1 Chronicles 23

1 And David is old, and satisfied with days, and causeth his son Solomon to reign over Israel,
2 and gathereth all the heads of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites;
3 and the Levites are numbered from a son of thirty years and upward, and their number, by their polls, is of mighty men thirty and eight thousand.
4 Of these to preside over the work of the house of Jehovah [are] twenty and four thousand, and officers and judges six thousand
5 and four thousand gatekeepers, and four thousand giving praise to Jehovah, `with instruments that I made for praising,' [saith David.]
6 And David distributeth them into courses: Of the sons of Levi: of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
7 Of the Gershonite: Laadan and Shimei.
8 Sons of Laadan: the head [is] Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.
9 Sons of Shimei [are] Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three; these [are] heads of the fathers of Laadan.
10 And sons of Shimei [are] Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah; these [are] sons of Shimei, four.
11 And Jahath is the head, and Zizah the second, and Jeush and Beriah have not multiplied sons, and they become the house of a father by one numbering.
12 Sons of Kohath [are] Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.
13 Sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron is separated for his sanctifying the holy of holies, he and his sons -- unto the age, to make perfume before Jehovah, to serve Him, and to bless in His name -- unto the age.
14 As to Moses, the man of God, his sons are called after the tribe of Levi
15 Sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.
16 Sons of Gershom: Shebuel the head.
17 And sons of Eliezer are Rehabiah the head, and Eliezer had no other sons, and the sons of Rehabiah have multiplied exceedingly.
18 Sons of Izhar: Shelomith the head.
19 Sons of Hebron: Jeriah the head, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth
20 Sons of Uzziel: Micah the head, and Ishshiah, the second.
21 Sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi; sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish
22 And Eleazar dieth, and he had no sons, but daughters, and sons of Kish their brethren take them.
23 Sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth, three.
24 These [are] sons of Levi, by the house of their fathers, heads of the fathers, by their appointments, in the number of names, by their polls, doing the work for the service of the house of Jehovah, from a son of twenty years and upward,
25 for David said, `Jehovah, God of Israel, hath given rest to His people, and He doth tabernacle in Jerusalem unto the age;'
26 and also of the Levites, `None [are] to bear the tabernacle and all its vessels for its service;'
27 for by the last words of David they [took] the number of the sons of Levi from a son of twenty years and upward,
28 for their station [is] at the side of the sons of Aaron, for the service of the house of Jehovah, over the courts, and over the chambers, and over the cleansing of every holy thing, and the work of the service of the house of God,
29 and for the bread of the arrangement, and for fine flour for present, and for the thin unleavened cakes, and for [the work of] the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all [liquid] measure and [solid] measure;
30 and to stand, morning by morning, to give thanks, and to give praise to Jehovah, and so at evening;
31 and for all the burnt-offerings -- burnt-offerings to Jehovah for sabbaths, for new moons, and for appointed seasons, by number, according to the ordinance upon them continually, before Jehovah.
32 And they have kept the charge of the tent of meeting, and the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the sons of Aaron, their brethren, for the service of the house of Jehovah.

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.

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.

1 Chronicles 23 Commentaries

Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.