The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 375

three sons of Shimei, but not the Shimei of (Exod. xxviii. I, 38, 43 : xxix. 1, 35, 45, ver. 7, but of a descendant of Laadan. This xxx. 7-10; Numb. vi. 22-27). is made cle9:r, not only by the remaining Ver. 14.-M:oses the man of God. This clause of this verse, which says, "These title is distinguished by the presence of thu were the chief of the fathers of Laadan," e.yticle: The • Spe~ker's Commentary' men- and again by the enumeration in ver. 10 of tions 1t as occurrmg only nine times, of sons of that Shimei who is coupled with which five instances belong to Moses (Deut. Laade.n in ver. 7, but also by a comparison xxxiii. l ; .Jbh. xiv. 6; 2 Chron. xxx. 16 • of eh. xxiv. 22 ; xxvi. 21-26. It is, of ~zra iii. 2; 'IVith the present place); thre~ course, possible that the name stands here mstances show the title applied to David in error for some other no.me, but the suppo- (2 Chron. viii. 14 ; N eh. xii. 24, 36); e.nd sition is gratuitous. once it is applied to Sheme.iah (1 Kings xii. Ver. 10.-(See Zech. xii. 13.) The Zina 22). Although the sons of Moses belonged, of this verse is Zize.h in the very next verse, as is here said, to the tribe of Levi, t!:iey did which difference of form cannot be accounted not belong to that portion which dische.rged for by any mere clerical explanation. The priestly duties. no.me Ja.he.th seems to have been a favourite Ver.15.-Weree.d of the birth of Gershom name in this family (eh. vi. 43).' to Moses and Zippore.h (Exod. ii. 22 ; see Ver. 11.-In one reckolllllg. The Hebrew also xviii. 4, where Eliezer is also spoken of). of the word here translated " reckoning" is Ver. 16.-Shebuel (comp. eh. xxiv. 20, i"l;'R~, i.e. " enumeration." The meaning where the no.me e.ppee.rs as Shubael ; e.nd is they were accounted o.s only one "father's xxvi. 24). house." The derivative significations of Ver. 17.-Rehabiah. He was the chief the word are " care," " custody," and (i;tt,;:i); but it he.ppened that he we.a also tbo generally "office'' (2 Chron. x.xiii. 18). only son. Hence it is e.dded in antithesis The total of Gershonite houses will amount that his sons were very many (see the nnme to nine, three of these being houses of age.in, eh. xxvi. 25). The non-priestly Am- Shimei, and six of Laadan. ramites e.re therefore seen to correspond with Ver. 12.-This and the following eight the houses of Shebuel e.nd Rehe.bie.h. verses give the Xoha.th heads of houses (eh. Ver. 18.-0f the 80118 of Izhe.r. While v. 28; vi. 2, 3, 18; Exod. vi. 18; Numb. iii. six no.mes in all are mentioned under Amram, 27), four in their leading divisions. only one, Shelomith, is found under his next Ver. 13.-The 80118 of Am.ram. From brother, lzhe.r. This Shelomith (spelt Shela- Amrem, the first-mentioned son of Kohatb, moth in eh. xxiv. 22) is not the same with come the two great names of Aaron and the Shelomith of eh. xxvi. 25, 26. Moses (Exod. vi. 20). Aaron was separated, Ver. 19.-Kebron, This third son of . . . and his &D118 for ever. This statement Kohath furnishes four houses. So a.gain must be read, both with ver. 3-into the in the twenty-third verse of the following number of Levites mentioned in which chapter. Aaron and his sons do not count-and with Ver. 20.-Jesiah; in ver. 25 of next cho.pter Ter. 14, which implies that Moses and his written Isshiah, The two houses from sons did count into that number. The sons trzziel given in this verse make up tho of Aaron are dealt with in eh. xxiv. 1-19, number of houses from Kohath to nine (o.s infra. That he should sanctify the most given ago.in in eh. xxiv. 20-24), e.nd to holy things. The Hebrew text renders it these must be o.dded the priests through doubtful whether the rendering here should Aaron and his sons, two houses, ma.king iu not rather be, " Aaron was separated to e.11 eleven. sanctify him as most holy," etc. If it he so, Ver. 21.-This and the following two this is the only place where the forcible verses give the houses of Merari, contribut- term, " holy of holies" (most holy), is used ing four houses, e.nd, with the nine Ger- of Aaron. The duties of the priest are shonite and eleven Kohe.thite, o.dding up to described as threefold, in this place, viz. : twenty-four. Mera.ri is the third son of "to burn incense before the Lord,"-this Levi (Gen. xlvi. 11). The Mahli and Mushi will carry the idea of making atonement; of this verse were possibly grandson o.nd "to minister to God," on behalf of man,- son of Merari, if we follow the guidance of this will he one po.rt of the work of a medi- eh. vi. 47. Yet it would seem far more ator ; and " to bless in the Ne.me of God," ne.turo.l to explain this last-quoted passage -this will fulfil the remaining part. For by our ver. 23, which would then paro.llel it. e1Jer. The proviso may, no doubt, include Otherwise we must e.ocount for tho name of reference to the "ever-living High Priest." llfahli habitually sto.nding first, o.s here, as The threefold summary of solemn e.nd bene- in eh. vi. 19 also, and eh. xxiv. 26, ns also ficent duties receives ample illustre.tion from in Exod. vi. 19; Numb. iii. 20, 33, etc.; in m~oy passages, e.nd in special connection e.11 of which places the statement is ns dis- with. the no.mes of Aaron and hiti sous tinct ClS in thid verse, thu.t Mu.hli 11ml Mushi Olt, xxm.1-32.) TlIE rrns'l' BOOK OF TlIE CHRONICLES. 8ii