_5:2; Hag_1:1).
1Ch 6:16 The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
The sons of Levi, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari - Which is repeated from 1Ch_6:1 for the sake of their posterity, whose names are given in the three following verses, in the same manner as in Exo_6:17. This repetition (see 1Ch_6:1) is made, as the historian here begins to trace the genealogy of the Levitical families who were not priests. The list is a long one, comprising the chiefs or heads of their several families until David's reign, who made a new and different classification of them by courses.
Register of the families of the Levites. - This is introduced by an enumeration of the sons and grandsons of Levi (1Ch_6:16-19), which is followed by lists of families in six lines of descent: (a) the descendants of Gershon (1Ch_6:20-21), of Kohath (1Ch_6:22-28), and of Merari (1Ch_6:29-30); and (b) the genealogies of David's chief musicians (1Ch_6:31, 1Ch_6:32), of Heman the Kohathite (1Ch_6:33-38), of Asaph the Gershonite (1Ch_6:39-43), and of Ethan the Merarite (1Ch_6:44-47); and in 1Ch_6:48, 1Ch_6:49, some notes as to the service performed by the other Levites and the priests are added.
The sons of Levi, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari - in 1Ch_6:16-22 the sons of these three sons, i.e., the grandsons of Levi, are introduced, while in 1Ch_6:1 only the sons of Kohath are mentioned. The only object of this enumeration is to make quite clear the descent of the Levitic families which follow.
1Ch 6:17 And these be the names of the sons of Gershom; Libni, and Shimei.
1Ch 6:18 And the sons of Kohath were, Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.
1Ch 6:19 The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers.
1Ch 6:20 Of Gershom; Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son,
Sons of Gershom - The names in this list are curiously different from those in 1Ch_6:41-43, which yet appear to represent the same line reversed. Probably both lists, as in many genealogies, omission is made, to reduce the number of the names to seven.
Of Gershon, Libni his son - Whose genealogy runs thus, Jahath, called Jehiel, 1Ch_23:8. Zimmah, between whom was Shimei, 1Ch_6:42. Joah, the same with Ethan, 1Ch_6:42. Iddo, called Adaiah, 1Ch_6:41. Zerah, Jeaterai, whose name was also Ethni, 1Ch_6:41, the posterity of Shimei, the brother of Libni, are omitted.
Of Gershon, Libni his son - Those of his descendants who are here enumerated belong to the family of his oldest son Libni, which is traced down through seven generations to Jeaterai, a name not elsewhere met with. Of the intermediate names, Johath, Zimmah, and Zerah occur also among the descendants of Asaph, who is descended from the line of Shimei, 1Ch_6:39.
Zimmah his son--his grandson (1Ch_6:42).
1Ch 6:21 Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeaterai his son.
1Ch 6:22 The sons of Kohath; Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son,
The sons of Kohath, Amminadab - The same with Izhar, 1Ch_6:2 the posterity of his brethren, Amram, Hebron, and Uzziel, are omitted; and his genealogy is carried to a considerable length, for the sake of Samuel the prophet, who sprang from him: it stands thus, Korah, Assir, Elkanah, Ebiasaph, Assir, Tahath, Uriel, called Zephaniah, 1Ch_6:36 Uzziah, the same with Azariah, 1Ch_6:36. Shaul, whose name is Joel, 1Ch_6:36 then through the sons of Elkanah, before mentioned, Amasai, Ahimoth, called Mahath, 1Ch_6:35 another Elkanah, Zophai, or Zuph, 1Ch_6:35. Nahath, the same with Toah, 1Ch_6:34 and Tohu, 1Sa_1:1, Eliab, called Eliel, 1Ch_6:34, and Elihu, 1Sa_1:1, Jeroham, another Elkanah, the father of Samuel the prophet, whose firstborn was Vashni, and whose name also was Joel, 1Ch_6:33.
Korah - See the history of this man, and his rebellion, Numbers 16:1-33.
1Ch 6:23 Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir his son,
1Ch 6:24 Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son.
1Ch 6:25 And the sons of Elkanah; Amasai, and Ahimoth.
1Ch 6:26 As for Elkanah: the sons of Elkanah; Zophai his son, and Nahath his son,
1Ch 6:27 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son.
Elkanah--the father of the prophet Samuel (1Sa_1:1).
1Ch 6:28 And the sons of Samuel; the firstborn Vashni, and Abiah.
