251 And David and the captains of the host separated for the service those of the sons of Asaph and of Heman and of Jeduthun who were to prophesy with harps and lutes and cymbals; and the number of the men employed according to their service was: 2 of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asharelah, the sons of Asaph under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied at the direction of the king. 3 Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Isaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, [and Shimei] six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the harp, to give thanks and to praise Jehovah. 4 Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkijah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth: 5 all these were sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to exalt his power; and God had given to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6 All these were under the direction of their fathers Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman, for song in the house of Jehovah, with cymbals, lutes and harps, for the service of the house of God, under the direction of the king. 7 And the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of Jehovah, all of them skilful, was two hundred and eighty-eight.
8 And they cast lots with one another over the charges, the small as well as the great, the teacher with the scholar. 9 And the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph; to Gedaliah the second: he and his brethren and his sons were twelve. 10 The third to Zaccur; his sons and his brethren, twelve. 11 The fourth to Jizri; his sons and his brethren, twelve. 12 The fifth to Nethaniah; his sons and his brethren, twelve. 13 The sixth to Bukkijah; his sons and his brethren, twelve. 14 The seventh to Jesharelah; his sons and his brethren, twelve. 15 The eighth to Isaiah; his sons and his brethren, twelve. 16 The ninth to Mattaniah; his sons and his brethren, twelve. 17 The tenth to Shimei; his sons and his brethren, twelve. 18 The eleventh to Azareel; his sons and his brethren, twelve. 19 The twelfth to Hashabiah; his sons and his brethren, twelve. 20 The thirteenth to Shubael; his sons and his brethren, twelve. 21 The fourteenth to Mattithiah; his sons and his brethren, twelve. 22 The fifteenth to Jeremoth; his sons and his brethren, twelve. 23 The sixteenth to Hananiah; his sons and his brethren, twelve. 24 The seventeenth to Joshbekashah; his sons and his brethren, twelve. 25 The eighteenth to Hanani; his sons and his brethren, twelve. 26 The nineteenth to Mallothi; his sons and his brethren, twelve. 27 The twentieth to Elijathah; his sons and his brethren, twelve. 28 The twenty-first to Hothir; his sons and his brethren, twelve. 29 The twenty-second to Giddalti; his sons and his brethren, twelve. 30 The twenty-third to Mahazioth; his sons and his brethren, twelve. 31 The twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
261 The divisions of the doorkeepers. Of the Korahites: Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. 2 And Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, 3 Elam the fifth, Johanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh. 4 —And the sons of Obed-Edom: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth, 5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth: for God had blessed him. 6 And to Shemaiah his son were sons born, who were rulers in their father's house; for they were mighty men of valour. 7 The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, [and] Elzabad, whose brethren were valiant men, Elihu and Semachiah. 8 All these were of the sons of Obed-Edom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men in strength for the service, were sixty-two of Obed-Edom. 9 —And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, men of valour, eighteen. 10 —And Hosah, of the sons of Merari, had sons: Shimri the head, for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the head; 11 Hilkijah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen. 12 Among these were the divisions of the doorkeepers, among the head-men, as to the charges together with their brethren, for performing the service in the house of Jehovah. 13 And they cast lots, the small as well as the great, according to their fathers' houses, for every gate. 14 And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah; and they cast lots for Zechariah his son, a wise counsellor, and his lot came out northward; 15 to Obed-Edom southward; and to his sons the storehouse. 16 To Shuppim and Hosah westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the ascent, watch against watch. 17 Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and in the storehouse two [and] two. 18 At the portico westward, four at the causeway, two at the portico. 19 These are the divisions of the doorkeepers among the sons of the Korahites and among the sons of Merari.
20 And the Levites: Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things. 21 The sons of Laadan, the sons of the Gershonites of Laadan, chief fathers of Laadan the Gershonite: Jehieli; 22 the sons of Jehieli: Zetham, and Joel his brother, over the treasures of the house of Jehovah. 23 As to the Amramites, the Jizharites, the Hebronites, the Uzzielites.... 24 And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was overseer of the treasures. 25 And his brethren, of Eliezer: Rehabiah his son, and Isaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son. 26 This Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which king David, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated 27 (from the wars and out of the spoils had they dedicated [them], to maintain the house of Jehovah), 28 and all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah had dedicated: all that was dedicated was under the hand of Shelomith and of his brethren.
