“Israel. These registers were preserved by those who fled from the arms of Salmanasar, into the kingdom of Juda. Such records were preserved with the utmost care, and were collected by the author; who could give an account of what happened during and after the captivity, as he was an irreproachable eye-witness; not to mention the divine inspiration, which places his testimony out of the reach of criticism. (Calmet) — And Juda; perhaps by some historian. (Menochius) — Babylon, while Israel was removed elsewhere, by the Assyrians. (Haydock) — The genealogies of Israel being hitherto recited, now those who came back from captivity appear. (Worthington)”

“So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies,.... Not now by the writer of this book in the preceding chapters; for two of the tribes are not reckoned at all, and the rest but in part; but there had been kept an exact account of them: and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel; not in the canonical book or books of Kings, but in the annals, journals, and diaries, which each king took care to be kept with some exactness, often referred to in the preceding books; out of which this writer, under a divine direction, had taken what was proper to be continued, and had carried the genealogy down to the captivity of the ten tribes; but the genealogy being lost with them, he could proceed no further, nor say anything more concerning them: but Judah; for so the word should be stopped, and read according to the Hebrew accents: who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression; their idolatry, and were now returned again; of them the writer proposes to give a further account.”

“First. He only treats of those who returned first, (Tirinus) under Esdras. (Haydock) — Nehemias brought back others, and more returned afterwards. Many also retook possession of their lands, which they had enjoyed before the captivity, 1 Esdras iii. 12. — Nathineans. These were the posterity of the Gabaonites, whose office was to bring wood, water, &c., for the service of the temple. (Challoner) (Josue ix. 27.) — David and Solomon consigned others of the Chanaanites, whose lives they spared, to perform the same office. They were like public slaves. The number of those who returned was so small, that days were appointed for all the people to help to carry wood for the temple. At Jerusalem the Nathineans, “or people given,” resided on the east side of the city; (2 Esdras ii. 26.) and other towns were assigned them, 1 Esdras ii. 70. (Calmet) — The people continued to be divided into four classes, as they had been before the captivity. (Malvenda)”

“the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions--This chapter relates wholly to the first returned exiles. Almost all the names recur in Nehemiah (Neh. 11:1-36), although there are differences which will be explained there. The same division of the people into four classes was continued after, as before the captivity; namely, the priests, Levites, natives, who now were called by the common name of Israelites, and the Nethinims (Jos 9:27; Ezr 2:43; Ezr 8:20). When the historian speaks of "the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions," he implies that there were others who afterwards returned and settled in possessions not occupied by the first. Accordingly, we read of a great number returning successively under Ezra, Nehemiah, and at a later period. And some of those who returned to the ancient inheritance of their fathers, had lived before the time of the captivity (Ezr 3:12; Hag 2:4, Hag 2:10).”

“Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities,.... Who first returned from Babylon upon the proclamation of Cyrus, and enjoyed their former possessions, and dwelt in the cities they had before, or in such as were allotted them, or they chose: were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims; the whole body that returned were divided into four classes, as they had been before the captivity; the Israelites were the common people in general, the body politic; the priests, the ecclesiastics, who officiated in sacred things; the Levites, who ministered to them; and the Nethinims were such persons as were "given", as the word signifies, to do servile work for the sanctuary, as, to be hewers of wood and drawers of water; such were the Gibeonites, Jos 9:27, and such as were appointed by David for such work, see Ezr 8:20.”

“Manasses. People from these tribes particularly, (Haydock) as well as from others, had fled to the kingdom of Juda, when the Assyrians took their brethren prisoners; and these returned to Jerusalem. (Menochius) — Cyrus gave a general leave for all Israel to return. The country was too spacious for them; and it was found necessary to force the tenth part of the people, by lot, to repair to Jerusalem, as it wanted inhabitants, 2 Esdras xi. 1.”

“And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin,.... Of which tribes were the largest number that went into, and returned out of, captivity: and of the children of Ephraim and Manasseh; such of those tribes who had joined the others when Jeroboam introduced his idolatry, or had fled to them when Samaria was besieged and taken by Shalmaneser, and so went into captivity with Judah, and now returned; and as many of them as took the advantage of the proclamation of Cyrus, who were carried captive with the ten tribes.”

