Annotations upon the Holy Bible. Vol. I wherein the sacred text is inserted, and various readings annex'd, together with parallel scriptures, the more difficult terms in each verse are explained, seeming contradictions reconciled, questions and doubts resolved, and the whole text opened / by the late reverend and learned divine Mr. Matthew Poole.

CHAP. XXIV.

1 NOw these are the divisions a 1.1 of the sons of Aaron: * 1.2 The sons of Aaron; Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

2 But * 1.3 Nadab and Abihu died before their fa∣ther, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priests office b 1.4.

3 And David distributed them, † 1.5 both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their Offices c 1.6 in their ser∣vice.

4 And there were moe chief men found of the sons of Eleazar, than of the sons of Ithamar, and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Elea∣zar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar, ac∣cording to the house of their fathers.

5 Thus were they divided by lot d 1.7, one sort with another; for † 1.8 the governours of the sanctuary, and governours of the house of God e 1.9, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.

6 And Shemajah the son of Nathancel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fa∣thers of the Priests and Levites: one † 1.10 principal houshold being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar f 1.11.

7 Now the first lot came forth g 1.12 to Jehoja•…•…ib, the second to Jedajah,

8 The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,

9 The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,

10 The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to * 1.13 Abi∣jah,

11 The ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,

12 The eleventh to Elias•…•…ib, the twelfth to Ja∣kim,

13 The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,

14 The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Im∣mer,

15 The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses.

16 The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel,

17 The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,

18 The three and twentieth to Delajah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.

19 These were the orderings of them in their ser∣vice h 1.14, to come into the house of the LORD, ac∣cording to their manner i, under Aaron their fa∣ther k 1.15, as the LORD God of Israel had command∣ed him.

20 And the rest of the sons of Levi l 1.16 were these. Of the sons of Amram, * 1.17 Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdejah m 1.18.

21 Concerning Rehabiah n 1.19: of the sons of Re∣habiah, the first o 1.20 was Jeshiah.

22 Of the Izharite; * 1.21 Shelomoth p 1.22: of the sons of Shelomoth; Jahath.

23 And the sons of * 1.23 Hebron; Jeriah the first q 1.24, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.

24 Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah: of the sons of Michah; Shamir.

25 The brother of Michah was Isshiah: of the sons of Isshiah; Zechariah.

26 The sons of Merari were, Mahli and Mushi: the sons of Jaaziah r 1.25; Beno.

27 The sons of Merari by Jaaziah; Beno s 1.26; and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.

28 Of Mahli came Eleazar, * 1.27 who had no sons.

29 Concerning Kish t 1.28: the son of Kish was Je∣rahmeel.

30 The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites, after the house of their fathers.

31 These likewise cast lots over against their brethren the sons of Aaron u 1.29, in the presence of David the king, and Zadok and Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren x 1.30.

Notes

• a 1.1

  i. e. The several Branches into which that Family was divided or distributed.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 10. •…•…. 5.
• * 1.3

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. •…•…. 4. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…6. 6•…•….
• b 1.4

  i. e. Were the onely persons to whom and to whose Families the Execution of that Office was committed.
• † 1.5

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Za∣•…•…, •…•…0. 3•…•….
• c 1.6

  Or, courses: or, prefectures, i. e. Allotting to each of them several times wherein they or theirs should by turns have the Go∣vernment of Holy Ministrations in the Temple Service.
• d 1.7

  Partly to prevent that Envy or Emulation which otherwise might arise among them: and partly that all mens Minds and Consciences might be fully satisfied in the Order now established by this Divine way of Decision.
• † 1.8

  Heb. the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of God, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 23. 6.
• e 1.9

  But that is no other than the San∣ctuary; and so it may seem to make this Division improper and irregular, the several Members of it being altogether the same. Or rather, of the things of God, i. e. of all persons ministring in the Sanctuary, and of all Holy Ministrations done in it, and of all o∣ther matters of the Lord, as they are called by way of distinction from the kings matters, 2 Chron. 19. 11.
• † 1.10

  Heb. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• f 1.11

  Or, the Chief (which Word is easily supplied out of the con∣text) of one house of the Fathers was taken (to wit, by Lot) for E∣leazar (i. e. out of his Family) and that which was taken after it was taken for Ithamar, i. e. out of his Family. The meaning is, that the first Lot fell to Eleazar, and the second to Ithamar; and the third to Eleazar, and the fourth to Ithamar; and so suc∣cessively until all the Families of Ithamar had received their Lots▪ And afterwards all the Lots came forth to the rest of Eleazars Fa∣milies which were double in number to those of Ithamar, as was said, v. 4.
• g 1.12

  To wit, out of the Vessel in which all the Lots were promis∣cuously put together, and out of which they were severally taken.
• * 1.13

  Neh. 12. 4, 17▪ Luke •…•…. 5.
• h 1.14

  In this Order and Method they were to come to perform the Offices of the Temple. i. e. To come into the Temple every Sab∣bathday, and to continue there all the Week long until the next Sabbath, when they were relieved by others, as the Manner was: See 2 King. 11. 5. 1 Chron. 9. 25.
• k 1.15

  i. e. Under the Inspection and Direction of the High-priest, whom he calls Aaron, because he re∣presented his Person and executed his Office, and also came out of his Loyns, and their father, because of the Authority which by Gods Appointment he had over them, and that Love, Reve∣rence, and Obedience which they owed to him.
• l 1.16

  Either such as were onely Levites and not Priests: or rather, such as were not named or numbred before in this or the former Chapter.
• * 1.17

  Ch. 23. 16▪ Sheb•…•…el.
• m 1.18

  Who being, as it seems, an Eminent Person, or ha∣ving a very numerous Family, was not reckoned with or under his Fathers Family, but was accounted as a distinct Head of another Family.
• n 1.19

  The Son of Eliezer, ch. 23. 17.
• o 1.20

  By Birth, or Place.
• * 1.21

  Ch. 23. 18. Shelomith.
• p 1.22

  Called also Shelomith, ch. 23. 18.
• * 1.23

  Ch. 23. 19. & 26. 31.
• q 1.24

  Which word is fitly supplied both out of the rest of this verse, the second, third, and fourth having a manifest reference to the first, and out of 1 Chron. 23. 19. & 26. 31. where it is expressed.
• r 1.25

  The Son either of Mahli: or rather of Mushi last named: for Mahli's Posterity comes v. 28.
• s 1.26

  Whose Name is here repeated with his Brethren▪ because he was the First-born, and Head of the rest who were all reckoned with and under his Family, as if they had been Branches of it.
• * 1.27

  Ch▪ 23. 22.
• t 1.28

  Another of Mahli's Sons, as appears from 1 Chron. 23. 21.
• u 1.29

  i. e. Answerable for Number and Order to those of the Priests, so as there should be a several course of the Levites for each course of the Priests. This is expressed concerning the Singers, ch. 25. and the like is implied concerning the Porters, ch. 26. and is here sufficiently intimated concerning those Levites which were employ∣ed in other Sacred Ministrations.
• x 1.30

  The Lots of the Elder and Younger Brethren were promiscuously put together, and the order was settled as the Lots came forth without any regard to the Age or Dignity or Number of the Persons or Families, the youngest Family having the first Course if they had the first Lot, &c.