1 Chronicles 6

And the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria. Who came in the next king’s reign but one, and carried those tribes away captive, as we read in 2 Kings xv. 29.. And he carried them away (even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh).] He carried these away entirely, together with some of the people of Galilee, particularly all Naphtali, as the forenamed place tells us. And the Jews say, they carried away the golden calf which was in Dan, as they gather from 2 Chron. xxviii. 21. And brought them unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara.] These are the very places unto which Shalmaneser afterward carried the remamder of the ten tribes, 2 Kings xvii. G.xviii. 11. where there is only this difference, that there it is said into the cities of the Medes, but here unto Hara, which is all one; for Media is the very same with Hara, and is by St. Jerome (without an aspiration) called Ara. And the Greeks commonly call it Aria, and the people of it Arii, as we read in Herodotus, Pausanias, and others. And Bochartus thinks, not without reason, that the mountainous part of the country of Media towards the north was properly called by this name of Hara, from the word har, which signifies a mountain. Here Strabo saith many foreigners inhabited: for it is likely this hilly country was most empty of people. And to the river Gozan.] That is, to the banks of the river on both sides: for it is as much as rr\v Trepix&pav, to the region about this river, as our very learned Mr, Nic. Fuller observes, in his Miscellanea,- lib. ii. cap. 5. where he takes Gozan to be the ancient name for that river, which the Persians afterward called Cyrus: near to which stood the city Gauzania in Ptolemy, which retained that name from the river Gozan. Unto this day.] Here they settled, as the same learned man observes; and did not range as far as Tartary, as some have thought. For how should they, being miserable captives; who had no power to go back, or to go forward? especially through strange countries, without any arms, or other accommodations. though they discharged tho high-priest’s office in the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, Hczekiah, and Manasseh, as Xudovicus Capellus makes account in his Chronol. Sacra, p. 287. derstood that he did it by the ministry of the priests, not by himself. And thus David and Solomon sacrificed, but not by their own hands, but by those to whose office it properly belonged. This Hcman was so eminent for his skill in singing, that he is thought to have been a composer of hymns: which I have considered in my notes uponl Kings iv.

1 Chronicles 6:1

JE HE sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merati. The first of these is called Gcrshom, ver. 16. (See Gen. xlvi. 11- Exod. vi. 16.) -

1 Chronicles 6:2

And the sons of Kohath.". He begins with the genealogy of the second son, because from him sprung the family of the priests. Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.] The second of these sons is called Amminadab, ver. 22.

1 Chronicles 6:3

And the children of Amram; Aaron, Moses, and 3Iiriam. Sec Exod. vi. 20. The sons also of Aaron; Nadab andAbihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.] The two first perished for their sin, in offering with strange fire, (Lev. x. 1.) •

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Eleazar begat Phinehas, and Phinehas begat Abishaa.:

1 Chronicles 6:5

And Abishua begat Bukki, and Bukki begat Uzzi. According to the manner of the Greeks and Latins, who are wont to deprave oriental names, Joscphus calls these three Abiezer, Boccias, and Ozi: (lib. v. Archseol. cap. 41.) and the Chronicon Alcxandrinum; as Mr. Selden observes, assigns the very time when they exercised the high-priesthood; Abishua (whom he calls Abiud) in the time of Ehud; Bukki in the time of Shamgar; and Uzzi in the time of Tola. In whose days, the Jews think, the priesthood was translated from the family of Eleazar to that of Ithamar: for some great sin which they had committed; as afterward for the sins of Eli’s sons, it was translated back again to Eleazar’s posterity. So they say in Juchasin, " In the days of Samson died Uzzi of the family of Eleazar, and the high-priesthood was translated to the family of Ithamar; the first of which was Eli." But, as > the Alexandrian Ghroniclc is of no great authority, so there is no mention, as Mr. Selden observes, of the names of these three persons, as succeeding Phinehas, either in the Scripture, or the Hebrew Chronicles, or in Eusebius. But the only high-priest between Eleazar and Eli is Phinehas: who the Jews thiuk was alive in the war with the Benjamitcs, Judg. xxi. 28. (See lib. L de Success, ad Pontif. cap. 2.) But this cannot.be justified.