“Uthai, the son of Ammihud,.... Called Athaiah, Neh 11:4 though his ancestors there are differently reckoned here; his genealogy here is traced from his father Ammihud, through Omri, Imri, Bani, Pharez, to Judah. though his ancestors there are differently reckoned here; his genealogy here is traced from his father Ammihud, through Omri, Imri, Bani, Pharez, to Judah. 1 Chronicles 9:5 ch1 9:5 ch1 9:5 ch1 9:5And of the Shilonites,.... Not called so from the city of Shiloh, which was in Ephraim; whereas these here intended were of the tribe of Judah, and were either the descendants of a man whose name was Shiloni, Neh 11:5 or rather these are the same with the Shelanites, Num 26:20 so called from Shelah the son of Judah; and so the Targum here is,"and of the tribe of Shelah:" Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons; the same with Maaseiah, Neh 11:5.”

“And of the sons of Benjamin,.... Who were of the tribe of Benjamin, and went with Judah into captivity, and returned with them, and such of them as dwelt in Jerusalem before that: Sallu the son of Meshullam; whose pedigree is differently given, Neh 11:7, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenaah; perhaps these men had two names, there called Joel and Pedaiah.”

“And Ibneiah the son of Jeroham,.... Who with two more, Elah and Meshullam, whose ancestors are given, of whom we have no mention elsewhere, were all of the tribe of Benjamin, said to settle at Jerusalem. And Ibneiah the son of Jeroham,.... Who with two more, Elah and Meshullam, whose ancestors are given, of whom we have no mention elsewhere, were all of the tribe of Benjamin, said to settle at Jerusalem. 1 Chronicles 9:9 ch1 9:9 ch1 9:9 ch1 9:9And their brethren, according to their generations, nine hundred amd fifty and six,.... Which was the number of the Benjaminites there resident put together, and which greatly exceeded that of Judah, Ch1 9:6. all these men were chief of the fathers, in the house of their fathers; principal men in the families of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, even all the seven before mentioned.”

“And Azariah the son of Hilkiah,.... That is, the son of Azariah, whose name was Seraiah, see Ch1 6:13, whose pedigree is traced up from Hilkiah through Meshullam, called Shallum, Ch1 6:12. Zadok, Meraioth, to Ahitub: the ruler of the house of God; high priest in it; which is to be understood of Ahitub, and not of Azariah or Seraiah in the time of Ezra; for Joshua was then high priest.”

“And Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur,.... In this genealogy, between Jeroham and Pashur, were three more here omitted, Pelaliah, Amzi, Zechariah, Neh 11:12, and then Pashur the son of Malchijah, as here: and Maasiai the son of Adiel; whose pedigree is traced up from hence, through Jahzerah, Meshullam, Meshillemith, to Immer; one of the five heads of the courses settled by David, Ch1 24:14. The names of this man, and of his ancestors, are given, with some variation, in Neh 11:13.”

“Azarias, or Saraias, ibid. 11.[2 Esdras xi. 11.?] — Mosollam, or Sellum, chap. vi. 12. (Calmet) — High is not expressed in Pontifex; and this Azarias was only (Haydock) one of the principal families; (Menochius; Du Hamel) perhaps the second in dignity; (4 Kings xxv. 18.) while Jesus was the successor of Aaron, 1 Esdras iii. 8. (Calmet) — Hebrew and Septuagint, “the ruler,” (Haydock) or “captain of the guard of the house.” (Calmet) — They were styled pontiffs, or princes of the priests. (Tirinus)”

“And their brethren, heads of the house of their fathers, one thousand and seven hundred and threescore. These, with other priests, made up this number, which was greater than those of Judah and Benjamin, that dwelt in Jerusalem, put together: very able men for the work of the service of the house of God: men that had not only strength of body, which some part of the work of the priests required; but had courage and fortitude of mind to set about the service of God with cheerfulness, and to preserve it from corruption.”

“And of the Levites,.... Having given an account of the two first classes of the people, the Israelites and priests, the author of the book now proceeds to the Levites, the third class; and the first mentioned is Shemaiah, whose ancestors, Hashub, Azrikam, and Hashabiah: were of the sons of Merari; the third son of Levi.”

“And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah,.... Four more of the chief of the Levites, the pedigree of the last of which is traced up by Micah and Zichri to Asaph, the singer in the times of David, a descendant of Gershon, the first son of Levi; the first of these is thought by Hillerus (t) to be the same with Bakbukiah, Neh 11:17. (t) Onamastic. Sacr. p. 401, 548.”