29 Of the Jizharites, Chenaniah and his sons were over Israel, for the outward business for officers and judges. 30 Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand and seven hundred, for the administration of Israel on this side Jordan westward, for all the business of Jehovah, and for the service of the king. 31 Of the Hebronites was Jerijah the head; (as to the Hebronites, according to their families according to the fathers: in the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valour at Jaazer in Gilead;) 32 and his brethren, men of valour, two thousand seven hundred chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half tribe of the Manassites, for every matter pertaining to God, and the affairs of the king.
271 And [these] are the children of Israel after their number, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers that served the king in every matter of the divisions, which came in and went out month by month throughout the months of the year; in every division were twenty-four thousand. 2 Over the first division for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 3 He was of the children of Pherez, the head of all the captains of the hosts for the first month. 4 And over the division of the second month was Dodai the Ahohite; and in his division was Mikloth ruler; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 5 The third captain of the host for the third month was Benaiah (the son of Jehoiada, a principal officer): [he was] head; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 6 This Benaiah was a mighty man among the thirty, and above the thirty; and in his division was Ammizabad his son. 7 The fourth for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 8 The fifth for the fifth month was the captain Shamhuth the Jizrahite; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 9 The sixth for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 10 The seventh for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 11 The eighth for the eighth month was Sibbechai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 12 The ninth for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjaminites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 13 The tenth for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 14 The eleventh for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 15 The twelfth for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
16 And over the tribes of Israel were: for the Reubenites Eliezer the son of Zichri was the prince; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah; 17 for the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok; 18 for Judah, Elihu of the brethren of David; for Issachar, Omri the son of Michael; 19 for Zebulun, Jishmaiah the son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel; 20 for the children of Ephraim, Hosea the son of Azaziah; for the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah; 21 for the half [tribe] of Manasseh in Gilead, Jiddo the son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner; 22 for Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These were the princes of the tribes of Israel. 23 And David took not their number from twenty years old and under; for Jehovah had said he would increase Israel as the stars of heaven. 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he did not finish; and there fell wrath for it upon Israel; and the number was not put in the account of the chronicles of king David. 25 And over the king's treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel; and over the storehouses in the country, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the towers was Jonathan the son of Uzziah. 26 And over them that worked in the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub. 27 And over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite; and over what was in the vineyards of stores of wine was Zabdi the Shiphmite: 28 and over the olive-trees and the sycamore-trees that were in the lowland was Baal-hanan the Gederite; and over the cellars of oil was Joash. 29 And over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite; and over the herds in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai. 30 And over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite; and over the asses was Jehdiah the Meronothite. 31 And over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagarite. All these were comptrollers of the substance which was king David's. 32 And Jonathan, David's uncle, was counsellor, a wise man, and a scribe; and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons; 33 and Ahithophel was the king's counsellor; and Hushai the Archite was the king's friend; 34 and after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar; and Joab was captain of the king's army.
91 And as he passed on, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Rabbi, who sinned, this [man] or his parents, that he should be born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither has this [man] sinned nor his parents, but that the works of God should be manifested in him. 4 I must work the works of him that has sent me while it is day. [The] night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am [the] light of the world. 6 Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud of the spittle, and put the mud, as ointment, on his eyes. 7 And he said to him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, which is interpreted, Sent. He went therefore and washed, and came seeing.
8 The neighbours therefore, and those who used to see him before, that he was a beggar, said, Is not this he that was sitting and begging? 9 Some said, It is he; others said, No, but he is like him: he said, It is I. 10 They said therefore to him, How have thine eyes been opened? 11 He answered [and said], A man called Jesus made mud and anointed mine eyes, and said to me, Go to Siloam and wash: and having gone and washed, I saw. 12 They said therefore to him, Where is he? He says, I do not know.
