(1) Their families, classified under the three great groups, descendants of Asaph, Jeduthun (Ethan), Heman.
A curious problem is suggested by the fact that the names in verse 4, beginning with Hanani, with a few very slight changes, read: "Hanan (`Have mercy') -iah (`O Yahweh'); Hanani (~`Have mercy'); Eli-athah ('Thou art my God'); Giddalti (`I have magnified') (and) Romamti (`exalted') (thy) Ezer (`help'); Josh-bekashah (`In the seat of hardness'); Mallothi (`I spake of it'); Hothir (`Gave still'); Mahazioth (`Visions')." How, or why, this came among these names, cannot be said.
(2) The 24 courses of 12 singers each, of which courses numbers 1, 3, 5, 7 fell to Asaph; numbers 2, 4, 8, 10, 12, 14 fell to Jeduthun; numbers 6, 9, 11, 13, 15-24 fell to Heman.
IV. Gatekeepers and Other Officers (1Ch 26:1-32).
(1) Genealogies and stations of the gatekeepers (1Ch 26:1-19).
(2) Those in charge of the temple treasury (1Ch 26:20-28).
(3) Those in charge of the "outward business."
Subordinate magistrates, tax-collectors, etc.
V. The Army, and David's Officers (1Ch 27:1-34).
(1) The army (1Ch 27:1-15).
12 officers, each commanding 24,000 men, and in charge for one month; chosen from David's knights.
(2) The tribal princes (1Ch 27:16-24).
After the fashion of Nu 12:1-16 through 15. Gad and Asher are omitted. The 12 are made up by including the Levites and the Aaronites.
(3) The king's twelve stewards (1Ch 27:25-31).
(4) The king's court officers (1Ch 27:32-34).
Counselor and scribe: Jonathan, the king's uncle, otherwise unknown; tutor: Jehiel; counselor: Ahithophel; "the king's friend" (closest confidant?): Hushai. Possibly two priests are next included: Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar, high priest of the Ithamar branch. But perhaps it should read, "Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada." If two priests are intended, it seems strange that Zadok is not one. The list ends with the commander-in-chief, Joab.
This elaborate organization in every part and branch of the kingdom is looked upon as the Chronicler's glowing Utopian dream of what must have been, underrating the organizing power of the great soldier and statesman.
(26) Ezr 2:1-63.--The Exiles Who Returned with Zerubbabel.
Paralleled in Ne 7:6-73. 9 "Jah," 4 "El" names in 107.
(1) The Leaders (Ezr 2:2).
(2) Numbers, according to Families (Ezr 2:3-19).
18 of Ezra's numbers differ from Nehemiah's.
(3) Numbers according to Localities (Ezr 2:20-35).
10 towns probably Judahite, 7 Benjamite.
(4) The Priests (Ezr 2:39,42).
Only 4 families, representing 3 Davidic courses.
(5) The Levites (Ezr 2:43,14).
Among the singers, only Asaphites.
(6) The Porters (Ezr 2:45).
3 old names, 3 new ones.
(7) The "Nethinim" (Temple-Slaves) (Ezr 2:46-56).
(8) The Children of Solomon's Servants (Slaves) (Ezr 2:57-59).
(9) Those Who Could Not Prove Their Descent.
(a) General population.
Three families, children of Delaiah, Tobiah, Nekoda.
(b) Priestly families.
Hobaiah, Hakkoz, Barzillai. Hakkoz, the seventh of the Davidic courses, perhaps succeeded later in establishing their right (Ne 3:21).
(27) Ezr 6:1-5.--Ezra's Genealogy.
An ascending genealogy: Ezra, son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, son of Amaraiah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron; 16 links. Follows 1 Ch 6:7-10 down to Zadok, then omits 7 to Shallum, besides the 7 omitted in Chronicles.
(28) Ezr 8:1-20.--Numbers and Leaders of Those Who Returned with Zerubbabel.
Numbers much smaller than in Zerubbabel's list (Ezr 2:1-14). Perhaps 3 new families, Shecaniah, Shelomith, Joah; 7 more leaders. A much smaller proportion of Levites; among them a "man of discretion," perhaps a name, "Ishsecel," of the sons of Mahli, therefore a Merarite, with other Merarites, 39 in all.
(29) Ezr 10:18-44.--Jews Who Had Married Foreign Women.
(1) The Priests (Ezr 10:18-22).
Seventeen in all; members of the high priest's family, and of the Davidic courses of Immer and Harim, besides the family of Pashhur.
(2) The Levites (Ezr 10:23); 6 in All.
(3) Singers and Porters (Ezr 10:24); 4 in All.
(4) "Israel," "the Laity" (Ezr 10:25-43).
Sixteen families represented; 86 persons. Out of a total of 163 names, 39 yah compounds, 19 'el compounds, 8 prefixed.
(30) Ne 3:1-12.--The Leaders in the Repair of the Wall.
Thirty-eight leaders; in 30 instances the father's name also given. As far as mentioned, all from Judah and Jerusalem.
(31) Ne 7:7-63.--Those Who Returned with Zerubbabel.
