Worthy.Bible » Parallel » 1 Chronicles » Chapter 23 » Verse 3-32

1 Chronicles 23:3-32 King James Version (KJV)

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 courses 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 was 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 Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.

11 And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush 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 Uzziel, four.

13 The sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify 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, Shebuel was the chief.

17 And the sons of Eliezer were, Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had none 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, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.

20 Of the sons of Uzziel; Micah the first and Jesiah the second.

21 The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. The sons of Mahli; Eleazar, and Kish.

22 And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters: and their brethren the sons of Kish took them.

23 The sons of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

24 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 shewbread, 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 measure and size;

30 And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even:

31 And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD:

32 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 23:3-32 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

3 Now the Levites H3881 were numbered H5608 from the age H1121 of thirty H7970 years H8141 and upward: H4605 and their number H4557 by their polls, H1538 man by man, H1397 was thirty H7970 and eight H8083 thousand. H505

4 Of which, H428 twenty H6242 and four H702 thousand H505 were to set forward H5329 the work H4399 of the house H1004 of the LORD; H3068 and six H8337 thousand H505 were officers H7860 and judges: H8199

5 Moreover four H702 thousand H505 were porters; H7778 and four H702 thousand H505 praised H1984 the LORD H3068 with the instruments H3627 which I made, H6213 said David, to praise H1984 therewith.

6 And David H1732 divided H2505 them into courses H4256 among the sons H1121 of Levi, H3878 namely, Gershon, H1648 Kohath, H6955 and Merari. H4847

7 Of the Gershonites H1649 were, Laadan, H3936 and Shimei. H8096

8 The sons H1121 of Laadan; H3936 the chief H7218 was Jehiel, H3171 and Zetham, H2241 and Joel, H3100 three. H7969

9 The sons H1121 of Shimei; H8096 Shelomith, H8019 H8013 and Haziel, H2381 and Haran, H2039 three. H7969 These were the chief H7218 of the fathers H1 of Laadan. H3936

10 And the sons H1121 of Shimei H8096 were, Jahath, H3189 Zina, H2126 and Jeush, H3266 and Beriah. H1283 These four H702 were the sons H1121 of Shimei. H8096

11 And Jahath H3189 was the chief, H7218 and Zizah H2125 the second: H8145 but Jeush H3266 and Beriah H1283 had not many H7235 sons; H1121 therefore they were in one H259 reckoning, H6486 according to their father's H1 house. H1004

12 The sons H1121 of Kohath; H6955 Amram, H6019 Izhar, H3324 Hebron, H2275 and Uzziel, H5816 four. H702

13 The sons H1121 of Amram; H6019 Aaron H175 and Moses: H4872 and Aaron H175 was separated, H914 that he should sanctify H6942 the most H6944 holy things, H6944 he and his sons H1121 for H5704 ever, H5769 to burn incense H6999 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 to minister H8334 unto him, and to bless H1288 in his name H8034 for H5704 ever. H5769

14 Now concerning Moses H4872 the man H376 of God, H430 his sons H1121 were named H7121 of the tribe H7626 of Levi. H3878

15 The sons H1121 of Moses H4872 were, Gershom, H1647 and Eliezer. H461

16 Of the sons H1121 of Gershom, H1647 Shebuel H7619 was the chief. H7218

17 And the sons H1121 of Eliezer H461 were, Rehabiah H7345 the chief. H7218 And Eliezer H461 had none other H312 sons; H1121 but the sons H1121 of Rehabiah H7345 were very H4605 many. H7235

18 Of the sons H1121 of Izhar; H3324 Shelomith H8019 the chief. H7218

19 Of the sons H1121 of Hebron; H2275 Jeriah H3404 the first, H7218 Amariah H568 the second, H8145 Jahaziel H3166 the third, H7992 and Jekameam H3360 the fourth. H7243

20 Of the sons H1121 of Uzziel; H5816 Michah H4318 the first, H7218 and Jesiah H3449 the second. H8145

21 The sons H1121 of Merari; H4847 Mahli, H4249 and Mushi. H4187 The sons H1121 of Mahli; H4249 Eleazar, H499 and Kish. H7027

22 And Eleazar H499 died, H4191 and had no sons, H1121 but daughters: H1323 and their brethren H251 the sons H1121 of Kish H7027 took H5375 them.

