Is on the point of being built. David was convinced that the work would not be much longer retarded, so that he speaks of it as present. (Haydock) CHAPTER XXII. Full, satisfied, in the last year of his reign, and the 70th of his age. (Du Hamel) --- Cur non ut plenus vit\'e6 conviva recedit? (Lucretiusiii.) --- Israel. This example was much followed by succeeding kings. (Calmet) --- Yet this is controverted. (Houbigant) (Haydock) Princes, heads of families, or officers of the army, chap. xxv. 1. (Menochius) Numbered at the same time, when David caused his son to be crowned, and made these fresh regulations, ver. 27., and chap. xxvi. 31. --- Upwards, according to the plan given by Moses. David afterwards ordered people of twenty years of age, to begin to serve in the tabernacle, as it was now fixed, and consequently the labours were diminished. This tended to augment the splendour of the religious worship, and to edify the people, who could not attend so constantly, in person. Overseers. Hebrew shoterim. Septuagint, "scribes." Others suppose "lictors and executioners," who attended the judges. (Grotius) --- These were functions from which the priests were exempted; (Calmet) so that the Levites alone are meant. (Menochius) --- Judges. They had to decide the causes of the people, 2 Paralipomenon xxix. (Du Hamel) David. Literally, "he." Septuagint, "they." Protestants, "which I made to praise therewith. " (Haydock) Into 24 courses, like the priests, that each class might serve twice a year for a whole week, chap. xxiv. 31. (Tirinus) --- God had already made choice of the posterity of Levi; and David, with the princes, Sadoc, &c., disposed of them by lots, (chap. xxiv. 6.) to serve in the tabernacle, and in the future temple. (Worthington) Leedan, or Lebni, Numbers iii. 18. (Menochius) Chief, head of the rest; (Haydock) or all these three were chiefs, (Junius) no less than the sons of Semei, ver. 9. Semei; perhaps (Calmet) sons of Joel. (Du Hamel) --- The brother of Leedan had four sons, ver. 10. (Menochius) Ziza. Hebrew has "Zina," but reads "Ziza," ver. 11. (Calmet) Children. All together were not more than the children of each of the preceding, so that they only formed one class. (Tirinus) --- It would have been too burdensome for them to have performed the same service with those who were far more numerous: (Haydock) therefore the sons of Semei were joined with the family of Leedan: (Calmet) or rather Jaus and Baria went together, as one family. --- Counted. Hebrew, "in one class, according to their father's house." (Haydock) Minister. Hebrew, "to sanctify the holy of holies." --- His. Hebrew, "in his name," with solemnity, Numbers vi. 23. The Levites might bless the name of the Lord. Levi, but not among the priests, (Calmet) though their father was an extraordinary priest, appointed by God to anoint Aaron, Psalm xcviii. (Du Hamel) Eliezer. His being uncircumcised, had almost proved fatal to his father, Exodus iv. 24. (Menochius) --- First. He might have other brothers, (Calmet) though the title may be given to an only son, ver. 17., and Matthew i. 25. Subuel was perhaps (Haydock) chief of a family, (Calmet) and was appointed over the treasury, chap. xxvi. 24. (Menochius) CHAPTER XXIII. Old. See ver. 3., and Numbers iv. 3. --- And upwards; as long as they were able to serve. They were excused from carrying the tabernacle, &c., at fifty years of age, Numbers viii. 25. (Abulensis) (Menochius) --- To those who were turned of thirty, the higher offices were entrusted; while the Levites began at twenty, to exercise themselves in things of less consequence, under the direction of their elder brethren. (Tirinus) --- The kings might declare, by the advice of the Sanhedrim, what laws were of a temporary nature. (Grotius) (Du Hamel) Ever. They will not have to carry, the sacred vessels about, as formerly. (Haydock) --- In order that they may not be idle, we must therefore provide them some other employment, ver. 28, &c. (Tirinus) Place. Hebrew, "purifying all that is holy;" (Haydock) keeping clean all that is used about the sacred ministry. (Calmet) And the priests, &c. This is not found in Hebrew or Septuagint. The Levites might prepare these things; though the priests alone were to offer them in sacrifice. (Tirinus) (Chap. ix. 32., and Leviticus xxiv. 8.) --- Others think that (Calmet) the priests received flour from the people, and baked it. (Menochius) --- But St. Jerome