1 Chronicles 23WEB
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1 Chronicles23

World English Bible · Public Domain

1Now David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

2He gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.

3The Levites were counted from thirty years old and upward; and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty-eight thousand.

4David said, “Of these, twenty-four thousand were to oversee the work of Yahweh’s house, six thousand were officers and judges,

5four thousand were doorkeepers, and four thousand praised Yahweh with the instruments which I made for giving praise.”

6David divided them into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

7Of the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.

8The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, Zetham, and Joel, three.

9The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers’ households of Ladan.

10The sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.

11Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah didn’t have many sons; therefore they became a fathers’ house in one reckoning.

12The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.

13The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was separated that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons forever, to burn incense before Yahweh, to minister to him, and to bless in his name forever.

14But as for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.

15The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.

16The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief.

17The son of Eliezer was Rehabiah the chief; and Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.

18The son of Izhar: Shelomith the chief.

19The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.

20The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief, and Isshiah the second.

21The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.

22Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters only; and their relatives, the sons of Kish, took them as wives.

23The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

24These were the sons of Levi after their fathers’ houses, even the heads of the fathers’ houses of those who were counted individually, in the number of names by their polls, who did the work for the service of Yahweh’s house, from twenty years old and upward.

25For David said, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people; and he dwells in Jerusalem forever.

26Also the Levites will no longer need to carry the tabernacle and all its vessels for its service.”

27For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were counted, from twenty years old and upward.

28For their duty was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of Yahweh’s house—in the courts, in the rooms, and in the purifying of all holy things, even the work of the service of God’s house;

29for the show bread also, and for the fine flour for a meal offering, whether of unleavened wafers, or of that which is baked in the pan, or of that which is soaked, and for all measurements of quantity and size;

30and to stand every morning to thank and praise Yahweh, and likewise in the evening;

31and to offer all burnt offerings to Yahweh on the Sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, in number according to the ordinance concerning them, continually before Yahweh;

32and that they should keep the duty of the Tent of Meeting, the duty of the holy place, and the duty of the sons of Aaron their brothers for the service of Yahweh’s house.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Chronicles 23.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: David declares Solomon his successor. (1–23). The office of the Levites. (24–32).

vv1-23

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.

vv24-32

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.

Cross References

1 Chronicles 23
v3Numbers 4:3thematic

The Mosaic standard age of thirty for Levites entering service, here modified under David.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

Confirms David established the musical instruments by divine commandment through God's prophets.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v5Amos 6:5thematic

Prophetic allusion identifying David as the historical inventor of musical instruments for praise.

Supported by JFB

v13Numbers 6:23-27thematic

The explicit priestly mandate given to Aaron and his descendants to bless the people in God's name.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v13Luke 1:9thematic

New Testament fulfillment of the Aaronite priestly duty of burning incense daily before the Lord.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Explains the transition from the thirty-year age threshold down to twenty years old.

Supported by JFB

v14Deuteronomy 33:1thematic

Reflected in Moses' title 'man of God', whose sons were numbered with the common Levites.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v22Numbers 36:6-8thematic

Illustrates the law of inheritance for daughters when there were no male heirs.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v28Numbers 3:6-9thematic

Original Mosaic assignment of Levites to assist the priests (sons of Aaron) in their work.

Supported by JFB

v29Leviticus 24:5-9thematic

The Mosaic law regarding the preparation and ordering of the showbread in the tabernacle.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v11 Kings 1:32-48thematic

Detailed historical narrative of David making Solomon king at the end of his life.

Supported by JFB

David gathering Israel's leaders to announce royal succession and structural arrangements for worship.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v26Numbers 4:5contrast

Contrast between carrying the tabernacle in the wilderness and its stationary resting place.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Identifies Shebuel (or Shubael) as the chief officer over the treasures.

Supported by JFB