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. II.

1 NOw * 1.1 these are the children of the province a 1.2 that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city b 1.3;

2 Which came with Zerubbabel c 1.4: Jeshua, Nehe∣mia, ‖ 1.5 Serajah, Reelajah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah: the number of the men of the people of Israel.

3 The children d 1.6 of Parosh e 1.7, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.

4 The children of Shephaliah, three hundred seven∣ty and two.

5 The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and five f 1.8.

6 The children of * 1.9 Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshuah, and Joab g 1.10, two thousand eight hundred and twelve.

7 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.

8 The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five.

9 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and three∣score.

10 The children of ‖ 1.11 Bani, six hundred fourty and two.

11 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three.

12 The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two.

13 The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six.

14 The children of Bigvai, two thousand and fifty and six.

15 The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four.

16 The children of Ater of Hezekiah k, ninety and eight. * 1.12

17 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three.

18 The children of ‖ 1.13 Jorah, an hundred and twelve.

19 The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three.

20 The children of ‖ 1.14 Gibbar, ninety and five.

21 The children of Beth-lehem i 1.15, an hundred twen∣ty and three.

22 The men of Netophah, fifty and six.

23 The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.

24 The children of ‖ 1.16 Azmaveth, forty and two.

25 The children of Kirjath-arim k 1.17, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty and three.

26 The children of Ramah, and Gaba, six hun∣dred twenty and one.

27 The men of Michmas, an hundred twenty and two.

28 The men of Beth-el and Ai, two hundred twen∣ty and three.

29 The children of Nebo, fifty and two.

30 The children of Magbish, an hundred fifty and six.

31 The children of the other * 1.18 Elam l 1.19, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.

32 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.

33 The children of Lod, ‖ 1.20 Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and five.

34 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.

35 The children of Sanaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty.

36 The priests: the children of * 1.21 Jedajah of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.

37 The children of * 1.22 Immer, a thousand fifty and two.

38 The children of * 1.23 Pashur, a thousand two hun∣dred forty and seven.

39 The children of * 1.24 Harim m 1.25, a thousand and seventeen.

40 The Levites: the children of Jeshua, and Kad∣miel, of the children of ‖ 1.26 Hodaviah, seventy and four.

41 The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight.

42 The children of the porters: the children of Shal∣lum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Halita, the children of Shobai, in all, an hundred thirty and nine.

43 The Nethinims n 1.27: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,

44 The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon.

45 The children of Lebanah, the children of Ha∣gabah, the children of Akkub,

46 The children of Hagab, the children of ‖ 1.28 Shal∣mai, the children of Hanan,

47 The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reajah,

48 The children of Rezin, the children of Neko∣da, the children of Gazzam,

49 The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,

50 The children of Asnah, the children of Mehu∣nim, the children of Nephusim,

51 The children of Bakbuk, the children of Haku∣pha, the children of Harhur,

52 The children of ‖ 1.29 Bazluth, the children of Me∣hida, the children of Harsha,

53 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah,

54 The children of Neziah, the children of Hati∣pha.

55 The children of Solomons servants o 1.30: the chil∣dren of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of ‖ 1.31 Peruda,

56 The Children of Jaalah, the children of Dar∣kon, the children of Giddel.

57 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the chil∣dren of ‖ Ami.* 1.32

58 All the * Nethinims, and the children of * So∣lomons servants, were three hundred ninety and two.

59 And these were they which went up from Tel∣melah, Tel-harsa p 1.33, Cherub, Addan, and Immer q 1.34: but they could not shew their fathers house, and their ‖ 1.35 seed, whether they were of Israel:

60 The children of Delajah, the children of To∣biah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two.

61 And of the children of the Priests: the children of Habajah, the children of Koz, the children of Bar∣zillai: (which took a wife of the daughters of * 1.36 Bar∣zillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name r 1.37.)

62 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy s 1.38, but they were not found: therefore † 1.39 were they as polluted, put from the priesthood.