Vashni - The true name of Samuel’s first-born, which was “Joel”, has here dropped out; and the word properly meaning “and his second (son)” has been taken as the name of the first.
The first-born Vashni, and Abiah - There is a great mistake in this verse: in 1Sa_8:2 And the name of his first-born was Joel, and the name of his second was Abiah, judges in Beer-sheba. The word Joel is lost out of the text in this place, and vesheni, which signifies the second, and which refers to Abiah, is made here into a proper name.
the sons of Samuel--The sons of Samuel are here named Vashni and Abiah. The first-born is called Joel (1Sa_8:2); and this name is given to him in 1Ch_6:33. It is now generally thought by the best critics that, through an error of the copyists, an omission has been made of the oldest son's name, and that Vashni, which is not the name of a person, merely signifies "and the second." This critical emendation of the text makes all clear, as well as consistent with other passages relating to the family of Samuel.
1Ch 6:29 The sons of Merari; Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzza his son,
The sons of Merari; Mahli - The posterity of his brother Mushi are omitted; his genealogy is drawn thus, Libni, Shimei, Uzza, Shimea, Haggiah, Asaiah.
1Ch 6:30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son.
1Ch 6:31 And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after that the ark had rest.
The genealogies of David’s three chief singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan or Jeduthun - These registers are introduced by an account of the service of the Levites about the sanctuary (1Ch_6:31, 1Ch_6:32), and conclude with remarks on the service of the remaining Levites (1Ch_6:48, 1Ch_6:49).
the service of the song in the house of the Lord - whom he appointed chief musicians, and masters of the chorus, to manage and conduct that part of divine service in the sanctuary, singing the praises of God, both with vocal and instrumental music:
after the ark had rest - which was when it was brought from the house of Obededom to the city of David, and was placed in a tabernacle he provided for it, 2Sa_6:12 And they told King David, saying, The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God. And David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness, where it remained until the temple was built.
1Ch 6:32 And they ministered 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.
They waited on their office - On the establishment and continuance of the choral service in the temple, 2Ch_5:12, 2Ch_29:27-30; 2Ch_35:15.
They waited on their office - performed it in the manner prescribed by David, 1Ch_25:1, which David, doubtless by the direction of the Holy Spirit, had instituted for the better regulation of divine worship.
1Ch 6:33 And these are they that waited with their children. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel,
these are they that waited with their children - They and their descendents, who officiated in the service of singing psalms in the sanctuary: the three heads of them were of the three families of the Levites.
of the sons of the Kohathites, Heman a singer - the chief of the singers, and who composed psalms and hymns, which are in the book of Psalms:
the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel - or Samuel. This Heman was grandson of Samuel the prophet; for whose sake his genealogy is traced up to Jacob or Israel in the following verses, and stands thus; after Samuel, Elkanah, Jeroham, Eliel, Toah, Zuph, Elkanah, Mahath, Amasai, Elkanah, Joel, Azariah, Zephaniah, Tahath, Assir, Ebiasaph, Korah, Izhar, Kohath, Levi, Israel.
Heman - In general Asaph takes precedence of Heman and Jeduthun, but here Heman is placed first, because his family, that of the Kohathites, had the highest priestly rank, being the family which furnished the high priests (see 1Ch_6:2-15).
Heman - Heman is named first as being the head of the choir of singers who stood in the centre, while Asaph and his choir stood on his right hand, and on the left Ethan and his choir, so that when they sang in concert the conducting of the whole fell to Heman. His family is traced back in 1Ch_6:33-38 through twenty members to “Kohath the son of Levi, then son of Israel ” (Jacob).
Shemuel - “Samuel.” Our translators have here given the Hebrew, while elsewhere they give uniformlv the Greek, form of the name. This variation, as well as some others, only exists in the translation; the Hebrew being uniformly Shemuel. We learn by this genealogy that Heman was Samuel’s grandson.
These (following three men, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan) are they who stood (in service) with their sons. The three were the heads of the three Levitic families, to whom the execution of the liturgic singing was entrusted. The object of the following genealogies is to show their descent from Levi.
1Ch 6:34 The son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,
1Ch 6:35 The son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,
1Ch 6:36 The son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,
Joel - it is evident, that the same persons, as in these instances, must have had two or more totally distinct names (1Ch_6:24), Shaul, Uzziah, Uriel.