13 They bring him who was before blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was sabbath when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 The Pharisees therefore also again asked him how he received his sight. And he said to them, He put mud upon mine eyes, and I washed, and I see. 16 Some of the Pharisees therefore said, This man is not of God, for he does not keep the sabbath. Others said, How can a sinful man perform such signs? And there was a division among them. 17 They say therefore again to the blind [man], What dost thou say of him, that he has opened thine eyes? And he said, He is a prophet. 18 The Jews therefore did not believe concerning him that he was blind and had received sight, until they had called the parents of him that had received sight. 19 And they asked them saying, This is your son, of whom ye say that he was born blind: how then does he now see? 20 His parents answered [them] and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but how he now sees we do not know, or who has opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age: ask him; he will speak concerning himself. 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if any one confessed him [to be the] Christ, he should be excommunicated from the synagogue. 23 On this account his parents said, He is of age: ask him.
(Read John 9:1-7)
Christ cured many who were blind by disease or accident; here he cured one born blind. Thus he showed his power to help in the most desperate cases, and the work of his grace upon the souls of sinners, which gives sight to those blind by nature. This poor man could not see Christ, but Christ saw him. And if we know or apprehend anything of Christ, it is because we were first known of him. Christ says of uncommon calamities, that they are not always to be looked on as special punishments of sin; sometimes they are for the glory of God, and to manifest his works. Our life is our day, in which it concerns us to do the work of the day. We must be busy, and not waste day-time; it will be time to rest when our day is done, for it is but a day. The approach of death should quicken us to improve all our opportunities of doing and getting good. What good we have an opportunity to do, we should do quickly. And he that will never do a good work till there is nothing to be objected against, will leave many a good work for ever undone, Ecclesiastes 11:4. Christ magnified his power, in making a blind man to see, doing that which one would think more likely to make a seeing man blind. Human reason cannot judge of the Lord's methods; he uses means and instruments that men despise. Those that would be healed by Christ must be ruled by him. He came back from the pool wondering and wondered at; he came seeing. This represents the benefits in attending on ordinances of Christ's appointment; souls go weak, and come away strengthened; go doubting, and come away satisfied; go mourning, and come away rejoicing; go blind, and come away seeing.
(Read John 9:8-12)
Those whose eyes are opened, and whose hearts are cleansed by grace, being known to be the same person, but widely different in character, live as monuments to the Redeemer's glory, and recommend his grace to all who desire the same precious salvation. It is good to observe the way and method of God's works, and they will appear the more wonderful. Apply this spiritually. In the work of grace wrought upon the soul we see the change, but we see not the hand that makes it: the way of the Spirit is like that of the wind, which thou hearest the sound of, but canst not tell whence it comes, nor whither it goes.
(Read John 9:13-17)
Christ not only worked miracles on the sabbath, but in such a manner as would give offence to the Jews, for he would not seem to yield to the scribes and Pharisees. Their zeal for mere rites consumed the substantial matters of religion; therefore Christ would not give place to them. Also, works of necessity and mercy are allowed, and the sabbath rest is to be kept, in order to the sabbath work. How many blind eyes have been opened by the preaching of the gospel on the Lord's day! how many impotent souls cured on that day! Much unrighteous and uncharitable judging comes from men's adding their own fancies to God's appointments. How perfect in wisdom and holiness was our Redeemer, when his enemies could find nothing against him, but the oft-refuted charge of breaking the sabbath! May we be enabled, by well-doing, to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
(Read John 9:18-23)
The Pharisees vainly hoped to disprove this notable miracle. They expected a Messiah, but could not bear to think that this Jesus should be he, because his precepts were all contrary to their traditions, and because they expected a Messiah in outward pomp and splendour. The fear of man brings a snare, Proverbs 29:25, and often makes people deny and disown Christ and his truths and ways, and act against their consciences. The unlearned and poor, who are simple-hearted, readily draw proper inferences from the evidences of the light of the gospel; but those whose desires are another way, though ever learning, never come to the knowledge of the truth.
