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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comKeil and Delitzsch Commentary - 1 Chronicles 23:2 - 23:2
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Numbering of the Levites, and partition of their duties. - 1Ch 23:2. For this purpose David collected “all the princes of Israel, and the priests and Levites.” The princes of Israel, because the numbering of the Levites and the determination of their duties was a matter of national importance. “The meaning is, that David, in a solemn assembly of the princes, i.e., of the representatives of the lay tribes, and of the priests and Levites, fixed the arrangements of which an account is to be given” (Berth.).
1Ch 23:3
The Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upwards. This statement agrees with that in Num 4:3, Num 4:23, Num 4:30, Num 4:39., where Moses caused those from thirty to fifty years of age to be numbered, and appointed them for service about the tabernacle during the journey through the wilderness. But Moses himself, at a later time, determined that their period of service should be from twenty-five to fifty; Num 8:23-26. It is consequently not probable that David confined the numbering to those of thirty and upwards. But besides that, we have a distinct statement in 1Ch 23:24 that they were numbered from twenty years of age, the change being grounded by David upon the nature of their service; and that this was the proper age is confirmed by 2Ch 31:17 and Ezr 3:8, according to which the Levites under Hezekiah, and afterwards, had to take part in the service from their twentieth year. We must therefore regard שְׁלשִׂים in Ezr 3:3 as having crept into the text through the error of copyists, who were thinking of the Mosaic census in Num 4, and must read עֶשְׂרִים instead of it. The various attempts of commentators to get rid of the discrepancy between 1Ch 23:3 and 1Ch 23:24 are mere makeshifts; and the hypothesis that David took two censuses is as little supported by the text, as that other, that our chapter contains divergent accounts drawn from two different sources; see on 1Ch 23:24. The number amounted to 38,000, according to their heads in men. לִגְבָרִים serves for a nearer definition of לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָם, and explains that only men were numbered, women not being included.
1Ch 23:4-5
1Ch 23:4 and 1Ch 23:5 contain words of David, as we learn from לְהַלֵּל עָשִׂתִי אֲשֶׁר (1Ch 23:5, end), so that we must supply דָוִיד וַיֹּאמֶר before 1Ch 23:4. מֵאֵלֶּה, of these (38,000) 24,000 shall be וגו לְנַצֵּחַ, to superintend the business, i.e., to conduct and carry on the business (the work) of the house of Jahve. This business is in 1Ch 23:28-32 more nearly defined, and embraces all the business that was to be carried on about the sanctuary, except the specifically priestly functions, the keeping of the doors, and the performance of the sacred music. For these two latter offices special sections were appointed, 4000 for the porters' services, and the same number for the sacred music (1Ch 23:5). Besides these, 5000 men were appointed Shoterim and judges. “The instruments which I have made to sing praise” are the stringed instruments which David had introduced into the service to accompany the singing of the psalms; cf. 2Ch 29:26; Neh 12:36.