1 Chronicles 23:4 kjv
Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the LORD; and six thousand were officers and judges:
1 Chronicles 23:4 nkjv
Of these, twenty-four thousand were to look after the work of the house of the LORD, six thousand were officers and judges,
1 Chronicles 23:4 niv
David said, "Of these, twenty-four thousand are to be in charge of the work of the temple of the LORD and six thousand are to be officials and judges.
1 Chronicles 23:4 esv
"Twenty-four thousand of these," David said, "shall have charge of the work in the house of the LORD, 6,000 shall be officers and judges,
1 Chronicles 23:4 nlt
Then David said, "From all the Levites, 24,000 will supervise the work at the Temple of the LORD. Another 6,000 will serve as officials and judges.
1 Chronicles 23 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 1:3 | "from twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to war..." | Age of accountability/military readiness. |
| Num 4:3 | "from thirty years old even to fifty years old, all who enter the service..." | Prior age for carrying Tabernacle burdens. |
| Num 4:23 | "from thirty years old even to fifty years old..." | Age for Greshonites in Tabernacle service. |
| Num 8:24 | "from twenty-five years old and upward they shall go in to perform service..." | General age for service in Tabernacle. |
| 1 Chr 23:3 | "And the Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward..." | General census age for Levites. |
| 1 Chr 23:5 | "...assist the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD..." | General duty of Levites to assist priests. |
| 1 Chr 23:24 | "...from twenty years old and upward..." | Later confirmation of the 20-year age for all service. |
| Ezra 3:8 | "from twenty years old and upward..." | Levites post-exile also began service at 20. |
| 1 Kgs 6:1 | "in the fourth year of Solomon's reign... he began to build the house of the LORD." | Beginning of the physical Temple construction. |
| 1 Chr 22:5 | "Now David said, 'Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent...'" | David's preparations for the Temple. |
| 1 Chr 26:30 | "And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his relatives, 1,700 able men, were overseers..." | Other examples of Levitical overseers. |
| Neh 12:44 | "On that day men were appointed over the chambers for the stores..." | Post-exilic organization of Temple duties. |
| Psa 122:1 | "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD.'" | Desire to engage with God's dwelling place. |
| 1 Tim 3:1 | "If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task." | NT call to leadership in God's house (church). |
| Tit 1:7 | "For an overseer must be above reproach, as God's steward..." | Qualities of NT church leadership/oversight. |
| Acts 20:28 | "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers..." | NT elders' role of oversight for God's people. |
| 1 Cor 14:40 | "But all things should be done decently and in order." | Principle of order in sacred service. |
| Heb 13:17 | "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls..." | Authority and role of spiritual leaders. |
| Eph 2:21-22 | "...being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord..." | NT concept of believers as God's spiritual house. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "...you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house..." | Believers as a spiritual building for God's dwelling. |
| Luk 3:23 | "Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age." | Readiness for public ministry, symbolic maturity. |
1 Chronicles 23 verses
1 Chronicles 23 4 Meaning
This verse details David's ordinance regarding the age at which Levites were to commence their service, specifically those designated for administrative and supervisory roles within the future Temple of the LORD. It establishes a minimum age of twenty years old for Levites tasked with "oversight" of the sacred work, signaling a significant shift from prior age requirements primarily focused on the nomadic Tabernacle's transport duties. This provision reflects David's comprehensive organizational efforts to ensure that the perpetual worship and maintenance of God's house would be carried out with structured order and proper leadership.
1 Chronicles 23 4 Context
1 Chronicles 23 falls within the Chronicler's narrative of King David's later years, specifically his meticulous preparations for the construction and operation of the Temple, a task entrusted to his son Solomon. This chapter details David's comprehensive reorganization and assignment of duties to the Levites, moving from the previous Tabernacle service to the more complex and static Temple functions. Verse 4 clarifies a key aspect of this reorganization, specifying a lower age of eligibility for those Levites designated for administrative and supervisory duties compared to the historical age requirements for physically moving the Tabernacle. This organizational shift underscores the transition from a nomadic place of worship to a permanent structure and the need for a larger workforce for diverse roles, including managerial responsibilities. Historically, it demonstrates David's forward-thinking leadership in establishing order and protocol for the sacred service of God's house for generations to come, before his death.
