Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

Gershom - One of the descendants of Phinehas, son of Eliazar.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel,.... Not Daniel the prophet, he was of the royal blood, and of the tribe of Judah; this was a priest, a descendant of Ithamar, as Gershom was of Eleazar in the line of Phinehas:

of the sons of David; Hattush; perhaps the same with him in 1 Chronicles 3:22, who was a descendant of David the king; these three men seem to have come alone without any of their families, at least they are not mentioned, nor their numbers given, as the rest that follow be.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

Ezra 8:2 Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush.

Ver. 2. Of the sons of Phinehas] The son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, that renowned zealot, with whom, and his seed after him, God gave a covenant of peace, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, Numbers 25:12-13.

Daniel] Not the prophet Daniel, God’s darling, Daniel 9:23, but another of the same name, which might be some help to him.

Of the sons of David] sc. Of David the king. See 1 Chronicles 3:22.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

2.Phinehas, the grandson, and Ithamar, the son of Aaron were represented by a body of descendants whose number is not here given, for Gershom and Daniel were evidently not the only priests that went up with Ezra. In Ezra 8:24 mention is made of twelve of the chief priests who were set apart to take charge of the vessels and other freewill offerings to be carried up to Jerusalem, and these priests must have been descendants of either Phinehas or Ithamar. Hence we understand that the Gershom and Daniel here named were representatives of these ancient priestly houses, and were accompanied by many others of the same genealogy. Possibly the number has fallen out of the text. It is here worthy of remark that, notwithstanding the curse pronounced on the house of Eli, (1 Samuel 2:33-36,) descendants of Ithamar still remained.

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments

Ezra 8:2. Of the sons of Phinehas — of Ithamar — By the sons, he means the families of these two persons, two of which he particularly names, those of Gershom and Daniel: not Daniel the prophet, but some eminent person of Ithamar’s line.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Hattus. He was of the royal family, (Haydock) as the former were descendants of the two sons of Aaron. (Calmet) --- The great numbers which were persuaded to return from Babylon, signify the conversions made by holy preachers. (Ven. Bede) (Worthington)

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Phinehas

1 Chronicles 6:3,4-15; 24:1-6

David

1 Chronicles 3:1,22