1 Chronicles 6:6

And Uzzi begat Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begat Meraioth.

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Meraioth begat Amariah, and Amariah begat, Ahitub. See Ezra vii.3. where in this genealogy six gene-, rations are omitted by, him, from Meraioth to Azariah the son of Johanan, which are here mentioned. This Kimchi thinks was done for brevity’s sake.

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And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Ahimaaz. See 2 Sam. viii. 17. xv. 27. *,,

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And Ahimaaz begat Azariah, and Azariah begat Johanan.

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And Johanan begat Azariah (he it is that executed the priest’s office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem). The Divine writer sets a mark of honour upon Azariah (which he doth not on any of the foregoing) for maintaining his office so resolutely, with the danger of his life, against the usurpation of one of Solomon’s successors, who would have offered incense in that very temple which Solomon had built: of which sec 2 Chron. xxvi. i.7, 18, &c. The mention of Solomon’s temple in this place, plainly denotes, that this was written after the second temple was built, or while it was building. But Ludovicus Capellusis of opinion, that Azariah here spoken of is not he that resisted Uzziah. For such a noble fact as that was, he thinks, would not have been touched in such general words: but he takes hirn to have been the high-priest in the days of Solomon; and was the. first that ministered only in his temple. For Zadok his grandfather, and Ahimaaz his father, ministered first in the tabernacle. Therefore to make this agree with that Azariah, he thinks, we ought to acknowledge & double metathesis in these verses, 9 — 12. which ought to be read thus: Ahimaaz begat Azariah (he is the first thgi executed the priest *s office in the house which Solomon built in Jerusalem), Jlzariah begat Amariah, Amariah begat Johanan, Johanan begat Azariah, Azariah begat Ahitub, Ahifub begat Zadok. If this be admitted, all the difficulties that arise out of this genealogy are quite removed. (Sec his Chronologia Sacra Notae in Tab. xiv. p. 286.)

1 Chronicles 6:11

Azariah begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub..

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And Ahitub begai Zadok, and Zadok begat Shallum. AVhp is called Mcshullam in chap. ix. 11., These three arc mentioned no where else, but in Nehem. xi. 11. 4B

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And Shallum begat Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begat Azariah.

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And Azariah begat Seraiah, and Seraiah begat Jehozadak. When Jerusalem was taken by the king of Babylon’s army, Seraiah was carried by tho fcaptain of the guard to Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah: where he commanded • him to be put to death. So that in him ended the succession of high-priests under the first temple: which from Zadok unto him were twelve. The Jews, in Seder Olam Zula, make them to be eighteen; but they are not to be believed against the Scripture: there being also the very same succession mentioned EzTa vii. 1, 2,* &c. which beginning from Aaron, the first four of these hero mentioned, together with Ahitub the father of Zadok, are omitted for brevity’s sake, as Kimchi thinks. (See Selden, de Success, ad Pontif. lib. i. cap. 5.) But some think it sufficient to say, that it was not the intention of the writer of this book to mention all the high-priests that were from Zadok to Seraiah: because Jehoiada, who was the high-priest in the time of Athaliah, is not here named. Ho is called indeed every’where Jehoiada the priest: yet he took upon him such authority, as may well make us suppose him to have been high-priest. It is observed by Kimchi, that the line of the high-priests is drawn from Aaron down to the captivity, through the family of Eleazar his eldest son; none of Ithamar’s being mentioned: because the perpetualjpriesthood was promised only to Phinehas the son of Eleazar, (Numb, xxv.)

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And Jehozadak went into captivity, when the Lord carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. ~\ In the captivity he begat Jeshua, who came back in the time of Cyrus, (Ezra iii. 2.) Ver. 1G. The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, andMerari.] He hath not yet done with the account he intends to give of Levi’s posterity: and therefore repeats the names of his sons, from whom these Levites sprung, who were not priests.

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And these be the names of the sons of Gershom; Libni, and Shimei. Who were not mentioned before.

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And the sons of Kohath were Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel. See ver. 2.

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And the sons ofMerari; Mahli, and Mushi. See Exod. vi. 19. And these are the families of the Levites, according to their fathers."] That is, these were the heads of the families that sprung from them: as it is probable, they that follow in the next catalogue wcro the chief of their families which continued unto the days of David; who regulated their attendance in their several courses.

