1 Chronicles 23:3-32
Summary for 1Chr 23:3-5: 23:3-5 a The Levites are recorded according to their roles rather than their families.Summary for 1Chr 23:6-23: 23:6-23 b David divided the Levites into divisions according to their ancestral families. The number of available clerics far exceeded the requirements for a single Temple; the divisions provided a necessary time-sharing mechanism that enabled all the priests and Levites to serve in the Temple periodically (cp. Luke 1:5 c, 8 d).
Summary for 1Chr 23:24-27: 23:24-27 e In the census of 23:3 f, individuals were counted at age thirty, but the actual registration of the divisions included those twenty years old or older (cp. Num 1:3 g). The age of entry into Levitical service apparently varied over time according to need.
Summary for 1Chr 23:28-32: 23:28-32 h The work of the Levites was to assist the priests, which they accomplished in various ways: maintaining the Temple, setting out the sacred bread and other offerings, singing, and helping the priests with the sacrifices. These duties were allotted to different family divisions of Levites (23:4-6 i).
1 Chronicles 24
Summary for 1Chr 24:1-19: 24:1-19 j The information about the priests’ duties includes only their organization into orders and the assignment of their responsibilities by casting lots. The Chronicler does not explain their duties because they had long been solidly established (see Exod 28:1-5 k; Lev 1–7 l; Num 6:22-27 m).Summary for 1Chr 24:1-2: 24:1-2 n The organization of the priests into their divisions for service began with Aaron’s sons Eleazar and Ithamar; all of Israel’s priests were descended from these two men.
Summary for 1Chr 24:3-6: 24:3-6 o Zadok and Ahimelech were the leaders of the two families of priests during David’s time (see 6:8 p; 18:16 q; 2 Sam 8:17 r).
Summary for 1Chr 24:7-18: 24:7-18 s The twenty-four divisions established for the priests continued unchanged for many generations; the order of Abijah (24:10 t) is specifically mentioned in Luke 1:5 u, 8 v.
Summary for 1Chr 24:20-31: 24:20-31 w The other family leaders might refer to all those members of the tribe who were not priests yet who had already been documented (see 23:6-23 x), or it might refer to Levites not mentioned before. However, most of the families were already included in the previous list. Therefore, this list appears to be an independent, supplementary list that complements the previous register of Levites, perhaps bringing the earlier list up to date at a later time.
24:31 y The Levites were organized according to the same principles as the priests (24:5-6 z).
1 Chronicles 25
Summary for 1Chr 25:1-7: 25:1-7 aa The musicians who served at the time of King David are listed according to their membership in the families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun. 25:1 ab Asaph: See 6:39-40 ac; 15:17-19 ad; 16:5 ae; 2 Chr 29:30 af; Ezra 2:40-41 ag; Pss 50 ah; 73 ai–-83.• Heman: See 1 Chr 6:33-38 aj; Ps 88 ak.
• Jeduthun: See 1 Chr 16:41-42 al; 2 Chr 5:12 am; 35:15 an; Pss 39 ao, 62 ap, 77 aq.
Summary for 1Chr 25:2-3: 25:2-3 ar Asaph and Jeduthun ... proclaimed God’s messages, meaning they were prophets as well as musicians.
25:8 as As with the priests, the order of the musicians by families was decided by sacred lots so that no preference would be shown (see 24:5 at, 31 au).
1 Chronicles 26
26:1 av The first ancestor of the gatekeepers was Meshelemiah (called “Shallum” in Ezra 2:42 aw; “Meshullam” in Neh 12:25 ax).26:5 ay God had richly blessed Obed-edom, who temporarily housed the Ark (13:13-14 az), by giving him many descendants (26:8 ba).
Summary for 1Chr 26:20-32: 26:20-32 bb In preparation for Solomon’s succession to the throne, David appointed these officials as part of his comprehensive organization of the Levitical orders at the end of his reign. The officers included treasurers, administrators, and judges who were part of the political bureaucracy.
Summary for 1Chr 26:21-28: 26:21-28 bc The Levites were in charge of the Lord’s treasuries and property (see 2 Chr 24:11 bd; 31:12 be). Some spoils of war were always dedicated to God (1 Chr 26:26-28 bf).
26:31 bg Jazer was a Levitical city (Josh 21:39 bh) that became an administrative center during the monarchy. David and his descendants could depend on the loyalty of the Levites from Hebron (1 Sam 30:27-31 bi; 2 Sam 2:1-11 bj).
1 Chronicles 27:1-24
Summary for 1Chr 27:1-15: 27:1-15 bk David’s reserve army was organized into twelve divisions, each serving on active duty one month each year. Their duties probably included protecting the borders, policing, keeping order in conquered territories, manning fortresses, and tending military equipment (horses and chariots). The divisions were not related to Israel’s tribal structure; each division contained individuals from various tribes, indicating the integration of the kingdom.Summary for 1Chr 27:16-22: 27:16-22 bl The order of the tribes roughly follows Num 1:5-15 bm: the six sons of Leah, the two sons of Rachel (the “tribe” of Joseph=Ephraim and Manasseh, followed by Benjamin), followed by the two sons of Bilhah (Dan and Naphtali). Changes from the order of that list are that Naphtali is transferred to his geographical location next to Zebulun, and the tribe of Levi is inserted at the position of Levi’s birth order, with the family of Aaron (the priests) listed separately. Absent from this list are the two sons of Zilpah (Gad and Asher).
27:18 bn The name Elihu might refer to Eliab (2:13 bo), or he might have been a different brother of David.
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