Follows Ezr 2:1-63, with transcriptional variations in names and numbers.
(32) Ne 8:4-7.--Levites and Others Who Assisted Ezra in Proclaiming the Law.
(33) Ne 10:1-27.--The Sealers of the Covenant.
Twenty-two priests, 17 Levites, 20 heads of families already mentioned, 24 individuals.
(34) Ne 11:3-36.--Chief Dwellers in Jerusalem and Vicinity.
Parallels in 1Ch 9:9-22. Some omissions and variations; 5 priestly courses given, Joiarib, course number 1; Jedaiah, number 2; Jachin, number 23; Malchijah, number 5; Immer, number 6. 24 "Jah," 6 "El" names out of 82.
(35) Ne 12:1-8.--Priests and Levites Who Went Up with Zerubbabel.
Compare with priests' lists in Ne 10:2-8 (33), and with priests under Joiakim (Ne 12:12-21 (36)). They are names of families. See Ne 12:12.
(36) Ne 12:10-11.--High Priests from Jeshua to Jaddua.
(1) Jeshua, 538 to 520 BC.
(2) Joiakim.
(3) Eliashib, 446 till after 433.
(4) Joiada, about 420.
(5) Jonathan, Johanan, 405 to 362.
(6) Jaddua, to 323.
This list bears upon the date of Ezra-Nehemiah. Jaddua was high priest when Alexander visited Jerusalem, 335 BC. If the Darius of verse 22 is Darius Nothus (425 to 405 BC), and Jaddua, a young boy, is mentioned as the heir to the high-priesthood, this passage was written before 400. If Jaddua's actual high-priesthood is meant, and Darius Codomannus (336 to 330 BC) is the Darius here, the date may be about 330. The enumeration of families here is assigned to the time of Joiakim, before 405, and the latest recorded events to the time of the high priest before Jaddua (Ne 12:23; 13:28), hence, before 362. The hypothesis of an addition by some scribe after 350 is possible, but not necessary.
(37) Ne 12:12-21.--Heads of Priestly Families.
(38) Ne 12:22-26.--Levites and Porters under High Priest Johanan.
(39) Ne 12:31-42.--Princes and Priests at Dedication of the Wall.
(40) Mt 1:1-17.--The Genealogy of Jesus Christ.
(See separate article).
(41) Lu 3:23-38.--The Genealogy of Jesus.
(See separate article).
LITERATURE.
Commentaries in the place cited., especially on Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah, especially C. F. Keil, Bible Comm., 1872; E. Bertheau, in Kurzgef. exeget. Handb. zum Altes Testament, 1873; Bible ("Speaker's") Commentary (Browne, Gen; Clark, Ex; Espin, Nu; Rawlinson, Chronicles, etc.); W. B. Barnes, Cambridge Bible, Chronicles; R. Kittel, Die Bucher der Chronicles; Driver, Westminster Comm., Gen; ICC (Gray, Nu; Moore, Jgs; Curtis, Chronicles, etc.); Pulpit Comm.; W. R. Harvey-Jellie, Ch in Century Bible; S. Oettli, Kgf. Kom., 1889; O. Zoeckler, Lange's Comm., etc.
Encyclopedia arts., especially HDB, E. L. Curtis, "Genealogies"; SBD, A. C. Hervey, "Genealogies"; EB, S. A. Cook, "Genealogies"; EB, 11th edition, S. A. Cook, "Genealogies"; other encyclopedia arts., under specific books, tribes, names, genealogies.
General works: Gray, Studies in Hebrew Proper Names; Hommel, The Ancient Hebrew Tradition; A.C. Hervey, The Genealogies of our Lord; Sprenger, Das Leben u. d. Lehre d. Mohammad; W.R. Smith, Kinship and Marriage in Early Arabia; J. Wellhausen, De Gentibus et Familiis Judaeis; J. Wellhausen, Prolegomena, 1883 (ET), 177-277; McLennan, Studies in Ancient History.
Magazine articles: H.W. Hogg, "Genealogy of Benjamin," JQR, XI, 1899, 96-133, 329-44; M. Berlin, "Notes on Genealogies of Levi, 1Ch 23:1-32-1Ch 26:1-32," Jewish Quarterly Review, XII, 1900, 291-98; M. Berlin, "Gershonite and Merarite Genealogies," JQR, XII, 1901, 291 ff; H. W. Hogg, "Ephraimite Genealogy," JQR, XIII, 1900-1901, 147-54; J. Marquart, "Genealogies of Benjamin," JQR, XIV, 1902, 343-51; J. W. Rothstein, Die Genealogie das Konigs Jojachin und seiner Nachkommen in geschichtlicher Beleuchtung, Berlin: Reuther u. Reichold, 1902; R.S. Macalister, "The Royal Potters, 1Ch 4:23," The Expositor Times, XVI, 1905, 379 ff; R. S. Macalister, "The Craftsmen Guild of the Tribe of Judah," PEFS, 1905, 243-53, 328-42; C. C. Torrey, "The Greek versions of Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah," Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology, XXV. 1903, 139 ff, and many others.
Philip Wendell Crannell