1 Crônicas 23
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Crônicas 23
Wiersbe - David knew that the ministers of the temple also had to be organized and prepared if God was to be glorified. Too often local church building programs concentrate so much on the financial and the material that they ignore the spiritual, and then a backslidden and divided congregation meets to dedicate the new edifice! A gifted administrator, David organized the Levites (chap. 23), the priests (chap. 24), the temple singers (chap. 25), and the temple officers (chap. 26). David wanted to be sure that everything in God's house would be done "decently and in order" (1 Cor. 14:40 nkjv)! (Borrow Be restored : trusting God to see us through : OT commentary, 2 Samuel & 1 Chronicles) Jack Hay - A new section of 1 Chronicles commences here. The ark had been brought to Jerusalem and a site for the temple had been procured. Workmen had been marshalled and materials for the construction had been accumulated. Solomon and the princes of Israel had been commanded to build. Now chapters 23-27 take proceedings a stage further as David anticipates the day when the building will be completed, and when temple service will commence. In preparation for that, he arranges various courses of Levites, priests, singers and doorkeepers who would operate a shift system to ensure the smooth functioning of divine service. Chapter 27 rounds off the section with details of those in the military and in the civil service of the nation. Such particulars may seem superfluous to the overall theme of the book, but the security of the nation and its political stability would facilitate the building of the house of God and the subsequent religious activity connected with it....When the temple was built and Solomon adopted the system of courses, the comment is made, "so had David the man of God commanded" (2 Chr 8:14). Similarly, in Hezekiah's reign there is reference to the way things operated in the temple, and it was "according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the Lord by his prophets" (2 Chr 29:25). So, then, the system was not invented by David, but was put in place by divine decree. What David had been given "by the spirit" (1 Chr. 28:12) was what he implemented. It would be good for us all to be equally obedient to what the Spirit of God has dictated.(What the Bible Teaches – 1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles) The Wycliffe Bible Commentary - One of David's most lastingly significant contributions to posterity lay in the arrangements that he made for the ministry of the tribe of Levi. The genius he displayed in the organization of the Levites helped preserve the Levitical services under his successors, provided the administrative force for the revival of the Mosaic theocracy under Ezra, and continued to serve as the basis for Israel's religious organization on into NT times. Here is a simple outline: Levitical Families, 23:1–24:31 Musicians, 25:1–31 Gatekeepers, 26:1–19 Officers and Judges, 26:20–32 1 Chronicles 23:2 And he gathered together all the leaders of Israel with the priests and the Levites. he gathered: 1Ch 13:1 28:1 Jos 23:2 24:1 2Ch 34:29,30 Related Passages: 1 Chronicles 22:17 David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon, saying, 1 Chronicles 28:1 Now David assembled at Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the commanders of the divisions that served the king, and the commanders of thousands, and the commanders of hundreds, and the overseers of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, with the officials and the mighty men, even all the valiant men. DAVID BEGINS WITH WORSHIP LEADERS Life Application Study Bible (borrow) Bible makes an excellent point that "The original readers of Chronicles were rebuilding the Temple after it had been destroyed by invading armies, and this information about its procedures was invaluable to them. The next five chapters demonstrate that organization is essential for smooth and effective service. (ED: RECALL CHRONICLES WAS WRITTEN AFTER THE 70 YEAR EXILE IN BABYLON AND AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE.) While we have alluded to this in the previous chapter, it bears repeating, so that we can understand that David's orders for organizing the Levites were not a matter of his own will but a matter of carrying out the will of Jehovah. And so we read... He (DAVID) then stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with harps and with lyres, according to the command of David and of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet; for the command was from the LORD through His prophets. (2 Chronicles 29:25) Comment - Note the chain of communication: Yahweh to Gad/Nathan to David to the leaders, priests and Levites. David sought to do God's will on earth as it is in Heaven! And he gathered together all the leaders of Israel with the priests and the Levites - David is gathering all the leaders with the express purpose of instructing them in how they are to assist Solomon in the construction of the Temple. David's priorities are right, for he begins with the worship leaders and not until 1Ch 27 does he describe the military leaders. Worship of God should always precede our work for God. Our being is more critical than our doing. If Jesus is our