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Of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his so?i. This last was his grandson by his son Shimei, as appears from ver. 42. But such are" frequently called sons. •

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Joah his son, Iddo his so?i, Zerah his son, Jeateraihis son.’ -

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The so?is of Kohath; Amminadab. Called Izhar, ver. 2. Korah his son, Assir his son. Ver/*23. Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir his son.

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Tahathhis son, Uric 7 his son. Called also Zephaniali, ver. 36. Uzziah his son.] Who went also by the name of Azariah, as that verse tells us. And Shaul his son.

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And the sons of Elkanah. He was the son of KOTah, mentioned ver. 23. as appears from Exod. vi. 24. Amasai, and Ahimoth.

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As for Elkanah: the sons of Elkanah; Zophai his son. Or Zuph, as he is called ver. 35. This is another Elkanah; son it is likely of him last mentioned. And Nahath his Son.

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Eliab his$on. MVho is called Eliel, ver. 34. Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son.^ ( Ver; 28. The sons of Samuel.] Who was the son of Elkanah, as we read 1 Sam. i. 1. which being a thing well knowT), this writer (giving only a breviale of these histories) omits the mention of it. But it appears by this account, that Samuel was only a Levite, not of the race of the priests (for he did not descend from Aaron, but from Izhar the uncle of Aaron), much less the high-priest, as some great men have fancied. (See Selden, de Success, ad Pontif. lib. i. cap. 14.) The first-born Vashni, and Abiah.] The first of these is called Joel, 1 Sam. viii. 2. and here below, ver. 33.

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Thesons ofMerari: Mahli; Libni hisson, Shimei his son, Vzza hisson.

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Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son.

1 Chronicles 6:31

And these are they. Having thus far deduced the genealogy of the Levites, he proceeds now to give an account how David ordered their attendance upon the service of God at the tabernacle: and sets down tho names of the chief of them, which here follow. Whom David set over the service of the song.] Appointed to minister unto God by singing of songs in his house. After that the ark had rest.] After David had brought it from the house of Obed-Edom, and settled it at Jerusalem, (2 Sam. viii. 17.)

1 Chronicles 6:32

And they ministered before the dwelling-place of the tabernacle of glory. Which David had prepared for the ark, when it came to Jerusalem, (2 Sam. viii. 17.) With singing.] The Psalms which David and other prophets composed. Until Solomon had built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem.] Before the temple was built by Solomon they performed this service: which did not cease after it was built, but continued in great order, as it here follows. And tlien they waited in their office according to their order.] Which David himself had constituted a little before his death: as we read in the latter end of this book.

1 Chronicles 6:33

And these are they that waited tvith their children: of the sons of the Kohathites; Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Shemnel. That is, of Samuel the great prophet: whose name, it appears by this, was differently pronounced in different times and places. This place also still shews more clearly, that Samuel was only a Levite of the family of the Kohathites, not a priest of the family Of Aaron, which is suggested by the Psalmist, (Psal. xcix.) ** Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name." Therefore, as Estius observes, when Samuel is said to have offered sacrifice (as he did often in Gilgal and other places), it must be un-

1 Chronicles 6:34

The son of Elkanah, the son ofJeroham, the son o/EIiel, the son of Toah. Called Nahath, ver. 26.

1 Chronicles 6:35

Tlie son ofZuph. Called Zophai, ver. 26. Hie son of Btkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai.

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Tlie son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah.

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The so?i of Tahath, the son ofAssir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son ofKorah.

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The son oflzhar, the son ofKohath; the son of Levi, the son of Israel. Thus, in honour of Samuel, the pedigree of Heman, who was his grandson, is derived, from Israel the father of them all.

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And his brother Asaph (who stood on his right hand), even Asaph the son ofBerachiah, the son of Shiniea. This depends upon ver. 33. where it is said, these are they that waited with their children, &c. viz. Heman and Asaph: who is called Heman’s brother, according to the Hebrew phrase; in which all near kindred are called brothers. And these two were of the same tribe and family; and also of the same employment, upon which account, if there were no other, he might be called the brother of Heman.

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Tlie son of Michael, the son ofBaaseiah, the son of Melchiah.

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Tlie son ofEthni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah.

