Annotations upon the remaining historicall part of the Old Testament. The second part. to wit, the books of Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther : wherein first, all such passages in the text are explained as were thought likely to be questioned by any reader of ordinary capacity : secondly, in many clauses those things are discovered which are needfull and usefull to be known ... and thirdly, many places that might at first seem to contradict one another are reconciled ... / by Arthur Jackson.

CHAP. XII.

Vers. 1. NOw these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubba∣bel. &c.] Nehemiah intending here to relate with what solemnity they kept the dedication of the new built walls of Jerusalem, and how the priests and Leuites were imployed herein; first he sets down their ancestours, to wit, who were the chief priests and Levites in the dayes of Jeshua the high priest, and that came with Zerubbabel and Ezra, (or immediately after him) from Babylon into the land of Judea: and then secondly, who were the chief priests and Levites in the daies of Joiakim the high priest the sonne of Jeshua, &c. vers. 12. Now by the chief of the priests is doubtlesse meant in both these catalogues, the heads of the severall divisions of the priests, that did in their turns wait upon the service of the Temple, but then seeing there were twenty foure courses or orders of the priests, established by David, 1. Chron. 24.7. why there should be here but two and twenty menti∣oned in the first catalogue, and but twenty in the second, vers. 12. I find not any probable reason given by Expositours.

Vers. 9. Their brethren, were over against them in the watches.] That is, they were also imployed in other services of the Temple successively in their severall courses.

Vers. 10. And Jeshua begat Joiakim Joiakim also begat Eliashib.] The names of the high priests from their coming out of Babylon, to the ruine of that Persi∣an Monarchy are here inserted, amongst other reasons, no doubt, because in those dayes the years of the Hebrews common-wealth, were noted by the years of the high priest; for kings they had none, as in former ages: and as for this Joiakim the sonne of Jeshua and father of Eliashib, he was happely the same that is often men∣tioned in the Apocryphall story of Judith, see Judith 4.6. and was doubtlesse the high priest in or about the time when Artaxerxes sent Ezra to Jerusalem Ezra 7.1. for Eliashib his sonne, who succeeded him, was high priest when Nehemiah came first to Jerusalem with commission to build the walls of Jerusalem; for he then built the sheep-gate, &c. chap. 3.1. Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his bre∣thren the priests, and they built the sheep-gate, &c. though afterward, Nehemiah be∣ing with Artaxerxes in Persia, he did very grossely misdemean himself in his place, lodging Tobiah to whom he was allyed by mariage, (as also to Sanballat, chap. 13.28.) in the very chambers of the Temple, chap. 13.4, 5. Before this Eliashib

the priest having the oversight of the chambers of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah, and he prepared for him a great chamber, &c.

Vers. 11. And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua.] This Joi∣ada, Jonathan, and Jaddua, were doubtlosse high priests in the times of those kings of Persia that succeeded Artaxerxes Longimanus (whose cup-bearer Nehemiah was,) to wit, Darius Nothus, Artaxerxes Mnemon, Artaxerxes Ochus, Arses, and Darius the last called Codomanus, who lost the Empire to Alexander the great; for as Josephus reports, this Jaddua it was that met Alexander the great in his pon∣tificall robes, when he came against Jerusalem; with the glory of whose presence that great conquerour was so stricken, that he granted the Jews all, and more than they desired. Nor needs it seem strange that Nehemiah should live to see so ma∣ny successions of high priests; for happely he was very young when he was Artax∣erxes cup-bearer: and secondly, happely Jaddua (who lived in Alexanders time) was not yet high priest when Nehemiah wrote this, but was onely added to the rest, because he was to succeed his father Jonathan: and thirdly, God doth usually grant long life to those whom he raiseth up to be great instruments of good to his Church. But however it may well be which others say, that this clause was inser∣ted after Nehemiahs death by some other holy man of God.

Vers. 12. And in the dayes of Joiakim, were priests, the chief of the fathers of Seraiah, Meraiah, &c.] That is, Meraiah was the head or chief of that or∣der in the dayes of Jehoiakim, of which Seraiah was head or chief, vers. 1. in the dayes of Jeshua: and so we must understand all the rest that are named in this se∣cond catalogue.

Vers. 17. Of Miniamim, of Moadiah, Piltai.] The meaning of this clause is, either that Piltai was the head of both these families; or else that he was the head of the family of Miniamin, who was descended of Moadiah.

Vers. 22. The Levites in the dayes of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jad∣dua, were recorded, &c.] Having set down in the ten foregoing verses, who were the chief priests in the dayes of Joiakim the sonne of Jeshua; here we are told that both the chief Levites and priests in the dayes of the following high priests, to wit, Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, (the same that is before called Jonathan, vers. 11.) and Jaddua even to the reigne of Darius the Persian, that is, Darius Codomanus the last Persian king, who was vanquished by Alexander the great were recorded; which is as if it had been said, being recorded elsewhere, there is no need of re∣peating them here again. Now because Jaddua is here again mentioned, it is thought by some, that this verse was also inserted after the death of Nehemiah.

Vers. 23. The sonnes of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the Chronicles, &c.] Here we are told where the names of the chief Le∣vites before mentioned are recorded, untill the dayes of Johanan, or Jonathan the sonne, that is, the grandchild of Eliashib, vers. 11. (and because many of them li∣ved also in the dayes of Jaddua, in the foregoing verse he also is mentioned) name∣ly, in the book of the Chronicles, which whether it be meant of the Scripture Chronicles or no, it is hard to say.

Vers. 24. And the chief of the Levites, &c.] To wit, in the dayes of Joi∣akim;

for so it is expressed, vers. 26. These were in the dayes of Joiakim the sonne of Jeshua, &c.

Vers. 27. And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought the Le∣vites, &c.] For as at their first taking possession of any new built house, they used to dedicate it with feasting, prayer, and praising God (as it is noted, Deut. 20.1.) whence is that title of Psalme 30. A Psalme and song at the dedication of Davids house, so now they resolved to keep a solemn festivity for the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem; to wit, with praying to God that he would blesse them and make them a means of safety to his holy city, and with praising God with Psalmes of joy and thanksgiving, the rather because the walls were so miraculously finished in so short a time, maugre all the opposition of their enemies.

Vers. 30. And purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.] To wit, by sprinkling upon them the water of purifying, as also by praying and praising God, as in the former note.

Vers. 31. Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, &c.] Viz. to∣gether with the Levites and many of the people, as is expressed, vers. 38. and then being altogether in one place, Nehemiah appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, that is, he divided them into two companies; in the one company was Ezra, who went formost, vers. 36. with whom went those Levites and priests men∣tioned, vers. 32. &c. to the end of the 36. verse, with half of the princes, vers. 32. yea, and half of the people, vers. 38. in the other company was Nehemiah, vers. 38. and the other half both of the princes and people, vers. 38, 40. and likewise those priests and Levites mentioned, vers. 41.42. And then being thus divided, Ezra and his com∣pany turned on the right hand toward the dung-gate; Nehemiah and his compa∣ny to the left, toward the tower of the furnaces, vers. 38. and so met both at last in the Temple, vers. 40. which was in the west of the citie; whence it seems they be∣gan on the east-side, Concerning the severall gates here mentioned, see the severall notes on the second and third chapters of this book.

Vers. 44. And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the trea∣treasures, for the offerings, for the first fruits, &c.] Which the people had newly covenanted to bring in yearely according to the law for the priests and Levites.

Vers. 47. And the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron.] That is, the tithe of their tithes the Levites set apart for the priests.