1Ch 6:37 The son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,
1Ch 6:38 The son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.
1Ch 6:39 And his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea,
Asaph - This person, with Heman, the sons of Kora, Ethan, Jeduthun, etc., are celebrated in these books, and in the Psalms, for their skill in singing, and the part they performed in the public worship of God.
His brother Asaph - who is Heman's brother only in the more general sense of being closely connected with him, partly by their common descent from Levi, partly by their common calling, was a descendant of Gershon from his younger son Shimei. His genealogy contains only fifteen names to Gershon, five less than that of his contemporary Heman, probably because here and there intermediate names are omitted.
1Ch 6:40 The son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchiah,
1Ch 6:41 The son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,
1Ch 6:42 The son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei,
1Ch 6:43 The son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.
1Ch 6:44 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,
And their brethren, the sons of Merari - Who were the brethren of the Kohathites and Gershonites, descending from the same ancestor Levi: stood
Ethan - Or Jeduthun. The case seems to be one in which a new name was taken after a while, which thenceforth superseded the old.
on the left hand - that is, of Heman, 1Ch_6:39, the chief of whom was Ethan, sometimes called Jeduthun, 1Ch_16:41 and often in the book of Psalms; his genealogy is traced up to Levi thus; Kishi, called Kushaiah, 1Ch_15:17 Abdi, Malluch, Hashabiah, Amaziah, Hilkiah, Amzi, Bani, Shamer, Mahli, Mushi, Merari, Levi.
1Ch 6:45 The son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,
1Ch 6:46 The son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shamer,
1Ch 6:47 The son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.
1Ch 6:48 Their brethren also the Levites were appointed unto all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.
Their brethren also the Levites - Who were not skilled in singing, and employed in that service, even the rest of the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites: some were porters at the gates; others had the care of the vessels; others slew the beasts for sacrifices, flayed them, and cut them up, and brought the pieces to the altar of burnt offerings, for the priests to offer.
1Ch 6:49 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.
But Aaron and his sons - Those that descended from him, though of the same tribe of Levi were all priests: The office and duties of the high priests having been already described, the names of those who successively filled that important office are recorded.
they offered upon the altar of burnt offerings - the daily sacrifice, and all the offerings of the people brought to them:
on the altar of incense - they burnt incense night and morning: and were appointed
for all the work of the place most holy - such as were high priests of the line of Eleazar, whose work it was to go into the most holy place once a year:
1Ch 6:50 And these are the sons of Aaron; Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,
The sons of Aaron - This list, a mere repetition of that in 1Ch_6:3-8, came, probably, from a different source - a source belonging to the time of David, with whom Ahimaaz (the last name on the list) was contemporary. The other list 1Ch_6:4-15 came, no doubt, from a document belonging to the time of the captivity (see 1Ch_6:15). A proof that the writer of this book had several lists before him, from which he borrowed as he judged proper.
1Ch 6:51 Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son,
1Ch 6:52 Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son,
1Ch 6:53 Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.
1Ch 6:54 Now these are 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.
Their’s was the lot - “the first lot.” The Kohathites had the first lot among the Levitical families, as being the family whereto the high priesthood was attached (compare Jos_21:10).
Now these are their dwelling places -The dwelling places of the priests and Levites, assigned and given to them in the several tribes of Israel; and the account of them agrees with that in Jos_21:1 with some few variations of names of places, which have been there observed: only in 1Ch_6:57 two cities are omitted, through want of care in transcribing, since they are said to be "thirteen", as they should be, whereas eleven only are mentioned.
1Ch 6:55 And they gave them Hebron in the land of Judah, and the suburbs thereof round about it.
1Ch 6:56 But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
1Ch 6:57 And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah, namely, Hebron, the city of refuge, and Libnah with her suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa, with their suburbs,
cities of refuge - The plural is incorrect, for only one of the cities thereafter named, Hebron , was a city of refuge for homicides, and in Jos_21:13 it is correctly written.
1Ch 6:58 And Hilen with her suburbs, Debir with her suburbs,
1Ch 6:59 And Ashan with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs:
Ashan - called Ain in the book of Joshua.
1Ch 6:60 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.
All their cities were thirteen - But there are only eleven reckoned here, Gibeon and Juttah being omitted, and the names of some of the others changed. None of the versions give the full number of names, although they all give the whole sum thirteen. It is possible that these two cities had been destroyed and lay in ruins when this book was written, and hence were not enumerated.
