And of the Shilonites. — Shilonite means “man of Shiloh,” the ancient capital of Ephraim; whereas 1 Chronicles 9:4-6 have to do with Judah. The three sons of Judah, after whom three great sub-tribal divisions were named, were Pharez, Shelah, and Zarah (Genesis 38). The clan of Shelah was called the Shelanite (Numbers 26:20), and that is doubtless the correct reading here (see 1 Chronicles 2:3; 1 Chronicles 4:21), supported as it is by the LXX. (Σηλωνι) and the Targum.
Asaiah (“Jah hath wrought”) is essentially the same as “Maaseiah” (“Work of Jah”) in Nehemiah 11:5, where six progenitors are enumerated.
The firstborn. — That is, the leading clan.
His sons. — The members of the clan.