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1 Chronicles Chapter 23

Old Testament Historical 32 Verses

What is 1 Chronicles 23 about?

A priestly perspective on David's reign, his gathering of Temple materials, and preparations for Solomon's building project. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1Now David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his son king over Israel.
2And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.
3And the Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand.
4Of these, twenty and four thousand were to oversee the work of the house of Jehovah; and six thousand were officers and judges;
5and four thousand were doorkeepers; and four thousand praised Jehovah with the instruments which I made, [said David], to praise therewith.
6And David divided them into courses according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
7Of the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.
8The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, and Zetham, and Joel, three.
9The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers` [houses] of Ladan.
10And the sons of Shimei: 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 became a fathers` house in one reckoning.
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 Jehovah, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, for ever.
14But as for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.
15The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.
16The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief.
17And the sons of Eliezer were: Rehabiah the chief; and Eliezer had no other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.
18The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief.
19The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
20The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief, and Isshiah 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 only: and their brethren the sons of Kish took them [to wife].
23The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.
24These were the sons of Levi after their fathers` houses, even the heads of the fathers` [houses] of those of them that were counted, in the number of names by their polls, who did the work for the service of the house of Jehovah, from twenty years old and upward.
25For David said, Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath given rest unto his people; and he dwelleth in Jerusalem for ever:
26and also the Levites shall no more have need to carry the tabernacle and all the vessels of it for the service thereof.
27For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered, from twenty years old and upward.
28For their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of Jehovah, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, even the work of the service of the house of God;
29for the showbread also, and for the fine flour for a meal-offering, whether of unleavened wafers, or of that which is baked in the pan, or of that which is soaked, and for all manner of measure and size;
30and to stand every morning to thank and praise Jehovah, and likewise at even;
31and to offer all burnt-offerings unto Jehovah, on the sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, in number according to the ordinance concerning them, continually before Jehovah;
32and that they should keep the charge of the tent of meeting, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, for the service of the house of Jehovah.
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“So when David was old and full of days, etc.] Perhaps was now in the last year of his age, about seventy years old, though before he was bedridden; (see <132802>1 Chronicles 28:2), he made Solomon his son king over Israel; declared him to be his successor; this was before the affair of Adonijah, for then he ordered him to be anointed king, and placed on the throne; and this aggravated the rebellion of Adonijah, that it was against the declared and known will of his father.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“DAVID MAKES SOLOMON KING. (Ch1 23:1) when David was old . . . he made Solomon . . . king--This brief statement, which comprises the substance of 1Ki. 1:32-48, is made here solely to introduce an account of the preparations carried on by David during the latter years of his life for providing a national place of worship.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“See the marginal references and notes. 1 Chronicles 23:28-32 give the most complete account in Scripture of the nature of the Levitical office. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 2
“Gathered, &c. - To declare God's mind and his own will, that Solomon should be his successor: and to acquaint them with those directions which he had received from God by the spirit. 1 Chronicles 23:3”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“23:1-2 When David . . . appointed his son Solomon as Israel’s king (cp. 1 Kgs 1), David outlined the organizational structure of the kingdom and made all the necessary provisions for the Temple’s functioning. • The account of Solomon’s coronation continues in 1 Chr 28–29; the intervening chapters (23:3–27:24) record in detail the organization of the kingdom.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“am 2989, bc 1015, An, Ex, Is, 476 old: Ch1 29:28; Gen 25:8, Gen 35:29; Kg1 1:1; Job 5:26 he made: Ch1 28:5, Ch1 29:22-25; Kg1 1:33-39 1 Chronicles 23:2”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“Number, duties, and fathers'-houses of the Levites. - This clear account of the state and the order of service of the tribe of Levi is introduced by the words, Ch1 23:1, "David was old, and life weary; then he made his son Solomon king over Israel." זקן, generally an adjective, is here third pers. perf. of the verb, as in Gen 18:12, as שׂבע also is, to which ימים is subordinated in the accusative. Generally elsewhere ימים שׂבע is used, cf. Gen 35:29; Job 42:17, and also שׂבע alone, with the same signification, Gen 25:8. These words are indeed, as Berth. correctly remarks, not a mere passing remark which is taken…”
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