23 The sons H1121 of Mushi; H4187 Mahli, H4249 and Eder, H5740 and Jeremoth, H3406 three. H7969

24 These were the sons H1121 of Levi H3878 after the house H1004 of their fathers; H1 even the chief H7218 of the fathers, H1 as they were counted H6485 by number H4557 of names H8034 by their polls, H1538 that did H6213 the work H4399 for the service H5656 of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 from the age H1121 of twenty H6242 years H8141 and upward. H4605

25 For David H1732 said, H559 The LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 hath given rest H5117 unto his people, H5971 that they may dwell H7931 in Jerusalem H3389 for ever: H5769

26 And also unto the Levites; H3881 they shall no more carry H5375 the tabernacle, H4908 nor any vessels H3627 of it for the service H5656 thereof.

27 For by the last H314 words H1697 of David H1732 the Levites H3881 were numbered H4557 from twenty H6242 years H8141 old H1121 and above: H4605

28 Because their office H4612 was to wait H3027 on the sons H1121 of Aaron H175 for the service H5656 of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 in the courts, H2691 and in the chambers, H3957 and in the purifying H2893 of all holy things, H6944 and the work H4639 of the service H5656 of the house H1004 of God; H430

29 Both for the shewbread, H3899 H4635 and for the fine flour H5560 for meat offering, H4503 and for the unleavened H4682 cakes, H7550 and for that which is baked in the pan, H4227 and for that which is fried, H7246 and for all manner of measure H4884 and size; H4060

30 And to stand H5975 every morning H1242 to thank H3034 and praise H1984 the LORD, H3068 and likewise at even; H6153

31 And to offer H5927 all burnt sacrifices H5930 unto the LORD H3068 in the sabbaths, H7676 in the new moons, H2320 and on the set feasts, H4150 by number, H4557 according to the order H4941 commanded unto them, continually H8548 before H6440 the LORD: H3068

32 And that they should keep H8104 the charge H4931 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 and the charge H4931 of the holy H6944 place, and the charge H4931 of the sons H1121 of Aaron H175 their brethren, H251 in the service H5656 of the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068


1 Chronicles 23:3-32 American Standard (ASV)

3 And the Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand.

4 Of these, twenty and four thousand were to oversee the work of the house of Jehovah; and six thousand were officers and judges;

5 and four thousand were doorkeepers; and four thousand praised Jehovah with the instruments which I made, `said David', to praise therewith.

6 And David divided them into courses according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

7 Of the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.

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

9 The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers' `houses' of Ladan.

10 And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.

11 And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons; therefore they became a fathers' house in one reckoning.

12 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.

13 The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons, for ever, to burn incense before Jehovah, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, for ever.

14 But as for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.

15 The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.

16 The sons of Gershom: Shebuel 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 The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief.

19 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.

20 The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief, and Isshiah the second.

21 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.

22 And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters only: and their brethren the sons of Kish took them `to wife'.

23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

24 These were the sons of Levi after their fathers' houses, even the heads of the fathers' `houses' of those of them that were counted, in the number of names by their polls, who did the work for the service of the house of Jehovah, from twenty years old and upward.

25 For David said, Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath given rest unto his people; and he dwelleth in Jerusalem for ever:

26 and also the Levites shall no more have need to carry the tabernacle and all the vessels of it for the service thereof.

27 For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered, from twenty years old and upward.

28 For their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of Jehovah, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, even the work of the service of the house of God;

29 for the showbread also, and for the fine flour for a meal-offering, whether of unleavened wafers, or of that which is baked in the pan, or of that which is soaked, and for all manner of measure and size;

30 and to stand every morning to thank and praise Jehovah, and likewise at even;

31 and to offer all burnt-offerings unto Jehovah, on the sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, in number according to the ordinance concerning them, continually before Jehovah;

32 and that they should keep the charge of the tent of meeting, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, for the service of the house of Jehovah.


1 Chronicles 23:3-32 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

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 23:3-32 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

3 And the Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward; and their number, by their polls, man by man, was thirty-eight thousand.

4 Of these, twenty-four thousand were to preside over the work of the house of Jehovah; and six thousand were officers and judges;

5 and four thousand were doorkeepers; and four thousand praised Jehovah with the instruments which I made, [said David,] to praise [therewith].

6 And David divided them into courses according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

7 Of the Gershonites: Laadan and Shimei.

8 The sons of Laadan: the head was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.

9 The sons of Shimei: Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief fathers of Laadan.

10 And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Ziza, and Jeush, and Beriah. These were the four sons of Shimei.

11 And Jahath was the head, and Ziza the second; and Jeush and Beriah had not many sons: as father's house, therefore, they were reckoned as one.

12 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Jizhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.

