1 Chronicles 23

1 Chronicles 23:1-23

In this chapter, 1. David declares Solomon to be his faceoffer, ver. 1. 2. He numbers the Levites, and appears from their offices, ver. 2—5. 3. He takes an account of the several families of the Levites, ver. 6—23. 4. He makes a new reckoning of them from twenty years old, and according to their age implies them, 24—32.

1015. 1 Kings 1 57—59. 4 Num. shd. 47. Or enterfor. Deut. xvi. 18. See a Chron. xxii 1. Amon. xl. 9. Exod. vi. 18. Num. sexi. 17. Chron. viii. 12. Or introhom. 1. I. Lord. Chap. xii. 19. Z. xiii. Ver. 13. Heb. Did not multiply here, &c. Exod. vi. 18. Ibid. 27.

1016. So when David was old and full of days, ‘he made Solomon his Son king over Israel. 2. ¶ And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the youths and the Levites. 3. Now the Levites were numbered ‘from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand. 4. Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the LORD: and six thousand were’ officers and judges. 5. Moreover, four thousand were porters, and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments ‘which I made (said David) to praise therewith. 6. And David’ divided them into couries among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 7. ¶ ‘Of the Gershonites were Laadan, and Shimei. 8. The sons of Laadan, the chief war Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three. 9. The sons of Shimei; Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief of the fathers of Laadan. 10. And the sons of Shimei were, Jahath, § Zina, and Jeuth, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei. 11. And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeuth and Beriah? had not many sons: therefore they were in one reckoning, according to their father’s house. 12. ¶ ‘The sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uziel, four. 13. The sons of ‘Amram; Aaron and

Moses: and ‘Aaron was separated, that he should fancy, fifty the most holy things, he and his sons for ever,’ to burn incense before the LORD, to minister unto him, and ’to bless in his name for ever. 14. Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi. 15. The sons of Moses were Gershom, and Eliezer. 16. Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuct was the chief. 17. And the sons of Eliezer were ‘Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had no other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were § very many. 18. Of the sons of Izhar; Shelomith the chief. 19. Of the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jehasah the third, and Jekameam the fourth. 20. Of the sons of Uziel; Micah the first, and Jefiah the second. 21. The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mufti: the sons of Mahli; Eleazar and ‘Kith: 22. And Eleazar died, and ‘had no sons, but daughters: and their brethren the sons of Kith’ took them. 23. The sons of Mufti; Mahli, and Isder, and Jeremoth, three.

David having declared Solomon his faceoffer, con-volves a solemn assembly to recognize his appointment; and prevent all companions when he should keep with his father, as he shortly expected, being now grown aged and infirm, and this aggravated the crime of Adonijah and his adherent. At this assembly, David protected the settlement of the Levites.

1. He numbered them. Thirty-eight thousand men, a vast increase since the time of Moses, Nands. iv. 47. Even if we feignify that those above fifty were now reckoned, who were thus omitted? It is a distinguished mercy to any people, when God giveth the word, and great is the company of the preachers.

2. David appointed them all their several employments. Twenty-four thousand were employed, by a thousand weekly, in rotation, to set forward the work of the temple, kill the sacrifices, wash, divide them, keep the temple and all the vessels clean, and in order, and be assistants in all the service to the priests, &c. Six thousand were appointed judges and officers, as best skilled in the laws civil and ecclesiastical, and distributed through the cities of Israel, to maintain peace and execute justice. Four thousand were the porters, a kind of guards, to prevent any unfit person from entering into the temple, or going farther than their limits. Four thousand more were fingers, divided into chores, and constantly in succession pushing God day and night. Note, (1.) The work will go on well, where every man knows his post and business. (2.) In whatever station a Levite is placed, diligence and zeal in the service of God is his bounden duty.

3. The whole were divided into three classes, according to the three sons of Levi, from whom they descended: thus the nearest relations were employed together. Those who are united in blood, should be more united in love, and give assistance to each other. The family of Moses classes with common Levites, and has no mark of distinction; an evidence of the disinterested conduct of their great progenitor. Rehabiah, one of his descendants, is remarked for his numerous family, v. 17. Aaron’s family appears with chief dignity, consecrated to God, to minister in the most holy things. God has a right to choke his own servants; and it were impious, and with so perjured hypocrisy, for any man to take this honour to himself, who is not inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost, and called of God as was Aaron.

4. ¶ These were the sons of ‘Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, ‘from the age of twenty years and upward. 25. For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever; 26. And also unto the Levites: they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof. 27. For by the last words of David, the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above. 28. Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron, for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God; 29. Both for the shew bread, and for the fine flour for meat-offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of meafure and fare: 30. And so hand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even; 31. And to offer all burst-facilities unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feaths.

by number, according to the order commanded unto them continually before the LORD: 31. And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the house of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 23:20-31

17. 3. Chap. xxii. 19. & xxvi. 31. 1. End. vi. 14. Chap. xxiii. 21. 2. Chap. 1 xxvii. 24. 1. Ibid. 25. Ver. 5. 6. Ibid. The chief agent of younger brethren.

The Levites, divided into the same number of courses as the priests, cast lots also to determine their order of service. When God determined their lot, there would be no room for these. The priests are called their brethren, because, though the Levites were in a station interior, yet they were employed in the same sacred service, and to be regarded not as servants, but as assistants in their work.

1 Chronicles 23:24-32

The ark and all the sacred furniture being no more to be removed, as they had been during their marches through the wilderness, David by divine appointment makes an alteration in the age at which the Levites were to begin their minification, from twenty years old and upwards, (See Nemb. vii. 24). And this was the more necessary, as the temple service would be much more frequented, than the tabernacle had been at Shiloh or Gibeon. Note, (1.) God proportions our strength to our burdens. (2.) If the harvest is generous, the Lord in mercy will raise up labourers.—The particular business of the attendant Levites, who affixed the priests, is here marked out to them. 1. They were to keep the courts and chambers clean, prepare the sacrifices, and meat and drink—offerings, that the priests might have them ready to their hands; and that with exactness, according to the weights and measures prescribed. 2. Others, morning and evening, at the time of the daily sacrifice, offered up praises to God, with vocal and instrumental malice. 3. The potters were to take care that nothing came in, or was carried out of the temple, contrary to the law; and to execute the commands of their brethren the priests. Note, Let not doubt whom God hath advanced to honour, grow proud and imperious; but remember, that, though exalted above their brethren, they are still to treat them as brethren.