1 Chronicles 23:27 kjv
For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above:
1 Chronicles 23:27 nkjv
For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above;
1 Chronicles 23:27 niv
According to the last instructions of David, the Levites were counted from those twenty years old or more.
1 Chronicles 23:27 esv
For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward.
1 Chronicles 23:27 nlt
In accordance with David's final instructions, all the Levites twenty years old or older were registered for service.
1 Chronicles 23 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 4:3 | "from thirty years old even to fifty years old... do service" | Original Mosaic Law age for carrying Tabernacle items |
| Num 8:24 | "from twenty-five years old and upward... to perform service" | Entrance age for service, possibly probation |
| Num 8:25 | "from the age of fifty years they shall withdraw..." | Age of retirement from demanding service |
| 1 Chron 23:3 | "The Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward" | David's earlier census, still reflecting old age |
| 1 Chron 23:25 | "the Lord has given rest to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever" | Reason for the change: fixed Temple, no more transport |
| 1 Chron 23:26 | "the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle" | Specific functional reason for age reduction |
| Ezra 3:8 | "appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to oversee the work" | Similar age for overseeing Temple rebuilding much later |
| 1 Kgs 6:1 | "in the four hundred and eightieth year after the people... the house of the Lord" | Solomon begins building the permanent Temple |
| 1 Chron 28:11 | "David gave Solomon his son the plan of the vestibule..." | David's comprehensive preparation for the Temple |
| 1 Chron 22:5 | "The house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent" | David's motivation for extensive preparation |
| 2 Sam 8:15 | "So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered justice and righteousness" | David's authority and wisdom in administration |
| Ps 78:70-72 | "He chose David his servant... to be a shepherd... according to the integrity of his heart" | David as a divinely chosen, faithful leader |
| Mk 2:27-28 | "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath..." | Principle of adjusting rules for higher purpose (analogy) |
| Heb 7:12 | "For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change also in the law." | Theological principle of legal adaptation for new dispensation |
| Acts 15:28-29 | "It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden..." | Apostolic adaptation of requirements for Gentiles |
| Rom 12:6 | "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us..." | Diverse gifts for ministry in the New Covenant |
| 1 Cor 12:27-28 | "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church..." | Different roles and functions in God's service |
| 1 Tim 3:6 | "He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up" | Maturity is important for leadership, though age is not fixed |
| Titus 1:9 | "He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught..." | Importance of character and knowledge for ministry |
| 1 Pet 4:10-11 | "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another..." | All believers called to service, using their gifts |
| Eph 4:11-12 | "And he gave the apostles, the prophets... to equip the saints for the work of ministry" | Purpose of spiritual gifts for service |
1 Chronicles 23 verses
1 Chronicles 23 27 Meaning
1 Chronicles 23:27 clarifies that King David, in his later years, adjusted the minimum age for Levites engaged in Temple service from the traditional thirty years old down to twenty years old. This adjustment was made in preparation for the permanent Temple worship that would succeed the movable tabernacle service, signifying a shift in the nature of Levitical duties.
1 Chronicles 23 27 Context
Chapter 23 of 1 Chronicles focuses on King David's extensive organization of the Levites in preparation for the Temple's construction and ongoing worship. Nearing the end of his life, David had made his son Solomon king and set about establishing the structure for religious service. This particular verse (1 Chron 23:27) stands within the detailed accounting of the Levite's numbers and duties. Previously, Mosaic Law specified that Levites began their full service, particularly for transporting the Tabernacle and its elements, at thirty years old (Num 4). However, with the future establishment of a permanent Temple in Jerusalem (1 Chron 23:25-26), the strenuous duty of carrying the sacred furnishings would cease. This practical change rendered the higher age requirement less critical for physical labor and opened the door for younger Levites (from twenty years old) to participate in the many other aspects of Temple worship, such as assisting the priests, performing musical duties, acting as gatekeepers, and managing storehouses.
