the levites gershonites kohathites merarites 1 chronicles...

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The Levites

Gershonites

Kohathites

Merarites

1 Chronicles 23:1-32



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The Levites

Gershonites

Kohathites

Merarites

Text:

1 Chronicles 23:1-32,

1. When David was old and approaching the end of his life, he made

his son Solomon king over Israel.

2. David assembled all the leaders of Israel, along with the priests

and the Levites.

3. The Levites who were thirty years old and up were counted; there

were 38,000 men.

4. David said, “Of these, 24,000 are to direct the work of the Lord’s

temple; 6,000 are to be officials and judges;

5. 4,000 are to be gatekeepers; and 4,000 are to praise the Lord with

the instruments I supplied for worship.”

6. David divided them into groups corresponding to the sons of Levi:

Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

7. The Gershonites included Ladan and Shimei.

8. The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the oldest, Zetham, and Joel—three in

all.

9. The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran—three in all.

These were the leaders of the family of Ladan.

10. The sons of Shimei:Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. These were

Shimei’s sons—four in all.

11. Jahath was the oldest and Zizah the second oldest. Jeush and

Beriah did not have many sons, so they were considered one family

with one responsibility.



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12. The sons of Kohath:Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel—four in

all.

13. The sons of Amram: Aaron and his descendants were chosen on

a permanent basis to consecrate the most holy items, to offer

sacrifices before the Lord, to serve him, and to praise his name.

14. The descendants of Moses the man of God were considered

Levites.

15. The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.

16. The son of Gershom: Shebuel the oldest.

17. The son of Eliezer was Rehabiah, the oldest. Eliezer had no other

sons, but Rehabiah had many descendants.

18. The son of Izhar:Shelomith the oldest.

19. The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the oldest, Amariah the second,

Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.

20. The sons of Uzziel: Micah the oldest, and Isshiah the second.

21. The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli:

Eleazar and Kish.

22. Eleazar died without having sons; he had only daughters. The

sons of Kish, their cousins, married them.

23. The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth—three in all.

24. These were the descendants of Levi according to their families,

that is, the leaders of families as counted and individually listed who

carried out assigned tasks in the Lord’s temple and were twenty

years old and up.

25. For David said, “The Lord God of Israel has given his people

rest and has permanently settled in Jerusalem.

26. So the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of

the items used in its service.”

27. According to David’s final instructions, the Levites twenty years

old and up were counted.

28. Their job was to help Aaron’s descendants in the service of the

Lord’s temple. They were to take care of the courtyards, the rooms,

ceremonial purification of all holy items, and other jobs related to

the service of God’s temple.



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29. They also took care of the bread that is displayed, the flour for

offerings, the unleavened wafers, the round cakes, the mixing, and

all the measuring.

30. They also stood in a designated place every morning and offered

thanks and praise to the Lord. They also did this in the evening

31. and whenever burnt sacrifices were offered to the Lord on the

Sabbath and at new moon festivals and assemblies. A designated

number were to serve before the Lord regularly in accordance with

regulations.

32. They were in charge of the meeting tent and the holy place, and

helped their relatives, the descendants of Aaron, in the service of the

Lord’s temple. (NET)

Introduction:

I. Hicks observed that 1 Chronicles 23-27 present a collection of lists

which detail administrative personnel for the temple and state.

A. David made careful preparations so that there could be a

“smooth transference of power” and that Solomon could rule “in

peace and build the temple.” (Hicks)

B. The information given in 1 Chronicles 23-26 legitimizes the

reforms which were implemented during the reigns of:

1. Jehoiada

a. 2 Chronicles 23:18, 19, Jehoiada then assigned the

duties of the Lord’s temple to the priests, the Levites

whom David had assigned to the Lord’s temple.

They were responsible for offering burnt sacrifices

to the Lord with joy and music, according to the law

of Moses and the edict of David. He posted guards at

the gates of the Lord’s temple, so no one who was

ceremonially unclean in any way could enter. (NET)



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2. Hezekiah

a. 2 Chronicles 29:25, King Hezekiah stationed the

Levites in the Lord’s temple with cymbals and

stringed instruments, just as David, Gad the king’s

prophet, and Nathan the prophet had ordered. (The

Lord had actually given these orders through his

prophets.) (NET)

3. Josiah

a. 2 Chronicles 35:4, 15, Prepare yourselves by your

families according to your divisions, as instructed by

King David of Israel and his son Solomon. The

musicians, the descendants of Asaph, manned their

posts, as prescribed by David, Asaph, Heman, and

Jeduthun the king’s prophet. The guards at the

various gates did not need to leave their posts, for

their fellow Levites made preparations for them.

(NET)

C. Hicks concludes, “Consequently, 1 Chronicles 23-26 is an

‘indispensable part of Chronicles’ because ‘the unit functions to

authorize and legitimate national beginnings and reform efforts

whenever they arise.’”

D. Hicks also wrote that 1 Chronicles 22-29 should not be pressed

into a strict chronology.

