1 Chronicles 6 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The genealogy of Levi, and of Aaron: the offices of the priests and Levites. The cities which were assigned them.

Before Christ 1300.

He it is that executed the priest's office, &c.— Some suppose that this Azariah is he who strenuously opposed king Uzziah; and that, therefore, he is thus mentioned. Houbigant thinks that he was the son of Zadok, mentioned 1 Kings 4:2.

Azariah begat Seraiah, &c.— Seraiah was put to death by Nebuchadnezzar. In him ended the succession of high-priests under the first temple. Their number from Zadok amounted to twelve.

1 Chronicles 6:16. &c. The sons of Levi— This pedigree of the posterity of Levi is given again, 1 Chronicles 6:43. It appears most probable, that in this catalogue the name of the son of Gershom was omitted, and לבני Libni, inserted, from בנו beno, his son, since the name of Gershom's son in the Syriac and Arabic, 1 Chronicles 6:20, is said to be Nahath instead of Jahath, as we find it in the second catalogue. See Pilkington, p. 29.

The sons of Samuel— The sons of Samuel, Joel his first-born, Abiah his second. See 1 Chronicles 6:33 and 1 Samuel 8:2. At the end of the 27th verse, instead of Elkanah his son, read Samuel his son. Houbigant.

REFLECTIONS.—1st, As Judah had the pre-eminence, and Joseph the birthright, Levi had the honour of the priesthood. Among the descendants of Kohath were Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, whose names are great in God's book. Two of the sons of Aaron, on whom the priesthood was settled, suffered for their daring presumption. In the others, the priestly line was maintained. The line of Eleazar to the captivity is drawn, during which the high-priesthood in general continued in that family; though, in the time of the judges, we find it for a while transferred to the descendants of Ithamar, till Solomon again restored Zadok. Azariah is mentioned as officiating in Solomon's temple, perhaps when Uzziah invaded the priest's office, whom he so nobly withstood. They who have a zeal for God, fear not to testify against the sins of the greatest men, though at the hazard of prison or death.

2nd, When David had brought up the ark from Obed-edom's house, he appointed a solemn choir of Levites, for the constant singing of God's praises; at the head of which were Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, one out of each of the three great houses of Levi, with their children, as many as were musical at least. The other Levites, according to the classes into which they were divided, did the rest of the service, kept the gates, prepared the sacrifices, &c. Note; (1.) The work of praise in the great congregation should be as much the minister's care, as the work of prayer. It is a sure sign of a decay of godliness, when there is a neglect of divine psalmody. (2.) That only is to God a pleasing service of song, when in the heart, as well as the lips, we make melody to God. (3.) In God's house there must be no idlers; the work is important, and calls for labour and diligence.

3rdly, Sacrificing was peculiarly appropriated to the priests, the sons of Aaron. They alone shed the blood of atonement, and burnt incense; and herein they were typical of him, who, himself both priest and sacrifice, by one oblation of himself once offered, hath obtained eternal redemption for us.

For theirs was the lot— The first lot. Syriac and Houbigant. See Joshua 21:10.

The cities of Judah— The author of this book, as well as the author of the book of Joshua, (chap. 1 Chronicles 21:19.) expressly asserts, that the cities given to the Levites were thirteen. In the catalogue before us, two of the names are omitted, and only five of them written as they are in Joshua. The differences in the 4th, 5th, and 6th names are very immaterial. The transposition of the two last names shews no want of correctness in either catalogue. See Pilkington, p. 30. Houbigant translates the beginning of this verse, moreover to the sons of Aaron they gave for a city of refuge, Hebron with her suburbs, and Libna, &c.

And unto the sons of Kohath—were given, &c.— And to the rest of the sons of Kohath from the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and the tribe of Dan, and the half tribe of Manasseh, were given by lot ten cities.

Out of the tribe of Zebulun— Here are some names changed, and some omitted; for in Judges 21:34-35 four cities are assigned to the Merarites out of the tribe of Zebulun; whereas two only are mentioned here, the names of which are not the same. See and compare the places.

REFLECTIONS.—The Levites were distributed throughout the tribes, that the people might be better taught; taken off all worldly employments, that they might give themselves up to the work of the ministry; and liberally provided with cities to dwell in, and the tithes for their maintenance. The names of the cities are much the same as Joshua 21 except some trivial differences, which time may be supposed to have made. Note; (1.) They deserve a liberal provision, who labour in the word and doctrine. (2.) They who neglect the Levite's work, to eat the bread of the church in idleness, not only rob their brethren, but rob God also.