UNROLL
Morning on the ridge of a small hill town, seen across a valley: far below the cedar palace, a great assembly of leaders in dyed cloaks, priests in white linen and many Levites in plain linen stands in long ranks, with a plain dark tent in a small walled court on the ridge, under a calm, pale morning sky.

The Book of

1 Chronicles 23

David is old. Before he dies, he gives every Levite a place in the worship of a house he will never see.

32 verses≈ 5 min4 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–9GenealogiesAll Israel, from Adam
  2. 10Saul fallsThe kingdom turned to David
  3. 11–12David kingAll Israel gathers
  4. 13–16The arkBrought home with songs
  5. 17The covenantA house forever
  6. 18–20David's warsThe LORD gave victory
  7. 21The siteOrnan's threshing floor
  8. 22–27Preparing the templePriests, Levites and singersChapter 23
  9. 28–29David's farewellBe strong, and do the work

The Divisions of the Levites

Late morning in the court of a cedar palace: the old white-bearded King David stands upright with his staff and lifts his open hand toward young Solomon, robed in blue-purple with a narrow gold circlet, presenting him to leaders, priests and Levites gathered in the court below.

When David was old and full of years, he installed his son Solomon as king over Israel. Then he gathered all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and Levites.

0:10

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

David’s count

Thirty-eight thousand Levites

  1. 38,000

    Levites thirty and older

    The Levites thirty years of age or older were counted, and the total number of men was 38,000.

  2. 24,000 · 6,000

    Over the work; officers and judges

    “Of these,” said David, “24,000 are to oversee the work of the house of the LORD, 6,000 are to be officers and judges,

  3. 4,000 · 4,000

    Gatekeepers and musicians

    4,000 are to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 are to praise the LORD with the instruments I have made for giving praise.”

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Then David divided the Levites into divisions according to the sons of Levi:

Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Worship ordered

assistDavid’s orderfor the house of theLORDAaron’ssons24 divisions ·ch. 24Over thework24,000 · ch. 23Musicians4,000 · 288trained · ch.25Gatekeepers4,000 · ch. 26Officers andjudges6,000 · ch. 26

Whiteboard

Before the house was built, David gave every family of Levi its place: the priests at the altar, Levites to help them, singers, gatekeepers, and officers in the land. The next four chapters fill in the names.

The Gershonites

Men in plain tunics lift heavy folded curtains and rolled red-dyed ram skins onto their shoulders beside the empty, flattened ground where the tent stood; the court's posts already lie on the sand.

Family line

The Gershonites

  1. Gershonites
    • Ladan
    • Shimei

    The Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.

  2. Ladan
    • Jehiel
    • Zetham
    • Joel

    The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the first, Zetham, and Joel—three in all.

  3. Shimei
    • Shelomoth
    • Haziel
    • Haran

    The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran—three in all.

  4. Heads of Ladan’s families

    These were the heads of the families of Ladan.

  5. Shimei
    • Jahath
    • Zina
    • Jeush
    • Beriah

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

  6. counted as one family

    Jahath was the first and Zizah was the second; but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they were counted as one family and received a single assignment.

Reflect

Counted as one

Jeush and Beriah “did not have many sons, so they were counted as one family and received a single assignment.” No family was too small to be given a place in God’s house. Where have you thought you were too few or too small to serve? Who could you join with?

The Kohathites

Inside the dim tent, a low box-shaped form lies wholly under a solid blue cloth over gray leather, gold-covered poles through rings at its foot; two priests in white linen stand at the edge of the frame, seen from behind.

Family line

Kohath: Aaron and Moses

  1. Kohath
    • Amram
    • Izhar
    • Hebron
    • Uzziel

    The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel—four in all.

  2. Amram
    • Aaron
    • Moses

    The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses.

  3. The priests

    set apart forever

    Aaron and his descendants were set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister before Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name forever.

Early evening on the high place at Gibeon: a gray-bearded priest in white linen stands on the earth ramp of a great bronze-covered altar with both hands lifted, palms out, blessing a few families in plain wool whose heads are bowed, the tabernacle's white linen court behind.

As for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.

Family line

Moses’ sons and Kohath’s clans

    • Gershom
    • Eliezer

    The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.

  2. Gershom

    The descendants of Gershom: Shebuel was the first.

  3. Eliezer

    very numerous

    The descendants of Eliezer: Rehabiah was the first. Eliezer did not have any other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous.

  4. Izhar

    The sons of Izhar: Shelomith was the first.

  5. Hebron
    • Jeriah
    • Amariah
    • Jahaziel
    • Jekameam

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

  6. Uzziel
    • Micah
    • Isshiah

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

Question

Quick question

Amram had two sons, Aaron and Moses. One line became the priests.

Moses was Israel’s great prophet. Where were his sons counted?

The Merarites

Four covered carts drawn by eight oxen stand loaded with stacked gold-covered acacia frames, crossbars, posts and silver bases, as Levites lash them with ropes.

Family line

The Merarites

  1. Merari
    • Mahli
    • Mushi

    The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi.

  2. Mahli
    • Eleazar
    • Kish

    The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.

  3. Eleazar

    and he died

    only daughters

    Eleazar died without having any sons; he had only daughters.

  4. Cousins married them

    Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them.

  5. Mushi
    • Mahli
    • Eder
    • Jeremoth

    The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth—three in all.

Levite Duties Revised

These were the descendants of Levi by their families—the heads of families, registered individually by name—those twenty years of age or older who worked in the service of the house of the LORD.

Evening on the ridge of a small hill town: a Levite in plain linen draws closed the wooden gate of a low-walled court around a plain dark tent, while lamplight glows in the houses below and cooking smoke rises straight up in the still air.

For David had said, “The LORD, the God of Israel, has given rest to His people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem forever. So now the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles for its service.”

They were also to stand every morning to give thanks and praise to the LORD, and likewise in the evening.

1 Chronicles 23:30

Whenever burnt offerings were presented to the LORD on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts, they were to serve regularly before the LORD in the numbers prescribed for them. So the Levites were to carry out the responsibilities for the Tent of Meeting and the Holy Place, and, under their brothers the descendants of Aaron, the service of the house of the LORD.

Pray

Every morning, every evening

Lord God of Israel, You came to dwell among Your people and gave them rest. Thank You that every family of Levi had a place in Your worship, and that You have a place for me. Give me a heart that stands to thank and praise You every morning, and likewise in the evening. Bless those who serve quietly behind the scenes in my church, setting out, cleaning, baking and keeping things in order. Let all of it be done for You. Amen.

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1 Chronicles 23

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A verse to carry with you

They were also to stand every morning to give thanks and praise to the LORD, and likewise in the evening.

1 Chronicles 23:30

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