1 Chronicles 5

1 Chronicles 5:49-53

This chapter gives us some account. 1. Of the two tribes and a half that were joined on the other side Jordan. (1.) Of Reuben, vers. 1—10. (2.) Of God, vers. 11—17. (3.) Of the half tribe of Menaqah, vers. 23, 24. 2. How they conquered the Hegavites, vers. 18—22. 3. How they were at length themselves conquered by the king of Affyria, because they had forsaken God, vers. 25, 26.

1. NOW the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel (for the war the first-born, but forasmuch as he defiled his father’s best, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. 2. For Judah, prevailed above his brethren, and of him none the chief ruler, but the birthright was Joseph’s). 3. The sons of I’se, of Reuben the first-born of Israel were Hanoch, and Pallu, Heteron, and Carmi. 4. The sons of Joel, Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son. 5. Micah his son, Reaia his son, Baal his son. 6. Beerah his son, whom Tilgarh-pilnezer king of Affyria, carried a way captive: he was prince of the Reubenites. 7. And his brethren by their families (when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned) were the chief, Jeish, and

2. And these are they whom David set over the service of Song in the house of the LORD, after that the ark had rest. 22. And they mustered before the dwelling-place of the tabernacle of the congregation, with singing, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem; and then they waited on their office according to their order. 23. And these are they that waited with their children: of the sons of the Kohathites; Heman a finger, the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel. 24. The son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elsel, the son of Tsaah. 25. The son of Eupah, the son of Elkanah, the son of Maliah, the son of Amaiah. 26. The son of Elkanah, the son of Euseh, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah. 27. The son of Tabah, the son of Affir, the son of Ebaifah, the son of Kenaib. 28. The son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel. 29. And his brother Asaph (who stood on his right hand) were Asaph the son of Beretiah, the son of Shimea. 30. The son of Michael, the son of Baafeiah, the son of Malchiah. 31. The son of Ethel, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah. 32. The son of Ethan, the son of Zommah, the son of Shimei. 33. The son of Jahath, the son of Gerthom, the son of Levi. 34. And their brethren the sons of Merari, stood on the left hand; & Ethan, the son of Kifhi, the son of Abdi, the son of Maluch. 35. The son of Hafshabiah, the son of Amaiah, the son of Hilkiah. 36. The son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shamey. 37. The son of Mahli, the son of Mufhi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi. 38. Their brethren also the Levites were appointed unto all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.

3. 31—48. When David had brought up the ark from Obed-edom’s house, he appointed a solemn choir of Levites, for the constant singing 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 clashes into which they were divided, did the rest of the service, kept the gates, prepared the sacrifices, &c. Now, (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 first sign of a decay of godliness, when there is a neglect of divine philosophy. (2.) That is only 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.

4. But Aaron and his sons offered upon the altar of the burnt-offering, and on the altar of incense, and were appointed for all the work of the place most holy, and to make an atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded. 40. And these are the sons of Aaron; Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son, 51. Bokki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son, 52. Meraioth his son, Amaiah his son, Ahituh his son, 53. Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.

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

54. Now these are their dwelling-places throughout their castles in their coasts of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites: for theirs was the lot. 55. And they gave them Hebron in the land of Judah, and the suburbs thereof round about it. 56. But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, they gave to Caïeb the son of Jephunneh. 57. And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah, namely, Hebron the city of refuge, and Libnah, with her suburbs, and Jarris, and Efthemoah, with their suburbs. 58. And a Hilen with her suburbs, Debir with her suburbs. 59. And a Afian with her suburbs, and Beth-Berneth with her suburbs. 60. And out of the tribe of Benjamin: Geba with her suburbs, and S Alemeth with her suburbs, and Anathoth with

her suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities. 61. And unto the sons of Kohath, which were left of the family of that tribe, were cities given out of the half-tribe, namely, out of the half-tribe of Manaffeh, by lot, ten cities. 62. And to the sons of Gerthom throughout their families, out of the tribe of Ifachar, and out of the tribe of After, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manaffeh in Baftan, thirteen cities. 63. Unto the sons of Merari were given by lot, throughout their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities. 64. And the children of Israel gave to the Levites their cities, with their suburbs. 65. And they gave by lot out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, these cities, which are called by their names. 66. And the tribes of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their coasts out of the tribe of Ephraim. 67. And they gave unto them of the cities of refuge, Shechem in mount Ephraim, with her suburbs: they gave also Gezer with her suburbs. 68. And Jokmeam with her suburbs, and Beth-horon with her suburbs. 69. And Aijalon with her suburbs, and Gath-rimmon with her suburbs. 70. And out of the half-tribe of Manaffeh. 71. Aner with her suburbs, and Bileam with her suburbs, for the family of the remnant of the sons of Kohath. 72. Unto the sons of Gerthom were given out of the family of the half-tribe of Manaffeh, Golan in Baftan, with her suburbs, and Ashtaroth with her suburbs. 73. And out of the tribe of Ifachar; Kedesh with her suburbs, Daberath with her suburbs. 74. And Ramoth with her suburbs, and Anem with her suburbs. 75. And out of the tribe of After; Mahal with her suburbs, and Ahilon with her suburbs. 76. And Hukok with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs. 77. And out of the tribe of Naphtali; Kedeth in Gullet with her suburbs, and Hammon with her suburbs, and Kirjathaim with her suburbs. 78. And out of the tribe of Ifachar; Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahnaim with her suburbs. 79. And out of the tribe of Gad; Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahnaim with her suburbs. 80. And out of the tribe of Gad; Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahnaim with her suburbs. 81. And Heihbon with her suburbs, and Jazer with her suburbs.

1 Chronicles 5:54-81

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 tythes for their maintenance. The names of the cities are much the same as Joth, and except some trivial differences, which time may be supposed to have made. (1.) They deserve a liberal provision, who labour in the word and doctrine. (2.) They who neglect the Levites work, to eat the bread of the church in idleness, not only rob their brethren, but rob God also.