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The Histories · Old Testament

1 Chronicles 23

1 Chronicles 23: the Levites counted and set in their courses

General context

When David is old and full of days he makes Solomon king and gathers the princes, priests and Levites. The Levites are counted from thirty years upward at 38,000: 24,000 for the work of the house, 6,000 officers and judges, 4,000 porters and 4,000 who praise the Lord "with the instruments which I made, said David". He divides them into courses by Levi's three sons. The Gershonites are listed through Laadan and Shimei, with the note that Jeush and Beriah had few sons and so were reckoned as one house. Among the Kohathites, Aaron's separation is stated: he and his sons are set apart for ever to "sanctify the most holy things", burn incense, minister and bless. Moses' sons, Gershom and Eliezer, are "named of the tribe of Levi"; Eliezer had only Rehabiah, whose sons were very many. The sons of Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel and the Merarites follow; Eleazar the son of Mahli dies with daughters only, whom "their brethren the sons of Kish took". A second reckoning counts Levites from twenty years upward, and David's reason is given: the Lord has given rest, the people dwell in Jerusalem, and the Levites "shall no more carry the tabernacle". Their office is to wait on the sons of Aaron in the courts and chambers, purify holy things, handle shewbread, flour, cakes and pans, stand every morning and evening to thank and praise, offer the sabbath, new moon and feast sacrifices by number, and keep the charge of the tabernacle and holy place.

Cited passages: 1 Chronicles 23:1, 1 Chronicles 23:2, 1 Chronicles 23:3, 1 Chronicles 23:4, 1 Chronicles 23:5, 1 Chronicles 23:6, 1 Chronicles 23:11, 1 Chronicles 23:13, 1 Chronicles 23:14, 1 Chronicles 23:17, 1 Chronicles 23:22, 1 Chronicles 23:24, 1 Chronicles 23:25, 1 Chronicles 23:26, 1 Chronicles 23:28, 1 Chronicles 23:29, 1 Chronicles 23:30, 1 Chronicles 23:31, 1 Chronicles 23:32

1 Chronicles 23 (KJV)

1So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

2And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.

3Now 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.

4Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the Lord; and six thousand were officers and judges:

5Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the Lord with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.

6And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

7Of the Gershonites were, Laadan, and Shimei.

8The sons of Laadan; the chief was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.

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

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

11And 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.

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

13The 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.

14Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi.

15The sons of Moses were, Gershom, and Eliezer.

16Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief.

17And the sons of Eliezer were, Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had none other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.

18Of the sons of Izhar; Shelomith the chief.

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

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

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

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

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

24These 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.

25For David said, The Lord God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:

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

27For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above:

28Because 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;

29Both 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;

30And to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at even;

31And 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:

32And 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.

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Historical context

The chapter gives two minimum ages for Levite service, thirty years in the first count and twenty in the later one, and explains the change itself: by "the last words of David" the age was lowered because the Levites would no longer carry the tabernacle once the people had rest. Solomon is made king in the first verse, before the public assembly of chapters 28 and 29; the text does not describe the ceremony here. Aaron's house is set apart from the other Levites for the most holy things, incense and blessing, while Moses' sons are counted among the ordinary Levites. The instruments are attributed to David's own making in his own words. Eleazar's daughters marry within the family, their cousins the sons of Kish. The four categories, workers, officers and judges, porters and musicians, are numbered, but the duties at the chapter's end are described for the Levites together rather than category by category. No date is given for the count.

Cited passages: 1 Chronicles 23:3, 1 Chronicles 23:27, 1 Chronicles 23:26, 1 Chronicles 23:1, 1 Chronicles 23:13, 1 Chronicles 23:14, 1 Chronicles 23:5, 1 Chronicles 23:22, 1 Chronicles 23:4

Literary context

The chapter opens the book's last section, in which David organizes the temple's people before it is built. It moves from a total to its parts: one number, four functions, three families, then the houses within each family. The family lists resemble chapter 6, but here the interest is in courses and reckonings, so notes about too few sons or daughters without brothers explain how houses were grouped. Aaron's separation interrupts the Kohathite list, placing the priests inside the Levite family and yet apart. David's own voice enters twice, once about instruments and once to explain the new age, and his explanation turns on "rest": the carrying is over, so the standing begins. The final verses describe the Levites' work as a rhythm of times, every morning, at even, sabbaths, new moons, set feasts, which makes the chapter end in a schedule rather than a list of names.

Cited passages: 1 Chronicles 23:3, 1 Chronicles 23:6, 1 Chronicles 23:11, 1 Chronicles 23:13, 1 Chronicles 23:25, 1 Chronicles 23:30, 1 Chronicles 23:31

Key moments

  1. Solomon made king (1 Chronicles 23:1). David, old and full of days, makes Solomon king over Israel.
  2. Thirty-eight thousand Levites (1 Chronicles 23:3). The Levites from thirty upward are counted man by man.
  3. Four thousand musicians (1 Chronicles 23:5). David says four thousand praise the Lord with instruments he made.
  4. Aaron separated (1 Chronicles 23:13). Aaron and his sons are set apart for the most holy things for ever.
  5. Eleazar's daughters (1 Chronicles 23:22). Eleazar dies without sons and his daughters marry the sons of Kish.
  6. No more carrying (1 Chronicles 23:26). David says the Levites will no longer carry the tabernacle.
  7. Morning and evening praise (1 Chronicles 23:30). The Levites' office includes standing each morning and evening to thank the Lord.

For reflection

David lowers the age of service because the Levites will no longer carry anything; their work becomes standing to thank and praise morning and evening. What changes for a people whose task shifts from moving a sanctuary to keeping one?

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