1 CHRONICLES 23

1 Chronicles 23 Outline

  • 38,000 Levites Were Numbered (v1-5)
  • The Divisions Of Gershon, Kohath And Merari (v6-23)
  • Levites To Help Serve In The Temple (v24-32)

Key Verse: 1 Chronicles 23:6Information Icon

1 Chronicles 23:6 And David organized them in divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. (ESV)

1 Chronicles 23

When David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

David assembled all the leaders of Israel and the priests and the Levites. The Levites, thirty years old and upward, were numbered, and the total was 38,000 men. “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, 4,000 gatekeepers, and 4,000 shall offer praises to the LORD with the instruments that I have made for praise.” And David organized them in divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

The sons of Gershon were Ladan and Shimei. The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, and Zetham, and Joel, three. The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers’ houses of Ladan. 10 And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, and Jeush and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei. 11 Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, therefore they became counted as a single father’s house.

12 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four. 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. 14 But the sons of Moses the man of God were named among the tribe of Levi. 15 The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer. 16 The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief. 17 The sons of Eliezer: Rehabiah the chief. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many. 18 The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief. 19 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. 20 The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief and Isshiah the second.

21 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. 22 Eleazar died having no sons, but only daughters; their kinsmen, the sons of Kish, married them. 23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

24 These were the sons of Levi by their fathers’ houses, the heads of fathers’ houses as they were listed according to the number of the names of the individuals from twenty years old and upward who were to do the work for the service of the house of the LORD. 25 For David said, “The LORD, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever. 26 And so the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the things for its service.” 27 For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward. 28 For their duty was to assist the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, having the care of the courts and the chambers, the cleansing of all that is holy, and any work for the service of the house of God. 29 Their duty was also to assist with the showbread, the flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the baked offering, the offering mixed with oil, and all measures of quantity or size. 30 And they were to stand every morning, thanking and praising the LORD, and likewise at evening, 31 and whenever burnt offerings were offered to the LORD on Sabbaths, new moons, and feast days, according to the number required of them, regularly before the LORD. 32 Thus they were to keep charge of the tent of meeting and the sanctuary, and to attend the sons of Aaron, their brothers, for the service of the house of the LORD.

(ESV)

1 Chronicles 23 ContextInformation Icon

Book: 1 Chronicles

Chapter: 23 of 29 Chapters

Author: Ezra

Written In: Hebrew

Passage Type: Narrative

Writing Date Range: 536 B.C. - 430 B.C.

Events Date Range: 1010 B.C. - 970 B.C.

Parallel History: 1 Kings 1

1 Chronicles 23 VisualsInformation Icon

1 Chronicles 23 TeachingsInformation Icon

1 Chronicles 23 TimeframeInformation Icon

4004 B.C.

Creation

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Narrative Chapters: Genesis 1, Genesis 2

2348 B.C.

Worldwide Flood

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Narrative Chapters: Genesis 6, Genesis 7, Genesis 8

1996 B.C.

Life of Abraham

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Narrative Chapters: Genesis 11

1492 B.C.

10 Plagues in Egypt

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Nations Involved: Egypt, Israel

Relevant Books: Exodus

Narrative Chapters: Exodus 7, Exodus 8, Exodus 9, Exodus 10, Exodus 11, Exodus 12

1491 B.C.

Moses Leads Israel Out Of Egypt

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Nations Involved: Egypt

Relevant Books: Exodus

Narrative Chapters: Exodus 12, Exodus 13, Exodus 14, Exodus 15, Exodus 16, Exodus 17, Exodus 18, Exodus 19

1450 B.C.

Israel Crosses Into The Promised Land

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Nations Involved: Israel

Relevant Books: Joshua

Narrative Chapters: Joshua 3

Prophecy Chapters: Numbers 14:34

1040 B.C.

Birth of David

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Nations Involved: Israel

1010 B.C.

David Reigns Over Judah

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Nations Involved: Judah

Relevant Books: 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles

Narrative Chapters: 2 Samuel 2, 2 Samuel 3, 2 Samuel 4

1 Chronicles 23 Events Timeframe: 1010 B.C. - 970 B.C.

970 B.C.

Solomon And The Wise Write Proverbs (970 B.C. - 870 B.C.)

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Nations Involved: Israel

Relevant Books: Proverbs

966 B.C.

Solomon Begins to Build the Temple

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959 B.C.

Solomon Completes the Temple

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931 B.C.

Israel Divided: Israel & Judah

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Nations Involved: Israel: Northern Kingdom, Judah: Southern Kingdom

Relevant Books: 1 Kings, 2 Chronicles

Narrative Chapters: 1 Kings 12

740 B.C.

Isaiah Prophesies To Judah

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722 B.C.

Assyria Conquered Israel

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Nations Involved: Israel: Northern Kingdom

Relevant Books: 2 Kings

Narrative Chapters: 2 Kings 17

605 B.C.

Daniel Prophesies In Babylon

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Nations Involved: Babylon

Relevant Books: Daniel

Narrative Chapters: Daniel 1, Daniel 2, Daniel 3, Daniel 4, Daniel 5, Daniel 6, Daniel 7, Daniel 8, Daniel 9, Daniel 10, Daniel 11, Daniel 12

586 B.C.

Babylon Conquers Judah (3 of 3)

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Nations Involved: Judah: Southern Kingdom

Relevant Books: 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles

Narrative Chapters: 2 Kings 25, 2 Chronicles 36, Jeremiah 39, Jeremiah 52

560 B.C.

Neriglissar Began To Reign In Babylon

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Nations Involved: Babylon

556 B.C.

Nabonidus Began To Reign In Babylon

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Nations Involved: Babylon

553 B.C.

Belshazzar Began To Reign In Babylon

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Nations Involved: Babylon

Narrative Chapters: Daniel 5

539 B.C.

Medes & Persians Conquered Babylon

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Nations Involved: Babylon, Media, Persia, Medo-Persia

Prophecy Chapters: Daniel 2, Daniel 5, Daniel 7, Daniel 8

536 B.C.

Cyrus Allowed Jews To Return To Jerusalem

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Nations Involved: Israel: After Babylon

1 Chronicles 23 Written: 536 B.C. - 430 B.C.

520 B.C.

Temple Foundation Set

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Nations Involved: Israel: After Babylon

Haggai Prophesies To Israel

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Nations Involved: Israel: After Babylon

Relevant Books: Ezra, Haggai, Zechariah

Narrative Chapters: Ezra 5, Ezra 6

Zechariah Prophesies To Israel

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Nations Involved: Israel: After Babylon

Relevant Books: Ezra, Haggai, Zechariah

Narrative Chapters: Ezra 5, Ezra 6

516 B.C.

Temple Rebuilt

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Nations Involved: Israel: After Babylon

Relevant Books: Ezra, Haggai, Zechariah

Narrative Chapters: Ezra 5, Ezra 6

444 B.C.

Nehemiah Rebuilds Jerusalem's Walls

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430 B.C.

Malachi Ministers To Israel

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Nations Involved: Israel: After Babylon

Relevant Books: Malachi

284 B.C.

Greek Translation Of The Scriptures

4 B.C.

Birth of Jesus

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Nations Involved: Rome, Israel

Relevant Books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

Narrative Chapters: Luke 1, Luke 2, Matthew 1

32 A.D.

Jesus Crucified & Resurrected

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Nations Involved: Israel

Relevant Books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

Narrative Chapters: Matthew 27, Matthew 28, Mark 15, Mark 16, Luke 22, Luke 23, Luke 24, John 18, John 19, John 20, John 21

Prophecy Chapters: Isaiah 53