For by the last words of David ,.... Or therefore by the last orders he gave before his death: the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above ; as able and sufficient to do the work of their office. read more
The… words of David . Although there are many instances of the expression, "the words of" David or some other king, as equivalent to his "doings" ( 1 Chronicles 29:29 ; 2 Chronicles 9:29 ), and not a few instances of the same phrase, standing for the "account" or "history' of any one ( 1 Chronicles 27:24 ; 1 Chronicles 29:29 , three times; 2 Chronicles 9:29 ), the expression here may rather parallel passages like 2 Samuel 23:1 ; 2 Chronicles 29:30 . read more
By the “last words of David” some understand an historical work on the latter part of his reign, drawn up probably by Gad or Nathan (compare 1 Chronicles 27:24; 1 Chronicles 29:29). Others suppose that he left behind him a work containing directions for the service of the sanctuary. read more
1 Chronicles 23:27. By the last words of David By his last order and constitution, made by God’s direction, and by the Holy Spirit. This is here added to signify, that this great affair was thus settled by David, not in his younger years, when it might have been thought to have been the effect of youthful heat, presumption, and rashness, but when he was come to the greatest maturity, when he was old and near his death, and going to give up his account to his Lord and Maker of all his... read more
Arrangements for the Levites (23:1-26:32)Having appointed Solomon to be his successor, David made further arrangements for the service of the temple. First, he set out a plan to distribute duties among the Levites. A census showed that there were 38,000 Levites eligible for temple service. Of these, 14,000 were official record-keepers, judges, guards, singers and musicians. The remainder were to help in the general service of the temple (23:1-6). Clearly, there were far too many Levites to work... read more
Preparations for temple service chs. 23-26Verses 1 and 2 of chapter 23 (1 Chronicles 23:1-2) provide an outline for what follows in chapters 23-27 but in reverse order. After David appointed Solomon as his coregent in 973 B.C., he began the preparations the writer described here.David adapted the service of the Levites, who assisted the priests, to the new temple ritual. This form of worship was a combination of tabernacle and divinely approved revised worship (1 Chronicles 23:3-32; Numbers 3).... read more
David makes Solomon King. Particulars relating to the LevitesThis and the following three chapters (supplementing the earlier history) describe the arrangements made by David for the organisation of the Temple service after Solomon had been appointed his successor. The incidents relating to this last event, which are recorded in 1 Kings 1, are omitted by the writer, who passes over all David’s domestic troubles.3. From the age of thirty years] This limit is given in Numbers 4:3, but... read more
(27) For by the last words of David.—That is, owing to his last commands. So Vulg. (juxta praecepta David novissima) and Syriac.The Levites were numbered.—Literally, these (are), i.e., according to the later idiom, this (is) the enumeration of the sons of Levi, from twenty years old and upward. The verse seems to mean that David towards the end of his reign instituted a census of Levites from twenty instead of thirty years old. Thus, the Authorised Version gives the sense. Others render, For in... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 23:24-32
Here is, I. An alteration made in the computation of the effective men of the Levites?that whereas, in Moses's time, they were not enlisted, or taken into service, till they were thirty-years old, nor admitted as probationers till twenty-five (Num. 8:24), David ordered, by direction from God, that they should be numbered for the service of the house of the Lord, from the age of twenty years and upwards, 1 Chron. 23:24. This order he confirmed by his last words, 1 Chron. 23:27. When he put his... read more