1 Chronicles 23

The Divisions of the Levites

1 When David was old and full of days, he installed his son Solomon as king over Israel.

2 Then he gathered all the leaders of Israel, the priests, and the Levites.

3 The Levites 30 years old and above were counted; the total number of men was 38,000 by headcount.

4 "Of these," [David said], "24,000 are to be in charge of the work on the Lord's temple, 6,000 are to be officers and judges

5 4,000 are to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 are to praise the Lord with the instruments that I have made for worship."

6 Then David divided them into divisions according to Levi's sons: Gershom,^[a] Kohath, and Merari.

7 The Gershomites: Ladan and Shimei.

8 Ladan's sons: Jehiel was the first, then Zetham, and Joel-three.

9 Shimei's sons: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran-three. Those were the heads of the families of Ladan.

10 Shimei's sons: Jahath, Zizah,^[b] Jeush, and Beriah. Those were Shimei's sons-four.

11 Jahath was the first and Zizah was the second; however, Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they became an ancestral house [and received] a single assignment.

12 Kohath's sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel-four.

13 Amram's sons: Aaron and Moses. Aaron, along with his descendants, was set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense in the presence of the Lord, to minister to Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name forever.

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

15 Moses' sons: Gershom and Eliezer.

16 Gershom's sons: Shebuel first.

17 Eliezer's sons were Rehabiah, first; Eliezer did not have any other sons, but Rehabiah's sons were very numerous.

18 Izhar's sons: Shelomith was first.

19 Hebron's sons: Jeriah was first, Amariah second, Jahaziel third, and Jekameam fourth.

20 Uzziel's sons: Micah was first, and Isshiah second.

21 Merari's sons: Mahli and Mushi. Mahli's sons: Eleazar and Kish.

22 Eleazar died having no sons, only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them.

23 Mushi's sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth-three.

24 These were the sons of Levi by their ancestral houses-the heads of families, according to their registration by name in the headcount-20 years old or more, who worked in the service of the Lord's temple.

25 For David said, "The Lord God of Israel has given rest to His people, and He has come to stay in Jerusalem forever.

26 Also, the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the equipment for its service"-

27 for according to the last words of David, the Levites 20 years old or more were to be counted-

28 "but their duty will be to assist the sons of Aaron with the service of the Lord's temple, being responsible for the courts and the chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of God's temple-

29 as well as the rows [of the bread of the Presence], the fine flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the baking,^[c] the mixing,^[d] and all measurements of volume and length.^[e]

30 They are also to stand every morning to give thanks and praise to the Lord, and likewise in the evening.

31 Whenever burnt offerings are offered to the Lord on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed festivals, they are to do so regularly in the Lord's presence according to the number prescribed for them.

32 They are to carry out their responsibilities to the tent of meeting, to the holy place, and to their relatives, the sons of Aaron, in the service of the Lord's temple."

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit Gershon
• [b]. LXX, Vg; MT reads Zina
• [c]. Lit the griddle
• [d]. Lv 6:14-15; 7:12
• [e]. Ex 29:40; 30:13; Lv 19:35-36

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.