LESSON 12: DAVID’S ORGANIZATION OF THE
LEVITES (1 CHR. 23-24)
The
Levites were numbered, according to the rule in Moses' time, from thirty years
old to fifty (Num. 4:2-3). Their numbers in Moses' time, by this rule, were
"eight thousand and five hundred and fourscore" (Num. 4:47-48). In 1
Chr. 23:24 we are told that the Levites were numbered "from the age of
twenty years and upward." It appears that this was a different ordinance
from that mentioned in Num. 4:3. At first he appointed the Levites to serve
from thirty years and upward: now it was from twenty years. These were David's
last orders: "For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered
from twenty years old and above" (1 Chr. 23:27). Since this was by the
direction of God this change was approved by God.[1]
CHAPTER 23
It was
necessary that a careful count of this tribe be made so proper work assignments
could be given. The Levite males thirty years of age and older were counted.
There were thirty eight thousand. Twenty four thousand had assigned
responsibility with regard to the Temple. Six thousand would serve as officers
and judges. The officers were overseers of work outside the Temple which
pertained to the functioning of the Temple. The Levitical judges had
responsibility in those matters which had to do with decisions pertaining to
the Temple. The doorkeepers would be charged with the security of the Temple.
Four thousand Levites had charge of the musical instruments such as harps and
cymbals as these would be used in Temple services. The census would indicate
the particular Levitical family to which each Levite belonged. Responsibilities
were assigned which agreed with the kind of service that the Kohathite,
Gershonite, or Merarite could perform.[2]
Verses
7-11 name certain leaders of the Gershonite family. Nine households were
counted. Three of these belonged to Shimei and six belonged to Ladan (Libni).
In Moses’ day the Gershonites had charge of the tent materials in the moving of
the Tabernacle. Now they were appointed other tasks relating to services at the
Temple.
Verses
12-20 concern the Kohathites. Kohath, Levi’s son, had four sons. Amram was the
father of Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. Aaron’s “separation” or selection for the
high priesthood was an important event in Israel’s history. His responsibilites
were “to sanctify the most holy things”, to regard Jehovah’s appointments in
the tabernacle as most sacred; “to burn incense before Jehovah”, the sweet odor
of dutiful service, the symbol of prayer; “to minister unto him”, to carry out
every detail of the ritual; “to bless in his name forever”, to be Jehovah’s
agent in mediating his grace to men. Moses’ sons, Gershom and Eliezer, were
heads of houses and shared Kohathite obligations. Moses is here called “the man
of God”, a most honored descriptive phrase, No false prophet in
Biblical record is ever called “a man of God”. The Kohathite assignments in
Moses’ day had to do with the sacred furniture of the tabernacle which they
carried on their shoulders or arms. The priests who officiated at the altar
were members of this family. Their duties would be of this highest order in the
Temple.
Verses
21-23 concern the Merarites. Merari was Levi’s third son (Genesis 46:ll).
Gershon was represented by nine houses, Kohath by eleven, and Merari by four.
Altogether there were twenty-four divisions of the tribe of Levi. In Moses’ day
the Merarites had to transport the boards, bars, pillars, and sockets of the
tabernacle. They probably assisted in cutting wood and carrying water for the
Temple.
Verse
three in the present chapter indicated that the Levites were numbered beginning
at age thirty. Verse twenty-four states that the enumeration began at age
twenty. It is possible that David understood that more Levites would be needed
than could be provided under the thirty year limitation. Among the last
directives (verse 27) given
by David was the one which lowered the age limit to twenty years. A summary of
the tasks reveals a variety of exercises that had to be done to keep the Temple
functioning. Work in the courts, in the rooms built in the Temple walls,
officiating at the altar, and serving in the Temple proper would involve many
men. Preparing shewbread, processing the meal offerings, presenting daily
sacrifices, and discharging added responsibilities during the sabbath days and
special feast days required many willing hands. The whole Temple routine was
amazingly involved and wonderfully demanding. It was the heart of Jehovah’s
government of His people. It was the life line of the total relationship of
Israel to Jehovah. It was peculiarly the charge of the Levites to keep this
institution functioning.[3]
CHAPTER 24
David
requested the advice and assistance of Zadok and Ahimelech in setting up the
courses of the Levites for Temple service. Four sons were born to Aaron. Nadab
and Abihu had been stricken down by Jehovah and they had left no sons. Eleazar
and Ithamar remained and Jehovah gave them sons. In David’s day Zadok
represented the line of Eleazar and Abiathar (Ahimelech’s son) represented
Ithamar’s descendants. In organizing the courses of priests in the high
priestly line sixteen courses were from the line of Eleazar and eight courses
were lineal descendants from Ithamar. The distinction between “princes of the
sanctuary’’ and “princes of God” is difficult.[4]
Barnes answers this difficulty with,
“’the assignment of their order in the courses was made by lot to the families
belonging to Eleazar, and to the families belonging to Ithamar, equally.’ Both
houses had furnished functionaries of the highest class, and therefore no
preference was now given to either over the other.”[5] Or
as Clarke says, “This prevented jealousies: for, as all the families were
equally noble, they had equal right to all ecclesiastical and civil
distinctions.”[6]
The names
of the persons who were the chief leaders of the twenty-four courses are listed
in verses 7-19. Some of the
descendants of Jehoiarib (Joiarib) were among those returning from the
Babylonian exile about 5 36 B.C.
(Nehemiah 11:l0). Jedaiah is
also mentioned later in the same connection (Ezra 2:36). Sons of Harim in Ezra 2:39 and Nehemiah 7:35 would
relate to this present reference. Malchijah is named in Nehemiah 11:12 and Jeremiah 21:l. Abijah,
who headed the eighth course is named in Nehemiah 10:7 and Luke 1:5. The
father of John the Baptist served in this course. References in the lists of
those who returned from Babylonian captivity include the people of Jeshua.
Descendants of some of the other heads of these Levitical courses are named in
the lists in Ezra and Nehemiah. In the using of the lot, the leaders did not simply
trust mere chance. This was David’s way of emphasizing the fact that Jehovah
made the decision as to which persons should be in each course of priests.
Assignments for “the rest of the sons of Levi” are detailed in verses 20-31. These are the Levites who were not of the high priestly order. They could not officiate at the altar and do that kind of priestly work. These Levites had obligations as musicians, doorkeepers, and Temple guards. Jehdeiah and Isshiah were the chieftains over “the rest of the sons of Levi.” These leaders were descended from Amram. David, along with Zadok and Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, cast lots to determine how and when these men should serve.[7]
[1]
Garland Elkins. “David Numbers Israel, Charges and Crowns Solomon, and Dies” in
Studies in 1, 2 Kings and 1, 2 Chronicles.
Ed. By Dub McClish, Denton, TX: Valid Publications, Inc., 1993.
[2] Robert E.
Black. The Books of Chronicles in
Bible Study Textbook Series. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1991.
[3]
Ibid.
[4]
Ibid.
[5]
Albert Barnes. Albert Barnes’ Notes on
the Bible. Extracted from e-Sword.
[6]
Adam Clarke. Adam Clarke’s Commentary on
the Bible. Extracted from e-Sword.
[7] Robert E.
Black. The Books of Chronicles in
Bible Study Textbook Series. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1991.
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