parts of the land, and had been subdued by David. On הארץ נככּשׁה, cf. Jos 18:1; Num 32:22, Num 32:29. This safety which the Lord had granted them binds them in duty to seek Him with all their heart, and to build the sanctuary, that the ark and the sacred vessels may be brought into it. The ל in לבּית is not a sign of the accusative (Berth.), for הביא is not construed with accus. loci, but generally with אל, for which, however, so early as Jos 4:5, ל is used, or it is construed with the acc. and ה locale - הבּיתה, Gen 19:10; Gen 43:17. Enumeration and Arrangement of the Levites According to Their Divisions and Employments - 1 Chronicles 23-26
These four chapters give a connected view of the condition of the Levites towards the end, i.e., in the fortieth year, of David's reign (cf. 1Ch 23:1 and 1Ch 26:31), and of the sections into which they were divided according to their various services. This review begins with a statement of the total number belonging to the tribe of Levi according to the census then undertaken, and their divisions according to the duties devolving upon (1Ch 23:2-5); which is followed by an enumeration of the heads of the fathers'-houses into which the four families of Levites had branched out (23:6-23), together with a short review of their duties (1Ch 23:24-32). Thereafter we have: 1. In 1 Chron 24, a catalogue of the Aaronites, i.e., of the priests, who were divided into twenty-four classes, corresponding to the sons of Eleazar and Ithamar, and were appointed to perform the service in succession, according as it was determined by lot, special mention being made of the heads of these twenty-four classes; and a catalogue of the heads of the fathers'-houses of the other descendants of Levi, in an order of succession, which was likewise settled by lot (1Ch 24:20-31). Then, 2. In 1 Chron 25 we have a catalogue of the twenty-four orders of Levitic musicians, in an order fixed by lot. And, 3. In 1 Chron 26 the classes of doorkeepers (vv. 1-19), the administrators of the treasures of the sanctuary (1Ch 26:20-28), and the officials who performed the external services (1Ch 26:29-32).
Chap. 23
Verse 1
1Ch 23:1Number, duties, and fathers'-houses of the Levites. - This clear account of the state and the order of service of the tribe of Levi is introduced by the words, 1Ch 23:1, “David was old, and life weary; then he made his son Solomon king over Israel.” זקן, generally an adjective, is here third pers. perf. of the verb, as in [[Bible_(King_James)/Genesis|Gen 18:
