Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief. — Rather, To the Hebronites there was the head Jeriah (as to the Hebronites, according to their registers, according to families, in the fortieth year of the reign of David, they were sought out; and there were found among them valiant warriors in Jazer-Gilead); and his brethren, sons of might, two thousand seven hundred heads of families: and David the king made them overseers over the Reubenites, &c. The long parenthesis obscures the meaning or these two verses. The general statement is that other Hebronites were charged with the supervision of the land east of Jordan: the parenthesis accounts for the fact.
(31) Jerijah. — 1 Chronicles 23:19, “Jeriah.” The Hebrew is the same (Yĕrîyâh).
In the fortieth year of the reign of David. — This datum is important as fixing the time of these last regulations of David. (Comp. 1 Chronicles 23:1.) It evidently points to an ancient source.
Jazer of Gilead. — A Merarite city (Joshua 21:39); whereas the Hebronites were Kohathites. Perhaps we should read, “In the cities of Gilead.”
(32) Two thousand and seven hundred chief fathers. — Rather, heads of the families, i.e., of single households. Sometimes the Hebrew phrase means heads of father-houses or clans; but it obviously cannot be so here, as the whole number of Levites appointed to be “officers and judges” was only 6,000 (1 Chronicles 23:4). The 2,700 fathers mentioned here, with the 1,700 of 1 Chronicles 26:30, make a total of 4,400. The remaining 1,600 (6,000 minus 4,400) may probably be assigned to Chenaniah (1 Chronicles 26:29). It is strange that the house of Hebron should be twice mentioned (1 Chronicles 26:30-31) and the house of Uzziel not at all (see 1 Chronicles 26:23). Further, of the three great branches of Levi, none but Kohathite houses are named in connexion with “the outward business.” The account appears to be incomplete.