E. Coffman wrote, “The gargantuan significance of this chapter

lies in the proof that during the life of David King of Israel, all of

the extensive instructions and details written in the Book of Moses

(The Pentateuch) were well known in Israel.”



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1. “There is hardly a line in this chapter that does not agree

specifically with instructions in the Pentateuch, “Coffman

further wrote.

2. “Furthermore,” Coffman wrote, “all these instructions

(except David’s use of instruments of music) were ancient,

dating back to the times of Moses. They were not invented

by David but honored by him.”

F. 1 Chronicles 23-26 related to the tribe of Levi and specify duties

assigned to it regarding temple worship. (Pulpit Commentary)

Commentary:

The Levites

1 Chronicles 23:1, When David was old and approaching the

end of his life, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.

(NET)

I. When David was old and full of years, he made his son Solomon

king over Israel. (NIV)

A. David, in his final years, shared his throne with Solomon

as co-regent. (Coffman)

1. Genesis 25:8, Then Abraham breathed his last

and died at a good old age, an old man who had

lived a full life. He joined his ancestors. (NET)

2. 1 Chronicles 28:5, From all the many sons the

Lord has given me, he chose Solomon my son to rule

on his behalf over Israel (NET)



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3. 1 Kings 1:11-53, Nathan said to Bathsheba,

Solomon’s mother, “Has it been reported to you that

Haggith’s son Adonijah has become king behind our

master David’s back? Now let me give you some

advice as to how you can save your life and your son

Solomon’s life. Visit King David and say to him, ‘My

master, O king, did you not solemnly promise your

servant, “Surely your son Solomon will be king after

me; he will sit on my throne”? So why has Adonijah

become king?’ While you are still there speaking to

the king, I will arrive and verify your report.” So

Bathsheba visited the king in his private quarters.

(The king was very old, and Abishag the

Shunammite was serving the king.) Bathsheba

bowed down on the floor before the king. The king

said, “What do you want?” She replied to him, “My

master, you swore an oath to your servant by the

Lord your God, ‘Solomon your son will be king

after me and he will sit on my throne.’ But now,

look, Adonijah has become king! But you, my

master the king, are not even aware of it! He has

sacrificed many cattle, steers, and sheep and has

invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest, and

Joab, the commander of the army, but he has not

invited your servant Solomon. Now, my master, O

king, all Israel is watching anxiously to see who is

named to succeed my master the king on the throne.

If a decision is not made, when my master the king

is buried with his ancestors, my son Solomon and I

will be considered state criminals.” Just then, while

she was still speaking to the king, Nathan the

prophet arrived. The king was told, “Nathan the

prophet is here.” Nathan entered and bowed before

the king with his face to the floor. Nathan said, “My

master, O king, did you announce, ‘Adonijah will be



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king after me; he will sit on my throne’? For today

he has gone down and sacrificed many cattle, steers,

and sheep and has invited all the king’s sons, the

army commanders, and Abiathar the priest. At this

moment they are having a feast in his presence, and

they have declared, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ But

he did not invite me—your servant—or Zadok the

priest, or Benaiah son of Jehoiada, or your servant

Solomon. Has my master the king authorized this

without informing your servants who should

succeed my master the king on his throne?” King

David responded, “Summon Bathsheba!” She came

and stood before the king. The king swore an oath:

“As certainly as the Lord lives (he who has rescued

me from every danger), I will keep today the oath I

swore to you by the Lord God of Israel: ‘Surely

Solomon your son will be king after me; he will sit in

my place on my throne.’” Bathsheba bowed down to

the king with her face to the floor and said, “May

my master, King David, live forever!” King David

said, “Summon Zadok the priest, Nathan the

prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” They came

before the king, and he told them, “Take your

master’s servants with you, put my son Solomon on

my mule, and lead him down to Gihon. There Zadok

the priest and Nathan the prophet will anoint him

king over Israel; then blow the trumpet and declare,

‘Long live King Solomon!’ Then follow him up as he

comes and sits on my throne. He will be king in my

place; I have decreed that he will be ruler over

Israel and Judah.” Benaiah son of Jehoiada

responded to the king: “So be it! May the Lord God

of my master the king confirm it! As the Lord is

with my master the king, so may he be with

Solomon, and may he make him an even greater



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king than my master King David!” So Zadok the

priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada,

the Kerethites, and the Pelethites went down, put

Solomon on King David’s mule, and led him to

Gihon. Zadok the priest took a horn filled with olive

oil from the tent and poured it on Solomon; the

trumpet was blown and all the people declared,

“Long live King Solomon!” All the people followed

him up, playing flutes and celebrating so loudly they

made the ground shake. Now Adonijah and all his

guests heard the commotion just as they had

finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the

trumpet, he asked, “Why is there such a noisy

commotion in the city?” As he was still speaking,

Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived.

Adonijah said, “Come in, for an important man like

you must be bringing good news.” Jonathan replied

to Adonijah: “No! Our master King David has made

Solomon king. The king sent with him Zadok the

priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada,

the Kerethites, and the Pelethites and they put him

on the king’s mule. Then Zadok the priest and

Nathan the prophet anointed him king in Gihon.

