1 Chronicles 23:1-11

1 When David got to be an old man, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.

2 At the same time he brought together all the leaders of Israel, the priests, and the Levites.

3 The Levites thirty years and older were counted; the total was 38,000.

4 David sorted them into work groups: "24,000 are in charge of administering worship in the sanctuary; 6,000 are officials and judges

5 4,000 are security guards; and 4,000 are to serve in the orchestra, praising God with instruments that I have provided for praise."

6 David then divided the Levites into groupings named after the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

7 The Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.

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

9 The three sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, all heads of the families of Ladan.

10 The four sons of Shimei: Jahath, Ziza, Jeush, and Beriah.

11 Jahath came first, followed by Ziza. Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons so they were counted as one family with one task.

1 Chronicles 23:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

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.