The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 4 · Section 206 – Section 208

The History of the Old Testament Methodized · Chapter 4 · Section 206 – Section 208

p. 455SECT. CCVI.

IN the next place by the advice of Gad the Seer, and Nathan the Prophet, [ſee 2 Chron. 29.25.] and calling the Princes and Governours of the people to be preſent to obſerve the order he ſet up, he appoints the ſeveral Officers for the ſervice of the Temple, and ranks them into their ſeveral Orders and Diviſions.

1. He diſtributes all the Prieſts that were the Sons of Aaron into two parts, viz. all the Prieſts deſcended either from Eleazar or Ithamar, Aarons two Sons. All that were of the Sons of Eleazar (over whom Zadock was the chief) into one; and all that were the Sons of Ithamar (over whom Ahimelech was chief under Abiathar the High-Prieſt) into the other. And there were more Heads of Families found among the Sons of Eleazar than among the Sons of Ithamar. Then he divides all theſe Prieſts into twenty four courſes, in each of which there was one to be the chief or Head of the reſt. And therefore he appoints ſixteen of theſe courſes among the Sons of Eleazar, and but eight among the Sons of Ithamar. Then he orders lots to be caſt amongſt theſe diviſions promiſcuouſly (not preferring thoſe of the one lineage before thoſe of the other) to determine which of theſe courſes ſhould firſt ſerve, and which ſhould be ſecond, and ſo in order, each company being to ſerve a week and then to go out; as alſo to ſhew which of theſe that were Heads of Families in each company ſhould be the chief of that company(a)(a)1 Chron. 24. v. 19. under Aaron their Father, that is, under the High-Prieſt, who is here called Aaron, becauſe he held the ſame place that Aaron formerly did.1 Chr 24:19. And ſo the firſt company was choſen by lot, and the lot fell upon Jehojarib to be Head of that Courſe, which was from thence call'd the Courſe of Jehojarib, and ſo after the ſame manner in the reſt.

2ly, He numbers the Levites from thirty years old and upwards, and their number aroſe to 38000. This numbring was not like the numbring of the people, 2 Sam. 24.2. out of pride and curioſity, but out of piety and prudence, and that by a Divine command, that knowing the number of the perſons he might better diſtribute them into ſeveral Orders.

Theſe Levites he thus diſtributes:

1. Twenty and four thouſand he appoints to attend upon the Prieſts in the ſervice of the Temple, viz. to prepare the Sacrifices and oyl for the lamps, and other things belonging to their office. Theſe were divided into twenty four Courſes as were the Prieſts. David alſo gave order before his death, v. 27. that in each Family of the p. 456Levites, all of twenty years old and upward ſhould be taken into the ſervice of the Temple, becauſe they were not any longer to carry the Tabernacle and veſſels thereof, and therefore ſuch ſtrength of body was not now neceſſary as was formerly required, and the ſervice of the Temple would now one way or other imploy them all, ſee 1 Chron. 23.24. David therefore guided by the Spirit of God, ſaw cauſe now to admit them into the Temple at that age, and poſſibly at firſt they were only as Novices and Learners admitted to behold the ſervice of God that they might be the better acquainted with it, and after twenty five years they were to aſſiſt the Elder Levites in their particular ſervices, and after thirty to bear offices themſelves. Theſe Levites alſo were to take care of the meaſures, viz. that the fine flowre, and wine, and oyl for the Meat-offerings ſhould be given to the Prieſts according to the juſt weight and meaſure appointed by the Law. For to ſome Sacrifices there was a greater meaſure of theſe required, and to ſome leſs. See Numb. 15.4, 5, 6. and Levit. 23.13. And ſome think they had the overſeeing of all publick meaſures, and kept the patterns or ſtandards of them in the Temple; whence the juſt ſhekel was call'd the ſhekel of the Sanctuary. Theſe Levites being caſt into twenty four Courſes or Diviſions there were lots caſt who ſhould be the firſt Courſe coming in and going out with the firſt Courſe of the Prieſts, and ſo who ſhould be the ſecond, &c.

2. Six thouſand he appoints for Officers and Judges, theſe were to be diſperſed into ſeveral places of the land to judg of cauſes that were brought before them according to the Judicial Laws of Moſes, which the Levites were beſt skilled in. They were alſo to take care of the outward buſineſs, [See 1 Chron. 26.29.] viz. of thoſe things which were to be done abroad out of the Temple, as to give judgments in doubtful matters to train up younger Levites in the knowledg of the Law, to look to the gathering and receiving ſuch monies as were to be gathered of the people for the ſervice of the Temple, and ſome of them had their charge on the Weſt-ſide of Jordan, and ſome on the Eaſt, and more on that ſide than the other, becauſe they being divided from their brethren by the river, there was the more care requiſite to retain them in their obedience to the Law, and to prevent any back-ſliding or remiſneſs in the Worſhip of God, or departure from his Law.