“And Obadiah the son of Shemaiah,.... Called Abda the son of Shammua, Neh 11:17. the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; who was Ethan, another of the singers in the time of David: and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites; the villages about Netophah, which was in the tribe of Judah, Ch1 2:54, Neh 7:26 which may be understood either of Elkanah, the ancestor of Berechiah, whose dwelling was there; or of Berechiah, and must be rendered: who had dwelt there; for now he dwelt at Jerusalem.”

“Carpenter. Hebrew Cheresh, is taken by some to be a surname. Septuagint, “And Ares.” It is asserted that the priests and Levites could follow no mechanical profession, (Abulensis) and the Bacbacar only presided over the carpenters, who wrought in the temple. (Menochius) (Tirinus) — But why might not people of this order employ themselves in such arts and labours, which were never deemed degrading among the Hebrews, nor incompatible with the sacred ministry, during the leisure hours? (Calmet) — St. Paul did not disdain to make tents. (Haydock)”

“Who hitherto waited in the king's gate eastward,.... At the gate through which the king went into the temple, and was at the east of it; and here these porters were placed in the same order after the captivity, and their return from it, as before: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi; or in the camp of Levi, which was placed around the tabernacle, as in the wilderness: the Septuagint version is, "these are the gates of the camp of the children of Levi"; at which these porters were placed.”

“And Shallum the son of Kore,.... The same as in Ch1 9:17 whose pedigree is traced up to Ebiasaph the son of Korah, see Exo 6:24. and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites; so called, because they descended from Korah: were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle; until the temple was built: and their fathers being over the host of the Lord; the Levites, who were the Lord's army, and whose service is represented as a warfare, Num 4:5. were keepers of the entry; into the tabernacle, that none might enter that were impure; or into the court of the priests, excepting priests; or into the holiest of all, as Kimchi suggests.”

“Time. Hebrew, “and hitherto.” This custom has been observed at the king’s gate, who entered his tribune by the eastern gate of the temple, 4 Kings xvi. 18. So far the ancient records reach. Some would infer from this passage, that a guard was still kept at the king’s gate, even though there was none sitting upon the throne after the captivity. (Calmet) — Protestants, (“who hitherto waited in the king’s gate eastward.) They were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.” (Haydock) — These different bands attended by turns. (Menochius) — But the captains were on duty every day, ver. 25, and 26, and 34.”

“the king's gate--The king had a gate from his palace into the temple (Kg2 16:18), which doubtless was kept constantly closed except for the monarch's use; and although there was no king in Israel on the return from the captivity, yet the old ceremonial was kept up, probably in the hope that the scepter would, ere long, be restored to the house of David. It is an honor by which Eastern kings are distinguished, to have a gate exclusively devoted to their own special use, and which is kept constantly closed, except when he goes out or returns (Eze 44:2). There being no king then in Israel, this gate would be always shut. Next: 1 Chronicles Chapter 10”

“And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past,.... Over the host, over the Levites, and the chief of them; which is to be understood of Phinehas the son of Eleazar, in the time of Moses, who succeeded his father in that post, see Num 3:32 though some think, as Kimchi observes, that this was not Phinehas the priest, but a certain Levite of this name in this post; but since he is said to be in time past, it may very well be understood of him: and it also is observed: and the Lord was with him; inspiring him with zeal for his honour and glory, assisting and strengthening him to do his will and work, as particularly in the affair of Zimri, Num 25:7, the Targum is,"the Word of the Lord was for his help;'' this may be said for the encouragement of him that was in the same office now.”

“Service, to keep watch. (Calmet) — Families. Hebrew, “fathers over the host, (Haydock) or camp of the Lord: keepers of the entry.” The Corites, though not perhaps alone, performed what their fathers had done before the tabernacle, in the desert, and in the temple of Solomon; which were considered as the camp of the great king.”

“And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah,.... Some think this refers to one that was in the times of David; but it seems rather to respect one that was after the Babylonish captivity, see Ch1 26:1 though he and his brethren were in an office established in the times of David, and the order of which was now, as then, observed: was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: who was the chief porter, and kept the door; either that led into the outer court, and kept out all unclean persons from entering there; or that which led into the court of the priests, that none but priests might enter there.”