1 Chronicles 23 4 Word analysis
from twenty years old and upward:
- Original Word/Meaning: Bên ‘eśrîm šānâ ûléma‘lâ (בֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וּלְמַעְלָה). "Ben" (son of) indicates being of that age. "Esrim" (twenty), "shanah" (year), "ulema'lah" (and upward).
- Significance: This age marked full physical and mental maturity in ancient Israel. It was the age for military enlistment (Num 1:3), legal responsibility, and typically full adult accountability. Its adoption here for Levites for "oversight" positions reflects a need for mature, capable individuals, aligning with this cultural understanding of readiness for significant societal and religious roles. This specific minimum age differs from earlier Levitical age stipulations (Num 4:3, 23 for 30-50 for bearing burdens; Num 8:24 for 25 for regular service), signifying an adaptation to the changing nature of Temple work from nomadic carrying to settled administrative roles.
to oversee:
- Original Word/Meaning: Lĕnaṣṣēaḥ (לְנַצֵּחַ). From the verb nāṣaḥ (נָצַח), meaning "to be preeminent," "to excel," "to superintend," "to preside over." In the context of the Psalms, it is often translated as "for the director/leader of music."
- Significance: This is a key term indicating a leadership or managerial role, not merely a subordinate or manual labor position. These Levites were to direct, supervise, and ensure the proper functioning of the diverse operations of the Temple. Their responsibility went beyond performing tasks; it involved organization, management, and maintaining order, which required wisdom, judgment, and discernment. This term implies the exercise of authority and skillful administration, crucial for a large and complex institution like the Temple.
the work of the house of the LORD:
- Original Word/Meaning: Meläḵeṯ bêt YHWH (מְלָאכֶת בֵּית יְהוָה). Melakha (מְלָאכָה) refers to "work," "service," "employment," "task," "business," or "ministry." Bet YHWH (בֵּית יְהוָה) means "House of the LORD," referring to God's dwelling place (the Tabernacle at the time, soon to be the permanent Temple).
- Significance: This phrase encompasses the vast array of responsibilities within God's sanctuary. It included the daily maintenance, cleaning, security, sacrificial procedures, the preparation of materials, the treasury, priestly assistance, music, teaching of the law, gatekeeping, and all logistical and administrative duties necessary for the holy worship and functioning of the spiritual center of Israel. This work was not secular but entirely dedicated to divine service, emphasizing its sacred nature and requiring utmost diligence and piety from those who performed it.
1 Chronicles 23 4 Bonus section
The apparent discrepancy in Levitical ages (Num 4:3-49 for 30-50; Num 8:24 for 25, 1 Chr 23:4 for 20) reveals an adaptive process in divine law and organization. The earlier mandates in Numbers primarily focused on the physical burden of transporting the Tabernacle during Israel's wilderness wanderings. With the establishment of a fixed Temple, the nature of Levitical service shifted from physical movement to more diverse roles, including administration, teaching, music, and general upkeep. David's change to twenty years reflects a pragmatic adjustment to meet the larger personnel demands of a static Temple, where different skills were needed, and also to incorporate a younger generation into service as overseers. This demonstrates God's will allows for adaptations in the practical outworking of His commands to suit new circumstances, as long as the spirit and purpose of the law are maintained. It highlights the Chronist's interest in the structured organization and perpetual service of the Temple as a model of ordered worship.
1 Chronicles 23 4 Commentary
1 Chronicles 23:4 encapsulates King David's forward-thinking leadership in structuring the sacred service for the future Temple. By mandating a minimum age of twenty for Levites involved in "oversight," David introduced an administrative layer, distinct from the historical physical demands of Tabernacle transport. This reflects the practical evolution of divine service as Israel transitioned to a settled, unified kingdom. It emphasizes that mature leadership, even among the younger, capable individuals, was essential for managing the intricate "work of the house of the LORD." This principle of ordered, competent service, arranged under clear authority, laid a vital foundation for faithful worship, ensuring proper administration and maintenance for God's dwelling place.