63 And the ‖ 1.40 Tirshatha t 1.41 said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with * 1.42 Urim and with Thummim u 1.43.

64 The whole congregation † 1.44 together was * 1.45 forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore x 1.46:

65 Besides their servants, and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and se∣ven: and there were among them two hundred singing∣men and singing-women y 1.47.

66 Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six: their mules two hundred forty and five:

67 Their camels four hundred thirty and five: their asses six thousand and seven hundred and twen∣ty.

68 And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD z 1.48 that is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place.

69 They gave after their ability unto the * 1.49 treasure of the work, threescore and one thousand drams of gold ‖ 1.50, and five thousand pound of silver, and one hundred priests garments.

70 So the priests and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethi∣nims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their ci∣ties.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Neh. 7. 6. &c.
• a 1.2

  i. e. The Israelites, called the children of the province, either 1. Of Babylon, of which Province we oft read, as ch. 7. 16. Dan. 2▪ 48. & 3. 1, 12, 30. called the Province by way of eminency; of which they are called children, because of their Birth and Habitati∣on in it for a long time, it being usual to call the Inhabitants of any City or place its Children. Or rather 2. Of Iudaea, called a Pro∣vince, ch. 5. 8. And he calls it thus emphatically to mind himself and his Brethren of that sad change which their sins had made among them, that from an illustrious, independent, and sormida∣ble Kingdom were faln to be an obscure, servile, and contempti∣ble Province, first under the chaldeans, and now under the Per∣sians.
• b 1.3

  Either unto those Cities or Towns which belonged to their several Ancestors. Or rather, to those which were now al∣lotted to them▪ and from this time possessed by them. For their former Cities were either demolished, or possessed by other per∣sons, which they were not now in a capacity of disturbing.
• c 1.4

  As for this Catalogue it differs in some names and numbers from that Neh. 7. which might be from divers causes, partly be∣cause several names given to one and the same person; and partly because of the many changes which might happen in the same fa∣milies between the time of the first making of this Catalogue by Ez∣ra, and the making of it anew so many years as that Catalogue Nehem. 7. was made after the former.
• ‖ 1.5

  Or, Azaria, Neh. 7. 7.
• d 1.6

  i. e. The Posterity, as that word is for the most part, if not constantly, taken in this Catalogue.
• e 1.7

  That descended either from Parosh, or from that Family whereof Parosh was the chief. And so for the rest.
• f 1.8

  In Nehem. 7. 10. they were only 652. It seems 775 marched out of Babylon, or gave in their names that they would go; but some of them died, others changed their Minds, others were hin∣dred by the sickness, or other casualties, happening to themselves or near Relations; and so there came only 652 to Ierusalem. And the like is to be said in the like differences: which it suff•…•…es to hint once for all.
• * 1.9

  Neh. 7. 11▪
• g 1.10

  Or, of Ieshuah-Ioab, as the former was Pahath-moab.
• ‖ 1.11

  Or, Bani, Neh. 7. 15.
• * 1.12

  h Of Ater the son of Hezekiah, not the King, but another famous person so called.
• ‖ 1.13

  Or, He•…•…, Neh. 7. 24▪
• ‖ 1.14

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ Neh. 7. 2•…•….
• i 1.15

  Either of a Man called Bethlehem, or the Bethlehemite by way of eminency. Or, of the place so called. And so these were the re∣mainders of the Inhabitants of that City. And the like may be said of the two following names, Netophah and Anathoth, or others of the like Nature.
• ‖ 1.16

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Neh. 7. 2•…•….
• k 1.17

  Or, Kiriath-jearim, as it is Neh. 7. 29.
• * 1.18

  See 〈◊〉〈◊〉. •…•….
• l 1.19

  For one Elam was mentioned before, v. 7.
• ‖ 1.20

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as it is in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 copies.
• * 1.21

