Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the scribe, who was of the Levites, wrote them in the presence of the king, the princes, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites; one fathers’ house being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 6. Ithamar. All was done with the utmost order, and the priests took care to observe the regulation, till the end of the republic. Joseph. vii. 2 and con. Ap. i and ii, Lu. 1:5.—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. Grot. Calmet.—Prot. “one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.”—The insertion of “one,” which is in the Septuagint removes the difficulty. Bible.—The two families were enregistered alternately, ( Menochius.) till the eight families of Ithamar were done. Bible.