They went up from there rejoicing, and the city is in

an uproar. That is the sound you hear.

Furthermore, Solomon has assumed the royal

throne. The king’s servants have even come to

congratulate our master King David, saying, ‘May

your God make Solomon more famous than you and

make him an even greater king than you!’ Then the

king leaned on the bed and said this: ‘The Lord God

of Israel is worthy of praise because today he has

placed a successor on my throne and allowed me to

see it.’” All of Adonijah’s guests panicked; they

jumped up and rushed off their separate ways.



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Adonijah feared Solomon, so he got up and went

and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar. Solomon

was told, “Look, Adonijah fears you; see, he has

taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘May

King Solomon solemnly promise me today that he

will not kill his servant with the sword.’” Solomon

said, “If he is a loyal subject, not a hair of his head

will be harmed, but if he is found to be a traitor, he

will die.” King Solomon sent men to bring him down

from the altar. He came and bowed down to King

Solomon, and Solomon told him, “Go home.” (NET)

4. 2 Samuel 12:25, and sent word through Nathan

the prophet that he should be named Jedidiah for

the Lord’s sake. (NET)

1 Chronicles 23:2, David assembled all the leaders of Israel, along

with the priests and the Levites. (NET)

I. He also gathered together all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests

and Levites. (NIV)

A. Moses prescribed the tabernacle service while David here

prescribed the temple service.

B. Knowing the brevity of his remaining time on earth, David

assembled the leaders of Israel and gave them commands

regarding temple service.

1. 1 Chronicles 22:17, David ordered all the officials of

Israel to support his son Solomon. (NET)

2. 1 Chronicles 24:6, The scribe Shemaiah son of

Nethanel, a Levite, wrote down their names before the

king, the officials, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of



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Abiathar, and the leaders of the priestly and Levite

families. One family was drawn by lot from Eleazar, and

then the next from Ithamar. (NET)

3. 1 Chronicles 25:1, David and the army officers selected

some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to

prophesy as they played stringed instruments and

cymbals. The following men were assigned this

responsibility: (NET)

1 Chronicles 23:3, The Levites who were thirty years old and up

were counted; there were 38,000 men. (NET)

I. The Levites thirty years old or more were counted, and the total

number of men was thirty-eight thousand.

A. David’s census here conformed to the Mosaic model.

(Coffman)

1. Numbers 4:3, 21-23, 35, 39, from thirty years old and

upward to fifty years old, all who enter the company to do

the work in the tent of meeting. Then the Lord spoke to

Moses: “Also take a census of the Gershonites, by their

clans and by their families. You must number them from

thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, all who

enter the company to do the work of the tent of meeting.

from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old,

everyone who entered the company for the work in the

tent of meeting; from thirty years old and upward to fifty

years old, everyone who entered the company for the

work in the tent of meeting— (NET)



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2. No age limit was specified by David, Clarke thought,

because the work may have been less strenuous in the temple

enabling Levites to work longer.

3. Variations in age were stated in other verses in this

chapter.

a. 1 Chronicles 23:24, 27, These were the descen-

dants of Levi according to their families, that is, the

leaders of families as counted and individually listed

who carried out assigned tasks in the Lord’s temple

and were twenty years old and up. For David said,

“The Lord God of Israel has given his people rest

and has permanently settled in Jerusalem. So the

Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or

any of the items used in its service.” According to

David’s final instructions, the Levites twenty years

old and up were counted. (NET)

B. The leaders of Israel responded forthwith to David’s directions.

1 Chronicles 23:4, David said, “Of these, 24,000 are to direct the

work of the Lord’s temple; 6,000 are to be officials and judges;

(NET)

I. David said, “Of these, twenty-four thousand are to supervise the work

of the temple of the Lord and six thousand are to be officials and

judges.”

A. Twenty-four thousand were to supervise the work of the temple.

B. Six thousand were to serve as officials and judges.



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1 Chronicles 23:5, 4,000 are to be gatekeepers; and 4,000 are to

praise the Lord with the instruments I supplied for worship.”

(NET)

I. “Four thousand are to be (porters, doorkeepers) gatekeepers and four

thousand are to praise the Lord with the musical instruments I have

provided for that purpose.”

A. Four thousand were to serve as gatekeepers.

1. “It was the duty of these to keep the entrances of the

sanctuary, by day and night, in their courses.” (Pulpit

Commentary)

B. Four thousand were to serve, praise the Lord with musical

instruments.

C. David’s adding musical instruments to the temple worship was

questioned by Amos.

1. Amos 5:23, Take away from me your noisy songs; I

don’t want to hear the music of your stringed

instruments. (NET)

2. Amos 6:5, They sing to the tune of stringed

instruments; like David they invent musical instruments.

(NET)

3. Amos also questioned the people’s attitude in their

worship and life as well.

4. Clarke wrote, “As to the instruments of music which he

(David) made, they are condemned elsewhere.”