  1 Chr. 24.
• * 1.22

  1 Chr. 24. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.23

  1 Chr. 9. 12.
• * 1.24

  1 Chr. 24▪ •…•….
• m 1.25

  The Head of one of the Twenty four courses which David ap∣pointed, 1 Chr. 24. 8. Of all which courses some observe here are not above four or five that returned. There is another Harim men∣tioned above, v. 32. but that was no Priest as this was, v. 36.
• ‖ 1.26

  〈…〉〈…〉
• n 1.27

  The persons devoted to the inferiour Services of the Priests and Levites: of whom see 1 Chr. 9. 2.
• ‖ 1.28

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• ‖ 1.29

  〈…〉〈…〉
• o 1.30

  Either of those Strangers and Proselytes, whom Solomon used in the building of the Temple, 1 King. 9. 21. to the service of which, as some add, he devoted them▪ as there should be occasi∣on hereafter. Or, others who had lived in Solomons Family, and after his death, called themselves and their Families by that name, as esteeming it a great honour to them that they had been Servants to so great a Prince.
• ‖ 1.31

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.32

  〈…〉〈…〉
• p 1.33

  The names of the places whence they came, and where they had lived in the time of their Captivity.
• q 1.34

  The names either of the Heads of the Families living in the places last mentioned; or of other places where the persons here understood had dwelt.
• ‖ 1.35

  〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.36

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 17.
• r 1.37

  To wit, Barzillai. Which name he preferred before that of his own Family, accounting it, as it seems, a greater Honour to be allied to so noble a Family than to be a Priest of the Lord. But by this ambition he deprived himself of the honour and advantage of the Priesthood, as it is here noted, v. •…•…2.
• s 1.38

  The Jews were generally very exact and careful in their Ge∣nealogies, partly from their own choice and Interest, that they might preserve the distinctions of the several Tribes and Families, which was necessary both to make out their claims or titles to Offi∣ces or inheritances, which might belong to them by death, or otherwise, as here we see, and to govern themselves thereby in the matter of Marriages, and some other things wherein the pra∣ctice of some Laws required the knowledge of these things: and partly by the special Providence of God, that so it might be certain∣ly known of what Tribe and Family the Messiah was born. For as they took care of all their Families, so doubtless they took a more punctual and singular care about the Royal Family, upon which all their hopes depended.
• † 1.39

  Heb. they were polluted from the priest∣hood.
• ‖ 1.40

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪
• t 1.41

  i. e. The Governour, to wit Zerubbabel. Whence Nehemiah also is so called, Neh. 8. 9. & 10. 2.
• * 1.42

  Ex. 28. 30.
• u 1.43

  That this point which could not be found out by any humane skill or Industry might be de∣termined by divine direction. Hereby it appears that the Urim and Thummim were lost in the destruction of the City and Temple, though the Jews sed themselves with hopes of recovering them, but in vain. Of the Urim and Thummim, see Exod. 28. 30. Numb. 27. 21. 1 Sam. 23. 9.
• † 1.44

  Heb. as one, ch. 3. 9.
• * 1.45

  Neh. 7. 66.
• x 1.46

  The particular summs here recited come only to 29818. Un∣to whom are added in this total summ 12542. Which either were of the other Tribes beside Iudah and Benjamin: or were such as were supposed by themselves and others to be Israelites, but could not prove their pedigree by their genealogies, and therefore could not be so punctually and particularly described, as the former.
• y 1.47

  For Women as well as Men were devoted to, and employed in this exercise in the Temple-Service, as appears from 1 Chr. 25. 5, 6. And the Parents of these Persons had taken care to instruct and exercise them as far as they could in this Art, both for Gods ser∣vice, and for their own benefit, when Ierusalem and the Temple should be rebuilt; which they knew would be done after Ieremiahs 70 years were expired.
• z 1.48

  i. e. To the ruines of the house; or to the place where that House stood.
• * 1.49

  1 Chr. 2•…•…. 20.
• ‖ 1.50

  A dram of Gold is supposed to be of the weight of the fourth part of a shekel and of the value of a French Crown.