1 Chronicles 23 27 Word analysis
- For (כִּי - ki): This conjunction introduces a reason or explanation. It links this specific act of counting/organizing to the broader context of David's final administrative decisions and the upcoming shift in worship.
- by the last acts (בְּמִסְפַּר דָּוִ֜יד הָאַחֲרֹונִ֗ים - b'mispar dawid ha'acharonim): Literally "in the numbering of David, the last." This phrase indicates that the census and organization mentioned were part of David's final directives before his death, reflecting his wisdom and foresight in preparing the kingdom for Solomon and the fixed Temple worship. It highlights his role as an administrator guided by divine insight.
misparmeans census or numbering.acharonimemphasizes "the last ones" or "final things," referring to his last instructions concerning the Levites. - of David (דָּוִ֜יד - Dawid): King David, divinely chosen shepherd of Israel (Ps 78:70-72), is acting under divine guidance. His actions in organizing the priesthood and Levites are foundational for the subsequent era of the Temple.
- the Levites (לַלְוִיִּ֔ם - la-levi'im): Refers to the tribe of Levi, set apart by God for special service in the tabernacle and later the Temple (Num 3). Their role was to assist the priests (Aaronites) and manage the sacred duties.
- were numbered (understood/implied from mispar): The act of taking a census or registering. This was not merely for headcount but for organization, assigning specific roles, and ensuring adequate personnel for the expanded Temple services.
- from twenty years old ('עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה֙ - 'esrim shanah): This is the core change introduced by David. Previously, full service (especially physical labor) often began at 30 (Num 4:3), or initiation into service at 25 (Num 8:24). The lowering of the age suggests an increased demand for personnel in the new Temple setup where strenuous carrying was no longer required, allowing younger men to fulfill a wide array of support, musical, and gatekeeping roles.
- and upward (וּלְמַ֣עְלָה - u'lema'lah): This signifies an inclusive lower age limit, encompassing all Levites from 20 years old and older, who would be involved in the Temple duties. It implies readiness for service beyond physical maturity.
1 Chronicles 23 27 Bonus section
The modification of the Levitical service age from thirty (Num 4) or twenty-five (Num 8) down to twenty also reflects a practical understanding of capacity. With the need for more hands for the various new Temple duties (e.g., music, gatekeeping, overseeing, ritual preparation) that were not as physically demanding as tabernacle transport, allowing younger, enthusiastic individuals into service made strategic sense. It indicates God's people, even under a detailed law, had the capacity to adapt administrative details of worship under Spirit-led leadership, particularly when circumstances like a fixed Temple necessitated it. This precedent finds echoes in later periods, such as the rebuilding of the Temple under Ezra, where Levites from twenty years old and upward were also engaged (Ezra 3:8), reinforcing this practical adaptation for Temple-centric work.
1 Chronicles 23 27 Commentary
1 Chronicles 23:27 records a significant administrative and spiritual reform instituted by King David in his twilight years. This verse encapsulates a critical adaptation of sacred law under inspired leadership. The Mosaic Law stipulated that Levites commenced full service at the age of thirty, primarily due to the arduous task of transporting the Tabernacle and its heavy components. However, with the transition to a permanent Temple in Jerusalem, foreseeing that the "Lord has given rest to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever" (1 Chron 23:25), the physically demanding carrying duties would become obsolete.
David, acting under divine guidance, recognized that the nature of Levitical service would shift from a mobile to a stationary and more diverse array of duties, encompassing intricate ritual assistance, musical performance, gatekeeping, and administration. By reducing the entry age to twenty, David ensured a larger workforce, preparing a vast number of able men for the grandeur and continuous operation of the magnificent Temple worship. This was not a disregard for God's law but an inspired adjustment to its practical application, allowing flexibility in implementation without compromising the divine intent for the Levites' sacred ministry. It exemplifies a divine wisdom that provides principles but also allows for Spirit-led adaptation to changing circumstances.