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1 Chronicles 23:6, David divided them into groups corresponding to

the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. (NET)

I. David divided the Levites into groups corresponding to the sons of

Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

A. “David organized the Levites into three groups following the

pattern of Levi’s three sons: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.”

(Hicks)

B. Solomon scrupulously observed these instructions as given by

David. (Pulpit Commentary)

1. 2 Chronicles 8:14, As his father David had decreed,

Solomon appointed the divisions of the priests to do their

assigned tasks, the Levitical orders to lead worship and

help the priests with their daily tasks, and the divisions of

the gatekeepers to serve at their assigned gates. This was

what David the man of God had ordered. (NET)

2. 2 Chronicles 29: 25, 26, King Hezekiah stationed the

Levites in the Lord’s temple with cymbals and stringed

instruments, just as David, Gad the king’s prophet, and

Nathan the prophet had ordered. (The Lord had actually

given these orders through his prophets.) The Levites had

David’s musical instruments and the priests had

trumpets. (NET)

Gershonites

1 Chronicles 23:7, The Gershonites included Ladan and Shimei.

(NET)

I. Belonging to the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.



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A. Ladan (Laadan) is also spelled Libni.

1. 1 Chronicles 23:7, The Gershonites included Ladan

and Shimei. (NET)

2. 1 Chronicles 6:17, These are the names of the sons

Gershom: Libni and Shimei. (NET)

1 Chronicles 23:8, The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the oldest, Zetham, and

Joel—three in all. (NET)

I. The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the first, Zetham and Joel – three in all.

A. Zetham and Joel appear to have been Ladan’s grandsons.

(Pulpit Commentary)

1. 1 Chronicles 26:22, and the sons of Jehieli, Zetham and

his brother Joel. They were in charge of the storehouses

in the Lord’s temple. (NET)

1 Chronicles 23:9, The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and

Haran—three in all. These were the leaders of the family of Ladan.

I. The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel and Haran – three in all.

A. This Shimei: appears to be a descendant of Ladan rather than

descendants of Ladan’s brother, Shimei. (See Pulpit Commentary)

1. This is supported by verse 10 which states, “These were

the heads of the families of Ladan.”

II. These were the heads of the families of Ladan.

1 Chronicles 23:10, The sons of Shimei:Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and

Beriah. These were Shimei’s sons—four in all. (NET)



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I. And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Ziza (Zina), Jeush and Beriah.

II. These were the sons of Shimei – four in all.

1 Chronicles 23:11, Jahath was the oldest and Zizah the second

oldest. Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they were

considered one family with one responsibility. (NET)

I. Jahath was the first and Ziza the second, but Jeush and Beriah did not

have many sons; so they were counted as one family with one

assignment.

Kohathites

1 Chronicles 23:12, The sons of Kohath:Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and

Uzziel—four in all.

I. The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel – four in all.

1 Chronicles 23:13, The sons of Amram: Aaron and his descendants

were chosen on a permanent basis to consecrate the most holy items,

to offer sacrifices before the Lord, to serve him, and to praise his

name. (NET)

I. The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses.

A. Exodus 6:20, Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed,

and she bore him Aaron and Moses. (The length of Amram’s

life was 137 years.) (NET)

II. Aaron was set apart, he and his descendants forever, to consecrate the

most holy things, to offer sacrifices before the Lord, to minister before

him and to pronounce blessings in his name forever.



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A. Aaron and his descendants were set apart from other Levites to

be priests.

1. Only descendants of Aaron could be priests while other

Levites were to be their assistants.

B. Priestly duties as here stated were to:

1. consecrate the most holy things, . . .

2. offer sacrifices before the Lord, . . .

3. to minister before God, and . . .

4. to pronounce blessings in his name forever, to bless the

people by invoking the name of the Lord. (Clarke)

1 Chronicles 23:14, The descendants of Moses the man of God were

considered Levites. (NET)

I. The sons of Moses the man of God were counted as part of the tribe of

Levi.

A. Clarke observed that the Targum translated “Moses the man of

God” as “Moses the prophet of God.”

B. The designation “Man of God,” is used in the Old Testament

only nine times.

1. Five times it applies to Moses, three times to David and

one time to Shemaiah.

a. Joshua 14:6, The men of Judah approached

Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the

Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord



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said about you and me to Moses, the man of God, at

Kadesh Barnea. (NET)

b. Nehemiah 12:24, And the leaders of the Levites

were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel,

and their colleagues, who stood opposite them to

offer praise and thanks, one contingent

corresponding to the other, as specified by David the

man of God. (NET)

c. 1 Kings 12:22, But God told Shemaiah the

prophet, (NET)

1 Chronicles 23:15, The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.

(NET)

I. The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.

A. Exodus 2:22, When she bore a son, Moses named him

Gershom, for he said, “I have become a resident foreigner in a

foreign land.” (NET)

B. Exodus 18:4, and the other Eliezer (for Moses had said,

“The God of my father has been my help and delivered me

from the sword of Pharaoh”). (NET)

1 Chronicles 23:16, The son of Gershom: Shebuel the oldest. (NET)

I. The descendants of Gerahom: Shubael (Shebuel) was the first.

A. 1 Chronicles 26:24, Shebuel son of Gershom, the son of

Moses, was the supervisor of the storehouses. (NET)



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1 Chronicles 23:17, The son of Eliezer was Rehabiah, the oldest.

Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah had many descendants.

(NET)

I. The descendants of Eliezer: Rehabiah was the first (chief).

A. Rehabiah was Eliezer’s only son. (Pulpit Commentary)

1. 1 Chronicles 26:25, His relatives through Eliezer

included: Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his

son, Zikri his son, and Shelomith his son. (NET)

2. The Pulpit Commentary further states, “The non-priestly

Amramites are therefore seen to correspond with the house of

Shebuel and Rehabiah.”

II. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very

numerous.

1 Chronicles 23:18, The son of Izhar:Shelomith the oldest. (NET)

I. The sons of Izhar: Shelomith (Shelomoth) was the first.

A. “While six names in all are mentioned under Amram, only one,

Shelomith, is found under his next brother, Izhar.” (Pulpit

Commentary)

B. This Shelomith is not the same as the Shelomith of 1 Chronicles

26:25, 26. (Pulpit commentary)

1. 1 Chronicles 26:25, 26, His relatives through Eliezer

included: Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his

son, Zikri his son, and Shelomith his son. Shelomith and

his relatives were in charge of all the storehouses

containing the consecrated items dedicated by King



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David, the family leaders who led units of a thousand and

a hundred, and the army officers. (NET)

1 Chronicles 23:19, The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the oldest, Amariah

the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. (NET)

I. The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the

third and Jekameam the fourth.

A. 1 Chronicles 24:23, The sons of Hebron: Jeriah, Amariah

the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.

(NET)

1 Chronicles 23:20, The sons of Uzziel: Micah the oldest, and Isshiah

the second. (NET)

I. The sons of Uzziel: Micah the first and Isshiah the second.

A. Isshiah is designated Jesiah in the AKJV.

1. 1 Chronicles 24:25, The brother of Micah: Isshiah.

Zechariah from the sons of Isshiah. (NET)

2. 1 Chronicles 24:20-24, The rest of the Levites included:

Shubael from the sons of Amram, Jehdeiah from the sons

of Shubael, the firstborn Isshiah from Rehabiah and the

sons of Rehabiah, Shelomoth from the Izharites, Jahath

from the sons of Shelomoth. The sons of Hebron: Jeriah,

Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam

the fourth. The son of Uzziel: Micah; Shamir from the

sons of Micah. (NET)



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Merarites

1 Chronicles 23:21, The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons

of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. (NET)

I. The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi.

A. Merari was the third son of Levi.

1. Genesis 46:11, The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and

Merari. (NET)

B. Mushi appears to have been the son of Merari and Mahli

appears to have been the son of Mushi making the word sons in

this verse mean descendants.

1. 1 Chronicles 6:47, son of Mahli, son of Mushi, son of

Merari, son of Levi. (NET)

2. 1 Chronicles 23:23, The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder,

and Jeremoth—three in all. (NET)

C. However, other passages speak of Mahli and Mushi as brothers.

1. 1 Chronicles 6:19, The sons of Merari: Mahli and

Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites by their

families. (NET)

2. 1 Chronicles 24:26, The sons of Merari: Mahli and

Mushi. The son of Jaaziah: Beno. (NET)

3. Exodus 6:19, The sons of Merari were Mahli and

Mushi. These were the clans of Levi, according to their

records. (NET)



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II. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.

1 Chronicles 23:22, Eleazar died without having sons; he had only

daughters. The sons of Kish, their cousins, married them. (NET)

I. Eleazar died without having sons: he had only daughters.

II. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them.

A. This followed ancient precedents. (Clarke)

1. Numbers 27:1-11, Then the daughters of Zelophehad

son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the

son of Manasseh of the families of Manasseh, the son of

Joseph came forward. Now these are the names of his

daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

And they stood before Moses and Eleazar the priest and

the leaders of the whole assembly at the entrance to the

tent of meeting and said, “Our father died in the

wilderness, although he was not part of the company of

those that gathered themselves together against the Lord

in the company of Korah, but he died for his own sin, and

he had no sons. Why should the name of our father be

lost from among his family because he had no son? Give

us a possession among the relatives of our father.” So

Moses brought their case before the Lord. The Lord said

to Moses: “The daughters of Zelophehad have a valid

claim. You must indeed give them possession of an

inheritance among their father’s relatives, and you must

transfer the inheritance of their father to them. And you

must tell the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and has no son, then

you must transfer his inheritance to his daughter; and if

he has no daughter, then you are to give his inheritance to

his brothers; and if he has no brothers, then you are to

give his inheritance to his father’s brothers; and if his



23

father has no brothers, then you are to give his

inheritance to his relative nearest to him from his family,

and he will possess it. This will be for the Israelites a legal

requirement, as the Lord commanded Moses.’” (NET)