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The son of Ethan, the son ofZimmah, the son of Shimei.

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Tlie son ofJahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi. There was no need to add the’ son of Israel: for it is apparent they sprung from the same stock, by two brethren the sons of Levi.

1 Chronicles 6:44

Tfieir brethren, the sons of Merari, stood on the left hand. In like manner the children of the next son of Levi are here mentioned; who had the lowest place assigned, because they were of the youngest, family. So there were three principal singers, who were masters and governors of the whole choir;, Heman, descended from Ko- Jiath, was the prime, who, together with his sons, stood in the middle: and then Asaph, descended from Gershom; with his sons, stood on his right hand: and Ethan from Merari on the left. Of these three families there were three principal persons, who bare rule over the rest of the singers here mentioned, and kept good order among them. And indeed there was an admirable order observed, in the whole ministry at the tabernacle: three great men, and their sons, were singers and musicians; the rest of the Levitcs prepared and made ready the sacrifices; the priests offered them; and the high-priest officiated in the most holy place, as it here follows. Ethan the son ofKishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch.] He who is here called Ethan, is called Jcduthun, chap. ix. 16. and in many other places.

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Tlie son of Ilashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son ofHillciah.

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Tlie son of Amzi, the sonof Bani, the son of Shamer.

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The son ofMahli, the son ofMusld, the son of Merari, the son of Levi. It is observable, that, in all the genealogies of the Levites, there is not a word said of the sons of Moses and their posterity: he having no ambition to prefer them unto any office, either in church or state.

1 Chronicles 6:48

Their brethren also the Levites. The rest of that tribe, who were not fit to be singers. Were appointed unto all maimer of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.] They performed all the laborious work that was to bo done in the tabernacle; being porters, keepers of the vessels of the sanctuary, as well as taking care to prepare the sacrifices, and such-like things. Of which an account is given below in chap, xxiii. and these following.

1 Chronicles 6:49

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 tvork of the place most holy, and to make an atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses, the servant of God, had commanded.] The noblest part of the ministry was reserved for Aaron and his posterity: which is mentioned at large in the book.of Leviticus., Which shews that Aaron alone, and his successors in the high-priesthood, ministered in the place most holy, and made the atonement: but his sons, the priests, offered on the altars of burnt-offering and of incense.

1 Chronicles 6:50

And these are the sons of Aaron; Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son,Abishua his son.

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Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son.

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Meraiothhis son, Amariah his soil, Ahitub his son.

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Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son. Having mentioned the high-priest’s office, he sets down the succession of it from Aaron to the time of David: which he had done before more largely to the time of the captivity, (ver, 3, 4, &c.) There was no age like to this of David’s, as Victorinus Strigelius observes; which produced so many great men, that he calls it the prophetical age. Wherein God raised up Samuel, Nathan, Gad, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan: who made the word of God dwell plentifully in the church of Israel in all wisdom.

1 Chronicles 6:54

Now these are their dwelling-places throughout their castles, in the coasts of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites. Now follows an account of the places where they inhabited: and first of the habitation of the sons of Aaron, who were the noblest of the Kohathites. For theirs tvas the lot.] That is, the first lot fell to them. (See Josh, xxi.4.)

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And they gave them Hebron in the land of Judah, andthe suburbs thereofround about it. See J osh.xxi.10,11.

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But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, they gave to Caleb the son ofJephunneh. See Josh. xxi. 12.

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And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah, namely, Hebron, the city of refuge, andLibnah with her suburbs, and Jattir and Eshtemoa with their suburbs. Besides theforenamed city of Hebron (which is mentioned again, because the most eminent) they gave them these following, which were in the same tribe of Judah.

1 Chronicles 6:58

And Hilen with her suburbs. Called Holon in the book of Joshua, (chap. xxi. 15.) And Debir with her suburbs.] Mentioned in the same place. jy Microsoft® 4B2 A COMMENTARY UPON [chap. VII.

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AndAshan with her suburbs. Called Ain, Josh, xxi. 16. And Beth-shemesh tvith her suburbs.] Mentioned in the same place.