13 The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. And Aaron was separated, that he should be hallowed as most holy, he and his sons for ever, to offer before Jehovah, to do service to him, and to bless in his name for ever.

14 -- And as to Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi.

15 The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.

16 The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the head.

17 And the sons of Eliezer: Rehabiah the head; and Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.

18 -- The sons of Jizhar: Shelomith the head.

19 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the head, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.

20 The sons of Uzziel: Micah the head, and Jishijah the second.

21 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.

22 And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters; and their brethren the sons of Kish took them.

23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

24 These were the sons of Levi according to their fathers' houses, the chief fathers, as they were reckoned, by number of names by their polls, who did the work of the service of the house of Jehovah, from twenty years old and upward.

25 For David said, Jehovah the God of Israel has given rest to his people, and he will dwell in Jerusalem for ever;

26 and the Levites also have no more to carry the tabernacle, nor any of its vessels for its service.

27 For by the last words of David was this [done], -- the numbering of the sons of Levi from twenty years old and upward.

28 For their place was by 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 purifying of all holy things, and [for] the work of the service of the house of God;

29 and for the loaves to be set in rows, and for the fine flour for the oblation, and for the unleavened cakes, and for [what is baked in] the pan, and for that which is saturated [with oil], and for all measure of capacity and size;

30 and to stand every morning to thank and praise Jehovah, and likewise at even;

31 and for all burnt-offerings offered up to Jehovah on the sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the ordinance concerning them, continually, before Jehovah;

32 and they kept the charge of the tent of meeting, and the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the house of Jehovah.


1 Chronicles 23:3-32 World English Bible (WEB)

3 The Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty-eight thousand.

4 Of these, twenty-four thousand were to oversee the work of the house of Yahweh; and six thousand were officers and judges;

5 and four thousand were doorkeepers; and four thousand praised Yahweh with the instruments which I made, [said David], for giving praise.

6 David divided them into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

7 Of the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.

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

9 The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers' [houses] of Ladan.

10 The sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.

11 Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah didn't have many sons; therefore they became a fathers' house in one reckoning.

12 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.

13 The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons, forever, to burn incense before Yahweh, to minister to him, and to bless in his name, forever.

14 But as for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.

15 The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.

16 The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief.

17 The sons of Eliezer were: Rehabiah the chief; and Eliezer had no other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.

18 The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief.

19 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.

20 The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief, and Isshiah the second.

21 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.

22 Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters only: and their brothers the sons of Kish took them [to wife].

23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

24 These were the sons of Levi after their fathers' houses, even the heads of the fathers' [houses] of those of those who were counted, in the number of names by their polls, who did the work for the service of the house of Yahweh, from twenty years old and upward.

25 For David said, Yahweh, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people; and he dwells in Jerusalem forever:

26 and also the Levites shall no more have need to carry the tent and all the vessels of it for the service of it.

27 For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered, from twenty years old and upward.

28 For their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of Yahweh, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, even the work of the service of the house of God;

29 for the show bread also, and for the fine flour for a meal-offering, whether of unleavened wafers, or of that which is baked in the pan, or of that which is soaked, and for all manner of measure and size;

30 and to stand every morning to thank and praise Yahweh, and likewise in the evening;

31 and to offer all burnt offerings to Yahweh, on the Sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, in number according to the ordinance concerning them, continually before Yahweh;

32 and that they should keep the charge of the tent of meeting, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brothers, for the service of the house of Yahweh.


1 Chronicles 23:3-32 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

3 And the Levites, all those of thirty years old and over, were numbered; and the number of them, by heads, man by man, was thirty-eight thousand.

4 Of these, twenty-four thousand were to be overseers of the work of the house of the Lord, and six thousand were judges and men of authority;

5 Four thousand were door-keepers; and four thousand gave praise to the Lord with the instruments which I made, said David, for giving praise.

6 And David put them into divisions under the names of the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

7 Of the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.

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

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

10 And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zizah and Jeush and Beriah; these four were the sons of Shimei.

11 Jahath was the chief and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah had only a small number of sons, so they were grouped together as one family.

12 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.

13 The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was made separate and holy, he and his sons for ever, for the care of the most holy things and the burning of offerings before the Lord, to do his work and give blessings in his name for ever.

14 And the sons of Moses, the man of God, were put into the list of the tribe of Levi.

15 The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.

16 The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the first.

17 And the sons of Eliezer: Rehabiah the first; and Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah had a great number.

18 The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the first.

19 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.

20 The sons of Uzziel: Micah the first, and Isshiah the second.

21 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.