“Before. Hebrew, “the Lord with him,” an usual form of blessing, (Calmet) or of wishing well (Haydock) to the deceased. (Calemt) — This Phinees lived after the captivity, (Menochius) and possessed the same power as Eleazar and Joiada, chap. xii. 27., and Numbers iii. 32. It is not necessary to refute the fables of the Rabbins, who pretend that the famous Phinees was an angel, who appeared at different times, and particularly at the return from Babylon. (Calmet) — Hebrew may refer to the ancient Phinees: “And Phinees….was ruler over them formerly, and the Lord was with him.” (Du Hamel)”

“All those that were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve,.... As fixed in the days of David, and might not be fewer: these were reckoned by their genealogies in their villages; where they dwelt: whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office; the scheme was first drawn by Samuel the prophet, and communicated to David, who put it into execution, to be constantly and perpetually observed.”

“So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the Lord,.... They that were appointed in David's time to watch the gates of the temple, their posterity succeeded them in that office; for it was hereditary: namely, the house of the tabernacle, by wards; that which was at Gibeon in David's time, and now one was erected until the temple was built.”

“Towns, where they resided, when they were not on duty. (Menochius) — Seer, or prophet. (Haydock) — We read not of his making any such regulation. But he probably made it after the misconduct of the sons of Heli, and when the ark was brought back. (Calmet) — He might also give private instructions to David for the same purpose; (Haydock) as Gad and Nathan did, 2 Paralipomenon xxix. 25. The same plans were still adopted, though the number of Levites was smaller. (Calmet) — Trust, while they were at the head of affairs, and acting by God’s authority. Literally, “in their faith;” (Haydock) enlightened from above, and regulating matters according to the dispositions, which they discovered in the sacred ministers: or rather Hebrew, “in their established employment,” which was to subsist in future ages. (Calmet)”

“And their brethren, which were in their villages,.... Assigned them to dwell in: were to come after seven days from time to time with them; there was a new course of them every week; the old ones went off of duty, and another course succeeded, which came out of the villages where they dwelt, and the old course retired to theirs.”

“For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office,.... The four chief porters who were over all the two hundred and twelve, and had one over them, Ch1 9:17, these were never changed, nor went into the country villages; but were always upon the spot, and in their office, superintending the rest: and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God; see Ch1 26:20.”

“And they lodged round about the house of God,.... In chambers on the outward wall about it, that they might be near to do their office: because the charge was upon them; to guard the house: and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them; that is, the opening of the doors of the mountain of the house, and the court of women; for as for others, that appertained to the priests, as Dr. Lightfoot (u) observes; under the second temple, it is said (w), Ben Geber was over the shutting of the gates in the evening, and so of opening in the morning. (u) Temple-Service, c. 7. sect. 1. (w) Misn. Shekalim, c. 5. sect. 1.”

“To these. Hebrew, “for these Levites, (Sellum, &c.; ver. 17) four chief porters were in their set office,” for life, or as long as they were able to serve, and did not change every week like the rest. — Lord: the apartments of the priests, and the storehouses, (Haydock) where all precious ornaments, wine, &c., were kept. (Calmet)”

“And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale. Which the priests used in sacrificing, and which the Levites brought to them, and returned again to their proper places. And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale. Which the priests used in sacrificing, and which the Levites brought to them, and returned again to their proper places. 1 Chronicles 9:29 ch1 9:29 ch1 9:29 ch1 9:29Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary,.... They were committed to their care; they delivered them out on occasion, and their business was to see that they were returned when they had done their use and service: and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices; which were used in meat offerings, drink offerings, &c. see Ch1 26:20 under the second temple, Ahiah was over the libations or drink offerings (x). (x) Ibid. (Misn. Shekalim, c. 5. sect. 1.)”

“And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices. For though the Levites had the care of the spices, they might not make the ointment with them, only the priests, see Exo 30:23. . 1 Chronicles 9:31 ch1 9:31 ch1 9:31 ch1 9:31And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite,.... Of whom see Ch1 9:19, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans; the meat offerings that were made in pans; and so had the care of the fine flour, oil, and frankincense used in them, which he delivered to the priests when necessary, see Lev 2:5, the Septuagint version is,"over the works of the sacrifice of the pan of the high priest;''as if it respected peculiarly his meat offering, Lev 6:20, we read in the Misnah (y) of the offerings of the high priest, as expressed by this word, which it signifies, and not pans, but what was fried in them (z); and Ben Melech on the place says, this man was an high priest who offered every day the tenth part of an ephah in a pan, half of it in the morning, and half of it in the evening, according to Lev 6:20, but that cannot be, for certain it is he was a Levite, as the text expresses it. (y) Menachot, c. 11. sect. 3. & Tamid, c. 1. sect. 3. (z) Vid. Sheringham. in Misn. Yoma, c. 2. sect. 3. p. 16.”

