1 Chronicles 23:1-7

The Levites

1 When David was old and full of years, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.

2 He also gathered together all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and Levites.

3 The Levites thirty years old or more were counted, and the total number of men was thirty-eight thousand.

4 David said, “Of these, twenty-four thousand are to be in charge of the work of the temple of the LORD and six thousand are to be officials and judges.

5 Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise the LORD with the musical instruments I have provided for that purpose.”

6 David separated the Levites into divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

Gershonites

7 Belonging to the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.

1 Chronicles 23:1-7 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.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Kings 1:33-39; 1 Chronicles 22:9; 1 Chronicles 28:5; 2 Chronicles 1:8
• 2. S 1 Kings 1:30; 1 Chronicles 29:28
• 3. ver 24; Numbers 8:24
• 4. 1 Chronicles 21:7
• 5. Numbers 4:3-49
• 6. Ezra 3:8
• 7. 2 Chronicles 34:13; Nehemiah 4:10
• 8. 1 Chronicles 26:29; 2 Chronicles 19:8; Ezekiel 44:24
• 9. S 1 Chronicles 15:16; Psalms 92:3
• 10. Nehemiah 12:45
• 11. 2 Chronicles 8:14; 2 Chronicles 23:18; 2 Chronicles 29:25
• 12. S Numbers 3:17; 1 Chronicles 24:20
• 13. 1 Chronicles 6:71