(32) "Some of the sons of the Kohathites, some of their brethren." The Korahites, to which house Shallum and Mattithiah belonged, were a subdivision of the great clan of Kohath.

The shewbread.--See Leviticus 24:5-9. Here it is called "Bread of the Pile;" another name was "Bread of the Presence."

To prepare it every sabbath.--The Levites had to get it ready for the priests to lay it fresh on the golden table, after removing the old bread, every Sabbath.

Verse 32. - The shewbread (מַעֲרֶכֶת); literally, a pile, and hence applied to the cakes, which were piled in two rows (Leviticus 24:5-8) "on the pure table before the Lord."

9:1-44 Genealogies. - This chapter expresses that one end of recording all these genealogies was, to direct the Jews, when they returned out of captivity, with whom to unite, and where to reside. Here is an account of the good state into which the affairs of religion were put, on the return from Babylon. Every one knew his charge. Work is likely to be done well when every one knows the duty of his place, and makes a business of it. God is the God of order. Thus was the temple a figure of the heavenly one, where they rest not day nor night from praising God, Re 4:8. Blessed be His name, believers there shall, not in turn, but all together, without interruption, praise him night and day: may the Lord make each of us fit for the inheritance of the saints in light.And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the shewbread, to prepare it every sabbath,.... Twelve loaves of which were set every week before the ark upon the shewbread table, and the old ones taken away: now the work of these Levites was to make this shewbread, and get it ready every week to be set upon the table, and which was done not by them, but by priests; under the second temple, the family of Garmu was set over this work (a).

(a) Misn. Shekalim, ut supra. (c. 5. sect. 1.)