“And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the shewbread, to prepare it every sabbath,.... Twelve loaves of which were set every week before the ark upon the shewbread table, and the old ones taken away: now the work of these Levites was to make this shewbread, and get it ready every week to be set upon the table, and which was done not by them, but by priests; under the second temple, the family of Garmu was set over this work (a). (a) Misn. Shekalim, ut supra. (c. 5. sect. 1.)”

“And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites,.... Others of them were employed in singing, and were masters of the song, and presided in that service, see Ch1 6:31 who remaining in the chambers were free; from all other work and service; and there they abode, even in the chambers of the temple, that they might be near to perform their work, and not be defiled, and made unfit for it: for they were employed in that work day and night; some or other of them, either in composing or singing psalms and hymns, or teaching others how to sing them.”

“These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations,.... Even all before made mention of in this chapter: these dwelt at Jerusalem; always resided there, and did not in turns go into the country villages, as the inferior Levites did; their office requiring them to be constantly there, being chief of the porters, singers, &c. who had the superintendency and direction of the rest.”

“And in Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon,.... Whose name is here mentioned, which is not in Ch1 8:29. Jehiel: whose wife's name was Maachah; as there, but here called his sister, as a wife sometimes is, Gen 20:2. From hence to the end of the chapter is a repetition of the ancestors and posterity of Saul king of Israel; which is made to lead on to and connect the following history of the kings of Judah, begun in this book, and carried on in the next unto the Babylonish captivity, see Ch1 8:29, and the notes there. Next: 1 Chronicles Chapter 10”

“These; probably Sellum, &c., (ver. 17) though it is not certain that the chief porters presided also over the singers, chap. xv., and xvi. Hebrew, “And these are the singers, chief of the families (Calmet; or fathers) of the Levites, in the chambers (of the temple) free” from all other avocations, (Haydock) that they may watch over the porters and musicians. Septuagint is clearer: (Calmet) “And these are the masters of music over the bands of Levites, observing their daily courses, because they are day and night over them in the works.” (Haydock) — The sons of Caath seem to be chiefly specified, (ver. 32) though other families sung, chap. vi. 39. — Chambers, at a distance from their wives, to trim the lamps in the evening, and to see that none were extinguished, (Menochius) as also to teach music, &c. The Synagogues were used afterwards. (Du Hamel)”

“And in. These verses are repeated from the last chapter, in order to bring us to the death of Saul, (Menochius) and the reign of David. (Calmet) — “Tis difficult to account for the repetition, provided they were repeated originally; but if they have been repeated through the blunder of a transcriber, the existence of the same words” before them may be the reason. (Kennicott) — The father of Gabaon. This is the explanation of Abigabaon, chap. viii. 29. (Haydock) — Wife. So the former chapter, and all the ancient versions, with some Hebrew manuscripts, read, instead of the printed Hebrew, “sister,” (Kennicott) which seems to be corrupted; (Calmet) and the Protestants venture to correct it. (Haydock)”

