1 Chronicles 15:4 kjv
And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites:
1 Chronicles 15:4 nkjv
Then David assembled the children of Aaron and the Levites:
1 Chronicles 15:4 niv
He called together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:
1 Chronicles 15:4 esv
And David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites:
1 Chronicles 15:4 nlt
This is the number of the descendants of Aaron (the priests) and the Levites who were called together:
1 Chronicles 15 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 3:33-37 | The sons of Merari according to their families were numbered... their charge... boards of the tabernacle, and its bars... | Original Merarite duties. |
| Num 4:29-32 | The sons of Merari you shall number according to their families... this is the service of their burden... boards, and its bars... | Specific heavy burdens of Merarites. |
| 1 Chr 13:7-10 | And they carried the ark of God on a new cart... Uzzah put forth his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah... | Previous failed attempt to move the Ark by cart. |
| 1 Chr 15:2 | Then David said, “No one is to carry the ark of God but the Levites; for the LORD has chosen them..." | David's directive correcting the method. |
| 1 Chr 15:12 | "You are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites; consecrate yourselves... that you may bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel..." | Levites' role in carrying the Ark. |
| Dt 10:8 | At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister... | Levitical role as ordained by God. |
| Ex 25:14 | "You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, by which to carry it." | Divine command for how the Ark was to be carried. |
| 2 Sam 6:12-15 | So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom into the city of David with rejoicing... | Successful bringing of the Ark. |
| Num 7:8 | "And the sons of Merari received two wagons and four oxen, for their service under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest." | Merarites receiving wagons for other items (not Ark). |
| 1 Chr 23:24-26 | These were the sons of Levi... Merari: Mahli and Mushi... no longer needed to carry the tabernacle and its utensils for its service. | Merarites' duties change with the temple. |
| Heb 12:28 | "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe." | Worship requires reverence and awe. |
| 1 Sam 7:1 | So the men of Kiriath-Jearim came and took the ark of the LORD and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill... | Ark's prolonged stay elsewhere due to Israel's neglect. |
| Ezr 8:18 | "According to the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen..." | Similar listing of Levitical family for service. |
| Neh 11:22 | The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani... of the sons of Asaph, the singers for the service of the house of God. | Levites fulfilling their service in God's house. |
| Eph 4:11-12 | "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry..." | God designates roles for His work. |
| Rom 12:4-5 | "For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." | Different roles and functions in God's service. |
| Col 3:23 | "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men..." | Serving God with diligence. |
| Ex 40:1-33 | Instructions for the Tabernacle and its parts being assembled and set up according to God's precise commands. | Emphasis on divine order and exact compliance. |
| Num 1:50 | "But you shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony... and they shall carry it..." | Levites explicitly appointed to carry. |
| 1 Cor 14:33 | "For God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints." | Importance of order in divine service. |
1 Chronicles 15 verses
1 Chronicles 15 4 Meaning
This verse details the specific designation of the Merarite clan's involvement in transporting the Ark of the Covenant. It identifies Asaiah as the leading elder (chief) of the Merarite family contingent, alongside two hundred and twenty other men from their household, all selected to participate in the solemn and sacred task of carrying the Ark to Jerusalem in a manner compliant with the Lord's instructions. It highlights King David's meticulous adherence to divine law following the previous disastrous attempt, emphasizing the necessity of order and consecrated service in worshipping God.
1 Chronicles 15 4 Context
1 Chronicles 15 opens with King David's renewed determination to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. This effort follows a prior failed attempt detailed in 1 Chronicles 13, where Uzzah's death due to improperly touching the Ark highlighted the severe consequences of neglecting God's precise instructions. Chapters 13-16 recount this pivotal event for establishing Jerusalem as the spiritual center. Unlike the previous attempt using an unauthorized cart, David now meticulously adheres to the divine mandate that only Levites are to carry the Ark using poles, consecrated for this sacred task. Verse 4 specifically contributes to a detailed roster of Levitical chiefs and their numbers (verses 5-10) who were gathered to ensure the Ark's transport was carried out correctly. This detailed account emphasizes David's obedience, the sacredness of the Ark, and the vital role of the Levites in ancient Israelite worship, underscoring the importance of divine order in all aspects of communal life and religious service.
1 Chronicles 15 4 Word analysis
- And of the sons of Merari:
- And: Conjunction, connects this family group to the preceding lists of other Levitical families (Kohathites, Gershonites) also appointed for the task (1 Chr 15:5-7). It shows a continuation of David's thorough accounting.
