Bible Commentaries
1 Chronicles 6

Introduction

A.M. 2704. B.C. 1300.

The first fathers of the tribe of Levi, 1 Chronicles 6:1-3 . The line of the priests from Aaron to the captivity, 1 Chronicles 6:4-15 . Of some other families, 1 Chronicles 6:16-30 . The work of the Levites, 1 Chronicles 6:31-48 . Of the priests, 1 Chronicles 6:49-53 . The cities of the priests and Levites, 1 Chronicles 6:54-81 .

Verse 5

1 Chronicles 6:5. Bukki begat Uzzi In whose days it is supposed that the high- priesthood was translated from Eleazar’s family to Ithamar’s, for some cause now unknown, in whose line it continued for some successions.

Verse 10

1 Chronicles 6:10. He it is that executed the priest’s office, &c. So did all the rest: but it is implied that he did it worthily; he filled his place well, and valiantly discharged his office. For it is supposed this was that Azariah who boldly opposed the presumption of King Uzziah, when he invaded the priest’s office, 2 Chronicles 26:17. This remark may, however, relate to Johanan, otherwise called Jehoiada, who is so highly commended for the good service which he did to the house of God, and of the king; of whom see 2 Kings 11:0. In the temple that Solomon built In Solomon’s temple; so denominated to distinguish it from the second temple, which was built, or in building, when these books were written.

Verse 16

1 Chronicles 6:16. The sons of Levi, Gershom, &c. This he repeats as the foundation of the following genealogy of those Levites who were not priests.

Verses 19-20

1 Chronicles 6:19-20. The families of the Levites according to their fathers

That is, these were the heads of the families which sprang from them. And it is thought the following catalogue contains the successive heads or chiefs of their several families until the times of David, by whom they were distributed into several courses. Zimmah his son His grandson by his son Shimei, as appears from 1 Chronicles 6:42-43; the names of father and son being often used in Scripture of more remote progenitors or successors.

Verse 26

1 Chronicles 6:26. As for Elkanah, &c. This was another Elkanah, son or grandson of the former Elkanah, and either the son or brother of Ahimoth, last mentioned, or of Amasai. Nahath his son Called also Toah, 1 Chronicles 6:34, and Tohu, 1 Samuel 1:1. The Elkanah mentioned in the next verse was the father of the Prophet Samuel, whose name therefore follows.

Verse 31

1 Chronicles 6:31. And these Whose names follow, are they whom David set over the service Appointed to minister to God by singing songs of praise in his house; after that the ark had rest After David had brought it from the house of Obed-edom, and settled it in Jerusalem, 2 Samuel 8:17.

Verse 32

1 Chronicles 6:32. They ministered before the tabernacle, &c. Which David had prepared for the ark when it came to Jerusalem. According to their order The order which David himself had constituted a little before his death, as we read in the latter end of this book.

Verse 39

1 Chronicles 6:39. His brother Asaph Asaph is here called Heman’s brother, according to the Hebrew phraseology, by which all near relations are brothers; and because he was of the same office and employment.

Verse 44

1 Chronicles 6:44. The sons of Merari stood on the left hand The children of the next son of Levi are here mentioned, who had the lowest place assigned them, because they were of the youngest family. So there were three principal singers, who were masters and governors of the whole choir: Heman, descended from Koath, was the prime, who, together with his sons, stood in the middle: Asaph, descended from Gershom, with his sons, stood on his right hand: and Ethan, (called also Jeduthun, 1 Chronicles 9:16; 2 Chronicles 35:15, and in the title of divers Psalms,) descended from Merari, on the left.

Verse 48

1 Chronicles 6:48. Their brethren were appointed, &c. Such of them as had no skill in singing were otherwise employed; being porters, keepers of the vessels of the sanctuary, occupied in preparing the sacrifices, and such like things. It is observable, that in all the genealogies of the Levites, there is not a word said of the sons of Moses and their posterity, he having no ambition to prefer them unto any great office.

Verse 49

1 Chronicles 6:49. But Aaron and his sons offered upon the altar The noblest part of the ministry was reserved for them. Aaron alone, and his successors in the high-priesthood, made atonement and ministered in the most holy place. But his sons, the other priests, offered on the altars of burnt- offering, and of incense.

Verse 50

1 Chronicles 6:50 . These are the sons of Aaron Having mentioned the work of the high-priests, he here briefly rehearseth the names of the persons who successively performed it.

Verse 54

1 Chronicles 6:54. Throughout their castles So called, not only because walled and well guarded by the country, but because they and their possessions were in a particular manner the care of Divine Providence. As God was their portion, so God was their protector. And a cottage will be a castle to those that abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Theirs was the lot Or, the first lot.

Verse 60

1 Chronicles 6:60. All their cities were thirteen Of which eleven are here numbered, and two more are mentioned Joshua 21:16-17, namely, Jattah and Gibeon; which, perhaps, were in ruins when this book was written.

Verse 66

1 Chronicles 6:66. Had cities of their coasts Or, of their borders, that is, of their country contained within its borders: these cities were assigned the families of the sons of Kohath, though they were not priests, for their support in a lower ministry.

Verse 67

1 Chronicles 6:67. They gave unto them of the cities of refuge That is, the children of Israel, as it is expressed 1 Chronicles 6:64, gave to the residue of the Kohathites the following cities, part out of Ephraim, and part out of the half-tribe of Manasseh. As to the names of these cities, divers of them differ from those mentioned as given to them Joshua 21:15. Nor is it strange that the names of places should be changed in so many hundreds of years as had intervened between Joshua and this time. And as to the cities themselves, it is further to be observed, that they were dispersed among all the tribes, partly that Jacob’s prophecy might be fulfilled concerning the scattering of the tribe of Levi, Genesis 49:7; and partly that every tribe might have teachers among them by whom they might be directed in, and quickened to, the observation of God’s laws, upon which their safety and happiness wholly depended.