1.
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 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.
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:
1 Chronicles 23:4. Were to set forward the work— Were to preside over the works. Houbigant.
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, 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.
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; 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.
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.
1 Chronicles 23:24. Twenty years and upward— In the 3rd verse it is thirty years and upward; but it appears that a different poll is there referred to: and from the 25th and 26th verses it seems to follow, that David made this second appointment of the Levites from twenty years of age, after he had made the former one mentioned in the 3rd verse.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, David, having declared Solomon his successor, convokes a solemn assembly to recognize his appointment, and prevent all competition when he should sleep with his fathers, as he shortly expected, being now grown aged and infirm; and this aggravated the crime of Adonijah and his adherents. At this assembly, David perfected the settlement of the Levites.
1. He numbered them. Thirty-eight thousand men, a vast increase since the time of Moses, Num 4:48 even if we suppose that those above fifty were now reckoned, who were then 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 to 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 singers, divided into choirs, and constantly in succession praising 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. Aaron's family appears with chief dignity, consecrated to God, to minister in the most holy things. God has a right to choose his own servants; and it were impious and perjured hypocrisy, for any man to take this honour to himself, who is not inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost, and called of God.
2nd, 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 ministration, from twenty years old and upwards (see Numbers 8:24.); 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 be plenteous, the Lord in mercy will raise up labourers. The particular business of the attendant Levites, who assisted 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 this 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 music. 3. The porters were to take care that nothing came into or was carried out of the temple, contrary to the law; and to execute the commands of their brethren the priests. Note; Let not those whom God has advanced to honour grow proud and imperious; but remember, that, though exalted above their brethren, they are still to treat them as brethren.
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.