1Ch 6:61 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.
unto the sons of Kohath, which were left--that is, in addition to the priests belonging to the same family and tribe of Levi.
by lot, ten cities-- Jos_21:26 The sacred historian gives an explanation (1Ch_6:66). Eight of these are mentioned, but only two of them are taken out of the half tribe of Manasseh (1Ch_6:70). The names of the other two are given (Jos_21:21), where full and detailed notices of these arrangements may be found.
1Ch 6:62 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.
1Ch 6:63 Unto the sons of Merari were given 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.
1Ch 6:64 And the children of Israel gave to the Levites these cities with their suburbs.
1Ch 6:65 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.
Which are called by their names - Probably each family gave its own name to the city that fell to its lot.
1Ch 6:66 And the residue of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their coasts out of the tribe of Ephraim.
Coasts - Or, of their borders, of their country contained within its borders.
1Ch 6:67 And they gave unto them, of the cities of refuge, Shechem in mount Ephraim with her suburbs; they gave also Gezer with her suburbs,
they gave unto them of the cities of refuge--The names of the cities given here are considerably different from those applied to them (Jos_21:13-19). In the lapse of centuries, and from the revolutions of society, changes might have been expected to take place in the form or dialectic pronunciation of the names of those cities; and this will sufficiently account for the variations that are found in the lists as enumerated here and in an earlier book. As to these cities themselves that were assigned to the Levites, they were widely remote and separated--partly in fulfilment of Jacob's prophecy Gen_49:7 Let their anger be cursed, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel, and partly that the various districts of the country might obtain a competent supply of teachers who might instruct the people in the knowledge, and animate them to the observance, of a law which had so important a bearing on the promotion both of their private happiness and their national prosperity.
In the second list 1Ch_6:67-70 there is likewise an omission of two cities, Eltekeh and Gibbethon, which are wanted to make up the number ten 1Ch_6:61.
1Ch 6:68 And Jokmeam with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs,
1Ch 6:69 And Aijalon with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs:
Aijalon with her suburbs - There are the two cities wanting here, Eltekeh and Gibethon. Jos_21:23.
1Ch 6:70 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.
Aner - Aner is probably another name of Tanach, which was a city of the half tribe of Manasseh, west of Jordan .
Bileam - Ibleam is here called Bileam, by a transposition of letters common to all languages. It is evident, however, that many of these cities or their names have been changed since the time of Joshua.
1Ch 6:71 Unto the sons of Gershom were given out of the family of the half tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, and Ashtaroth with her suburbs:
The third list is complete, though some of the names are very different from these of Joshua.
1Ch 6:72 And out of the tribe of Issachar; Kedesh with her suburbs, Daberath with her suburbs,
1Ch 6:73 And Ramoth with her suburbs, and Anem with her suburbs:
1Ch 6:74 And out of the tribe of Asher; Mashal with her suburbs, and Abdon with her suburbs,
1Ch 6:75 And Hukok with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs:
1Ch 6:76 And out of the tribe of Naphtali; Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, and Hammon with her suburbs, and Kirjathaim with her suburbs.
1Ch 6:77 Unto the rest of the children of Merari were given out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmon with her suburbs, Tabor with her suburbs:
Tabor - Jdg_4:6; Probably the city on the summit of Tabor, mentioned by Polybius and Josephus.
Unto the rest of the children of Merari - Rather, “unto the remainder of the Levites, who were descendants of Merari”: - the two other branches, the Kohathites and the Gershomites, having been treated of previously.
In the fourth list, two names are again wanting, those of Jokneam and Kartah. In the tribe of Zebulun, in 1Ch_6:77, only two cities are named, Rimmon and Tabor, instead of the four - Jokneam, Karthah, Dimnah, and Nahalal - in Jos_21:34.
1Ch 6:78 And on the other side Jordan by Jericho, on the east side of Jordan, were given them out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with her suburbs, and Jahzah with her suburbs,
1Ch 6:79 Kedemoth also with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs:
1Ch 6:80 And out of the tribe of Gad; Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahanaim with her suburbs,
Ramoth in Gilead - a city of refuge (Jos_21:36).
1Ch 6:81 And Heshbon with her suburbs, and Jazer with her suburbs.
