Bible Commentaries
1 Chronicles 23

Verses 1-32

David makes Solomon King. Particulars relating to the Levites

This and the following three chapters (supplementing the earlier history) describe the arrangements made by David for the organisation of the Temple service after Solomon had been appointed his successor. The incidents relating to this last event, which are recorded in 1 Kings 1, are omitted by the writer, who passes over all David’s domestic troubles.

3. From the age of thirty years] This limit is given in Numbers 4:3, but ’twenty-five’ is fixed in Numbers 8:24, possibly having in view different and lighter duties. By their polls] i.e. by heads.

9. Shimei] This was a fourth son of ’Laadan,’ not the ’Shimei’ of 1 Chronicles 23:7, 1 Chronicles 23:10, who was Laadan’s brother, II. Zizah] the ’Zina’ of 1 Chronicles 23:10. Jeush.. Beriah] These together constituted a third ’course’ belonging to the house of the elder Shimei, RV ’they became a fathers’ house in one reckoning.’

14. His sons.. Levi] i.e. the sons of Moses were reckoned as Levites, not (like the sons of Aaron) as priests.

24. From the age of twenty years] David, at the end of his reign (1 Chronicles 23:27), seems to have lowered the limit of age (see 1 Chronicles 23:3) above which the Levites entered on their duties, and his regulations were observed in subsequent times: 2 Chronicles 31:17; Ezra 3:8.

27. By the last words] better, ’in the Last Acts,’ i.e. a history of the closing part of his reign.

29. For all.. size] i.e. for dispensing the various quantities used for the different offerings (as in Exodus 29:40;).

31. The set feasts] These were the festivals of the Passover, Unleavened Bread, Weeks, and Tabernacles; for the number of victims appointed for each occasion see Numbers 28, 29.