Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 6:18
And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which [is] at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.
18. the priests in their divisions, &c.] The verse refers to the organization of the priests and Levites described in 1 Chronicles 23-26. According to this arrangement, the service of the Temple was distributed by periods, of a week each, among the courses and divisions of priests and Levites (see 2Ki 11:9; 2Ch 23:4).
On the “divisions” of the priests, see Luk 1:5; Luk 1:8-9.
for the service of God ] ‘Service’, the same word as that rendered ‘work’ in Ezr 4:24. But there ‘the work of the house of God’ refers to he building; here ‘the work or service of God’ refers to the worship. Compare the word ‘liturgy’ ( ) and the growth of its special application.
as it is written in the book of Moses ] The reference seems to be to the Levitical arrangements generally upon which the Davidic and Solomonic organization was founded, as described in the books of Chronicles. Special mention of the ordering of the priests and Levites occurs in Numbers 3, 8.
This verse concludes the Aramaic section (Ezr 4:8 to Ezr 6:18).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 18. And they set the priests] With this verse the Chaldee or Aramitic part of this chapter ends.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
18. they set the priests in theirdivisions, and the Levites in their courses . . . as it is written inthe book of MosesAlthough David arranged the priests andLevites in courses according to their families, it was Moses whoassigned to the priests and Levites their rights and privileges,their stations and several duties.
Ezr6:19-22. AND OF THEPASSOVER.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God which is at Jerusalem,…. All in their proper classes and courses, to do the work of the temple at Jerusalem in their turns:
as it is written in the book of Moses; see Nu 3:6, from hence it is plain the Pentateuch was not written by Ezra, as suspected by Spinosa m, but by Moses; see the argument of the book of Genesis. [See comments on Ge 1:1].
m Tract. Theolog. Polit. c. 8. p. 163.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(18) In the book of Moses.The general arrangements only were given in the Pentateuch. The courses were of Davids time; and their restoration must have been imperfect, as neither were the twenty-four courses of priests complete nor were the Levites in full force.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
18. Priests in their divisions As described in 1 Chronicles 24.
Levites in their courses As described in 1 Chronicles 23.
As it is written in the book of Moses Especially in Numbers 3, 4, , 8. See the note on Ezr 3:2.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ezr 6:18 And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which [is] at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.
Ver. 18. For the service of God ] According to that, Exo 12:25 , Ye shall keep this service, where the same word (Gnabhodah) is used that elsewhere serveth to set forth their servile service, their bondage in Egypt. God lets them know that they must serve still, though another master, and after another manner. So Christ calleth upon his, to take his yoke upon them: free though they be, yet they must not look to be yokeless, lawless, aweless, but to serve God with reverence and godly fear, Heb 12:28 .
As it is written in the book of Moses
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
as it is written = according to the writing.
the book of Moses: i.e. the Pentateuch. See App-47.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the priests: 1Ch 23:1 – 1Ch 26:32, 2Ch 35:4, 2Ch 35:5
as it is written: Chal, according to the writing, Num 3:6, Num 8:9-26
Reciprocal: Jos 8:31 – as it is 1Ch 6:32 – and then 1Ch 23:6 – divided 2Ch 8:14 – the Levites 2Ch 29:35 – so the 2Ch 31:2 – the courses 2Ch 35:2 – charges 2Ch 35:10 – the priests Luk 1:8 – in
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ezr 6:18. They set the priests in their divisions, &c. When they had dedicated the house, they settled the household: they would have had small comfort in the temple, however solemnly dedicated, without the temple- service: and therefore having set up the worship of God in it, in this dedication of it, they took measures for keeping it up, and in doing so made the book of Moses their rule, to which they had a regard in this establishment. Though the temple-service could not be performed with so much pomp, and such a multitude of sacrifices, and other oblations, as formerly, because of their poverty; yet perhaps it was performed with as much purity, and close adherence to the divine institution, as ever, which was the true glory of it.