1 Chronicles 23 25

1 Chronicles 23:25 kjv

For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:

1 Chronicles 23:25 nkjv

For David said, "The LORD God of Israel has given rest to His people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem forever";

1 Chronicles 23:25 niv

For David had said, "Since the LORD, the God of Israel, has granted rest to his people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem forever,

1 Chronicles 23:25 esv

For David said, "The LORD, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever.

1 Chronicles 23:25 nlt

For David said, "The LORD, the God of Israel, has given us peace, and he will always live in Jerusalem.

1 Chronicles 23 verses

1 Chronicles 23 25 Meaning

This verse states David's decree, acknowledging that the LORD God of Israel had granted His people a settled period of peace and security. This divine "rest" from their former nomadic life and conflicts meant they could now permanently dwell in Jerusalem. This fundamental shift in Israel's national condition served as the theological basis for reorganizing the Levites' duties from carrying the Tabernacle to performing fixed services within a centralized sanctuary.

1 Chronicles 23 25 Context

This verse is found within David's meticulous preparations for the construction and administration of the future Temple, after Solomon has been made king. Chapter 23 outlines David's organization of the Levites into divisions, defining their specific roles and responsibilities in the coming Temple worship. This particular verse provides the profound theological reason for the reorganization: Israel, led by David, had achieved a divinely granted state of peace and secure habitation. The previous period of wilderness wandering and the subsequent wars of conquest had concluded with God establishing His people firmly in Jerusalem, rendering the portable Tabernacle and the Levites' duty to transport it obsolete. Thus, their service was adapted to suit a settled nation with a fixed sanctuary.

1 Chronicles 23 25 Word analysis

• For (ki, כִּי): A conjunctive particle often translated as "because" or "indeed." Here, it introduces the reason or explanation for David's reorganization of the Levites, indicating a direct cause-and-effect relationship with God's action.

• David said (wayyomer Dawid, וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִיד): This phrase underscores the authoritative nature of the declaration. David's statement is not merely an opinion but a profound recognition of God's work, often implying prophetic insight or divine inspiration, setting the theological foundation for the subsequent actions.

• The LORD God of Israel (YHWH Elohei Yisra'el, יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל): This is a powerful, covenantal title for God.

  • YHWH (LORD) represents God's personal, covenantal, and unchanging nature.
  • Elohei (God) signifies His ultimate power, sovereignty, and role as Creator.
  • Yisra'el (Israel) emphasizes His unique relationship with His chosen people, whose identity and existence are tied to His covenant. This specific title highlights God's active involvement in the nation's history.

• hath given rest (heniyach, הֵנִיחַ): Derived from the root nuach (נוּחַ), meaning "to rest, settle, tranquilize." The Hiphil stem indicates causing or bringing about rest. This refers to the cessation of military conflicts and wandering, signifying a divinely established state of peace, security, and stability in the promised land, contrasting with the long period of striving and movement. It is a state bestowed by God, not earned by man.

• unto his people (le'ammo, לְעַמּוֹ): "His people" denotes Israel as God's special possession and elect nation, highlighting His specific care and faithfulness to them through the covenant.

• that they may dwell (w'yishkenu, וְיִשְׁכְּנוּ): From the verb shakan (שָׁכַן), meaning "to dwell, abide, settle." This term conveys permanent habitation and security. It is closely related to Shekinah, the divine presence, suggesting not only a physical dwelling but a secure, blessed presence in God's chosen land and city.

• in Jerusalem (b'Y'rushalayim, בִּירוּשָׁלָיִם): The specific city chosen by God as Israel's capital and the destined site for His Temple. It is the central place of worship, governance, and divine presence, symbolizing the established kingdom and God's covenantal fidelity. Its selection implies a divine purpose and eternal significance.

• for ever (le'olam, לְעוֹלָם): This signifies perpetuity, everlasting duration, and unchangeable stability. In this context, it emphasizes the enduring nature of God's grant of rest and His establishment of His people in Jerusalem, implying a lasting security rooted in God's faithfulness to His covenant, transcending immediate historical circumstances.

• Words-group analysis:

  • For David said, The LORD God of Israel: This clause sets up David's words as divinely inspired revelation, not mere human observation. It attributes the coming actions (Levitical reorganization) to God's ultimate decree and purpose for Israel, declared through His chosen king.
  • hath given rest unto his people: This encapsulates the divine blessing and fulfillment of covenant promises. The "rest" provided by God liberated Israel from the arduous journey and continuous conflict, establishing a new era of stability. This rest is foundational for a structured, fixed mode of worship.
  • that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever: This phrase articulates the ultimate purpose and permanent outcome of God's action. Jerusalem becomes the divinely designated place of everlasting security and God's presence, signifying a deep, enduring bond between God, His people, and His holy city. This looks beyond temporal peace to an eternal divine commitment.

1 Chronicles 23 25 Bonus section

• The concept of "rest" (nuach) is a recurring theological theme in the Bible, signifying both physical peace from enemies and the deeper spiritual rest found in God's presence and promises. This verse points to a partial fulfillment of God's promised land-rest for Israel, anticipating the greater, eternal rest that is fully realized in the Messiah.
• While David's words refer to Israel's dwelling in Jerusalem "for ever" in his immediate historical context, this phrase holds prophetic resonance. Although Jerusalem faced destruction and exile, God's promise for an eternal dwelling in Zion persists through the covenant, pointing ultimately to the spiritual and renewed Jerusalem where God truly tabernacles with His people eternally, as revealed in the New Testament.
• David's action exemplifies wise leadership that discerns God's present work and adapts divine service accordingly. The transition from mobile worship to a fixed temple structure demonstrates how the method of service can change, yet the core purpose of worshiping and serving God remains constant.

1 Chronicles 23 25 Commentary

First Chronicles 23:25 provides the core theological rationale for King David's pivotal reorganization of the Levitical service. Recognizing that God had ushered in a new era of "rest" and permanent settlement for Israel in Jerusalem, David understood that the former nomadic duties of carrying the Tabernacle were now obsolete. This divinely granted peace was a direct fulfillment of God's covenant promises, enabling a shift in priestly focus from travel and temporary worship to the establishment of intricate, enduring rituals in a fixed sanctuary. David's statement highlights the adaptive nature of God's service to the divine context, grounding the extensive Levitical organization not in human ingenuity, but in God's faithfulness to His people and His intention for a perpetual dwelling with them in Jerusalem.