2. Numbers 36:5-9, Then Moses gave a ruling to the

Israelites by the word of the Lord: “What the tribe of the

Josephites is saying is right. This is what the Lord has

commanded for Zelophehad’s daughters: ‘Let them

marry whomever they think best, only they must marry

within the family of their father’s tribe. In this way the

inheritance of the Israelites will not be transferred from

tribe to tribe. But every one of the Israelites must retain

the ancestral heritage. And every daughter who possesses

an inheritance from any of the tribes of the Israelites

must become the wife of a man from any family in her

father’s tribe, so that every Israelite may retain the

inheritance of his fathers. No inheritance may pass from

tribe to tribe. But every one of the tribes of the Israelites

must retain its inheritance.” (NET)

B. Regarding the sons of Kish, see . . .

1. 1 Chronicles 24:29, From Kish: Jerahmeel. (NET)

1 Chronicles 23:23, The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and

Jeremoth—three in all. (NET)

A. 1 Chronicles 24:30, The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and

Jerimoth. These were the Levites, listed by their families.

(NET)

1 Chronicles 23:24, These were the descendants of Levi according to

their families, that is, the leaders of families as counted and



24

individually listed who carried out assigned tasks in the Lord’s

temple and were twenty years old and up. (NET)

I. These were the descendants of Levi by their families – the heads of

families as they were registered under their names and counted

individually, that is, the workers twenty years old or more who served in

the temple of the Lord.

A. Hicks wrote, “The reason for these new tasks and regulations is

the anticipated shift from tabernacle to temple. David is the one

who authoritatively regulates the new situation.”

B. The workers in the temple could evidently begin service at a

younger age and continue to a later age than had been allowed

previously with the tabernacle, evidently due to the fact that the

work in the temple was less strenuous than the work in the

tabernacle had been. (See Clarke.)

1 Chronicles 23:25, For David said, “The Lord God of Israel has

given his people rest and has permanently settled in Jerusalem.

(NET)

I. For David had said, “Since the Lord, the God of Israel, has granted

rest to his people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem forever, . . .

A. Since the place of worship was to be permanent, personnel had

to be selected and assignments made so the service of the temple

could be efficiently performed on a continuing basis. (See Pulpit

Commentary.)

1 Chronicles 23:26, So the Levites no longer need to carry the

tabernacle or any of the items used in its service.” (NET)

I. The Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the

articles used in its service.”



25

A. Some tasks, such as transporting the tabernacle and its articles,

would no longer be required because the temple in Jerusalem

would be the one single permanent worship site for the nation.

1 Chronicles 23:27, According to David’s final instructions, the

Levites twenty years old and up were counted. (NET)

I. According to the last instructions of David, the Levites were counted

from those twenty years old or more.

A. The earlier census beginning at age thirty was modified here by

David’s last instructions to twenty years and older.

1 Chronicles 23:28, Their job was to help Aaron’s descendants in

the service of the Lord’s temple. They were to take care of the

courtyards, the rooms, ceremonial purification of all holy items, and

other jobs related to the service of God’s temple. (NET)

I. The duty of the Levites was to help Aaron’s descendants in the service

of the temple of the Lord: . . .

A. Hicks lists three major Levitical areas of service:

1. maintaining the purity of the grounds and utensils of the

temple.

2. maintaining the required bread and flour for baking and

mixing in appropriate quantities, and . . .

3. leading the communal praise at the daily sacrifices and

appointed feasts.

B. Levites were assistants to the priests. (Hicks)



26

1. Exodus 29:38-41, “Now this is what you are to prepare

on the altar every day continually: two lambs a year old.

The first lamb you are to prepare in the morning, and the

second lamb you are to prepare around sundown. With

the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed

with a fourth of a hin of oil from pressed olives, and a

fourth of a hin of wine as a drink offering. The second

lamb you are to offer around sundown; you are to

prepare for it the same meal offering as for the morning

and the same drink offering, for a soothing aroma, an

offering made by fire to the Lord. (NET)

2. Numbers 28:3-8, You will say to them, ‘This is the

offering made by fire which you must offer to the Lord:

two unblemished lambs one year old each day for a

continual burnt offering. The first lamb you must offer in

the morning, and the second lamb you must offer in the

late afternoon, with one-tenth of an ephah of finely

ground flour as a grain offering mixed with one quarter

of a hin of pressed olive oil. It is a continual burnt

offering that was instituted on Mount Sinai as a pleasing

aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord. “‘And its

drink offering must be one quarter of a hin for each

lamb. You must pour out the strong drink as a drink

offering to the Lord in the holy place. And the second

lamb you must offer in the late afternoon; just as you

offered the grain offering and drink offering in the

morning, you must offer it as an offering made by fire, as

a pleasing aroma to the Lord. (NET)

II. to be in charge of the courtyards, the side rooms, the purification

(keeping all the vessels and utensils belonging to the sacred service neat

and clean) (Clarke) of all sacred things and the performance of other

duties at the house of God.



27

Note: “The priests, Levites and Nethinim provided temple service duties

ranging from the most sacred to the most menial. The Nethinim were

“people of non-Jewish background who served as Temple servants . . .

