1 Chronicles 23

years] It appears that the Levites were twice numbered and registered in the time of David, as they had anciently been in the time of Moses. At the first poll, ver. 3, they were not taken into the service till the age of thirty; but afterwards, on the king considering that the service of the temple would require more hands than that of the tabernacle, and would at the same time be more light and easy, from the circumstance of there being no ark and tabernacle to carry about from place to place, he ordered, at the second poll, all to be summoned from the age of twenty, in order that they might be employed in some easy and familiar business, till they were fit to go through all the offices that belooged to them. Pyle.

1 Chronicles 23:3

3.—Zadok—, Ahimelech] These two were the chief persons in David’s days of the posterity of those sons of Aaron, Eleazar and Ithamar.

1 Chronicles 23:5

5. Thus were they divided by lot, &c.] To prevent all jealousy and ground of complaint, the selection of persons was determined by lot, the most usual and ancient method of choosing to sacred offices. The “governors of the sanctuary” probably were the principal ministers about holy things: in the expression “the governors of the house of God,” there is no word for house in Hebrew; they seem to have been “the chief judges.” Bp. Patrick.

This appointment of separate courses for the priests and Levites, according to which they were to officiate by turns, carried one great national advantage with it; (and possibly many more not now to be understood;) namely, that this weekly circulation of priests and Levites tended to diffuse a general acquaintance amongst the different inhabitants of the kingdom.

1 Chronicles 23:12

12. The sons of Kohath:] From the family of Kohath, the head of the second class, descended Moses and Aaron: Aaron and his posterity were honoured with the priesthood; but Moses, ver. 14, though the most eminent Prophet and governour that ever the Israelitish nation had, left his children in no higher situation than that of simple Levites, who spread into numerous families, the chief of which will be mentioned. Pyle.

1 Chronicles 23:14

14. Now concerning Moses &c.] Such was the wonderful humility and modesty of this great man, that he did not aim at obtaining high situations for his posterity: which circumstance is perhaps here noted, to the end that none amongst the Israelites might presume, on account of their noble descent, to meddle with the priesthood, which was settled in the family of Aaron. Bp. Patrick. 24. — as they were counted — from the age of twenty

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25. — dwell in Jerusalem for ever:] It must always be remembered, that these expressions, of their dwelling in Jerusalem “for ever,” imply the condition of their continued obedience to God, in which if they failed, they would be expelled from their habitations. Bp. Patrick. The office of the Levites. I. CHRONICLES. The divisions of the sons of Aaron Before CHRIST about 1015. station was at the hand of the sons of Aaron. m Chap. 9. 29, &c. Lev. 6. 21. plate.

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29.—for all manner of measure and size.] The standards of all measures and weights were kept in the sanctuary, in the custody of the Levites, of whom it was the duty to see that they were kept with exactness. Hence we frequently read of “the shekel of the sanctuary,” by which is meant the shekel of the true standard. It should be observed, that in a similar manner the standard weights and measures used anciently to be kept in Pagan temples, and, in later times, in Christian churches. Bp. Patrick. Chap. XXIV. ver. 1. Now these are the divisions] David, having settled the courses of the Levites, ordered, in much the same manner, those of the priests, as their families were severally derived from the only two sons of Aaron who survived, Eleazar and Ithamar. Pyle. These courses of the priests, many of the Hebrew doctors assert, were first ordained by Moses, who, as they relate, established them eight in number, four of the line of Eleazar, and four of the line of Ithamar; then Samuel added eight more, and made them sixteen; and David added other eight, and made them twentyfour. However, it is certain that the first time the Scripture speaks of any courses, it makes mention of twenty-four, and that David is recorded as the founder and distributor of them. These courses served under the first temple, and continued in their ministry till the Babylonish captivity; but it is generally allowed that no more than four of them returned from that captivity.

NOW these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. a The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.