1 Chronicles 23

1 So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.
2 And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.
3 Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward; and their number by their head count, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand,
4 of whom twenty and four thousand were to oversee the work of the house of the LORD, and six thousand were officers and judges
5 Moreover four thousand were doorkeepers, and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments "which I made," said David, "to praise therewith."
6 And David divided them into divisions among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
7 Of the Gershonites were Laadan and Shimei.
8 The sons of Laadan: the chief was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.
9 The sons of Shimei: Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief of the fathers of Laadan.
10 And the sons of Shimei were Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.
11 And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons; therefore they were in one reckoning, according to their father's house.
12 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.
13 The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister unto Him, and to bless in His name for ever.
14 Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi
15 The sons of Moses were Gershom and Eliezer.
16 Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief.
17 And the son of Eliezer was Rehabiah, the chief. And Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.
18 Of the sons of Izhar, Shelomith was the chief.
19 Of the sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth
20 Of the sons of Uzziel: Micah the first, and Jesiah the second.
21 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish
22 And Eleazar died and had no sons, but daughters; and their brethren the sons of Kish took them as wives.
23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.
24 These were the sons of Levi according to the house of their fathers, even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their heads, who did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and upward.
25 For David said, "The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto His people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever";
26 and also unto the Levites, "They shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof."
27 For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above,
28 because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD in the courts and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God,
29 both for the showbread and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes and for that which is baked in the pan and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size;
30 and to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at evening;
31 and to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD on the Sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD;
32 and that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren in the service of the house of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 23 Commentary

Chapter 23

David declares Solomon his successor. (1-23) The office of the Levites. (24-32)

Verses 1-23 David, having given charge concerning the building of the temple, settles the method of the temple service, and orders the officers of it. When those of the same family were employed together, it would engage them to love and assist one another.

Verses 24-32 Now the people of Israel were so many, there should be more employed in the temple service, that every Israelite who brought an offering might find a Levite ready to help him. When more work is to be done, it is pity but there should be more workmen. A new heart, a spiritual mind, which delights greatly in God's commandments, and can find a refreshing feast in his ordinances, forms the great distinction between the true Christian and all other men in the world. To the spiritual man every service will yield satisfaction. He will be ever abounding in the work of the Lord; being never so happy as when employed for such a good Master, in so pleasant a service. He will not regard whether he is called to take the lead, or to keep the charge of others who are placed over him. May we seek and serve the Lord uprightly, and leave all the rest to his disposal, by faith in his word.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 23

In this chapter David makes Solomon king, 1Ch 23:1, calls together the princes, priests, and Levites, numbers the latter, and assigns them their proper work, 1Ch 23:2-5, divides them into three classes, 1Ch 23:6-23, when the number of them was taken from twenty years of age, and upwards; the reasons of which are given, partly from the rest the land enjoyed, and partly from the several branches of their work and office in the temple, 1Ch 23:24-32.

1 Chronicles 23 Commentaries

Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.