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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [First Chronicles, Chapter XXIII].</TITLE>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>F I R S T &nbsp; C H R O N I C L E S</B></FONT>
<BR>
<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXIII.</FONT>
<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
David, having given charge concerning the building of the temple, in
this and the following chapters settles the method of the
temple-service and puts into order the offices and officers of it. In
the late irregular times, and during the wars in the beginning of his
reign, we may suppose that, though the Levitical ordinances were kept
up, yet it was not in the order, nor with the beauty and exactness,
that were desirable. Now David, being a prophet, as well as a prince,
by divine warrant and direction, "set in order the things that were
wanting." In this chapter we are informed,
I. He declared Solomon to be his successor,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+23:1">ver. 1</A>.
II. He numbered the Levites, and appointed them to their respective
offices,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+23:2-5">ver. 2-5</A>.
III. He took an account of the several families of the Levites,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+23:6-23">ver. 6-23</A>.
IV. He made a new reckoning of them from twenty years old, and
appointed them their work,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+23:24-32">ver. 24-32</A>.
And in this he prepared for the temple as truly as when he laid up gold
and silver for it; for the place is of small account in comparison with
the work.</P>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Numbering of the Levites.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1015.</TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>1 So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his
son king over Israel.
&nbsp; 2 And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the
priests and the Levites.
&nbsp; 3 Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years
and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was
thirty and eight thousand.
&nbsp; 4 Of which, twenty and four thousand <I>were</I> to set forward the
work of the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; and six thousand <I>were</I> officers
and judges:
&nbsp; 5 Moreover four thousand <I>were</I> porters; and four thousand
praised the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> with the instruments which I made, <I>said David,</I>
to praise <I>therewith.</I>
&nbsp; 6 And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi,
<I>namely,</I> Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
&nbsp; 7 Of the Gershonites <I>were,</I> Laadan, and Shimei.
&nbsp; 8 The sons of Laadan; the chief <I>was</I> Jehiel, and Zetham, and
Joel, three.
&nbsp; 9 The sons of Shimei; Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three.
These <I>were</I> the chief of the fathers of Laadan.
&nbsp; 10 And the sons of Shimei <I>were,</I> Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and
Beriah. These four <I>were</I> the sons of Shimei.
&nbsp; 11 And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush
and Beriah had not many sons; therefore they were in one
reckoning, according to <I>their</I> father's house.
&nbsp; 12 The sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.
&nbsp; 13 The sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was separated,
that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for
ever, to burn incense before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, to minister unto him, and
to bless in his name for ever.
&nbsp; 14 Now <I>concerning</I> Moses the man of God, his sons were named
of the tribe of Levi.
&nbsp; 15 The sons of Moses <I>were,</I> Gershom, and Eliezer.
&nbsp; 16 Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel <I>was</I> the chief.
&nbsp; 17 And the sons of Eliezer <I>were,</I> Rehabiah the chief. And
Eliezer had none other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very
many.
&nbsp; 18 Of the sons of Izhar; Shelomith the chief.
&nbsp; 19 Of the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second,
Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
&nbsp; 20 Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah the first, and Jesiah the
second.
&nbsp; 21 The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. The sons of Mahli;
Eleazar, and Kish.
&nbsp; 22 And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters: and their
brethren the sons of Kish took them.
&nbsp; 23 The sons of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Here we have,
I. The crown entailed, according to the divine appointment,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+23:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
David made Solomon king, not to reign with him, or reign under him, but
only to reign after him. This he did,
1. When he was old and full of days. He was but seventy years old when
he died, and yet he was full of days, <I>satur dierum--satisfied with
living</I> in this world. When he found himself going off, he made
provision for the welfare of the kingdom after his decease, and pleased
himself with the hopeful prospect of a happy settlement both in church
and state.
2. He did it in parliament, in a solemn assembly of all the princes of
Israel, which made Adonijah's attempt to break in upon Solomon's title
and set it aside, notwithstanding this public recognition and
establishment of it, the more impudent, impious, and ridiculous. Note,
The settling or securing of the crown in the interests of the temple is
a great blessing to the people and a great satisfaction to those who
are themselves leaving the world.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
II. The Levites numbered, according to the rule in Moses's time, from
thirty years old to fifty,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+4:2,3">Num. iv. 2, 3</A>.
