[¹] Or, even to give to them &c.
[²] Or, trust.
18. and them that] Render, and the registration included all their little ones, etc. The connection of the last part of the verse is very obscure.
their set office] Or, as margin, their trust (so also above verse 15).
they sanctified themselves in holiness] Or, they busied themselves with the distribution of the sanctified things. No reliance can be placed on the soundness of the text.
¹⁹also for the sons of Aaron the priests, which were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every several city, there were men that were expressed by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogy among the Levites. ²⁰And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah; and he wrought that which was good and right and faithful[¹] before the Lord his God. ²¹And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
[¹] Hebrew faithfulness.
19. Again a most obscure verse, apparently meaning that the priests had certain special officers, other than Kore and his subordinates, who were charged with superintending the distribution in the outlying districts. Text and interpretation are alike uncertain. Kittel regards verses 17–19 as a late addition.
the suburbs] compare 1 Chronicles v. 16 (margin “pasture lands”), vi. 55, 57 [40, 42, Hebrew].