1 Chronicles 23

1 igitur David senex et plenus dierum regem constituit Salomonem filium suum super Israhel

2 et congregavit omnes principes Israhel et sacerdotes atque Levitas

3 numeratique sunt Levitae a triginta annis et supra et inventa sunt triginta octo milia virorum

4 ex his electi sunt et distributi in ministerium domus Domini viginti quattuor milia praepositorum autem et iudicum sex mili

5 porro quattuor milia ianitores et totidem psaltae canentes Domino in organis quae fecerat ad canendum

6 et distribuit eos David per vices filiorum Levi Gersom videlicet et Caath et Merari

7 Gersom Leedan et Semei

8 filii Leedan princeps Ieihel et Zetham et Iohel tres

9 filii Semei Salomith et Ozihel et Aran tres isti principes familiarum Leedan

10 porro filii Semei Ieeth et Ziza et Iaus et Baria isti filii Semei quattuor

11 erat autem Ieeth prior Ziza secundus porro Iaus et Baria non habuerunt plurimos filios et idcirco in una familia unaque domo conputati sunt

12 filii Caath Amram et Isaar Hebron et Ozihel quattuor

13 filii Amram Aaron et Moses separatusque est Aaron ut ministraret in sancto sanctorum ipse et filii eius in sempiternum et adoleret incensum Domino secundum ritum suum ac benediceret nomini eius in perpetuum

14 Mosi quoque hominis Dei filii adnumerati sunt in tribu Lev

15 filii Mosi Gersom et Eliezer

16 filii Gersom Subuhel primus

17 fuerunt autem filii Eliezer Roobia primus et non erant Eliezer filii alii porro filii Roobia multiplicati sunt nimis

18 filii Isaar Salumith primus

19 filii Hebron Ieriau primus Amarias secundus Iazihel tertius Iecmaam quartu

20 filii Ozihel Micha primus Iesia secundus

21 filii Merari Mooli et Musi filii Mooli Eleazar et Ci

22 mortuus est autem Eleazar et non habuit filios sed filias acceperuntque eas filii Cis fratres earum

23 filii Musi Mooli et Eder et Ierimuth tres

24 hii filii Levi in cognationibus et familiis suis principes per vices et numerum capitum singulorum qui faciebant opera ministerii domus Domini a viginti annis et supra

25 dixit enim David requiem dedit Dominus Deus Israhel populo suo et habitationem Hierusalem usque in aeternum

26 nec erit officii Levitarum ut ultra portent tabernaculum et omnia vasa eius ad ministrandum

27 iuxta praecepta quoque David novissima supputabitur numerus filiorum Levi a viginti annis et supra

28 et erunt sub manu filiorum Aaron in cultum domus Domini in vestibulis et in exedris et in loco purificationis et in sanctuario et in universis operibus ministerii templi Domini

29 sacerdotes autem super panes propositionis et ad similae sacrificium et ad lagana et azyma et sartaginem et ad ferventem similam et super omne pondus atque mensuram

30 Levitae vero ut stent mane ad confitendum et canendum Domino similiterque ad vesperam

31 tam in oblatione holocaustorum Domini quam in sabbatis et kalendis et sollemnitatibus reliquis iuxta numerum et caerimonias uniuscuiusque rei iugiter coram Domino

32 et custodiant observationes tabernaculi foederis et ritum sanctuarii et observationem filiorum Aaron fratrum suorum ut ministrent in domo Domini

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.