adopted by another. For this is certain, men are sometimes in Scripture called the sons of those who adopted them, or whose right of inheritance fell to them. and Benjamin, but those also who were | Neh. xi. 7, or at least by persons under carried into Assyria and Media by Tiglath- other names. Possibly these were his more pileser and Shalmanaser. For the edict of immediate, and those his more remote Cyrus extended to them, as well as to Judah parents; or he might be born of one, and and Benjamin; and, as the prophets had foretold (see Jer. v. 3, 4, 10, and xxi.), some of them did return, though too many (as the Jews also did) continued where they were settled in their captivity. But that the word Israelites is here a distinct name from the Jews, is apparent from what follows, ver. 3. The last of these, viz., the Nethinims, are generally thought by the Jewish interpreters to be the same with the Gibeonites, who performed the lower offices in the temple, being hewers of wood and drawers of water (see Josh. ix. 27). But Ezra hath immediate which is not probable. given us a better account of them, chap. viii. 20, where he informs us they were given by David to minister to the Levites (which Bp. Patrick.-7 Meshullam.] This Meshullam is said to be descended from quite different ancestors, than are mentioned Neh. xi. 7. And therefore this is a quite different person from the other, though of the same name. Though some think that one of these authors gives an account of his remote ancestors, and the other of his more Ver. 9. Au. Ver.-9 And their brethren, accord were is the original of their name), as the Levites ing to their generations, nine hundred were given by God to help the priests. And and fifty and six. All these men therefore in all places they are mentioned chief of the fathers in the house of their with holy persons. Gesen.- m. plur. (r. ¡n;) Nethinim, pp. the given, the devoted, as the name of the Hebrew iepódovλot or, servants of the temple, temple-slaves, who were under the Levites in the ministry of the temple, 1 Chron. ix. 2, etc. For the origin of the word comp. Num. viii. 19. Ver. 4. Au. Ver. 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. Pool. That there is so great a diversity of names between this catalogue and that Neh. xi., may be ascribed to two causes: 1. To the custom of the Hebrews, who used very frequently to give two or three several names to one person; and, 2. To the change of times; for here they are named who came up at the first return; but many of those in Nehemiah might be such as returned afterward, and came and dwelt either instead of the persons here named, who might be then dead, or gone from Jerusalem, or with them. Ver. 7. Au. Ver.-7 And of the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah. Pool.-Sallu the son of Meshullam; who is mentioned, but described by other parents, fathers. Chief of the fathers. Bp. Patrick. They are called chief fathers because they were principal governors in their families. Nine hundred and fifty six. Pool. They are reckoned but nine hundred and twenty-eight in Neh. xi. 8, either because here he mentions only those that were by lot determined to dwell at Jerusalem, to whom he here adds those who freely offered themselves to it; see Neh. xi. 1, 2; or because some of the persons and families first placed there were dead or extinguished, or else removed from Jerusalem upon some emergent occasion. Ged. 9 Here seem to be wanting the names of the chiefs of Ephraim and Manasseh. Ver. 11. Au. Ver.-11 And Azariah [Neb. xi. 11, 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. Bp. Patrick.-Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God.] This last person is thought by Pellicanus to have been the high-priest; but both Ezra and Haggai tell us Jeshua (or Joshua) was high-priest (Ezra iii. 2, Hag. i. 1). This therefore was not the ruler, but a ruler in God's house (as the words should be translated); not the principal Au. Ver.-15 And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, ruler, but one in great authority under him; Ged.-And Heresh. Some make this an appellative noun, and render the carpenter. Booth.-15 And Bakbakkar, and Mattaniah, (the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph.) 15 The names omitted are inconsistent law. Dr. A. Clarke.-The ruler of the house of God.] The high-priest at this time was Jeshua the son of Jozadak (Ezra iii. 8); and Seraiah (Neh. xi. 11), called here Azariah, was the ruler of the house; the person next in authority to the high-priest, with the parallel place. One of them occurs in the next verse in its proper place, Neh. xi. 17. Au. Ver. Ver. 17. οἱ πυλωρὸι, κ.τ.λ. 17 And the porters were, Bp. Patrick.