The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives
apart
Because of the contempt of the priestly office of Christ, which theirs prefigured, and was abolished by him; because of their trampling upon his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice: the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;
not of Shimea the son of David, ( 1 Chronicles 3:5 ) as Jarchi thinks, for his family is comprehended in the family of David; nor of Shimei the son of Merari, and grandson of Levi, ( 1 Chronicles 6:16 1 Chronicles 6:17 ) , for the same reason: some think that, by way of prophecy, the family of Semei, mentioned among the progenitors of Christ, ( Luke 3:26 ) , is intended; and others have thought of Shammai, a famous Misnic doctor in the times of Christ, whose disciples were called the house or family of Shammai, of which frequent mention is made in the Misna and Talmud: but the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, read "the family of Simeon"; mentioned together with Levi, as brethren in iniquity, and now mourn for the common concern they had in the crucifixion of Christ, and their refusal of him.