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§ Of † 1.1 the course of Abia.
The Priests were divided by David into four and twenty courses, 1 Chron. 24 Not, but that there had been courses before of them, but because there had not been so many. For reason it self will tell us, that since they were all bound to the Sanctuary, and withall were so very many in number, they could not serve there mixed∣ly and confusedly, but must need have some distinction and order: some of the Jews say they were divided into eight courses by Moses, four of Eleazar, and four Ithamar. But for this they have no ground to shew at all. Others that they were divided into sixteen by him, namely, eight and eight of either family. And of the division it self, there seemeth to be some probability in the Text, but not of the divider. For speaking of Davids distinguishing them, because they were grown more numerous, it saith, 1 Chro. 24. 6.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which importeth thus much, that there was one principal houshold added to every course of Eleazar more than was before, and so they became sixteen, but of Ithamar were only taken those which were used before, which were only eight, and thus did they rise to four and twenty. See R. Solomon & Dav. Kimchi in loc.
These courses thus newly increased by David for number, and thus newly ranked by lot for order, and both for the service of the Temple, when it should be built; it is but little to be doubted, but that they began their round, when the service of the Temple did first begin; which round began on the Sabbath, next after the Feast of Tabernacles, about the two and twentieth day of the month Tisri, 2 Chron. 7. For on the three and twentieth day, Solomon dismissed all the people to their own houses, ver. 10. after he had kept the Feast of Tabernacles seven days before according to the Law, beginning on the fifteenth day of the month, and concluding on the one and twentieth day, Lev. 23. and the next day after, or the two and twentieth day, was a solemn assembly, and that year (as it may be conceived) the Sabbath day. Now in the week of the Feast, so great was the company of the Congregation, and so many the multitude of the Sacrifices, that no single course was able to undergo the service, but then (as also at the other two great Festivals) all the courses served indifferently, (and so had they done at the Temples dedication, 2 Chron. 5. 11.) and on the next Sabbath, the course of Jehojarib or the first began.
They changed every week, comming in on the Sabbath, and on the next going out, 2 Kings 11. 7. 2 Chron. 23. 4. So that by the time of the passover, they were just gon about; and from thence they began their second round again: In the eighth course of which second round; for so was the course of: Abia, 1 Chron. 24. 10. Zacharias heareth the glad tidings of the birth of Christs forerunner; just about the same time of the year, that Sarah did of the fixed time of the birth of Isaac, toward the middle of the Summer, Gen. 18.
But that the Reader may have a full and perfect view of the revolution of these courses: and because he will have frequent occasion in his reading of the Evangelists, to have his eye upon the passing of the year of the Jews; let it not be tedious to in∣terpose a Kalendar, or Almanack of it, here at the very entrance; with an account of the courses of the Priests used every week at the Temple, the Lessons out of the Law and the Prophets, used every Sabbath in the Synagogues; and their Festivals great and lesser, as they lighted in their seasons; that whensoever hereafter in his Progress in this sacred History of the Gospel, he shall have occasion to look after any of these, they may be here ready before his eyes.
The Jews reckoned their year by Lunary months, as is more then apparent; by the words that signified a month amongst them, as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and by several Stories in the Scripture; and in this their reckoning, saith, * 1.2 Rabbi Solomon, one month was full, and another wanting; that is, one consisting of thirty days, and another only of nine and twen∣ty: This computation made their years to fall eleven days short of the year of the Sun. And this the Holy Ghost seemeth to hint and to hit upon, when in reckoning the time of Noahs being in his Arke, he bringeth him in on the seventeenth day of the second month, Gen. 7. 11. and bringeth him out on the seven and twentieth day of the same month on the next year, Gen. 8. 14. and yet intendeth him there but an exact and compleat year of the Sun, but reckoned only by Lunary months.
Now these eleven days, which the year of the Sun out stretched the year of the Moon, on every third year made up a month of three and thirty days; which the Jews laid after the month Adar, or the last month; and called it Veadar, or Adar, over again.