1 Chronicles 23:31 kjv
And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD:
1 Chronicles 23:31 nkjv
and at every presentation of a burnt offering to the LORD on the Sabbaths and on the New Moons and on the set feasts, by number according to the ordinance governing them, regularly before the LORD;
1 Chronicles 23:31 niv
and whenever burnt offerings were presented to the LORD on the Sabbaths, at the New Moon feasts and at the appointed festivals. They were to serve before the LORD regularly in the proper number and in the way prescribed for them.
1 Chronicles 23:31 esv
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.
1 Chronicles 23:31 nlt
They assisted with the burnt offerings that were presented to the LORD on Sabbath days, at new moon celebrations, and at all the appointed festivals. The required number of Levites served in the LORD's presence at all times, following all the procedures they had been given.
1 Chronicles 23 31 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 28:3 | "You shall say to them, This is the food offering… Lambs of a year old without blemish, two a day, as a regular burnt offering." | Regular daily offering instruction. |
| Num 28:9-10 | "On the Sabbath day, two male lambs a year old without blemish…" | Sabbath burnt offerings specifically defined. |
| Num 28:11 | "At the beginnings of your months, you shall offer a burnt offering…" | New Moon offerings detailed. |
| Num 29:1-40 | "On the first day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation…" | Burnt offerings for specific appointed feasts. |
| Lev 23:2 | "These are my appointed feasts, the appointed feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim as holy convocations." | Overview of God's appointed feasts. |
| Deut 12:5-7 | "But to the place that the LORD your God will choose… you shall come, and there you shall bring your burnt offerings…" | Centralization of worship and offerings. |
| Exo 29:38-42 | "Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two male lambs a year old daily…" | Continual burnt offering established. |
| 2 Chr 2:4 | "Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the LORD my God and dedicate it to him for the burning of incense… and for the regular burnt offerings…" | Solomon's continuation of Davidic mandates. |
| 2 Chr 8:13 | "as the duty of each day required, offering according to the commandment of Moses for the Sabbaths, the new moons, and the three annual appointed feasts." | Adherence to Moses' commandment for set times. |
| Isa 1:13-14 | "Bring no more vain offerings… Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates…" | Critique of formal worship without obedience. |
| Amos 8:5 | "when will the new moon be over, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may offer wheat for sale?" | Profaning holy times for material gain. |
| Psa 40:6 | "Sacrifice and offering you have not desired, but you have given me an open ear." | God's desire for obedience over ritual alone. |
| Psa 51:17 | "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." | Internal state for worship emphasized. |
| Heb 10:1-10 | "For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form… he abolishes the first to establish the second." | Sacrifices as a shadow, Christ as the reality. |
| Col 2:16-17 | "Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ." | Fulfillment of these rituals in Christ. |
| Rom 12:1 | "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." | Christian call to living sacrifice, true worship. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." | New Testament believer's priestly role. |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD?" | Obedience as preferred over sacrifice. |
| Jer 7:22-23 | "For when I brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to them… concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. But this command I gave them: 'Obey my voice…'" | Emphasis on obedience before ritual. |
| Heb 13:15-16 | "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name… Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." | NT spiritual sacrifices: praise and good deeds. |
1 Chronicles 23 verses
1 Chronicles 23 31 Meaning
1 Chronicles 23:31 describes a specific duty of the Levites, who were organized by King David, pertaining to their role in the regular worship of God. This verse mandates their responsibility to oversee and facilitate the offering of burnt offerings (olah) on the designated sacred times: the weekly Sabbaths, the monthly New Moons, and all the annual appointed feasts. The performance of these offerings was to strictly adhere to the established divine ordinances and was to be conducted continually and without interruption before the LORD. It underscores the precision, order, and faithfulness required in the service of God under the Mosaic Covenant, laying foundational principles for the upcoming Temple worship.
1 Chronicles 23 31 Context
1 Chronicles chapter 23 begins David's organization of the Levites for the future Temple service in Jerusalem, an immense undertaking prior to Solomon's reign. David, now old and near death, is preparing for the transition, ensuring the sacred functions are clearly defined and orderly executed. This organizational effort reveals David's foresight and dedication to God's worship, laying the groundwork for a systematic religious infrastructure that would support the national faith for generations. Verses 25-32 specifically detail the duties of the Levites related to priestly assistance and Temple administration, distinguishing them from the earlier burden-bearing duties (since the Ark was now settled). Verse 31 specifically focuses on their perpetual role in facilitating and assisting with the fixed cycle of sacrifices required by Mosaic Law, ensuring no required offering at sacred times would be overlooked or performed improperly. This highly structured and ordained worship stood in stark contrast to the often haphazard and impure worship practices of surrounding pagan nations, emphasizing Israel's unique covenant relationship with a holy God.