-Ver. 17. The porters.] Or rather the guards, as the Hebrew word signifies, and not porters. Gesen. m. (denom. from Tv) gatekeeper, porter, 2 Kings vii. 10, &c. TAT: Ver. 18. וְעַד־הֵנָּה בְּשַׁעַר הַמֶּלֶךְ מִזְרָחָה and who probably had the guard of the temple, and command of the priests, Levites, &c. It is likely that the person here was the same as is called the second priest, 2 Kings xxv. 18, who was the sagan, or highpriest's deputy. Ver. 12. Au. Ver.-12 And Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasiai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer. Booth.-12 And Adaiah, (the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah,) and Maasiai, (the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer.) 12 If the account in Nehemiah xi., xii., καὶ ἕως ταύτης ἐν τῇ πύλῃ τοῦ βασιλέως κατ' ανατολάς· αὗται αἱ πύλαι τῶν παρεμβολῶν υἱῶν Λευί. Au. Ver.-18 Who hitherto waited in the king's gate eastward: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi. Pool.-In the king's gate eastward; in the either because it was the chief and most east gate of the temple, which was so called, magnificent of all the gates, or because the kings of Judah used to go to the temple through that gate, 2 Kings xvi. 18: compare Ezek. xliv. 1, 2. Under this gate he comprehends all the rest, which also were guarded by these porters. In the companies, or, according to the companies, or orders, or courses, i. e., they kept the gates successively, according to that method into which themselves and the rest of their brethren the Levites were distributed. xiii. be correct, some names are omitted here, and others in some of the places are corrupted. By adding the three names from Ged.-18 And, at the royal, or eastern Nehemiah, the deficiency here is supplied; gate, Adnah. These were the door-keepers, and whoever compares the original will according to the fixt stations of the children easily see how the other might be corrupted. of Levi. who hitherto in the king's gate, &c., which I the ruler over them in time past, and the confess I do not understand. LORD was with him. Booth.-18 At the king's gate eastward, these were door-keepers, according to the fixed stations of the children of Levi. Houb.- 18 Et Adane ad portam, quæ regia dicebatur, orientalem: illi erant janitores, per turmas filiorum Levi. 21 And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. Pool.-19 Keepers of the gates of the tabernacle; or, who were, to wit in time past, which is expressed in a like case, ver. 20, 18: Nos, et Adane. Nam malui- when the tabernacle was standing, before the mus per nomen proprium interpretari, quàm temple was built. Their fathers; the Konihil dicere. Quippe hactenus convenire in hathites, of whom see on Numb. iv. 4. seriem non potest; et frustrà Clericus, Over the host of the Lord; or, with (as this fuerunt adhuc; hoc est, inquit, ad tempus Hebrew particle is oft used) the host, &c., destructionis templi. Nam demonstrat i. e., when the Israelites were in the wildertempus, quod esset tùm præsens, cùm hæc ness, encamped in a military manner round scriberentur, non autem tempus longo inter- about the tabernacle, with or among whom vallo jam præteritum. Et verba dat lecto- these were then placed. Keepers of the ribus Edm. Calmet, id verbum sic accipiens, entry, i. e., of the veil by which they entered quasi diceretur, ici finissent ces regitres, cùm into the tabernacle; which he calls the entry talem sententiam series non admittat. Sed distinctively, because then there were no commode inducitur nomen proprium Adane, gates. The meaning is, that all things were quod, cum altero nomine proprio Sellum now restored to their primitive order and conjunctum, pertineat ad plurale N, institution; and the several persons took fratres eorum. those places and offices upon them, which their ancestors had before them. Dathe.-18 Hi hactenus nominati in porta regia versus orientem janitores fuerant ex castris Levitarum. Ver. 19, 20. Bp. Patrick.-20 Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past.] So we rightly translate the last word lepanim; which as R. David Gauz observes in his Tzemoth David (ad A. M. 2892), doth not signify that Phinehas was now living, but he 19 וְשַׁלְוּם בֶּן־קוֹרֵא בֶּן־אֶבְיָסָף בֶּן־קרח was ruler of them in time past " when he וְאֶחָיו לְבֵית־אָבִיו הַקָּרְחִים עַל מְלֶאכֶת was living. And thus that liebrew word is הָעֲבֹדָה שֹׁמְרֵי הַסְפִּים לָאֹהֶל וַאֲבֹתֵיהֶם הַמָּבוֹא : seems unlikely, being the son of the 20 וּפִינְחָס בֶּן־אֶלְעָזָר נָגִיד הָיָה עֲלֵיהֶם high-priest, and after Eleazar high-priest לְפָנִים יְהוָהוּ עִמּוֹ : וגו' rendered, Ruth iv. 7, Ps. cii. 26. But that he should be ruler over this sort of officers 19 καὶ Σελλούμ υἱὸς Κορέ, υἱοῦ ̓Αβιασαφ, υἱοῦ Κορέ· καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ εἰς οἶκον πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, οἱ Κορῖται ἐπὶ τῶν ἔργων τῆς λειτουργίας φυλάσσοντες τὰς φυλακὰς τῆς σκηνῆς· καὶ πατέρες αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τῆς παρεμβολῆς Κυρίου φυλάσσοντες τὴν εἴσοδον. 