Their number in Moses's time. by this rule, was 8580
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+4:47,48">Num. iv. 47, 48</A>),
but now it had increased above four-fold, much more in proportion than
the rest of the tribes; for the serviceable men of Levi's tribe were
now 38,000, unless we suppose that here those were reckoned who were
above fifty, which was not the case there. Joab had not numbered the
Levites
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+21:6"><I>ch.</I> xxi. 6</A>),
but David now did, not in pride, but for a good purpose, and then he
needed not fear wrath for it.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
III. The Levites distributed to their respective posts
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+23:4,5"><I>v.</I> 4, 5</A>),
that every hand might be employed (for, of all men, an idle Levite
makes the worst figure), and that every part of the work might be
carefully done. Now it was for the honour of God that so great a
number of servants attended his house and the business of it. Much of
the state of great men consists in the greatness of their retinue. When
God kept house in Israel see what a great household he had, and all
well fed and well taught. But what were these to the attendants of his
throne above, and the innumerable company of angels? It was the
happiness of Israel that they had among them such a considerable body
of men who were obliged by their office to promote and keep up religion
among them. If the worship of God go to decay in Israel, let it not be
said that it was for want of due provision for the support of it, but
that those who should have done it were careless and false. The work
assigned the Levites was four-fold:--
1. Some, and indeed far the greater number, were to set forward the
work of the house of the Lord: 24,000, almost two-thirds, were
appointed for this service, to attend the priests in killing the
sacrifices, flaying them, washing them, cutting them up, burning them,
to have the meat-offerings and drink-offerings ready, to carry out
dirt, and keep all the vessels and utensils of the temple clean, and
every thing in its place, that the service might be performed both with
expedition and with exactness. These served 1000 a-week, and so went
round in twenty-four courses. Perhaps while the temple was in building
some of these were employed to set forward that work, to assist the
builders, at least to quicken them, and keep good order among them, and
the decorum which became temple-work.
2. Others were officers and judges, not in the affairs of the temple,
and in the controversies that arose there (for there, we may suppose,
the priests presided), but in the country. They were magistrates, to
give the laws of God in charge, to resolves difficulties, and to
determine controversies that arose upon them. Of these there were 6000,
in the several parts of the kingdom, that assisted the princes and
elders of every tribe in the administration of justice.
3. Others were porters, to guard all the avenues of the house of God,
to examine those that desired entrance, and to resist those that would
force an entrance. These were the life-guards of the temple, and
probably were armed accordingly.
4. Others were singers and players on instruments, whose business it
was to keep up that part of the service; this was a new-erected
office.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
IV. The Levites mustered, and disposed of into their respective
families and kindreds, that an account of them might the better be
kept, and those that neglected their duty might be the more easily
discovered, by calling over the roll, and obliging them to answer to
their names, which each family might do for itself. When those of the
same family were employed together it would engage them to love and
assist one another. When Christ sent forth his disciples two and two he
put together those that were brethren. Two families were here joined in
one
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+23:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>)
because they had not many sons. Those that are weak and little,
separately, may be put together and appear considerable. That which is
most observable in this account of the families of the Levites is that
the posterity of Moses (that great man) stood upon the level with
common Levites, and had no dignities or privileges at all peculiar to
them; whilst the posterity of Aaron were advanced to the priest's
office, to <I>sanctify the most holy things,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+23:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
It is said indeed of the grandson of Moses, Rehabiah, that <I>his sons
were highly multiplied,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+23:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>,
<I>margin.</I> When God proposed to him that, if he would let fall his
intercession for Israel, he would make of him a great nation, he
generously refused it, in recompence for which his family is here
greatly increased, and makes up in number what it wants in figure, in
the tribe of Levi. Now,
1. The levelling of Moses' family with the rest is an evidence of his
self-denial. Such an interest had he both with God and man that if he
had aimed to raise his own family, to dignify and enrich that, he might
easily have done so; but he was no self-seeking man, as appears from
his leaving to his children no marks of distinction, which was a sign
that he had the spirit of God and not the spirit of the world.
2. The elevation of Aaron's family above the rest was a recompence for
his self-denial. When Moses (his younger brother) was made a god to
Pharaoh, and he only his prophet or spokesman, to observe his orders
and do as he was bidden, Aaron never disputed it, nor insisted upon his
seniority, but readily took the inferior post God put him in, submitted
to Moses, and, upon occasion, called him <I>his lord;</I> and because
he thus submitted himself, in his own person, to his junior, in
compliance with the will of God, God highly exalted his family, even
above that of Moses himself. Those that are content to stoop are in the
fairest way to rise. Before honour is humility.</P>
<A NAME="1Ch23_24"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch23_25"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch23_26"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch23_27"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch23_28"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch23_29"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch23_30"> </A>
<A NAME="1Ch23_31"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Office of the Levites.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1015.</TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>24 These <I>were</I> the sons of Levi after the house of their
fathers; <I>even</I> the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by
number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service
of the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, from the age of twenty years and
upward.
&nbsp; 25 For David said, The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of Israel hath given rest unto
his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:
&nbsp; 26 And also unto the Levites; they shall no <I>more</I> carry the
tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof.
