2–23. Organisation of the Levites (first account)

Two accounts are given of David’s organisation of the Levites. According to the first the Levites were admitted to service at thirty years of age; 1 Chronicles 23:3; cp. Numbers 4:3; Numbers 4:23; Numbers 4:30, where the period from thirty to fifty is fixed as the period for service. According to the second account (Numbers 4:24; Numbers 4:47) the Levites were taken from twenty years old and upwards; this was apparently the later custom; cp. 2 Chronicles 31:17; Ezra 3:8. The discrepancy probably arises from an actual variation in practice. The original age of admission for Levites was probably thirty, but owing to the scarcity of their numbers it seems to have been necessary to reduce the limit of age to twenty. On the Levites see Ryle (Ezra and Nehemiah p. liii. ff.). See also on 1 Chronicles 23:27.

3. by their polls] Lit. by their skulls. “Poll” is an almost obsolete word for “head,” retained in the compound word, “poll-tax.”

thirty and eight thousand] A great increase since the time of Moses; the males from a month old and upwards are reckoned at 22,000 in Numbers 3:39 and at 23,000 in Numbers 26:62.

4. twenty and four thousand] These were divided into courses (1 Chronicles 23:6), serving by turn, apparently twenty-four in number, consisting each of a thousand men. The priests also were divided into a corresponding number of courses (1 Chronicles 24:4; 1 Chronicles 24:18).

to set forward the work] R.V. to oversee the work. This phrase assumes that the work itself was done by others, e.g. by Nethinim (see 1 Chronicles 9:2, note). In 1 Chronicles 23:24 (cp. 1 Chronicles 23:28), however, the Levites are described as doing the work.

officers and judges] Cp. 2 Chronicles 19:8; 2 Chronicles 19:11. In Deuteronomy 17:9 (cp. ib. Deuteronomy 16:18) the harder causes are reserved for “the priests the Levites,” ordinary causes being decided by judges who were not Levites.

5. porters] R.V. doorkeepers. The courses and duties of these are given in 1 Chronicles 26:1-19.

four thousand praised the Lord] Cp. 1 Chronicles 25:1-31, from which it appears that there was also a picked choir consisting of 288 persons, divided into twenty-four courses, whose special duty was psalmody.

the instruments which I made] Cp. 2 Chronicles 29:26.

6. the sons of Levi] Cp. 1 Chronicles 6:1; 1 Chronicles 6:16.

7. Laadan and Shimei] For “Laadan” (R.V. Ladan) here and in 1 Chronicles 26:21 we have in 1 Chronicles 6:17 and Exodus 6:17 “Libni.”

9. The sons of Shimei] This Shimei in distinction from the Shimei of 1 Chronicles 23:7; 1 Chronicles 23:10 was probably a descendant of Ladan or a client of his house.

10. Zina] In 1 Chronicles 23:11 Zizah; the two words are readily confused in Hebrew writing.

11. they were in one reckoning, according to their father’s house] R.V. they became a fathers’ house in one reckoning.

12. The sons of Kohath] Cp. 1 Chronicles 6:2; 1 Chronicles 6:18; Exodus 6:18.

13 separated] i.e. set apart, sometimes with the additional meaning of making a distinction between sacred and common. Cp. Romans 1:1, where St Paul describes himself as separated unto the gospel of God; Acts 13:2; Galatians 1:15.

the most holy things] Such for instance as the altar of incense (Exodus 30:1-10), or again the shewbread (Leviticus 24:5-9).

to bless] Cp. Numbers 6:23-27.

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.

15. Gershom and Eliezer] Cp. Exodus 18:3-4.

16. Of the sons] R.V. The sons. Cp. 1 Chronicles 2:31, where the plural, The sons, is thrice followed by a single name only.

Shebuel] In 1 Chronicles 24:20 Shubael; so LXX. here.

17. Rehabiah] Cp. 1 Chronicles 24:21.

18. Shelomith] In 1 Chronicles 24:22, Shelomoth.

19. Of the sons of Hebron] R.V. The sons of Hebron. Cp. 1 Chronicles 24:23.

20. Of the sons of Uzziel] R.V. The sons of Uzziel. Cp. 1 Chronicles 24:24. Nine Kohathite families seem to be here reckoned.

21. The sons of Merari] Cp. 1 Chronicles 24:26.

The sons of Mahli] Cp. 1 Chronicles 24:28-29.

22. their brethren] Their kinsmen.

took them] R.V. took them to wife.

23. The sons of Mushi] Cp. 1 Chronicles 24:30.

24. after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names] R.V. after their fathers’ houses, even the heads of the fathers’ houses of those of them that were counted, in the number of names.

24–27. Organization of the Levites (second account)

Cp. note at the beginning of the last paragraph.

25. that they may dwell] R.V. and he dwelleth. More literally, and he hath taken up his abode, LXX. καὶ κατεσκήνωσεν.

26. unto the Levites; they shall no more carry] R.V. the Levites shall no more have need to carry.

27. by the last words of David, the Levites were numbered, from twenty etc.] Render, in the Last Acts of Davit is contained the number of the sons of Levi from twenty years old and upward.

28–32. Duties of the Levites

28. their office was to wait on] Literally, their station was at the hand of. For the phrase at the hand of cp. Psalm 123:2, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their master.

the chambers] Cp. 1 Chronicles 9:26, note.

29. for the shewbread] i.e. for the preparation of the shewbread.

meat offering] R.V. meal offering. Cp. Leviticus 2:1; Leviticus 2:4-5.

and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan] R.V. whether of unleavened wafers, or of that which is baked in the pan.

and for that which is fried] R.V. or of that which is soaked. Cp. Leviticus 6:21 [14, Heb.] (baken; R.V. soaked).

for all manner of measure and size] i.e. for measuring the component parts of the meal-offering, etc.

30. every morning … and likewise at even] Corresponding with the daily morning and evening sacrifice; cp. Exodus 29:38-39.

31. to offer] The Levites’ duty was to give any help short of actually offering the victim on the altar and sprinkling the blood. See 2 Chronicles 29:21-27; 2 Chronicles 30:16-17; 2 Chronicles 35:10-11.

the set feasts] i.e. the three yearly feasts; Exodus 23:14-17.

by number, according to the order commanded unto them] R.V, in number according to the ordinance concerning them. The words refer not to the Levites (A.V.), but to the sacrifices (R.V.).

32. the tabernacle of the congregation] R.V. the tent of meeting.

the charge of the holy place] The limits within which this charge was confined are given Numbers 4:15. Not all Levites, but only the sons of Kohath had this particular charge.

the charge of the sons of Aaron] Cp. Numbers 18:1-7.