1Ch 23:1 | KingComments | STEP | In the last months of his life David prepares everything for the house of God and the service therein: 1. Materials for the temple in 1 Chronicles 22. 2. Levites for the temple in 1 Chronicles 23. 3. Priests for the temple in 1 Chronicles 24. 4. Singers for the temple in 1 Chronicles 25. 5. Gatekeepers and treasurers for the temple in 1 Chronicles 26. 6. Officials in his realm in 1 Chronicles 27. 7. Plans for the building of the temple in 1 Chronicles 28. 8. Final preparations for the temple in 1 Chronicles 29. David starts to completely reorganize the service of the priests and the Levites. But first he makes Solomon king in his place. He knows that his task is over (cf. ; ). It is good that, when our task is over, we are handing over our service to young people who are ready for it. We see this for example with Paul and Timothy, with Moses and Joshua, with Elijah and Elisha. We do this not by some official transfer, but by encouraging a young believer to a certain task and giving our help. The description of the transfer of the throne by David to Solomon is here different from in the first book of the Kings. In the first book of the Kings, Solomon becomes king in reaction to those who assumed the right to the throne and David must be persuaded to make Solomon king ( ). We don’t see anything of that here. Here David makes Solomon king according to his sovereign will, according to God’s counsel.

‏ 1 Chronicles 23:1

Introduction

In the last months of his life David prepares everything for the house of God and the service therein:

1. Materials for the temple in 1 Chronicles 22.

2. Levites for the temple in 1 Chronicles 23.

3. Priests for the temple in 1 Chronicles 24.

4. Singers for the temple in 1 Chronicles 25.

5. Gatekeepers and treasurers for the temple in 1 Chronicles 26.

6. Officials in his realm in 1 Chronicles 27.

7. Plans for the building of the temple in 1 Chronicles 28.

8. Final preparations for the temple in 1 Chronicles 29.

David Makes Solomon King

David starts to completely reorganize the service of the priests and the Levites. But first he makes Solomon king in his place. He knows that his task is over (cf. 2Tim 4:6; Gen 50:24). It is good that, when our task is over, we are handing over our service to young people who are ready for it. We see this for example with Paul and Timothy, with Moses and Joshua, with Elijah and Elisha. We do this not by some official transfer, but by encouraging a young believer to a certain task and giving our help.

The description of the transfer of the throne by David to Solomon is here different from in the first book of the Kings. In the first book of the Kings, Solomon becomes king in reaction to those who assumed the right to the throne and David must be persuaded to make Solomon king (1Kgs 1:5-40). We don’t see anything of that here. Here David makes Solomon king according to his sovereign will, according to God’s counsel.