Bible Commentaries

1 Chronicles 23:1 So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

Ver. 1. So when David was old.] Tacitis senescimus annis. Old age stealeth upon us; let us pack up our bundles, and prepare for our long home,

And full of days.] Satur dierum. He had seen enough of this world, and had a satiety of life. He could better say than old Cato did, If I might become as young as ever I was, I would not accept of it.

He made Solomon his son king.] This he had done before he was bedridden. [1 Chronicles 28:2; 1 Chronicles 29:12]

1 Chronicles 23:2 And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.

Ver. 2. With the priests and the Levites.] These were most of all concerned in the following charge: but the princes and people were to be informed of it. And albeit this and the three following chapters may seem to be of little use unto us, yet we are to hold that "every word of God is pure"; and "all Scripture is profitable to instruct." Here we may learn that there should still be a supply of faithful ministers; and these to be ordered by the supreme authority of the land; that there are different offices of ministers; that order is to be observed in the Church; that each one is to do his own work with utmost diligence, &c.

1 Chronicles 23:3 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.

Ver. 3. Now the Levites were numbered.] Not as the people had been, [1 Chronicles 21:5-6] out of curiosity and vainglory: but on piety and prudence, and by a divine instinct.

1 Chronicles 23:4 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:

Ver. 4. Of which, twenty and four thousand were, &c.] That is, They performed their different offices in their various courses, Hinc sequitur, Hence it followeth, saith an expositor, that each priest and Levite ministered in the temple not much oftener than twice a year; for there were of them twenty-four classes, each whereof served a week together, and no more. Gospel ministers have a far harder task.

1 Chronicles 23:5 Moreover four thousand [were] porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, [said David], to praise [therewith].

Ver. 5. Moreover four thousand were porters.] Quos barbare vocant Sacristas.

And four thousand praised the Lord.] Whereof some were teachers, [1 Chronicles 25:7] and some scholars.

Which I made,] i.e., Invented, [Amos 6:6] and appointed to be used in the temple by God’s commandment. [1 Chronicles 29:1-30 1 Chronicles 25:1-31]

1 Chronicles 23:6 And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, [namely], Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Ver. 6. And David divided them into courses.] Into certain ranks and distinct functions, according to the commandment of God by Gad and Nathan. [2 Chronicles 29:25] David, at the beginning of his reign, had distinguished the priests and Levites into certain ranks and orders, [1 Chronicles 16:4] but now that their number was greatly increased, and they were to serve in the temple that was shortly after to be erected, he ordered all things better, and with greater diligence.

1 Chronicles 23:13 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.

Ver. 13. And Aaron was separated.] (Exodus 28:1-43, Hebrews 5:4). So was Paul, [Romans 1:1] and so is every faithful minister "separated unto the gospel of God" (ib.). See Galatians 1:15.

And to bless in his name.] See Numbers 6:23. To pronounce God’s blessing upon his people, is no small part of a minister’s duty: to blame, surely, are they that slight it.

1 Chronicles 23:14 Now [concerning] Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi.

Ver. 14. Now concerning Moses the man of God.] Who was so familiar with God, and his ambassador to the people. We must think and speak honourably of the saints departed.

His sons were named of the tribe of Levi.] Chief of the Levites, [1 Chronicles 26:23] but below the sons of Aaron, the priests. And here A Lapide hath this good note, Mira fuit Moysis resignatio et humilitas, &c. Wonderful was the self-denial and humility of Moses in submitting to God’s appointment herein, that the principality should be transferred to Joshua, and that his sons should be reckoned not priests, but Levites only, though himself were "king in Jeshurun."

1 Chronicles 23:24 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.

Ver. 24. From the age of twenty years and upward.] The reason whereof followeth: [1 Chronicles 23:25] the people were increased and in peace; and consequently God’s service much increased in the labour of it.

1 Chronicles 23:29 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;

Ver. 29. And for all manner of measure.] Sacred howsoever; whether civil or not, is uncertain. Some say the Levites kept the standards in the temple, that if the common weights and measures were by any means corrupted, they might thereby be rectified.