(31) The narrative returns to the functions of the Levites. "And Mattithiah, one of the Levites (he was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite), was (or is) in fixed charge over the making of the pancakes."

Mattithiah . . . firstborn of Shallum the Korahite.--The son of Shallum, or Meshelemiah, is called Zechariah (1Chronicles 26:2). If Zechariah was the chief branch of Shallum in the days of David, Mattithiah may have been so in the time of the chronicler or of his authority here.

Had the set office.--In other words, the duty of baking the sacred cakes for the meat offerings was hereditary in this branch of the family of Shallum.

Things that were made in the pans--i.e., "pancakes." The Hebrew term (h?bittim) occurs here only, but its meaning is fixed by the related word "baking-pan" (Ezekiel 4:3; mah?bath).

Verse 31. - Mattithiah. The ubiquitous Shallum, that designates the family, not the individual, is probably here quoted, Mattithiah being at the time in question the representative son. The things that were made in the pans. The word here employed (הַחֲבִתִּים) is not found elsewhere, but other derivatives of the same root are often found (Leviticus 2:5; Leviticus 6:21; Leviticus 7:9; 1 Chronicles 23:29; Ezekiel 4:3).

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 Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite,.... Of whom see 1 Chronicles 9:19,

had the set office over the things that were made in the pans; the meat offerings that were made in pans; and so had the care of the fine flour, oil, and frankincense used in them, which he delivered to the priests when necessary, see Leviticus 2:5, the Septuagint version is,"over the works of the sacrifice of the pan of the high priest;''as if it respected peculiarly his meat offering, Leviticus 6:20, we read in the Misnah (y) of the offerings of the high priest, as expressed by this word, which it signifies, and not pans, but what was fried in them (z); and Ben Melech on the place says, this man was an high priest who offered every day the tenth part of an ephah in a pan, half of it in the morning, and half of it in the evening, according to Leviticus 6:20, but that cannot be, for certain it is he was a Levite, as the text expresses it.

(y) Menachot, c. 11. sect. 3. & Tamid, c. 1. sect. 3.((z) Vid. Sheringham. in Misn. Yoma, c. 2. sect. 3. p. 16.