3. Four hundred were to be Porters (a)(a)So many were at this time ſet apart by David for this imployment, but at their return from the Captivity of Babylon, there were of theſe only found two hundred and twelve, 1 Chronic. 9.22.1 Chr 9:22to open and ſhut the Gates of the Temple at ſeaſonable times, and to watch at the Gates thereof to keep out all unclean perſons and things. Theſe were alſo divided into twenty four Courſes to attend in their turns weekly according to their courſes; and the order of their courſes was determined to them by lot, and by lot alſo were the Heads of their courſes or companies appointed. And ſome of theſe had alſo the cuſtody of the Sacred Treaſures, viz. of the holy veſſels and veſtments, and the dedicate things, ſee 1 Chron. 26.27, 28. Obed-Edom was one of theſe Porters, 1 Chron. 15.18. and God exceedingly bleſſed him, becauſe he received the Ark into his houſe, [1 Chron. 13.14.] not only with a numerous off-ſpring, but with great proſperity in all other reſpects, and hence it was that eight of his Sons, (beſides his Grand-children by Shemaiah) were Heads of the twenty four Courſes of the Porters. And they were mighty men of valour, their work being not only to keep unclean perſons from entring the Temple, but to prevent all confuſion and diſorder at the reſorting of the people on their ſolemn Feſtivals to the Temple, and to be a Guard unto the holy place upon all other occaſions; and therefore it was requiſite they ſhould be men of might and valour.

4. Four thouſand to be Singers and Players on Inſtruments, therewith to praiſe the Lord; whereof two hundred eighty eight were eminent men for skill, and poſſibly Teachers of the reſt. Theſe alſo were divided into twenty four courſes, and ſo ſerved about eightſcore in every courſe, and the twenty four Sons of Aſaph, Jeduthun, and Heman, (three great Maſters of Muſick) were to be the chief Heads of their Courſes or Companies, and to Propheſie with Cymbals. [See 1 Sam. 10.5. So for every Courſe of the Prieſts, there was alſo appointed a Courſe of Levite-Singers, and theſe were aſſign'd to their ſeveral Courſes by lot alſo. And as David appointed their Courſes, ſo he gave them alſo Pſalmes penned by himſelf to ſing, aſſigning ſome for the Sons of Aſaph, others for p. 457the Sons of Jeduthun and Heman, as by the Titles of many Pſalmes does appear(a)(a)1 Chron. 25.5. All theſe were the words of Heman the Kings Seer in the words of the Lord to lift up the Horn. He was call'd the Kings Seer in the words of God, becauſe employed in that Prophetical work of ſetting forth the praiſes of God, and ſinging Pſalmes, compoſed by men inspir'd by God, and therefore call'd thence the words of God. And to lift up the Horn, whereby ſome Muſical Inſtrument ſeems to be meant, as the Cornet, &c. Theſe Singers are ſaid to Propheſie, becauſe in their Muſick they were acted with an holy zeal, ſuch as Prophets in their Propheſies us'd to be acted with.1 Chr 25:5.

1 Chron. Ch. 23. from v. 2, to the end.

1 Chron. Ch. 24. whole Chapter.

1 Chron. Ch. 25. whole Chapter.

1 Chron. Ch. 26. whole Chapter.

SECT. CCVII.

SOlomon being now about twenty years of age, Rehoboam is born to him of Naamah an Ammonitiſh woman, as appears by Rehoboam's age at the beginning of his reign, 1 King. 14.21. where 'tis ſaid, He was forty one when be began to reign.

We are now come to the firſt Book of Kings: The united State of the Kingdom of Iſrael as it began under King Saul, and increaſed under King David hath been deſcribed in the two Books of Samuel, and how it came to its height under King Solomon is deſcribed in the Eleven firſt Chapters of the firſt Book of Kings, and how it came to be divided, and upon that diviſion decreaſed, and came to ruin at laſt, we ſhall find deſcribed in the remaining Chapters of theſe two Books.

The firſt Book of the Kings contains an Hiſtory of 126 years, viz. forty years of Solomon's reign over all Iſrael; after him the Kingdom being divided, we have from Chap. 12. to the end, the Lives and Acts of four Kings of Judah, and eight Kings of Iſrael, according to this following Scheme.

Solomon reigned forty years over all Iſrael.

SECT. CCVIII.

DAvid being now ſeventy years of age, and broken with continual cares, wars and troubles, was grown ſo weak and feeble that applying warm clothes would hardly keep any heat in him; whereupon by the advice of his Phyſicians a well-complexioned-young-Virgin was ſought out for him, who (being taken by him as a wife or concubine) might lye in his boſom and cheriſh him. And ſuch an one was found out, viz. Abiſhag the Shunamite who did accordingly lye in his boſom and cheriſh him, and miniſtred unto him, but he knew her not.

2 King. Ch. 1. from v. 1. to 5.