20 kai Φινεές υἱὸς Ἐλεάζαρ ἡγούμενος ἦν ἐπ ̓ αὐτῶν ἔμπροσθεν Κυρίου, καὶ οὗτοι μετ ̓ αὐτοῦ. κ.τ.λ. himself; which raised him far above such a low employment. Besides, it is evident he is here speaking of the Levites, not of the priests, and therefore it is probable this Phinehas was only a Levite, called, as his father was, by the ancient name of a highpriest (see Selden, De Success. in Pontificatum, lib. i., cap. 2, fol. 117-119). Ged.-19 For Shalum (the son of Koreh, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah), and Au. Ver.-19 And Shallum the son of his brethren of the same family, the KorahKore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, ites, had, for their share, in the work of and his brethren, of the house of his father, ministry, the keeping of the gates of the the Korahites, were over the work of the temple; as their forefathers had been the service, keepers of the gates [Heb., thres-keepers of the entry of the tabernacle, during bolds] of the tabernacle: and their fathers, the encampments of the LORD; 20 When being over the host of the LORD, were Phinehas Ben-Eleazar was ruler over them keepers of the entry. (in past times), by the favour of the LORD; 20 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was 21 And when Zachariah Ben-Meshelamiah VOL. III. H was keeper of the door of the convention- | numero sing. quia unus Zacharias postea 20 * Ruler over them, before the LORD: Dathe.-19 Sallum vero, filius Kore, nepos and, with him, Zachariah, Sept., Vulg., and Ebjasaphi, pronepos Korahi, ejusque cognati 1 MS. And, indeed, this is a most plausible e familia patria Korahitarum, hoc habebant reading. The present text is uncouth and ministerii munus, ut tentori essent janitores, harsh, and requires some licence to make a patres autem eorum, ut castris Jovæ præessent, meaning out of it. Some would render the aditum ad ea custodientes. 20 Pinehas, verse thus: when Phineas Ben-Eleazar (the | Eleasaris filius, cui Deus faverat, dux eorum LORD be with him) was in past times ruler olim fuerat. 21 Secharja, filius Meselemjæ, over them. But this smells of modern Rab- janitor fuit ad introitum tentorii conventus. binism. and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, in the work of the ministry οὗτοι ἐν ταῖς αὐλαῖς αὐτῶν, ὁ καταλοwere gate-keepers of the temple, as their fathers were keepers of the entrance of the χισμὸς αὐτῶν. Τούτους ἔστησε Δαυίδ καὶ tabernacle, during the encampments of Je- Zapovλ ó Bλétwv tŷ tíotei avtŵv. hovah : 20 When Phinehas, the son of Au. Ver.-22 All these which were chosen Eleazar, was, in time past, ruler over them, to be porters in the gates were two hundred before Jehovah ; 21 And with him was and twelve. These were reckoned by their Zechariah, the son of Meshelemiah, the genealogy in their villages, whom David and door-keeper of the congregation-taber- Samuel the seer did ordain [Heb., founded] nacle. in their set office [or, trust]. 20, 21. So the Sept., Vulg., and 1 MS. The common reading can scarcely admit any just and coherent version. By their genealogy. See notes on iv. 33. Ged., Booth.-As David and Samuel, the seer, had appointed their forefathers, in their set office [Ged., in their respective trusts]. Pool-Did ordain: in the times of the Houb.-19 Sellum filius Core, filii Abiasaph, filii Core, et fratres ejus in familia patris ejus Corai, qui erant in operum ministerio, custodes vestibulorum tabernaculi, et familiæ eorum per vices castrorum Domini, judges there was much disorder and confucustodientes introitum. 20 Phinees, filius sion, both in the Jewish State and Church, Eleazari erat olim dux eorum. 21 Et cum and the Levites came to the tabernacle proeo erat Zacharias filius Mosollamia, janitor miscuously, and as their inclinations or porta tabernaculi testimonii. occasions brought them. But Samuel began 20 m, Dominus cum eo. Quidam to think of establishing some order among Veteres, et Dominus cum eo, etsi abest con- the Levites in their ministration about the junctio, sine qua talis sententia locum tabernacle. And these intentious of his habere vix potest, et parum credibile est in probably were communicated by him to mediam genealogiam hæc venire. Multo David, who after Samuel's death, and his melius Græci Interpretes, kai oûтol μer' own peaceable settlement in his throne, avrov, et illi cum eo, cum legerent, seu m revived and perfected Samuel's design, and , seu, et cum eo erant, etsi iidem took care to put it in execution. In their in verbo Græco Kupiov, Domino, scripturam set office, Heb., in their faith, or, faithfulness, etiam hodiernam exhibent. Iterum verba i. e., either, 1. In their office, which is called dat Lectori Edm. Calmet, docens, solitum faithfulness, because this is required in that fuisse olim mortuis sic bene precari, Dominus office. Or, 2. In the faithful discharge of cum eo, et sacrum Scriptorem nobis exhibens their duty, and in obedience to the will sic tanquam unum de sæculorum fæce Ju- of God, signified to them by revelation, or daicorum. Nempe Judæi Rabbini eam by the Spirit, as it is said of David, 1 Chron. cantilenam de magistris suis, ad quorum xxviii. 