service = the hands: hands being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for the work done by them. ark had rest. See 1 Chronicles 16:1 , notes on 1 Chronicles 13:3 , and Exodus 25:22 . read more
dwelling place = tabernacle. Hebrew. mishkan. App-40 . tabernacle = tent of meeting. Hebrew. 'ohel-moed. App-40 . read more
"And these are they that David set over the service of song in the house of Jehovah, after that the ark had rest. And they ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, until Solomon had built the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem: and they waited on their office according to their order. And these are they that waited, and their sons. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel, the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel,... read more
32. before the dwelling-place, &c.—that is, in the tent which David had erected for receiving the ark after it was removed from the house of Obed-edom [ :-]. This was a considerable time before the temple was built. they waited on their office according to their order—which David, doubtless by the direction of the Holy Spirit, had instituted for the better regulation of divine worship. read more
4. The family of Levi ch. 6This list clearly defines the priests and Levites’ line of descent. Its purpose seems to be to legitimate and clarify their role and service in the temple. [Note: Idem, "1 Chronicles," in The Old . . ., p. 301.] Only the descendants of Aaron, the priests, could serve in the temple by offering sacrifices on the incense altar (1 Chronicles 6:49; cf. Numbers 3:5-38). Nehemiah correctly barred priests who could not demonstrate that they were descendants of Aaron from... read more
Genealogies (continued)This chapter records the descendants of Levi, traces the line of the high priests to the captivity, and enumerates the cities of the Priests and Levites.3. Nadab, and Abihu] see Leviticus 10:1-2; 1 Chronicles 24:2. Ithamar] The descendants of Ithamar are not given here, but several occur in Samuel and Kings (Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, Ahimelech, Abiathar), and ’courses’ of priests who traced their origin to him are enumerated in 1 Chronicles 24.4. Eleazar begat, etc.] The... read more
(31) Set over the service of song.—Literally, made stand by the sides (hands) of song, as if to minister to the sacred music. (Comp. 1 Chronicles 25:2-3, where the same peculiar phrase recurs, and Psalms 123:2, “as the eyes of slaves are unto the hand of their Lord.” Comp. also the common heading of the Psalms, “to the conductor or precentor;” Authorised Version, “chief musician.”)In the house of the Lord.—In David’s time, a tent, as next verse declares.After that the ark had rest.—Perhaps... read more
(32) And they ministered.—“And they continued ministering, before the dwelling of the Tent of Meeting, with the music.”The dwelling place of the tabernacle.—A defining genitive, like River of Jordan, or City of Jerusalem. In the court before this sacred dwelling wherein the Lord met His people, the services of sacrifice and song were carried on. The tent of the Ark in the city of David (see 1 Chronicles 16:1) is here called by the old name of the Mosaic Tabernacle, ‘ôhel mô’çd, “tent of tryst,... read more
4. Levi CHAPTER 6 1. The high-priestly line (1 Chronicles 6:1-15 ) 2. Levitical genealogies (1 Chronicles 6:16-30 ) 3. David’s chief musicians (1 Chronicles 6:31-48 ) The high-priestly line is first given, starting with Levi, and followed down to the exile. From Eleazar the son of Aaron, twenty-two generations are named. Moses is not mentioned in this list. With Aaron his brother he is called a priest (Psalms 99:6 ), yet he was chosen as the great leader of the people before the... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 6:1-81
The Levites (6:1-81)Levi had three sons, Gershon, Kohath and Merari. The priesthood in Israel began with Aaron, who was descended from Levi through Kohath. From that time on, all Aaron’s descendants, and no others, were priests. This means that the Levites may be divided into four groups - the priestly Kohathites, the non-priestly Kohathites, the Gershonites and the Merarites.The Chronicler begins with the priestly line descended from Aaron through his son Eleazar, and traces the line to the... read more