- Sons: Hebrew בְּנֵי (b'nê), meaning descendants or members of a lineage. Here, it refers to the familial clan of Merari.
- Merari: Hebrew מְרָרִי (M'rāri), one of the three sons of Levi (Ex 6:16), alongside Kohath and Gershon. His descendants, the Merarites, were given specific duties in the Tabernacle service, primarily involving the transportation of the heavier components like the framework, boards, bars, and pillars (Num 3:36-37, Num 4:31-32). Their duties differed from the Kohathites, who were specifically designated to carry the sacred vessels, including the Ark itself, using poles. The presence of Merarites here confirms their essential, distinct, and coordinated role in this grand operation, underscoring the unity of Levitical service.
- Asaiah the chief:
- Asaiah: Hebrew עֲשָׂיָה ('Asayāh), meaning "the Lord has made" or "Yahweh has made." He is specifically identified as the appointed head or leader (chief) of the Merarite contingent chosen for this mission. This highlights individual responsibility and delegated authority within the larger group.
- The chief: Hebrew רֹאשׁ (rosh), meaning "head," "top," or "chief." This term signifies his leading position, responsibility, and authority over the 220 men from the Merarite family. David's meticulous planning involved identifying a specific leader for each major Levitical branch to ensure accountability and orderly execution of the task.
- And his brethren:
- And: Connects Asaiah with his kinsmen under his leadership.
- His brethren: Hebrew אֲחֵיהֶם ('aḥêhem), literally "their brothers," referring to his fellow clan members, those of the Merarite lineage. It emphasizes the communal effort and the collective participation of the family unit under its designated leader.
- Two hundred and twenty:
- Two hundred and twenty: Hebrew מָאתַיִם וְעֶשְׂרִים (matayim v'ʿesrim), the precise number of Merarite men (excluding Asaiah, the chief) designated for the task. This precise count for each Levitical family (compare 1 Chr 15:5-10 for Kohathites, Gershonites) underscores David's detailed preparation, organization, and adherence to specific numbers, possibly relating to previous census or service capacities. This numerical specificity reinforces the idea of divinely ordered service where every person's contribution is accounted for and essential.
- Phrase Analysis:
- "And of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty": This entire phrase signifies the structured delegation and mobilization of specific Levitical groups for sacred duty. It reveals the careful planning that rectified past errors, emphasizing hierarchical leadership ("chief") within each lineage, collective responsibility ("brethren"), and the precise accounting of personnel, ensuring the sacred task of Ark transport was handled with reverence and according to God's prescribed order. It underlines the importance of order, authority, and meticulous execution in matters of worship.
1 Chronicles 15 4 Bonus section
The Chronicler's emphasis on detailed Levitical genealogies and roles, as seen in this verse, was highly significant for the post-exilic community in Israel. This community, returning from Babylonian exile, was struggling to re-establish proper temple worship and its spiritual identity. By meticulously recording these historical details of David's reforms and the Levites' functions, the Chronicler aimed to:
- Legitimize Levitical roles: Reaffirming the divine origin and importance of the Levites' service, encouraging a return to established liturgical practices.
- Model godly leadership: Portraying David as a king who learns from his mistakes and ultimately prioritizes strict adherence to God's law, offering an exemplary model for future leaders.
- Encourage order in worship: The precise counting and assigning of duties highlight that true worship is not chaotic but structured, reflecting God's orderly character.This detailed account also sets the stage for the Merarites' ongoing service, later shifting from carrying the tabernacle elements to assisting with general temple service and musicianship as the permanent Temple was established (1 Chr 23:24-26).
1 Chronicles 15 4 Commentary
1 Chronicles 15:4 serves as a precise administrative detail within a narrative of profound spiritual significance. Following the tragic failure of King David's initial attempt to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, a disaster directly attributed to his deviation from God's explicit commands (carrying the Ark on a cart rather than by Levites on poles), David demonstrates a complete reorientation towards divine instruction. This verse, therefore, is not merely a name and a number but a testament to meticulous repentance and adherence to the Law. It showcases the critical role of the Merarite Levites, a family often responsible for the heaviest burdens of the Tabernacle, under the leadership of Asaiah. The explicit numbering of "two hundred and twenty" individuals reflects David's comprehensive and ordered approach, signifying that every person's place and function in God's service are distinct, valuable, and carefully considered. This contrasts sharply with the earlier improvised effort, highlighting that reverence for God's holiness demands obedience to His exact instructions, carried out by consecrated persons, in proper order. It teaches that proper worship involves careful preparation, humility in following divine directives, and acknowledgment of the diverse but complementary roles within God's service.