priority, rivers of living water will come forth from our innermost being to do things that glorify our Lord and King. The danger in Christianity is falling into the trap of "doing" to the neglect of the "being." I fear that there is much doing in Christianity that is not based on the firm foundation of abiding in Jesus. Jesus gave us His pattern for "doing" declaring "“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides (present tense - continually - see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to accomplish this as our habitual practice) in Me and I in him, he bears (present tense - continually) much fruit (WHAT AN INCREDIBLE PROMISE TO WE WHO WERE ONCE HIS ENEMIES!), for (TERM OF EXPLANATION - EXPLAINING WHY JESUS' PATTERN FOR MINISTRY IS TO CRITICAL) apart from Me you can do (ABSOLUTELY) nothing." (John 15:5). All the servants at the temple were descendants of Aaron (except the Nethinim, Ezra 2:43,58,70; 7:7; 8:17,20). SPECIAL TOPIC: LEVITICAL PRIESTS 1 Chronicles 23:3 The Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward, and their number by census of men was 38,000. the Levites: Nu 4:2-3,23,30,35,43,47 38,000: Nu 4:48 TOTAL NUMBER OF THE LEVITES In 1 Chronicles 23:2-32 we see the organization of the Levites. "The arrangement of chapter 23 is simple and straightforward. The names of the heads of the family of Levi are listed (1Ch 23:3–24), and then the duties specified by David are enumerated (1Ch 23:25–32)." (Sailhamer) The Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward, and their number by census of men was 38,000 - In 1Ch 21:6 it is specifically mentioned that Joab did not count the Levites. Here, they only the Levites are counted with no negative remarks. This census has a markedly different motivation and unlike the census in 1Ch 21 is not about David's pride, but is now about God's glory, for the Levites were set apart ultimately to serve Yahweh! This census recalls God's word to Moses' in Nu 4:1-3+ which says "Then the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, “Take a census of the descendants of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers’ households, from thirty years and upward, even to fifty years old, all who enter the service to do the work in the tent of meeting. It appears that David lowered this to 20 years in 1Ch 23:24, 27. No upper limit of the age of fifty is mentioned here, possibly because the new duties were less strenuous than formerly as discussed more below. 1 Chronicles 23:4 Of these, 24,000 were to oversee the work of the house of the LORD; and 6,000 were officers and judges, BGT 1 Chronicles 23:4 ἀπὸ τούτων ἐργοδιῶκται ἐπὶ τὰ ἔργα οἴκου κυρίου εἴκοσι τέσσαρες χιλιάδες καὶ γραμματεῖς καὶ κριταὶ ἑξακισχίλιοι LXE 1 Chronicles 23:4 Of the overseers over the works of the house of the Lord there were twenty-four thousand, and there were six thousand scribes and judges; KJV 1 Chronicles 23:4 Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the LORD; and six thousand were officers and judges: NET 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; CSB 1 Chronicles 23:4 "Of these," David said, "24,000 are to be in charge of the work on the LORD's temple, 6,000 are to be officers and judges, ESV 1 Chronicles 23:4 "Twenty-four thousand of these," David said, "shall have charge of the work in the house of the LORD, 6,000 shall be officers and judges, NIV 1 Chronicles 23:4 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. NLT 1 Chronicles 23:4 Then David said, "From all the Levites, 24,000 will supervise the work at the Temple of the LORD. Another 6,000 will serve as officials and judges. NRS 1 Chronicles 23:4 "Twenty-four thousand of these," David said, "shall have charge of the work in the house of the LORD, six thousand shall be officers and judges, NJB 1 Chronicles 23:4 twenty-four thousand were responsible for the service of the House of Yahweh, six thousand were officials and judges, NAB 1 Chronicles 23:4 Of these, twenty-four thousand were to direct the service of the house of the LORD, six thousand were to be officials and judges, twenty: 1Ch 23:28-32 6:48 9:28-32 26:20-27 oversee, Ne 11:9,22 Ac 20:28 officers and judges: 1Ch 26:29-31 De 16:18 17:8-10 2Ch 19:8 Mal 2:7 DIVISION OF DUTIES: FIRST TWO GROUPS OF LEVITES Of these, 24,000 were to oversee the work of the house of the LORD - NLT = "24,000 will supervise the work at the Temple" Imagine what it takes to care for your own house, and then imagine the work involved in caring for the LORD'S house that was daily having sacrifices and countless visitors seeking to sacrifice and worship Yahweh. This would explain this larger number of Levites (24,000) to assure proper maintenance and functioning of the Temple. "There would be an endless stream of sacrifices with which the priests would require assistance, and there would also be the constant business of carrying out dirt, and maintaining the cleanliness of the vessels of the sanctuary." (Hay) Wiersbe - The fact that the Levites took care of the sanctuary while the priests served at the altar didn't mean that their work was less important to the ministry or to the Lord. Each servant was important to the Lord and each ministry was necessary. And 6,000 were officers and judges - (This function is described in 1Ch 26:20-32) These would function as magistrates of the land.
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Wiersbe - Nothing that the priests and Levites did in the temple was left to chance or human invention, but was ordained by the Lord. Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, the first high priest (24:1-2), were killed by the Lord for devising their own form of worship (Lev. 10:1-4). 1 Chronicles 23:6 David divided them into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. divided: 2Ch 8:14 29:25 31:2 35:10 Ezr 6:18 divisions, 1Ch 24:1 26:1 Gershon: Ex 6:16-24 Nu 26:57,58 Related Passages: Numbers 4:22-26+ “Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’ households, by their families; 23 from thirty years and upward to fifty years old, you shall number them; all who enter to perform the service to do the work in the tent of meeting. 24 “This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and in carrying: 25 they shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the tent of meeting with its covering and the covering of porpoise skin that is on top of it, and the screen for the doorway of the tent of meeting, 26 and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the doorway of the gate of the court which is around the tabernacle and the altar, and their cords and all the equipment for their service; and all that is to be done, they shall perform. Numbers 4:1-3; 15+ Then the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 “Take a census of the descendants of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers’ households, 3 from thirty years and upward, even to fifty years old, all who enter the service to do the work in the tent of meeting. (4:15) “When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is to set out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them, so that they will not touch the holy objects and die. These are the things in the tent of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry. Numbers 4:29-32+ “As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families, by their fathers’ households; 30 from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, you shall number them, everyone who enters the service to do the work of the tent of meeting. 31 “Now this is the duty of their loads, for all their service in the tent of meeting: the boards of the tabernacle and its bars and its pillars and its sockets, 32 and the pillars around the court and their sockets and their pegs and their cords, with all their equipment and with all their service; and you shall assign each man by name the items he is to carry. TRIBE OF LEVI Source: Thomas Constable THE THREE SONS OF LEVI David divided them into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Hay - The "courses" or "divisions" (AV margin), were groupings of Levites who operated a shift system, each group functioning for a scheduled period, guaranteeing that there were always enough of them on duty to ensure the smooth functioning of temple service in its various aspects. The courses were divided in keeping with the three branches of the Levitical family. With such vast numbers available for temple service, it was imperative that they were organised in an orderly fashion, for God never operates in a haphazard way. Each shift would consist of the correct number, without anyone being either overburdened or crowded out. (What the Bible Teaches – 1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles) Gershon ("exile" or "foreigner") - the eldest of Levi's three sons born before the descent of Jacob?s family into Egypt. (Ge. 46:11; Ex. 6:16). In the wilderness the sons of Gershon had charge of the fabrics of the tabernacle when it was moved from place to place, the curtains, veils, tent-hangings (Num. 3: 21-26). Thirteen Levitical cities fell to the lot of the Gershonites (Josh. 21:27-33). But, though the eldest born, the families of Gershon were outstripped in fame by their younger brethren of Kohath, from whom sprang Moses and the priestly line of Aaron. Numbers 4:22-26 Kohath ("assembly") - second son of Levi, father of Amram (Ge. 46:11) who came down to Egypt with Jacob, and lived to the age of one hundred and thirty-three years (Ex. 6:18). Father of the Kohathites (see diagram above for offspring) from whom the three principal divisions of the Levites derived their origin (Ex. 6:18; Nu 3:19, 27). In the journeyings of the tabernacle of the sons of Kohath (Kohathites) had charge of the most holy portions of the vessels. (Numbers 4:1) Merari ("bitter") - the youngest son of Levi, born before the descent of Jacob into Egypt, and one of the seventy who accompanied him thither (Gen. 46:11; Ex. 6:16). He became the head of one of the Gershonites who had to carry from place to place (Num. 3:20, 33-37; 4:29-33). In the distribution of the oxen and waggons offered by the princes (Num. 7), Moses gave twice as many to the Merarites (four waggons and eight oxen) as he gave to the Gershonites, because the latter had to carry only the lighter furniture of the tabernacle, such as the curtains, hangings, etc., while the former had to carry the heavier portion, as the boards, bars, sockets, pillars, etc., and consequently needed a greater supply of oxen and waggons. Twelve cities with their suburbs were assigned to them (Josh. 21:7, 34-40). 1 Chronicles 23:7 Of the Gershonites were Ladan and Shimei. Gershonites: 1Ch 6:17-20 15:7 26:21 Laadan: Laadan and Libni, seem to have been two distinct names of this person; but the variation of Shimi and Shimei exists only in the translation, the original being uniformly [Shim'iy <Strong's H8096>.] Ex 6:17, Libni, Shimi Three major groups of Levites Gershonites (1Ch 23:7–11) Kohathites (1Ch 23:12–20) Merarites (1Ch 23:21–23). DAVID ADDRESSES THE THREE MAJOR DIVISIONS Of the Gershonites were Ladan ("put in order") and Shimei ("fame") - This Shimei is not the Benjamite of the house of Saul, who stoned and cursed David when he reached Bahurim in his flight from Jerusalem on the occasion of the rebellion of Absalom (2Sa 16:5-13). 1 Chronicles 23:8 The sons of Ladan were Jehiel the first and Zetham and Joel, three. Jehiel: 1Ch 15:18,20,21 Joel: 1Ch 6:33,34 15:7,11,17 The sons of Ladan were Jehiel the first and Zetham and Joel, three. 1 Chronicles 23:9 The sons of Shimei were Shelomoth and Haziel and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers' households of Ladan. The sons of Shimei were Shelomoth and Haziel ("vision of God") and Haran ("mountaineer"), three. These were the heads of the fathers' households of Ladan. 1 Chronicles 23:10 The sons of Shimei were Jahath, Zina, Jeush and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei. Zina: Zina seems to be a mistake for Zizah; for both the LXX. and Vulgate read uniformly [Ziza,] Ziza. 1Ch 23:11, Zizah The sons of Shimei were Jahath ("He will snatch up"), Zina ("well-fed"), Jeush ("assembler") and Beriah ("with a friend"). These four were the sons of Shimei
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Wiersbe - The phrase "for the service of the house of the Lord" (or its equivalent) is used several times in these chapters to remind us that ministry is the major responsibility of God's servants in God's house. (See 1Ch 23:24, 26, 28, 32; 25:1, 6, 8, 30; 28:13, 14, 20, 21; 29:5,7; 2Ch 31:16, 17.) It's one thing to fill an office, but quite something else to use that office to serve the Lord and His people. (Borrow Be restored : trusting God to see us through : OT commentary, 2 Samuel & 1 Chronicles) 1 Chronicles 23:25 For David said, "The LORD God of Israel has given rest to His people, and He dwells in Jerusalem forever. KJV 1 Chronicles 23:25 For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever: NET 1 Chronicles 23:25 For David said, "The LORD God of Israel has given his people rest and has permanently settled in Jerusalem. CSB 1 Chronicles 23:25 For David said, "The LORD God of Israel has given rest to His people, and He has come to stay in Jerusalem forever. ESV 1 Chronicles 23:25 For David said, "The LORD, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever. NIV 1 Chronicles 23:25 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, NLT 1 Chronicles 23:25 For David said, "The LORD, the God of Israel, has given us peace, and he will always live in Jerusalem. The Lord: 1Ch 22:18 2Sa 7:1,11 He dwells in Jerusalem, 1Ki 8:13,27 Ps 9:11 Ps 68:16,18 Ps 132:13,14 Ps 135:21 Isa 8:18 Joel 3:21 Zec 8:3 2Co 6:16 Col 2:9 Related Passages: Psalm 9:11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion; Declare among the peoples His deeds. Psalm 68:16 Why do you look with envy, O mountains with many peaks, At the mountain which God has desired for His abode? Surely the LORD will dwell there forever. GOD'S REST FOR HIS PEOPLE For - This is a term of explanation. What might the writer be explaining? What had he just described in the previous passage? David had lowered the age requirement for Levitical helpers to 20 years. Since the Levites would no longer be required to transport the tabernacle, a task necessitating strength and maturity, it would be reasonable to lower the age and this would also provide more helpers for the temple service. The idea of rest meant they no longer had to wander in the wilderness (and carry the tabernacle) and this is linked with the fact that God had now made Jerusalem His permanent residence, so there would be no need to move the tabernacle. David said, "The LORD God of Israel has given rest to His people - This is a repeat of 1Ch 22:18 where David declared “Is not the LORD your God with you? And has He not given you rest on every side? For He has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the LORD and before His people." Wiersbe - The Israelites were at rest in their land and no longer a nomadic people, so the Levites didn't have to carry the various parts of the tabernacle from place to place (see Num. 4). The construction of the temple meant that the Levites would need new assignments. One of their tasks would be to keep the temple clean and in good repair and make sure that the temple precincts were ceremonially pure. They also saw to it that the supply of meal was available for the offerings. Whenever the daily, monthly, and annual sacrifices were offered, the Levite choir would provide praise to the Lord. (Borrow Be restored : trusting God to see us through : OT commentary, 2 Samuel & 1 Chronicles) and He dwells in Jerusalem forever - God's dwelling was to be permanently in Jerusalem. Related Resource: Rest in the Bible 1 Chronicles 23:26 "Also, the Levites will no longer need to carry the tabernacle and all its utensils for its service." carry: Nu 4:5,49 7:9 THE FIXED TEMPLE REPLACES THE PORTABLE TABERNACLE Also, the Levites will no longer need to carry the tabernacle and all its utensils for its service - One can imagine the exhilaration this gave the Levites. No more heavy lifting (it must have been very heavy). Recall the Levites were the assistants of the priests and they did the background work to care for the Temple. 1 Chronicles 23:27 For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward. the last: 1Ch 23:3,24 2Sa 23:1 Ps 72:20 Related Passage: 2 Chronicles 29:25 He then stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with harps and with lyres, according to the command of David and of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet; for the command was from the LORD through His prophets. DAVID'S LAST WORDS FOR THE LEVITES G Campbell