1 So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their defection.
B D 2. In the cities.
E 3-34. In Jerusalem.
D 35-44. In Gibeon.
454-400 B.C.
2 Now the first inhabitants (i.e. after the reoccupation on the return from Babylon, under Zrubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, and Ezra, 454-400 B.C.) that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, the Israel of God, (Cp. Neh. 11:3. See "Israel" [Gen. 32:28; 43:6; 45:26,28]. Called "Israel", although only the return of Judah and Benjamin. See 1 Kings 12:17) the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinims. (Taken from the people in proportion of 1 in 50 to assist the Levites [Num. 31:47. Ezra 8:20])
E h1 3-9. Judah. h2 10-13. The Priests. h3 14-34. The Levites.
3 And in Jerusalem (as distinct from the Land [v.2]. Cp. Neh. 11:1) dwelt of the sons of Judah, and of the sons of Benjamin, and of the sons of Ephraim, and Manasseh; (So that others beside Judah and Benjamin were included in the People no know as "Jews". Cp. Ezra 6:21. Neh. 10:28,29. See 1 Kings 12:17)
4 Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Pharez the son of Judah.
5 And of the Shelonites; (from Shelah the son of Judah. Cp. 2:3. Num. 26:28. Neh. 9:8. So that some from each of the 3 lines of Judah were included, viz. Pharez, Shelah, Judah) Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons.
6 And of the sons of Zerah; Jeuel, and their brethren, (i.e. Uthai [v.4] and Asaiah [v.5]. [Jewish]) six hundred and ninety. (these were the sons of Zerah. The 468 in Neh. 11:6 were sons of Pharez)
7 And of the sons of Benjamin; Sallu (at the head of Benjamin [Neh. 11:7]) the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah, (In Neh. 11:9 called Senuah)
8 And Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephathiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;
9 And their brethren, according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty and six. (In Neh. 11:8 we have 928. The dates of enumeration are independant and not identical)All these men were chief of the fathers in the house of their fathers.
10 And of the priests; Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, and Jachin, (Cp. Neh. 11:10 and 12:6)
11 And Azariah (in Neh. 11:11 the same enumeration, but Seraiah) the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God; (Applied to the high priest: at this time Ahitub [6:11]. Later it was Joshua the high priest [Ezra 3:3. Zech. 3:1-8; 6:11-13]. Cp. 2 Chron. 31:13; 35:8. God = Elohim [with Art.] = the [true] God)
12 And Adaiah (cp. Neh. 11:12) the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasiai (cp. 24:14 and Neh. 11:13) the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;
13 And their brethren, heads of the house of their fathers, a thousand and seven hundred and threescore; (in Neh. 11:12-14, 1192, which must have been before the priests had settled in the priestly cities) mighty men of valor for the work of the service of the house of God.
14 And of the Levites; Shemaiah (cp. Neh. 11:15) the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;
15 And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph;
16 And Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelt in the villages (till the priestly cities were built) of the Netophathites. (Cp. Neh. 12:28)
17 And the gatekeepers were, (cp. Neh. 12:25) Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren: Shallum was the chief;
18 Who hitherto (referring to the ancient practice) waited in the king's gate eastward: (leading from the royal palace to the Temple) they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.
19 And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, (The descendants of Korah. Cp. Num. 16; 26:9-11; and see Pss. 42; 44-49; 84; 85; 87; 88) were over the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent: and their fathers, being over the host of the LORD, (Yehovah) were keepers of the entry.
20 And Phinehas (cp. Ex. 6:23) the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, (i.e. previous to the writing of this history. 1434-1383) and the LORD was with him.
21 And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the entrance of the tabernacle of the congregation.
22 All these which were chosen to be gatekeepers in the thresholds were two hundred and twelve. (these were for the Tabernacle [v.21]. In. Neh. 11:19, 172 excluding those in the villages. Not the 4,000 of 23:5, or their 93 heads [ch.26], which were for the future Temple)These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office.
23 So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the Lord, namely, the house of the tabernacle, by watches.
24 In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south.
25 And their brethren, which were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them.
26 For these Levites, the four chief gatekeepers, were in their trusts, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.
27 And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and were over the key. (Cp. Judg. 3:25. Isa. 22:22)
28 And certain of them had the charge of the vessels of service, that they should bring them in and out by number.
29 Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and (to emphasize all the details in this verse. 7 denotes spiritual perfection) all the instruments of the sanctuary, and over the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices. (Cp. Ex. 22-38)
30 And some of the sons of the priests compounded the ointment of the spices.
31 And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made on the flat pans.
32 And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the shewbread, to prepare it every sabbath. (Cp. Ex. 25:30. Lev. 24:5-8)
33 And these are the singers, (refers to vv.14-16, and Neh. 11:22. 2 Chron. 34:12) chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were exempt from duty: for they were employed in that work day and night.
34 These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations; these dwelt at Jerusalem.
35 And in Gibeon dwelt (verses 35-44 are an abridgment of 8:29-38. Could not suitably be introduced there. Reserved to be inserted here, to lead up to Saul's death in ch. 10) the parent-family of Gibeon, Jehiel, whose wife's name was Maachah:
36 And his firstborn son Abdon, then Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab.
37 And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth.
38 And Mikloth begat Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their brethren at Jerusalem, over against their brethren.
39 And Ner begat Kish; (see 8:33) and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
40 And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal: and Meribbaal begat Micah.
41 And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, and Ahaz. (Supplied from 8:33)
42 And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;
43 And Moza begat Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.
44 And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan: these were the sons of Azel.