1 Chronicles 9:25 kjv
And their brethren, which were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them.
1 Chronicles 9:25 nkjv
And their brethren in their villages had to come with them from time to time for seven days.
1 Chronicles 9:25 niv
Their fellow Levites in their villages had to come from time to time and share their duties for seven-day periods.
1 Chronicles 9:25 esv
And their kinsmen who were in their villages were obligated to come in every seven days, in turn, to be with these,
1 Chronicles 9:25 nlt
Their relatives in the villages came regularly to share their duties for seven-day periods.
1 Chronicles 9 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 3:25 | "and the charge of the tabernacle… were the tent and its covering" | Levitical service responsibility. |
| Num 8:24-26 | "from twenty-five years old and upward... to serve" | Age requirements for Levite service. |
| Num 35:2-3 | "give to the Levites from your inheritance… cities to live in" | Allotment of cities for Levites. |
| Josh 21:1-42 | "assigned from the inheritance… according to their lots" | Distribution of Levitical cities. |
| 1 Chr 23:4-5 | "twenty thousand overseers of the work... six thousand officers" | David's organization of Levites for various Temple services. |
| 1 Chr 24:3 | "David apportioned them into divisions according to their service" | Establishing priestly divisions for Temple duties. |
| 1 Chr 25:1 | "David and the commanders… set apart for the service" | Organization of musicians and singers. |
| 1 Chr 26:1-19 | "the divisions of the gatekeepers... for service at the house of" | Detailed list of gatekeeper duties and their divisions. |
| 2 Chr 8:14 | "according to the order of David his father" | Solomon established the priestly and Levitical courses based on David's plan. |
| 2 Chr 23:8 | "they did all that Jehoiada the priest commanded" | Example of a structured Temple operation by priestly command. |
| 2 Chr 35:2-6 | "set the Levites in their positions according to their divisions" | King Josiah's re-establishment of Temple service courses. |
| Ezra 6:18 | "appointed the priests to their divisions and the Levites to their courses" | Post-exilic re-establishment of Temple service structure. |
| Neh 12:44-47 | "some were appointed over the storerooms... for the singers... gatekeepers" | Provisions for structured Temple service. |
| Lk 1:5-9 | "Zacharias, of the division of Abijah... his division was on duty" | New Testament example of an active priestly course of service. |
| 1 Cor 14:33 | "for God is not a God of disorder but of peace" | Principle of divine order and peace, reflected in structured service. |
| 1 Cor 14:40 | "all things should be done decently and in order" | Emphasis on order in church conduct and ministry. |
| Heb 9:6 | "These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into" | Priests performing their appointed duties in the Tabernacle/Temple. |
| Rom 12:4-5 | "for as in one body we have many members" | Metaphor of the body of Christ, implying different functions and service. |
| Eph 4:11-12 | "He gave... pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry" | Diverse roles in the body of Christ, serving collectively. |
| Col 3:23-24 | "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord" | The principle of diligent service to the Lord in all aspects of life. |
1 Chronicles 9 verses
1 Chronicles 9 25 Meaning
1 Chronicles 9:25 details the systematic organization of the Levitical Temple servants, specifically the gatekeepers, establishing their regular rotation of service. It explains that the Levites who resided in surrounding villages were required to come to Jerusalem to fulfill their duties at the Temple in weekly shifts, ensuring continuous and orderly worship.
1 Chronicles 9 25 Context
1 Chronicles chapters 9 through 16 mark a pivotal shift in the Chronicler's narrative, transitioning from genealogies to the re-establishment of life in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile, focusing intensely on the returnees, especially the priests, Levites, and Temple servants. Chapter 9 lists the inhabitants of Jerusalem, giving significant detail to the religious personnel and their organized roles in the renewed Temple service.
Historically, after the return from exile, the priority was to re-establish the covenant relationship with God through ordered worship. The detailed account of Temple workers, including gatekeepers (verse 25 specifically), priests, singers, and various servants, emphasizes the crucial role of structured ministry. This verse fits within a larger passage (1 Chr 9:17-34) dedicated to the gatekeepers and other Levitical temple duties. It underscores the careful organization, initially laid out by King David (1 Chr 23-26) and upheld by Solomon, as essential for faithful corporate worship. The rotation system ensured continuity of service, prevented burden on a few, and allowed the Levites to reside among their people in assigned cities while still fulfilling their sacred call. This system served as a polemic against any haphazard or unauthorized approach to the sacred duties within the restored sanctuary.
1 Chronicles 9 25 Word analysis
- And their brethren: (
אֲחֵיהֶם- ʾăḥêhem, meaning "their brothers" or "kinsmen"). Refers specifically to the broader Levitical family or those of their priestly and Levitical order who shared the same spiritual lineage and calling, emphasizing the collective and communal nature of their service to God. - who were in their villages: (
חַצְרֵיהֶם- ḥaṣrêhem, meaning "their courtyards" or "settlements"). Indicates that not all Levites resided in Jerusalem; many lived in their assigned Levitical cities or surrounding settlements across the land, reflecting the dispersion of Levites among the tribes as outlined in Numbers 35 and Joshua 21. This dispersion allowed them to be available to teach and serve the broader populace. - were to come in: Implies a requirement or an obligation inherent in their priestly/Levitical office, signifying the dedicated commitment needed for service in God's house.
- after seven days: (
שִׁבְעַת יָמִים- shivʿat yamim). Clearly specifies a weekly cycle, establishing a routine for their rotation. This ensures consistent oversight and availability of personnel for all aspects of Temple maintenance and service. - from time to time: (
מִלֵּעֵת לְעֵת- millēʿēth ləʿēth, literally "from time to time" or "from season to season," but in this context indicating regularity). This phrase reinforces the cyclical and perpetual nature of their duties, not a one-off event. It signifies an established, recurring schedule. - to be with them: Denotes presence and active participation alongside those already serving in the Temple. It speaks to the collaborative nature of Temple ministry, where different groups of Levites relieved one another in an orderly manner.
1 Chronicles 9 25 Bonus section
The Levitical rotation system also served to prevent an accumulation of too much religious authority in one place or among too few individuals. By dispersing Levites into their villages, it kept them connected to the general populace, while their required presence in Jerusalem for specific service courses ensured centralized worship was consistently managed. This foresight in organizational structure ensured both sacred devotion and practical stewardship of resources, human and material, demonstrating God's blueprint for the well-being of His people and the continuity of His worship. This meticulous recording in Chronicles emphasizes the enduring value of proper structure for communal spiritual life and reminds believers of the importance of faithfulness in fulfilling one's designated role within the larger body of Christ (1 Cor 12).
1 Chronicles 9 25 Commentary
1 Chronicles 9:25 provides insight into the practical implementation of ordered worship in ancient Israel. It reveals a highly structured system, reflecting God's desire for intentionality and discipline in service. The Levites, particularly the gatekeepers here, did not reside permanently at the Temple but rotated through their duties in Jerusalem. This systematic approach, operating on a strict weekly schedule, ensured continuous operation of the Temple functions—from safeguarding the premises to handling sacred items and overseeing offerings—without interruption. This detail underscores the biblical principle of proper governance and organized ministry within the community of faith, affirming that service to God is to be carried out with dedication, cooperation, and adherence to established order, reflecting God's own character of peace and structure, not chaos.