follows the tradition of the Jews, intimating that the priests sowed the corn, and did every thing about the loaves of proposition, Malachias i. 6. --- Flour, Leviticus ii. 1. --- Cakes, Exodus xxix. 2. --- Roasting the first-fruits, Leviticus ii. 14. (Menochius) --- Measure. A standard was kept in the temple, (Exodus xxx. 13.; Calmet) to prevent any fraud. The Ediles at Rome performed the same office. (Tirinus) --- There were not two measures in the country, as that would have caused confusion. (Du Hamel) And the Levites. This also is omitted in Hebrew, "and to stand," &c., as all the preceding offices pertained to the Levites, (Haydock) and priests were bound equally with them to praise the Lord. Lord. Music accompanied this service twice a day, as it did the sacrifices which were offered for the prince, or for the nation, Numbers x. 10. (Calmet) --- Rest. Hebrew, "the set festivals, by number, according to the order prescribed unto them continually," &c. (Haydock) Brethren. Let them follow the directions of the high priests, who are of the same tribe. (Menochius) Before. Hebrew, "in the presence of." See Leviticus x. 2. --- Priesthood, under Aaron. Eleazar succeeded him, and the posterity of Ithamar obtained the dignity under Heli. Ahimelech is styled also Achimelech and Abiathar, ver. 6, 21., and chap. xviii. 16. (Calmet) --- Courses, twenty-four, which were to serve by lot, that no one might complain, as they were equally princes, ver. 5. Hence St. Dionisius styles Zachary "prince of the priests." But the pontiff was over all. (Tirinus) Houses. The descendants of Eleazar were far more numerous. Of God, great. Elohim also signifies "judges," and we might translate, "princes of the judges." (Grotius) (Du Hamel) --- These men occupied the first dignities of the priesthood, and of the judicature, or they were princes in all sacred affairs. (Calmet) --- They were to offer sacrifice, and to enjoy spiritual jurisdiction, in the house of God. (Worthington) --- As their claims were therefore equal, the decision was left to lots. (Menochius) --- It would have been otherwise difficult for all to be satisfied. See Josue vii. 14. (Calmet) Ithamar. All was done with the utmost order, and the priests took care to observe the regulation, till the end of the republic. (Josephus, [Antiquities?] vii. 2., and contra Apion i., and ii., and Luke i. 5.) --- The family of Eleazar had many prerogatives over the rest, as it was longer in possession of the high priesthood, and more numerous; but that of Ithamar, gave pontiffs to the nation at the time of this regulation. The Hebrew is very obscure, and is deemed incorrect. (Cap.) (Grotius) (Calmet) --- Protestants, "one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar." --- The insertion of "one," which is in the Septuagint, removes the difficulty. (Haydock) --- The two families were enregistered alternately, (Menochius) till the eight families of Ithamar were done. (Haydock) Abia, the progenitor of St. John the Baptist, Luke i. 5. Yet whether his father was "chief of the priests" of his course, as St. Dionisius asserts, or whether he sprung from Eleazar, or from Ithamar, is uncertain. (Tirinus) Aaron, and his successors. The former might have given some directions, which tradition had preserved. (Calmet) Subael, grandson of Moses, chap. xxiii. 16. Rohobia was in the same degree, by Eliezer. (Menochius) And his. Protestants, "the sons of Hebron, Jeriah, the first. " The words underlined, shew what omissions are in the text, (Haydock) which is probably corrupted, as well as the Septuagint. Jeria and Amarias were sons of Hebron, chap. xxiii. 19., and xxvi. 31. Jahath may, therefore, be the same with Hebron. (Calmet) The son. Hebrew, "the son of Jehasia, or of Oziau...." But the name of this son is lost. It is wonderful that the posterity of Gersom are passed over. (Calmet) --- Protestants, "the sons of Jaaziah; Beno. --- 27. The sons of Merari, by Jaaziah; Beno, and Shoam." (Haydock) --- Septuagint vary, and the original text is supposed to be changed by some transcriber, (Capel. &c.) as we read only of Moholi and Musi, ver. 26., and chap. xxiii. 21. Over-against, in imitation of the priests, (Calmet) being likewise divided into twenty-four classes. (Tirinus) --- Both, &c. Hebrew, "the principal fathers over-against their younger brethren." All the rest is omitted. Lots decided the place and functions both of father and children. (Haydock)