=11.= _Zadok and Abiathar_] This double priesthood (2 Samuel viii. 17, xv. 29, 35, xix. 11, xx. 25) came to an end in the reign of Solomon (1 Kings ii. 27, 35). _Zadok_ is always mentioned first as being descended from Eleazar the third son of Aaron, while Ithamar from whom _Abiathar_ (Ahimelech) was descended through Eli (1 Kings ii. 27) was the fourth son (xxiv. 1, 3). In two of the passages quoted in this note _Abiathar_ (probably being confused with his father) is called _Ahimelech_ or _Abimelech_ (2 Samuel viii. 17 = 1 Chronicles xviii. 16; 1 Chronicles xxiv. 3). Conversely in Mark ii. 26 _Ahimelech_ is called _Abiathar_. In the Chronicler’s list of high-priests (vi. 4‒14) _Zadok_ alone is mentioned, the line of Eleazar alone being given. _the priests_] Only the two chief priests are mentioned here. Other priests blew with the trumpets in front of the Ark (verse 24). ¹²and said unto them, Ye are the heads of the fathers’ _houses_ of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, unto _the place_ that I have prepared for it. =12.= _sanctify yourselves_] Compare 2 Chronicles xxix. 5. For the method of sanctifying compare Exodus xix. 10, 15. ¹³For because ye _bare it_ not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not according to the ordinance. ¹⁴So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. =13.= _made a breach_] xiii. 11, xiv. 11 (compare margin). _we sought him not_] i.e. God; but a better rendering is =we sought not unto it=. Compare note on xiii. 3. _according to the ordinance_] For its observance, see verse 15. ¹⁵And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD. =15.= _the children of the Levites bare ... upon their shoulders_] in accordance with the regulation of Numbers i. 50, vii. 9, which was not observed in the first attempt when the Ark was placed in a cart, xiii. 7. _the staves_] Exodus xxv. 13, 14. ¹⁶And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren the singers, with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up the voice with joy. =16.= _psalteries_] See note on xiii. 8. ¹⁷So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Kushaiah; =17.= _Heman the son of Joel_] a descendant of Samuel the prophet; vi. 33 (vi. 18, Hebrew). Compare Psalms lxxxviii. (title). As _Heman_ was descended from Kohath, _Asaph_ from Gershom, and _Ethan_ from Merari, each division of the Levites was represented by a chief musician. _Heman_ was king’s seer (xxv. 5).