Day #146

Sermon - Audio
1 Chronicles 23-25 - Audio
1 Chronicles 23-25 - Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

23

Instructions for Levites and priests [ chapters 23–24 ]. The remainder of the book of 1 Chronicles is devoted to David’s last acts as a king on the verge of handing over the kingdom to those who will succeed him. These chapters have the nature of a *farewell discourse(23:27 uses the formula “the last words of David”). The parting instructions that the writer chose to include reflect his own conception of what matters most in a well-ordered nation, and doubtless the material reflects David’s thinking along the same lines, with a focus on worship and the leadership of it. This unit unfolds as follows: David’s organization of the Levites, followed by a list of names (23:1–23); David’s final instructions regarding the duties of the Levites (23:24–32); a list of the divisions of the priests (chapter 24). ESVLB

1 - Over the next few chapters we see David's preparation for making Solomon king.

1-2 - The Levites, who were not included in David’s earlier census, are now counted. This census was probably carried out in order to assess the organization of the Temple -JSB-

4 - The “officers” were perhaps “record keepers.”

6-23 - David organizes the Levites according to their traditional clans: the Gershonites (vv. 7–11), the Kohathites (vv. 12–20), and the Merarites (vv. 21–23).

13 - "The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart to dedicate the most holy things, that he and his sons forever should make offerings before the LORD and minister to him and pronounce blessings in his name forever." - duties of the Priesthood

24

1-19 - David organizes the priests into 24 divisions.

10 - To Abijah.” This was the priestly division to which Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, belonged (see Lk 1:5). -ASB-

7-18 - rrrriiiigggghhhhtttt

20-31 - This list is frequently thought to reflect an updated version of 23:6–23.

25

1-8 - David and the leaders of the Levites divided the musicians into the three family groups of Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman (see 6:31–47), who prophesied with musical instruments, i.e., wrote songs. In some cases, their songs seem to have become part of OT Scripture, for Asaph is named in the titles of Psalms 50 and 73–83, and Jeduthun in the titles of Psalms 39, 62, and 77. In addition, Heman here may be the same person as Heman the Ezrahite named in the title of Psalm 88 -ESVSB-

The verb “to prophesy” (Hb. naba}) indicates that their songs were prompted or guided by the Spirit of God. This shows that “prophecy” is not always a direct announcement of God’s plans; it indicates that the person is operating as God’s authorized spokesman, here providing the right way for God’s people to sing to him (they prophesied … in thanksgiving and praise to the LORD, 25:3). -ESVSB-

7 - The number “288” is the product of 24 courses (divisions) times 12.

7-31 - The 24 divisions of 12 members each were assigned their duties impartially by lot, as were the priests (24:5). Each group varied in age and contained both teachers and pupils (25:8). -ESVSB-