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And out of the tribe of Benjamin; Geba tvith her suburbs, and Alemeth with her suburbs. Called Almon, Josh. xxi. 18. AndAnothoth with her suburbs. All their cities, throughout their families, were thirteen cities.] Whereof there are only eleven here mentioned: but there are two more added in the book of Joshua, r/z.Juttah and Gibeon, which make thirteen, chap. xxi. 16, 17. Perhaps they were not yet rebuilt when this book was written.

1 Chronicles 6:61

And unto the so?is of Kohath, which were left of the family of that tribe. Who were not of the sons of Aaron, but descended from Kohath. Were cities given out of the half tribe, namely, out of the half tribe of Manasseh, by lot, ten cities.] Some of these cities were taken out of the tribe of Manasseh, and some out of others; as appears from Josh. xxi. But in all they made ten, (ver. 26.)

1 Chronicles 6:62

And to the sons of Ger shorn, throughout their families, out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh, in Bashan, thirteen cities.] Their cities were assigned them in these several tribes, because they were too many to be contained in one.

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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. •? ♦

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And the children of Israel gave to the Levites these cities with their suburbs. To the tribe of Levi, consisting of priests and simple Levites, these cities were given, which are here mentioned in this chapter.

1 Chronicles 6:65

And they gave by lot out of the tribe of the children ofJudah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin. These three tribes were very near one to another; and in several places Simeon mixed together with the other two. These cities which are called by their names.] Which are recited in the foregoing verses, (ver. 57, &c.)and given to the sons of Aaron.

1 Chronicles 6:66

And the residue of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their coasts out of the tribe of Ephraim.~\ By coasts here is meant portions: which were assigned them, though they were not priests, for their support in a lower ministry. These things seem to be mentioned so often, and with such exactness, that it might appear what care was taken by God for the maintenance of his ministers of all sorts; and for the instruction of his people, among whom he dispersed the Levites, who were peculiarly devoted to his service.

1 Chronicles 6:67

And they gave unto them, of the cities of refuge, Shechevi in Mount Ephraim with her suburbs; they gave also Gezer with her suburbs. These were places of great eminence, unto which there was great resort: which gave them the greater opportunity of doing good. They arc both expressly mentioned Josh. xxi. 21.

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And Jokmeam tvith her suburbs, and Beth-horon with her suburbs.

1 Chronicles 6:69

And Aijalon with her suburbs, and Gath-rimmon with her suburbs.

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And out of the half tribe of Manasseh; Aner with her stiburbs, and Bileam with her suburbs, for, the family of the remnant of the sons of Kohath. The city here called Bileam is called Ibleam in the book of Joshua; length of time making greater alterations in the names both of persons and places than this is, as appears by several other places here mentioned. For, as Kirnehi here well notes (which frivolous cavillers should observe), the Divine writers did not affect accuracy in such matters as these; but took names as they found them.

1 Chronicles 6:71

Unto the sons ofGershom were given, out of the family of the half tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Baslian tvith her suburbs, and Ashtaroth with her suburbs. From Golan came the Gaulonites.

1 Chronicles 6:72

And out of the tribe of Issachar; Kedesh with her suburbs, Daberath with her suburbs.

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And Ramoth with her suburbs, and Anem with her suburbs.

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And out of the tribe of Asher; Mashal with her suburbs, and Abdon with her suburbs.

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And Hukok with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs.

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And out of the tribe of Naphtali; Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, and Hammon tvith her suburbs, and Kirjathaim tvith her suburbs. That place which here is called Hammon, is in Josh. xxi. 32. called Hammoth: from whence some argue, that one of these places is corrupted; and they fancy this, because the XXX. here hath Xan&Q. As though the name of some place and person (as I said before)] may not be differently pronounced in different times and countries. As Achan and Achar, mentioned above.

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Unto the rest of the children of Merari were given, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmon tvith her suburbs, Tabor with her suburbs.

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And on the other side Jordan by Jericho, on the east side of Jordan, were given them, out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with her suburbs, and Jah* zah tvith her suburbs.

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Kedemoth also with her subtfrbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs.

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And out of the tribe of Gad; Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahanaim with her suburbs.

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And Heshbon with her suburbs, and Jazer tvith her suburbs. The first of these, Heshbon, was reckoned to be in the tribe of Reuben as well as in Gad. Of which see Josh. xiii. 17.