59 And Ashan H6228 with her suburbs, H4054 and Bethshemesh H1053 with her suburbs: H4054
And the kine H6510 took the straight H3474 way H1870 to the way H1870 of Bethshemesh, H1053 and went along H1980 the highway, H4546 H259 lowing H1600 as they went, H1980 and turned not aside H5493 to the right hand H3225 or to the left; H8040 and the lords H5633 of the Philistines H6430 went H1980 after H310 them unto the border H1366 of Bethshemesh. H1053 And they of Bethshemesh H1053 were reaping H7114 their wheat H2406 harvest H7105 in the valley: H6010 and they lifted up H5375 their eyes, H5869 and saw H7200 the ark, H727 and rejoiced H8055 to see H7200 it. And the cart H5699 came H935 into the field H7704 of Joshua, H3091 a Bethshemite, H1030 and stood H5975 there, where there was a great H1419 stone: H68 and they clave H1234 the wood H6086 of the cart, H5699 and offered H5927 the kine H6510 a burnt offering H5930 unto the LORD. H3068 And the Levites H3881 took down H3381 the ark H727 of the LORD, H3068 and the coffer H712 that was with it, wherein the jewels H3627 of gold H2091 were, and put H7760 them on the great H1419 stone: H68 and the men H582 of Bethshemesh H1053 offered H5927 burnt offerings H5930 and sacrificed H2076 sacrifices H2077 the same day H3117 unto the LORD. H3068 And when the five H2568 lords H5633 of the Philistines H6430 had seen H7200 it, they returned H7725 to Ekron H6138 the same day. H3117 And these are the golden H2091 emerods H2914 which the Philistines H6430 returned H7725 for a trespass offering H817 unto the LORD; H3068 for Ashdod H795 one, H259 for Gaza H5804 one, H259 for Askelon H831 one, H259 for Gath H1661 one, H259 for Ekron H6138 one; H259 And the golden H2091 mice, H5909 according to the number H4557 of all the cities H5892 of the Philistines H6430 belonging to the five H2568 lords, H5633 both of fenced H4013 cities, H5892 and of country H6521 villages, H3724 even unto the great H1419 stone of Abel, H59 whereon they set down H3240 the ark H727 of the LORD: H3068 which stone remaineth unto this day H3117 in the field H7704 of Joshua, H3091 the Bethshemite. H1030 And he smote H5221 the men H376 of Bethshemesh, H1053 because they had looked H7200 into the ark H727 of the LORD, H3068 even he smote H5221 of the people H5971 fifty H2572 thousand H505 and threescore and ten H7657 men: H582 and the people H5971 lamented, H56 because the LORD H3068 had smitten H5221 many of the people H5971 with a great H1419 slaughter. H4347
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Chronicles 6
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 6 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 6
1Ch 6:1-48. Line of the Priests.
5. Uzzi—It is supposed that, in his days, the high priesthood was, for unrecorded reasons, transferred from Eleazar's family to Ithamar's, in which it continued for several generations.
10. he it is that executed the priest's office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem—It is doubtful whether the person in favor of whom this testimony is borne be Johanan or Azariah. If the former, he is the same as Jehoiada, who rendered important public services (2Ki 11:1-20); if the latter, it refers to the worthy and independent part he acted in resisting the unwarrantable encroachments of Uzziah (2Ch 26:17).
in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem—described in this particular manner to distinguish it from the second temple, which was in existence at the time when this history was written.
14. Azariah begat Seraiah—He filled the supreme pontifical office at the destruction of Jerusalem, and, along with his deputy and others, he was executed by Nebuchadnezzar's orders at Riblah (2Ki 25:18, 21). The line of high priests, under the first temple, which from Zadok amounted to twelve, terminated with him.
16-48. The sons of Levi; Gershom, &c.—This repetition (see 1Ch 6:1) is made, as the historian here begins to trace the genealogy of the Levitical families who were not priests. The list is a long one, comprising the chiefs or heads of their several families until David's reign, who made a new and different classification of them by courses.
20. Zimmah his son—his grandson (1Ch 6:42).
24. Uriel—or Zephaniah (1Ch 6:36).
27. Elkanah—the father of the prophet Samuel (1Sa 1:1).
28. the sons of Samuel—The sons of Samuel are here named Vashni and Abiah. The first-born is called Joel (1Sa 8:2); and this name is given to him in 1Ch 6:33. It is now generally thought by the best critics that, through an error of the copyists, an omission has been made of the oldest son's name, and that Vashni, which is not the name of a person, merely signifies "and the second." This critical emendation of the text makes all clear, as well as consistent with other passages relating to the family of Samuel.
32. before the dwelling-place, &c.—that is, in the tent which David had erected for receiving the ark after it was removed from the house of Obed-edom [2Sa 6:17]. This was a considerable time before the temple was built.
they waited on their office according to their order—which David, doubtless by the direction of the Holy Spirit, had instituted for the better regulation of divine worship.
33. Shemuel—that is, Samuel. This is the exact representation of the Hebrew name.
39. his brother Asaph—They were brothers naturally, both being descended from Levi, as well as officially, both being of the Levitical order.
42. Ethan—or Jeduthun (1Ch 9:16; 2Ch 35:15).
48. Their brethren also the Levites were appointed unto all manner of service—Those of them who were endowed with musical tastes and talents were employed in various other departments of the temple service.
1Ch 6:49-81. Office of Aaron and His Sons.
49. But Aaron and his sons offered, &c.—The office and duties of the high priests having been already described, the names of those who successively filled that important office are recorded.
60. thirteen cities—No more than eleven are named here; but two additional ones are mentioned (Jos 21:16, 17), which makes up the thirteen.
61. unto the sons of Kohath, which were left—that is, in addition to the priests belonging to the same family and tribe of Levi.
by lot, ten cities—(Jos 21:26). The sacred historian gives an explanation (1Ch 6:66). Eight of these are mentioned, but only two of them are taken out of the half tribe of Manasseh (1Ch 6:70). The names of the other two are given (Jos 21:21), where full and detailed notices of these arrangements may be found.
62. to the sons of Gershom—Supply "the children of Israel gave."
67-81. they gave unto them of the cities of refuge—The names of the cities given here are considerably different from those applied to them (Jos 21:13-19). In the lapse of centuries, and from the revolutions of society, changes might have been expected to take place in the form or dialectic pronunciation of the names of those cities; and this will sufficiently account for the variations that are found in the lists as enumerated here and in an earlier book. As to these cities themselves that were assigned to the Levites, they were widely remote and separated—partly in fulfilment of Jacob's prophecy (Ge 49:7), and partly that the various districts of the country might obtain a competent supply of teachers who might instruct the people in the knowledge, and animate them to the observance, of a law which had so important a bearing on the promotion both of their private happiness and their national prosperity.