1 Chronicles 23:14

Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(14) Now concerning Moses the man of God.—Rather, Now Moses, the man of God.

His sons were named (or should be named) of the tribe of Levi.—See Genesis 48:6 for the phrase “to be called after” (niqrâ’ ‘al). Aaron’s sons were priests; but the sons of Moses, his brother, were reckoned as simple Levites, and therefore their houses are here enumerated (1Chronicles 23:15-17).

The man of God.—See Deuteronomy 33:1; Psalms 90; Joshua 14:6. David is so called (2Chronicles 8:14; Nehemiah 12:24). The meaning of the title is one charged with a Divine mission. Hence the prophets were so called in the times of the kings; and St. Paul applies the title to Timothy (1Timothy 6:11).

Benson Commentary

1 Chronicles 23:14. His sons were named of the tribe of Levi — They were accounted only as common Levites, and were not priests: which is mentioned for the honour of Moses, and the demonstration of his eminent piety and self-denial, who willingly left the government to Joshua, and the priesthood to Aaron, and was content to have his posterity reduced to a private and mean condition.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

23:1-23 David, having given charge concerning the building of the temple, settles the method of the temple service, and orders the officers of it. When those of the same family were employed together, it would engage them to love and assist one another.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

14. concerning Moses—His sons were ranked with the Levites generally, but not introduced into the distinctive portion of the descendants of Levi, who were appointed to the special functions of the priesthood.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

i.e. They were accounted only as common Levites, and were not priests; which is mentioned partly to secure the priesthood within the bounds to which God had confined it, lest they should presume to invade it upon a confidence in the nobleness of their extraction; and partly for the honour of Moses, and the demonstration of his eminent piety and self-denial, who willingly left the government to Joshua, and the priesthood to Aaron, and was content to have his posterity reduced to a very private and mean condition.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Now concerning Moses the man of God,.... Raised up by him as a prophet, admitted to great familiarity with him, a lawgiver from him, and the ruler and guide of Israel under him through the wilderness:

his sons were named of the tribe of Levi; were only common Levites; Moses had no ambition to gratify; he sought no honour for his posterity; the civil government was left to Joshua, and the priesthood to Aaron.

Geneva Study Bible

Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the {b} tribe of Levi.

(b) They were but of the order of the Levites and not of the priests as Aaron's sons.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

14. Now concerning Moses] R.V. But as for Moses.

of the tribe of Levi] R.V. among the tribe of Levi. The descendants of Moses as distinguished from those of Aaron had the standing, not of priests but of Levites.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 14. - Moses the man of God. This title is distinguished by the presence of the article. The 'Speaker's Commentary' mentions it as occurring only nine times, of which five instances belong to Moses (Deuteronomy 33:1; Joshua 14:6; 2 Chronicles 30:16; Ezra 3:2; with the present place); three instances show the title applied to David (2 Chronicles 8:14; Nehemiah 12:24, 36); and once it is applied to Shemaiah (1 Kings 12:22). Although the sons of Moses belonged, as is here said, to the tribe of Levi, they did not belong to that portion which discharged priestly duties. 1 Chronicles 23:14

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

"But as to Moses the man of God" (cf. Deuteronomy 33:1), "his sons were called after the tribe of Levi," i.e., were reckoned in the ranks of the Levites, not of the priests. On על נקרא, cf. Genesis 48:6; Ezra 2:61; Nehemiah 7:63.