12, which they received by faith, and libros nos allegant, memoria ejus sit in bene- accordingly designed, and David executed dictionem, centies iterant, cum scribunt. it. And so this is added to show that this Nos antetulimus, et cum eo erat, was no human invention, as some might conceive, but a Divine appointment, to which all ought to submit. -- Bp. Patrick. In their set office.] Or rather (as it is in the margin), “in their trust;" for the Hebrew word signifies fidelity; importing that their attendance at the house of God was no longer confused and disorderly (as it had been formerly, when there were sometimes too many, and sometimes too few waiting there; or, they had no certain work assigned them, or were negligent for want of overseers), but they every one in their course obediently went about their proper work, and faithfully discharged it. Ver. 23. Au. Ver.-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 porters, were in their set office [or, trust], and were over the chambers and treasuries [or, storehouses] of the house of God. Ged. 25 And their brethren, in the villages, were, every seventh day, to be with them, by turns: 26 For these Levites were under the trust of those four principal doorkeepers; who had also the care of the storerooms and treasuries of the house of God. Booth.-25 And their brethren who were in their villages were to succeed them, by turns, every seven days. 26 For those Au. Ver.-23 So they and their children Levites were under the trust of the four had the oversight of the gates of the house chief door-keepers, who were over the storeof the LORD, namely, the house of the taber-rooms and treasuries of the house of God. nacle, by wards. Pool.-26 Were in their set office, i. e., Pool.-23 To wit, in David's time. The these were constantly upon the place, and in house of the tabernacle: this is added to the execution of their office, that so they explain what he means by the house of might oversee and direct the inferior porters the Lord; not that tabernacle which David in their work. Or, as others render the had set up for the ark, but that more words, agreeably to the Hebrew text, For solemn tabernacle, which Moses had made these (i. e., their brethren, ver. 25) were by God's express command and most par- under the charge, or committed to the trust of ticular direction: which in David's time the four chief porters, who also were Levites, was at Gibeon; in which God was and as their brethren were; whereas the chief of would be worshipped until the temple was all of them was a priest. Either way these built. See 1 Kings iii. 2, &c.; 2 Chron. words contain a reason of what was said, i. 3, 5, &c. By wards, i. e., by turns or ver. 25, why the rest were to come to these, courses, each of them at his gate, and in his and to be with them. appointed time. Ver. 24. Au. Ver. 24 In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south. of Ged., Booth.-24 At the four sides the temple were the door-keepers posted: &c. Ver. 25, 26. Houb. 25 Fratresque eorum in vicis suis erant, ut temporibus statutis ad septem dies venirent; nam eorum fuerant statæ vices. 26 Et cum eis erant quatuor præcipui janitores Levitæ, qui domûs Dei cellis et thesauris præessent. 25 ND, cum illis. Hæc verba omittunt Syrus, Arabs, Vulgatus; nec ea feliciter Græci Interpretes convertunt μετὰ τούτων, cum illis. Nam si quæritur cum quibus, 26: netinet affixum, quod habet D. Atqui 25 וַאֲחֵיהֶם בְּחַצְרֵיהֶם לָבוֹא לְשִׁבְעַת respondebitur cum illis ipsis, ad quos per הַיָּמִים מֵעֵת אֶל־עֵת עִם־אֵלֶה: 26 כִּי omnino inusitatumn apud Hebraeos, ut quos בֶאֱמוּנָה הֵמָּה אַרְבַּעַת גִּבֹּרִי הַשְׁעֲרִים sententia incipiente indicaveris per afixum הֵם הַלְוִיִּם וְהָיוּ עַל־הַלְשָׁכוֹת וְעַל־ idem pronomen est, atque Gallicuun אלה Naim הָאוֹצְרוֹת בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִים : אלה eosdem desinente significet affixum ,הם Que 25 kai ȧdeλþoì avtŵv év raîs avλaîs avrov ceux-la;, idem ac Gallicum, eux. τοῦ εἰσπορεύεσθαι κατὰ ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας ἀπὸ madmodum igitur non diceremus, il s'associa καιροῦ εἰς καιρὸν μετὰ τούτων· 26 ὅτι ἐν avec eux, et fit voyage avec ceux-la, cum πίστει εἰσὶ τέσσαρες δυνατοὶ τῶν πυλῶν. dicere vellemus, fit voyage avec eur, eosdem καὶ οἱ Λευῖται ἦσαν ἐπὶ τῶν παστοφορίων, καὶ illos, quos supra significantes ; sic Hebraice Enì τŵν Oŋσavρŵv оlkov тоû еeоû пapeμßáλ-barbarum id pronomen, post D, do λουσιν. iisdem hominibus usurpatum. Quam incom |