“These. All is omitted, though it is found [in] chap. viii. 38, and in manuscript ii. (Kennicott) — These remarks, which may appear to some minute, shew that all Hebrew manuscripts are not absolutely alike, as some once pretended; and that the Hebrew Bible is not printed from the best copies. (Haydock) — “The sacred volume in Hebrew has, therefore, been published with such carelessness, as no other printed copy with which I am acquainted.” (Houbigant, prol. p. 2.) — Yet this is the copy, which alone Protestants hold up as the standard of perfection, and the Rule of Faith! (Haydock) Bible Text & Cross-references: The Israelites, Priests, and Levites, who first dwelt in Jerusalem after the captivity. A repetition of the genealogy of Saul. 1 And all Israel was numbered: and the sum of them was written in the Book of the kings of Israel and Juda: and they were carried away to Babylon for their transgression. 2 Now the first that dwelt in their possessions, and in their cities, were the Israelites, and the priests, and the Levites, and the Nathineans. 3 And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Juda, and of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim, and of Manasses. 4 Othei, the son of Ammiud, the son of Amri, the son of Omrai, the son of Bonni, of the sons of Phares, the son of Juda; 5 And of Siloni: Asaia, the first-born, and his sons: 6 And of the sons of Zara: Jehuel, and their brethren, six hundred and ninety. 7 And of the sons of Benjamin: Salo, the son of Mosollam, the son of Oduia, the son of Asana. 8 And Jobania, the son of Jeroham: and Ela, the son of Ozi, the son of Mochori: and Mosallam, the son of Saphatias, the son of Rahuel, the son of Jebania: 9 And their brethren by their families, nine hundred and fifty-six. All these were heads of their families by the houses of their fathers. 10 And of the priests: Jedaia, Joiarib, and Jachin: 11 And Azarias, the son of Helcias, the son of Mosollam, the son of Sadoc, the son of Maraioth, the son of Achitob, high priest of the house of God. 12 And Adaias, the son of Jeroham, the son of Phassur, the son of Melchias: and Maasai, the son of Adiel, the son of Jezra, the son of Mosollam, the son of Mosollamith, the son of Emmer. 13 And their brethren, heads in their families, a thousand seven hundred and threescore; very strong and able men for the work of the ministry in the house of God. 14 And of the Levites: Semeia, the son of Hassub, the son of Ezricam, the son of Hasebia, of the sons of Merari. 15 And Bacbacar, the carpenter, and Galal, and Mathania the son of Micha, the son of Zachri, the son of Asaph: 16 And Obdia, the son of Semeia, the son of Galal, the son of Idithun: and Barachia, the son of Asa, the son of Elcana, who dwelt in the suburbs of Netophati. 17 And the porters were, Sellum, and Accub, and Telmon, and Ahimam: and their brother, Sellum, was the prince. 18 Until that time, in the king’s gate eastward, the sons of Levi waited by their turns. 19 But Sellum, the son of Core, the son of Abiasaph, the son of Core, with his brethren, and his father’s house, the Corites, were over the works of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their families in turns were keepers of the entrance of the camp of the Lord. 20 And Phinees, the son of Eleazar, was their prince before the Lord; 21 And Zacharias, the son of Mosollamia, was porter of the gate of the tabernacle of the testimony. 22 All these that were chosen to be porters at the gates, were two hundred and twelve: and they were registered in their proper towns: whom David, and Samuel, the seer, appointed in their trust; 23 As well them as their sons, to keep the gates of the house of the Lord, and the tabernacle, by their turns. 24 In four quarters were the porters: that is to say, toward the east, and west, and north, and south. 25 And their brethren dwelt in villages, and came up on their sabbath-days from time to time. 26 To these four Levites were committed the whole number of the porters, and they were over the chambers, and treasures of the house of the Lord. 27 And they abode in their watches round about the temple of the Lord: that when it was time, they might open the gates in the morning. 28 And some of their stock had the charge of the vessels for the ministry: for the vessels were both brought in and carried out by number. 29 Some of them also had the instruments of the sanctuary committed unto them, and the charge of the fine flour, and wine, and oil, and frankincense, and spices. 30 And the sons of the priests made the ointments of the spices. 31 And Mathathias, a Levite, the first-born of Sellum, the Corite, was overseer of such things as were fried in the frying-pan. 32 And some of the sons of Caath, their brethren, were over the leaves of proposition, to prepare always new for every sabbath. 33 These are the chief of the singing men, of the families of the Levites, who dwelt in the chambers, by the temple, that they might serve continually, day and night, in their ministry. 34 The heads of the Levites, princes in their families, abode in Jerusalem. 35 And *in Gabaon dwelt Jehiel, the father of Gabaon, and the name of his wife was Maacha. 36 His first-born son, Abdon, and Sur, and Cis, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab, 37 Gedor also, and Ahio, and Zacharias, and Macelloth. 38 And Macelloth begot Samaan: these dwelt over-against their brethren in Jerusalem, with their brethren. 39 *Now Ner begot Cis, and Cis begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, and Melchisua, and Abinadab, and Esbaal. 40 And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal: and Meribbaal begot Micha. 41 And the sons of Micha, were Phithon, and Melech, and Tharaa, and Ahaz. 42 And Ahaz begot Jara, and Jara begot Alamath, and Azmoth, and Zamri. And Zamri begot Mosa: 43 And Mosa begot Banaa: whose son Raphaia begot Elasa: of whom was born Asel. 44 And Asel had six sons whose names are, Ezricam, Bochru, Ismahel, Saria, Obdia, Hanan: these are the sons of Asel.”