22 And at his death Eleazar had no sons, but only daughters, and their relations, the sons of Kish, took them as wives.

23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli and Eder and Jeremoth, three.

24 These were the sons of Levi, grouped by families, the heads of the families of those who were numbered by name, by heads, all those of twenty years old and over who did the work of the house of the Lord.

25 For David said, The Lord, the God of Israel, has given his people rest, and he has made his resting-place in Jerusalem for ever;

26 And from now, there will be no need for the House of the Lord, and the vessels used in it, to be moved about by the Levites.

27 So among the last acts of David was the numbering of the sons of Levi, from twenty years old and over.

28 Their place was by the side of the sons of Aaron in all the work of the house of the Lord, in the open spaces and in the rooms, in the making clean of all the holy things, in doing all the work of the house of the Lord,

29 The holy bread was in their care, and the crushed grain for the meal offering, of unleavened cakes or meal cooked over the fire or in water; they had control of all sorts of weights and measures;

30 They had to take their places every morning to give praise and make melody to the Lord, and in the same way at evening;

31 At every offering of burned offerings to the Lord, on Sabbaths, and at the new moons, and on the regular feasts, in the number ordered by the law, at all times before the Lord;

32 And they had the care of the Tent of meeting and the holy place, under the direction of the sons of Aaron their brothers, for the work of the house of the Lord.

Commentary on 1 Chronicles 23 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 23

1Ch 23:1. David Makes Solomon King.

1. when David was old … he made Solomon … king—This brief statement, which comprises the substance of 1Ki 1:32-48, is made here solely to introduce an account of the preparations carried on by David during the latter years of his life for providing a national place of worship.

1Ch 23:2-6. Number and Distribution of the Levites.

2. he gathered together all the princes of Israel—All important measures relating to the public interest were submitted for consideration to a general assembly of the representatives of the tribes (1Ch 13:1; 15:25; 22:17; 26:1-32).

3. the Levites were numbered … thirty and eight thousand—Four times their number at the early census taken by Moses (see on Nu 4:1-49; 26:1-51). It was, in all likelihood, this vast increase that suggested and rendered expedient that classification, made in the last year of David's reign, which the present and three subsequent chapters describe.

by their polls, man by man—Women and children were not included.

4. twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the Lord—They were not to preside over all the services of the temple. The Levites were subject to the priests, and they were superior to the Nethinim and other servants, who were not of the race of Levi. But they had certain departments of duty assigned, some of which are here specified.

5. praised the Lord with the instruments which I made—David seems to have been an inventor of many of the musical instruments used in the temple (Am 6:5).

6. David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi—These are enumerated according to their fathers' houses, but no more of these are mentioned here than the twenty-four thousand who were engaged in the work connected with the Lord's house. The fathers' houses of those Levites corresponded with the classes into which they [Josephus, Antiquities] as well as the priests were divided (see on 1Ch 24:20-31; 1Ch 26:20-28).

1Ch 23:7-11. Sons of Gershon.

7-11. the Gershonites—They had nine fathers' houses, six descended from Laadan, and three from Shimei.

1Ch 23:12-20. Of Kohath.

12. The sons of Kohath—He was the founder of nine Levitical fathers' houses.

13. Aaron was separated—as high priest (see on 1Ch 25:1-19).

14. concerning Moses—His sons were ranked with the Levites generally, but not introduced into the distinctive portion of the descendants of Levi, who were appointed to the special functions of the priesthood.

1Ch 23:21-23. Of Merari.

21-23. The sons of Merari—They comprised six fathers' houses. Summing them together, Gershon founded nine fathers houses, Kohath nine, and Merari six: total, twenty-four.

1Ch 23:24-32. Office of the Levites.

24-27. These were the sons of Levi … that did the work … from the age of twenty years and upward—The enumeration of the Levites was made by David (1Ch 23:3) on the same rule as that followed by Moses (Nu 4:3), namely, from thirty years. But he saw afterwards that this rule might be beneficially relaxed, and that the enrolment of Levites for their proper duties might be made from twenty years of age. The ark and tabernacle being now stationary at Jerusalem, the labor of the Levites was greatly diminished, as they were no longer obliged to transport its heavy furniture from place to place. The number of thirty-eight thousand Levites, exclusive of priests, was doubtless more than sufficient for the ordinary service of the tabernacle. But this pious king thought that it would contribute to the glory of the Lord to employ as many officers in his divine service as possible. These first rules, however, which David instituted, were temporary, as very different arrangements were made after the ark had been deposited in the tabernacle of Zion.