Chronicles I 23

1 And David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his son king over Israel in his stead.
2 And he assembled all the chief men of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites.
3 And the Levites numbered from thirty years old and upward; and their number by their polls amounted to thirty and eight thousand men.
4 Of the overseers over the works of the house of the Lord twenty-four thousand, and six thousand scribes and judges;
5 and four thousand door-keepers, and four thousand to praise the Lord with instruments which he made to praise the Lord.
6 And David divided them daily courses, for the sons of Levi, for Gedson, Caath, and Merari.
7 And for Gedson, Edan, and Semei.
8 The sons of Edan Jeiel, the chief, and Zethan, and Joel, three.
9 The sons of Semei; Salomith, Jeiel, and Dan, three: these the chiefs of the families of Edan.
10 And to the sons of Semei, Jeth, and Ziza, and Joas, and Beria: these the four sons of Semei.
11 And Jeth was the chief, and Ziza the second: and Joas and Beria did not multiply sons, and they became one reckoning according to the house of their father.
12 The sons of Caath; Ambram, Isaar, Chebron, Oziel, four.
13 The sons of Ambram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was appointed for the consecration of the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the Lord, to minister and bless in his name for ever.
14 And Moses the man of God, his sons were reckoned to the tribe of Levi.
15 The sons of Moses; Gersam, and Eliezer.
16 The sons of Gersam; Subael the chief.
17 And the sons of Eliezer were, Rabia the chief: and Eliezer had no other sons; but the sons of Rabia were very greatly multiplied.
18 The sons of Isaar; Salomoth the chief.
19 The sons of Chebron; Jeria the chief, Amaria the second, Jeziel the third, Jekemias the fourth.
20 The sons of Oziel; Micha the chief, and Isia the second.
21 The sons of Merari; Mooli, and Musi: the sons of Mooli; Eleazar, and Kis.
22 And Eleazar died, and he had no sons, but daughters: and the sons of Kis, their brethren, took them.
23 The sons of Musi; Mooli, and Eder, and Jarimoth, three.
24 These the sons of Levi according to the houses of their fathers; chiefs of their families according to their numbering, according to the number of their names, according to their polls, doing the works of service of the house of the Lord, from twenty years old and upward.
25 For David said, The Lord God of Israel has given rest to his people, and has taken up his abode in Jerusalem for ever.
26 And the Levites bore not the tabernacle, and all the vessels of it for its service.
27 For by the last words of David was the number of the Levites from twenty years old and upward.
28 For he appointed them to wait on Aaron, to minister in the house of the Lord, over the courts, and over the chambers, and over the purification of all the holy things, and over the works of the service of the house of God;
29 and for the shew-bread, and for the fine flour of the meat-offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for the fried cake, and for the dough, and for every measure;
30 and to stand in the morning to praise and give thanks to the Lord, and so in the evening;
31 and over all the whole-burnt-offerings that were offered up to the Lord on the sabbaths, and at the new moons, and at the feasts, by number, according to the order to them, continually before the Lord.
32 And they are to keep the charge of the tabernacle of witness, and the charge of the holy place, and the charges of the sons of Aaron their brethren, to minister in the house of the Lord.

Chronicles I 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.

Chronicles I 23 Commentaries

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.