As assistants to the Levites, they performed such menial chores as

cleaning the Temple, carrying water and wood to the altar, and

scrubbing utensils used in the sacrificial ceremonies.” (Youngblood)

1 Chronicles 23:29, They also took care of the bread that is

displayed, the flour for offerings, the unleavened wafers, the round

cakes, the mixing, and all the measuring. (NET)

I. They were in charge of the bread set out on the table, the flour for the

grain offerings, the unleavened wafers, the baking and the mixing, and

all measurements of quantity and size.

A. This verse refers to the showbread).

B. Accurate weights and measures were maintained for both

liquids and solids.

1. Exodus 30:13, Everyone who crosses over to those who

are numbered is to pay this: a half shekel according to the

shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel weighs twenty gerahs).

The half shekel is to be an offering to the Lord. (NET)

C. Responsibilities of the Levites are also given in . . .

1. 1 Chronicles 6:26-32, his son Elkanah, his son Zophai,

his son Nahath, his son Eliab, his son Jeroham, and his

son Elkanah. The sons of Samuel: Joel the firstborn and

Abijah the second oldest. The descendants of Merari:

Mahli, his son Libni, his son Shimei, his son Uzzah, 30 his

son Shimea, his son Haggiah, and his son Asaiah. These

are the men David put in charge of music in the Lord’s

sanctuary, after the ark was placed there. They



28

performed music before the sanctuary of the meeting tent

until Solomon built the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem. They

carried out their tasks according to regulations. (NET)

D. Regarding the showbread, see . . .

1. 1 Chronicles 9:26-32, The four head gatekeepers, who

were Levites, were assigned to guard the storerooms and

treasuries in God’s sanctuary. They would spend the

night in their posts all around God’s sanctuary, for they

were assigned to guard it and would open it with the key

every morning. Some of them were in charge of the

articles used by those who served; they counted them

when they brought them in and when they brought them

out. Some of them were in charge of the equipment and

articles of the sanctuary, as well as the flour, wine, olive

oil, incense, and spices. (But some of the priests mixed the

spices.) Mattithiah, a Levite, the firstborn son of Shallum

the Korahite, was in charge of baking the bread for

offerings. Some of the Kohathites, their relatives, were in

charge of preparing the bread that is displayed each

Sabbath. (NET)

2. Exodus 25:30, You are to set the Bread of the Presence

on the table before me continually. (NET)

3. Leviticus 24:5-9, “You must take choice wheat flour

and bake twelve loaves; there must be two tenths of an

ephah of flour in each loaf, and you must set them in two

rows, six in a row, on the ceremonially pure table before

the Lord. You must put pure frankincense on each row,

and it will become a memorial portion for the bread, a

gift to the Lord. Each Sabbath day Aaron must arrange it

before the Lord continually; this portion is from the

Israelites as a perpetual covenant. It will belong to Aaron



29

and his sons, and they must eat it in a holy place because

it is most holy to him, a perpetual allotted portion from

the gifts of the Lord.” (NET)

1 Chronicles 23:30, They also stood in a designated place every

morning and offered thanks and praise to the Lord. They also did

this in the evening (NET)

I. They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord.

A. Clarke wrote, “At the offering of the morning and evening

sacrifice, they sounded their musical instruments, and sang praises

to God.”

1. 1 Chronicles 23:13, The sons of Amram: Aaron and

Moses. Aaron and his descendants were chosen on a

permanent basis to consecrate the most holy items, to

offer sacrifices before the Lord, to serve him, and to

praise his name. (NET)

2. 1 Chronicles 25:7, They and their relatives, all of them

skilled and trained to make music to the Lord, numbered

two hundred eighty-eight. (NET)

II. They were to do the same in the evening . . .

1 Chronicles 23:31, and whenever burnt sacrifices were offered to

the Lord on the Sabbath and at new moon festivals and assemblies.

A designated number were to serve before the Lord regularly in

accordance with regulations. (NET)

I. and whenever burnt offerings were presented to the Lord on Sabbaths

and at New Moon festivals and at appointed feasts.

A. The Pulpit Commentary identified the appointed feasts as:



30

1. Passover

a. Leviticus 23:4, 5, “‘These are the Lord’s

appointed times, holy assemblies, which you must

proclaim at their appointed time. In the first month,

on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, is a

Passover offering to the Lord. (NET)

2. Pentecost

a. Leviticus 23:14-17, You must not eat bread,

roasted grain, or fresh grain until this very day,

until you bring the offering of your God. This is a

perpetual statute throughout your generations in all

the places where you live. “‘You must count for

yourselves seven weeks from the day after the

Sabbath, from the day you bring the wave offering

sheaf; they must be complete weeks. You must count

fifty days—until the day after the seventh

Sabbath—and then you must present a new grain

offering to the Lord. From the places where you live

you must bring two loaves of bread for a wave

offering; they must be made from two tenths of an

ephah of fine wheat flour, baked with yeast, as first

fruits to the Lord. (NET)

3. Tabernacles

a. Leviticus 23:33-37, The Lord spoke to Moses:

“Tell the Israelites, ‘On the fifteenth day of this

seventh month is the Festival of Temporary Shelters

for seven days to the Lord. On the first day is a holy

assembly; you must do no regular work. 36 For

seven days you must present a gift to the Lord. On



31

the eighth day there is to be a holy assembly for you,

and you must present a gift to the Lord. It is a

solemn assembly day; you must not do any regular

work. “‘These are the appointed times of the Lord

that you must proclaim as holy assemblies to present

a gift to the Lord—burnt offering, grain offering,

sacrifice, and drink offerings, each day according to

its regulation, (NET)

II. They were to serve before the Lord regularly in the proper number

and in the way prescribed for them.

