--- title: "Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 1: Genesis to Jeremiah" author: "Adam Clarke" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 414 of 914 url: https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/414/ cite: "Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 1: Genesis to Jeremiah, section 414. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/414/" --- # Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 1: Genesis to Jeremiah *Adam Clarke* Clarke's learned notes on the Hebrew and Greek, verse by verse, from Genesis to Revelation: volume 1 of 2. ## 414. 1 Chronicles · 15 of 19 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/414/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/414/#p-N ### Verse 6 [¶1] And Shemaiah - "Moses the great scribe, who is called Shemaiah, the son of Nethaneel, of the tribe of Levi, wrote them down." - T. [¶2] One principal household - for Eleazar - The family of Eleazar was the most illustrious of the sacerdotal families, because Eleazar was the first-born of Aaron, Ithamar's family was the second in order and dignity; therefore one of the principal families of Eleazar was first taken, and then one of Ithamar's, and thus alternately till the whole was finished. ### Verse 19 [¶4] Under Aaron their father - That is, they followed the order and plans laid down by Aaron during his lifetime. ### Verse 26 [¶6] The sons of Merari - It is remarkable that not a word is here spoken of the family of Gershom. ### Verse 31 [¶8] These likewise cast lots - The Levites were divided into twenty-four orders; and these were appointed by lot to serve under the twenty-four orders of the priests: the first order of Levities under the first order of priests, and so on. The meaning is not very clear: "both elder and younger," says Bishop Patrick, "had their places by lot, not by seniority of houses. They who were of greater dignity drew lots against those who were of less; and were to take their courses according to the lot they drew." This may have been the case; but we are very little interested in the subject. ### Introduction [¶10] The number and offices of the singers and players on musical instruments; and their division by lot into twenty-four courses, vv. 1-31. ### Verse 1 [¶12] David and the captains of the host - The chiefs of those who formed the several orders: not military captains. [¶13] Should prophesy - Should accompany their musical instruments with prayer and singing. ### Verse 2 [¶15] Which prophesied - Sung hymns and prayed. But the Targum understands this of prophesying in the proper sense of the term; and therefore says, "Who prophesied by the Holy Spirit." Jarchi is of the same opinion and quotes the case of Elisha, [2Kgs 3:15]; While the minstrel played, the hand of the Lord [i.e., the spirit of prophecy] was upon him. ### Verse 3 [¶17] The sons of Jeduthun - six - That is, six with their father, otherwise, there are but five. Hence it is said, they were under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, etc. ### Verse 5 [¶19] To lift up the horn - "The horn of prophecy," says Jarchi; "to sound with the trumpet in the words of prophecy before the Lord." - T. [¶20] Three daughters - These also were employed among the singers. ### Verse 7 [¶22] Two hundred fourscore and eight - That it twelve classes of twenty-four Levites each; for two hundred and eighty-eight divided by twelve quotes twenty-four. ### Verse 9 [¶24] For Asaph to Joseph - His first-born. [¶25] The second to Gedaliah - The first-born of Jeduthun. ### Verse 10 [¶27] The third to Zaccur - The first-born of Asaph. ### Verse 11 [¶29] The fourth to Izri - The second son of Jeduthun. ### Verse 12 [¶31] The fifth to Nethaniah - The third son of Asaph. Thus we find the lot did not run in any particular kind of order. ### Verse 14 [¶33] Jesharelah - Supposed to be the same with Uzziel, son of Heman. ### Verse 31 [¶35] Romamti-ezer - Both these names belong to the same person. He is mentioned also [1Chr 25:4]. [¶36] With this immense parade of noise and show, (David's own invention), Christianity has nothing to do. ### Introduction [¶38] The divisions of the porters, [1Chr 26:1-12]. The gates assigned to them, [1Chr 26:13-19]. Those who were over the treasures, [1Chr 26:20-28]. Different officers, [1Chr 26:29-32]. ### Verse 1 [¶40] The divisions of the porters - There were four classes of these, each of which belonged to one of the four gates of the temple, which opened to the four cardinal points of heaven. The eastern gate fell to Shelemiah; the northern, to Zechariah, [1Chr 26:14]; the southern, to Obed-edom, [1Chr 26:15]; the western, to Shuppim and Hosah, [1Chr 26:16]. These several persons were captains of these porter-bands or door-keepers at the different gates. There were probably a thousand men under each of these captains; as we find, from [1Chr 23:5], that there were four thousand in all. ### Verse 5 [¶42] For God blessed him - "That is, Obed-edom; because of the ark of the Lord which was in his house; and to him was given the honor that he should see his children and grand-children, even fourscore and two, masters of the Levites." - T. In [1Chr 26:8], we have only sixty-two mentioned. ### Verse 6 [¶44] They were mighty men of valor - They were not only porters or door-keepers in the ordinary sense of the word, but they were a military guard for the gates: and perhaps in this sense alone we are to understand their office.