1 Chronicles 23 31 Word analysis
- and to offer: The Hebrew for "offer" here is
לְהַעֲלוֹת(leha'alot), from the rootעָלָה(alah), meaning "to go up," "to ascend." This emphasizes the nature of the burnt offering (עֹלָה, olah) as something entirely consumed by fire, ascending as a fragrant aroma to God, signifying complete dedication and surrender. - all burnt offerings: The term
עֹלֹת(olót), the plural ofעֹלָה(olah), means "burnt offerings." These were sacrifices entirely consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing complete dedication to God, atonement for unintentional sins, and a desire to fellowship with God. - to the LORD: The Hebrew
לַיהוָה(la-YHWH), refers to the covenant name of God, indicating that these meticulously planned and executed rituals were exclusively for the worship of the one true God, YHWH, affirming His sovereignty and uniqueness against the backdrop of polytheistic practices in the ancient Near East. - on the Sabbaths:
בַּשַׁבָּתוֹת(bashabbatot). The weekly Sabbath was a sign of God's covenant with Israel and a memorial of creation and deliverance from Egypt. Special burnt offerings were commanded for this day (Num 28:9-10), marking it as distinct and holy. - and New Moons:
וּבָרָאשֵׁי הֳדָשִׁים(uv'rashei hachodashim), literally "and at the heads of the months." These marked the beginning of each lunar month, observed with additional sacrifices (Num 28:11-15), signifying a monthly recommitment to the covenant. - and the appointed feasts:
וּבַמֹּעֲדִים(uvammo'adim). Fromמוֹעֵד(mo'ed), meaning "appointed time," "fixed feast," or "sacred assembly." These were the annual pilgrim festivals (Passover/Unleavened Bread, Weeks/Pentecost, Booths/Tabernacles, Day of Atonement, etc.) commanded in Lev 23 and Num 28-29, central to Israel's worship calendar and commemorating significant events in their salvation history. - in the number according to the ordinance concerning them: This phrase
בְּמִסְפָּר כְּמִשְׁפָּט(b'mispar k'mishpat) highlights the precision required. "Number" (מִסְפָּר, mispar) refers to the specific quantity of animals to be offered for each type of holy day, detailed in Numbers chapters 28 and 29. "Ordinance" (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat) signifies a divine regulation or prescribed rule. This emphasizes meticulous adherence to God's detailed commands for sacrificial worship, leaving no room for human improvisation or error. - regularly: The Hebrew
תָּמִיד(tamid) means "continually," "regularly," "always," or "without fail." This word stresses the ceaseless nature of the sacrificial system and the constant availability of atonement and communion with God for His people. It indicates unbroken, faithful service and attention to duty. - before the LORD:
לִפְנֵי יְהוָה(lifnei YHWH), meaning "in the presence of YHWH." This signifies that all worship acts were performed directly in the sight of God, emphasizing His omnipresence and the accountability of the worshipers and those facilitating worship. It underscored the seriousness and holiness of the Levitical service.
1 Chronicles 23 31 Bonus section
The Levitical duties detailed in 1 Chronicles 23, including those in verse 31, illustrate the transition of the Levites from largely serving the Tabernacle during Israel's wilderness wanderings (often involving carrying its components) to supporting the permanent Temple in Jerusalem. This organizational shift by David, reducing the required age for service (verse 27), signifies a future where their role would be more administrative, priestly assistance, musical, and guarding rather than laborious carrying, ensuring readiness for a new era of national worship. This structured approach underpins the stability and sanctity of worship, reinforcing God's demand for order (τάξις - taxis) in all spiritual matters (cf. 1 Cor 14:40). The repetitive nature of these sacrifices points to their incompleteness, an enduring truth made explicit in the New Testament (Heb 10:1-4), yet their regularity instilled discipline and constant awareness of God's holy presence among His people.
1 Chronicles 23 31 Commentary
1 Chronicles 23:31 provides a glimpse into the systematic and divinely prescribed worship life of ancient Israel. It specifically highlights the meticulous planning and implementation required for the sacrificial system, emphasizing David's concern for established order in divine service. The burnt offerings, completely consumed, represented the Israelites' complete dedication and propitiation. Their consistent performance on Sabbaths, New Moons, and annual feasts – days imbued with unique spiritual significance – underscored the rhythmic, holistic nature of Israel's covenant relationship with YHWH. The instruction to offer these "in the number according to the ordinance concerning them, regularly" stresses precision, faithfulness, and unwavering adherence to divine command. This detail reflects the theological truth that true worship is not arbitrary but flows from God's revelation, performed according to His terms, for His glory. This detailed Levitical duty, therefore, prepared the way for the consistent Temple worship and also prefigured the coming of Christ, whose singular and perfect sacrifice would fulfill all these temporal shadows, establishing an eternal covenant that is celebrated by the ultimate spiritual worship through faith.