&nbsp; 27 For by the last words of David the Levites <I>were</I> numbered
from twenty years old and above:
&nbsp; 28 Because their office <I>was</I> to wait on the sons of Aaron for
the service of the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, in the courts, and in the
chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work
of the service of the house of God;
&nbsp; 29 Both for the showbread, and for the fine flour for meat
offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for <I>that which is
baked in</I> the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all
manner of measure and size;
&nbsp; 30 And to stand every morning to thank and praise the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and
likewise at even;
&nbsp; 31 And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> in the
sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number,
according to the order commanded unto them, continually before
the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>:
&nbsp; 32 And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of
the congregation, and the charge of the holy <I>place,</I> and the
charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the
house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Here is,
I. An alteration made in the computation of the effective men of the
Levites--that whereas, in Moses's time, they were not enlisted, or
taken into service, till they were thirty-years old, nor admitted as
probationers till twenty-five
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:24">Num. viii. 24</A>),
David ordered, by direction from God, that they should be numbered
<I>for the service of the house of the Lord,</I> from the age of twenty
years and upwards,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+23:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
This order he confirmed by his last words,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+23:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
When he put his last hand to the draught of this establishment he
expressly appointed this to be done for ever after; yet not he; but the
Lord.
1. Perhaps the young Levites, having no work appointed them till
twenty-five years old, had many of them got a habit of idleness, or
grew addicted to their pleasures, which proved both a blemish to their
reputation and a hindrance to their usefulness afterwards, to prevent
which inconvenience they are set to work, and brought under discipline,
at twenty-years old. Those that will be eminent must learn to take care
and take care betimes.
2. When the work of the Levites was to carry burdens, heavy burdens,
the tabernacle and the furniture of it, God would not call any to it
till they had come to their full strength; for he considers our frame,
and, in service as well as sufferings, will lay no more upon us than we
are able to bear. But now God had given rest to his people, and made
Jerusalem his dwelling-place for ever, so that there was no more
occasion to carry the tabernacle and the vessels thereof, the service
was much easier, and what would not over-work them nor over-load them
if they entered upon it at twenty-years old.
3. Now the people of Israel were multiplied, and there was a more
general resort to Jerusalem, and would be when the temple was built,
than had ever been at Shiloh, or Nob, or Gibeon; it was therefore
requisite there should be more hands employed in the temple-service,
that every Israelite who brought an offering might find a Levite ready
to assist him. When more work is to be done it is a pity but there
should be more workmen fetched in for the doing of it. When the harvest
is plenteous why should the labourers be few?</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
II. A further account of the Levites' work. What the work of the
priests was we are told
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+23:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
<I>To sanctify the most holy things, to burn incense before the
Lord,</I> and to <I>bless in his name;</I> that work the Levites were
not to meddle with, and yet they had work enough, and good work,
according to that to which they were appointed,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+23:4,5"><I>v.</I> 4, 5</A>.
1. Those of them that were to <I>set forward the work of the house of
God</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+23:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>)
were therein to <I>wait on the sons of Aaron</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+23:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>),
were to do the drudgery-work (if any work for God is to be called
<I>drudgery</I>) of the house of God, to keep the courts and chambers
clean, set things in their places, and have them ready when there was
occasion to use them. They were to prepare the show-bread which the
priests were to set on the table, to provide the flour and cakes for
the meat-offerings, that the priests might have every thing ready to
their hands.
2. Those of them that were judges and officers had an eye particularly
upon all <I>measure and size,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+23:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>.
The standards of all weights and measures were kept in the sanctuary;
and the Levites had the care of them, to see that they were exact, and
to try other weights and measures by them when they were appealed to.
3. The work of the singers was to <I>thank and praise the Lord</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+23:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>),
at the offering of the morning and evening sacrifices, and other
oblations on the sabbaths, new moons, &c.,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+23:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>.
Moses appointed that they should blow with trumpets over their burnt
offerings and other sacrifices, and on their solemn days,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+10:10">Num. x. 10</A>.
The sound of the trumpet was awful, and might be affecting to the
worshippers, but was not articulate, nor such a reasonable service as
this which David appointed, of singing psalms on those occasions. As
the Jewish church grew up from its infancy, it grew more and more
intelligent in its devotions, till it came at length, in the gospel, to
<I>put away childish things,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+13:11,Ga+4:3,9">1 Cor. xiii. 11; Gal. iv. 3, 9</A>.
4. The work of the porters
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+23:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>)
was to keep <I>the charge of the tabernacle and of the holy place,</I>
that none might come nigh but such as were allowed, and those no nearer
than was allowed them,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+23:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>.
They were likewise to keep the charge of the sons of Aaron, to be at
their beck and go on their errands, who are yet called <I>their
brethren,</I> to be a memorandum to the priests that, though they were
advanced to a high station, yet they were <I>hewn out of the same
rock</I> with common Levites, and therefore must not lord it over them,
but in all instances treat them as brethren.</P>
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