1 Chronicles 23:32, They were in charge of the meeting tent and the

holy place, and helped their relatives, the descendants of Aaron, in

the service of the Lord’s temple. (NET)

I. And so the Levites carried out their responsibilities for the Tent of

Meeting, for the Holy Place and, under their brothers the descendants of

Aaron, for the service of the temple of the Lord.

A. Clarke wrote, “It was the priests’ business to kill, flay, and

dress, as well as to offer, the victims; but being few, they were

obliged to employ the Levites to flay those animals. The Levites

were, properly speaking, servants to the priests, and were

employed about the more servile part of divine worship.”

B. Numbers 18:1-7, The Lord said to Aaron, “You and your

sons and your tribe with you must bear the iniquity of the

sanctuary, and you and your sons with you must bear the

iniquity of your priesthood. “Bring with you your brothers, the

tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, so that they may join

with you and minister to you while you and your sons with you

are before the tent of the testimony. They must be responsible

to care for you and to care for the entire tabernacle. However,

they must not come near the furnishings of the sanctuary and



32

the altar, or both they and you will die. They must join with

you, and they will be responsible for the care of the tent of

meeting, for all the service of the tent, but no unauthorized

person may approach you. You will be responsible for the care

of the sanctuary and the care of the altar, so that there will be

no more wrath on the Israelites. I myself have chosen your

brothers the Levites from among the Israelites. They are given

to you as a gift from the Lord, to perform the duties of the tent

of meeting. But you and your sons with you are responsible for

your priestly duties, for everything at the altar and within the

curtain. And you must serve. I give you the priesthood as a gift

for service, but the unauthorized person who approaches must

be put to death.” (NET)

Conclusion:

I. David had set his heart on building a temple for the Lord in Jerusalem

and to arranging for the permanent worship services to be conducted

there.

A. While God did not permit David to build the temple, he did all

he could to make things ready for God’s worship and service.

B. We would do well to follow David’s example in being totally

dedicated to God’s service.

II. This chapter gave instructions for performance of temple duties and

identified the personnel who were charged with performance of these

respective duties.



33

Questions

1 Chronicles 23:1-32

(Questions based on NIV text.)

1. _______________ made _______________ _______________ so

that there could be a “_______________ _______________ of

_____________” and that _______________ could _______________

“in _______________ and _______________ the _______________.”

2. Provide information about the reforms of Jehoiada, Hezekiah and

Josiah. ____________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

3. How closely did David’s plans for temple worship conform to Mosaic

directives? _________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

4. 1 Chronicles ___________ - ___________ relate to the ___________

of _______________ and specify _______________ _______________

it regarding _______________ _______________.

5. _______________, in his _______________ _______________,

shared his _____________ with _____________ as _______________ -

_______________.



34

6. Knowing the _____________ of his _____________ _____________

on _________________, _______________ _______________ the

_____________ of _______________ and gave them _______________

regarding _______________ _______________.

7. What will you do with the remaining years God gives you to live on

earth? ____________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

8. Reconcile the ages of the Levites that were counted as stated in verses

3, 24 and 27. _______________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

9. What duties were assigned the Levites according to verses 4 and 5? _

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

10. Into what three groups were the Levites divided? Who were these

division heads. Give all the information about them you can. ________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________



35

11. Exactly who could serve as priests? Be specific. _______________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

12. How can it be said that the God of Israel would dwell in Jerusalem

forever considering historic facts? Define forever as used in verse 25._

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

13. What were the duties of the priests? __________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

14. What is the significance of the expression, “man of God?” How

many times is this phrase used in the Old Testament? Who are called

men of God?” ______________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

15. What significance do you see to the sons of Kish marrying Eleazar’s

daughters? _________________________________________________



36

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

16. David gave final instructions. What final instructions, parting words

of information and/or advice would you give? To whom would you give

this instruction? ____________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

17. What duties were specified for the Levites in verses 28-31? _______

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

18. Who were the Nethinim? What were their duties? ______________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

19. What were Israel’s three major feasts? How was each to be

observed? What was the significance of each? ____________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________



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__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

20. “And so the _______________ carried out their _______________

for the _____________ of _______________, for the _______________

_____________ and, under their _______________ the _____________

of _____________, for the _______________ of the _______________

of the _______________.”

the levites gershonites kohathites merarites 1 chronicles...

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