1 Chronicles 6

33. Shemuel--that is, Samuel. This is the exact representation of the Hebrew name.

39. his brother Asaph--They were brothers naturally, both being descended from Levi, as well as officially, both being of the Levitical order.

42. Ethan--or Jeduthun ( 1 Chronicles 9:16 , 2 Chronicles 35:15 ).

48. Their brethren also the Levites were appointed unto all manner of service--Those of them who were endowed with musical tastes and talents were employed in various other departments of the temple service.

1 Chronicles 6:49-81 . OFFICE OF AARON AND HIS SONS.

49. But Aaron and his sons offered, &c.--The office and duties of the high priests having been already described, the names of those who successively filled that important office are recorded.

60. thirteen cities--No more than eleven are named here; but two additional ones are mentioned ( Joshua 21:16 Joshua 21:17 ), which makes up the thirteen.

61. unto the sons of Kohath, which were left--that is, in addition to the priests belonging to the same family and tribe of Levi.
by lot, ten cities--( Joshua 21:26 ). The sacred historian gives an explanation ( 1 Chronicles 6:66 ). Eight of these are mentioned, but only two of them are taken out of the haft tribe of Manasseh ( 1 Chronicles 6:70 ). The names of the other two are given ( Joshua 21:21 ), where full and detailed notices of these arrangements may be found.

62. to the sons of Gershom--Supply "the children of Israel gave."

67-81. they gave unto them of the cities of refuge--The names of the cities given here are considerably different from those applied to them ( Joshua 21:13-19 ). In the lapse of centuries, and from the revolutions of society, changes might have been expected to take place in the form or dialectic pronunciation of the names of those cities; and this will sufficiently account for the variations that are found in the lists as enumerated here and in an earlier book. As to these cities themselves that were assigned to the Levites, they were widely remote and separated--partly in fulfilment of Jacob's prophecy ( Genesis 49:7 ), and partly that the various districts of the country might obtain a competent supply of teachers who might instruct the people in the knowledge, and animate them to the observance, of a law which had so important a bearing on the promotion both of their private happiness and their national prosperity.