1.
So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.
old and full of days. Compare Abraham (Genesis 25:8 ), and Isaac (Genesis 35:29 ). David horn in 990. Now in his seventieth year.
full of = satisfied with.
made Solomon his son king. During his lifetime. This was a common practice in those days; and these co-regnant kings explain many chronological problems.
2.
And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests 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.
thirty years. According to Numbers 4:3 , Numbers 4:23 , Numbers 4:35 , Numbers 4:47 , Changed to twenty-five years by Jehovah (Numbers 8:24 ); and, by David's "last words", to twenty years (1 Chronicles 23:27 ). Compare Ezra 3:8 .
man = strong man. Hebrew. geber. App-14 .
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:
set forward = oversee.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
5.
Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.
four thousand. . . . porters. In 1 Chronicles 2 6 we have the ninety-three chiefs. The 212 in 1 Chronicles 9:22 pertained to the Tabernacle, not to the Temple (1 Chronicles 9:21 ).
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.
courses: or classes. See note on 1 Chronicles 24:1 , &c.
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, Ishar, 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.
Amram. Compare Exodus 6:20 .
Aaron and Moses. See note on Exodus 6:20 .
14.
Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi.
the man of God. See Psalms 90 , title. App-49 .
God. Hebrew. Elohim. (with Art.) = the [true] God. App-4 .
15.
The sons of Moses were, Gershom, and Eliezer.
16.
Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief.
Shebuel. See note on Judges 18:30 . The Chaldee paraphrase asserts that this name "Shebuel" (which means "he returned to 'El, the true God") was given to Jonathan after he had returned to the fear of the Lord.
chief = head.
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.
first = head.
20.
Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah 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.
brethren: or kinsmen.
took: i.e. by lot.
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:
the = these.
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;
office = station.
in = over.
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;
Both = And. See note above.
meat offering = meal offering. Hebrew. minha. App-43 .
measure and size. The standards were committed to the Levites. Honesty in dealing is part of true religion. Compare Leviticus 19:36 . Deuteronomy 25:15 .Proverbs 11:1 ; Proverbs 16:11 ; Proverbs 20:23 .Micah 6:11 . If this be so in the secular sphere, how much more in sacred things.
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:
offer = offer up. Hebrew. 'alah. App-43 .
set feasts. Compare Numbers 28 and Numbers 29 .
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.
keep the charge. This is the idiom of the Pentateuch. Compare Genesis 26:5 .Numbers 18:3-5 .
tabernacle = tent.