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class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/1_chronicles/23.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/1_chronicles/23.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />According to the last instructions of David, the Levites were counted from those twenty years old or more.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/1_chronicles/23.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />In accordance with David’s final instructions, all the Levites twenty years old or older were registered for service.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/1_chronicles/23.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/1_chronicles/23.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />For according to the final instructions of David, the Levites twenty years of age or older were counted,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/1_chronicles/23.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />For by the last words of David the Levites <i>were</i> numbered from twenty years old and above:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/1_chronicles/23.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />For by the last words of David the Levites <i>were</i> numbered from twenty years old and above;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/1_chronicles/23.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />For by the last words of David, the sons of Levi <i>were</i> counted from twenty years old and upward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/1_chronicles/23.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/1_chronicles/23.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />For by the last words of David the sons of Levi <i>were</i> numbered, from twenty years old and upward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/1_chronicles/23.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />For by the last words of David the sons of Levi <i>were</i> numbered from twenty years old and upward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/1_chronicles/23.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />For by the last words of David, the Levites from twenty years old and above were counted.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/1_chronicles/23.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />for according to the last words of David, the Levites twenty years old or more were to be counted—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/1_chronicles/23.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />for according to the last words of David, the Levites 20 years old or more were to be counted—&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/1_chronicles/23.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered, from twenty years old and upward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/1_chronicles/23.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />From now on, all Levites at least 20 years old <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/1_chronicles/23.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered, from twenty years old and upward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/1_chronicles/23.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />David's last instructions were to count the Levites who were at least 20 years old.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/1_chronicles/23.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />On the basis of David's final instructions all Levites were registered for service when they reached the age of twenty, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/1_chronicles/23.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Since, according to David's final instructions, the list above contains the total number of descendants of Levi from the age of 20 years and upward, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/1_chronicles/23.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />According to David's final instructions, the Levites twenty years old and up were counted. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/1_chronicles/23.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered, from twenty years old and upward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/1_chronicles/23.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above:<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/1_chronicles/23.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />For according to the final instructions of David, the Levites twenty years of age or older were counted,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/1_chronicles/23.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were counted, from twenty years old and upward. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/1_chronicles/23.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />for by the last words of David they [took] the number of the sons of Levi from a son of twenty years and upward,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/1_chronicles/23.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> for by the last words of David they took the number of the sons of Levi from a son of twenty years and upward,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/1_chronicles/23.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />For by the last words of David these the number of the sons of Levi from the son of twenty years and above.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/1_chronicles/23.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />So according to the last precepts of David, the sons of Levi are to be numbered from twenty years old and upward. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/1_chronicles/23.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Also, according to the last precepts of David, the sons of Levi shall be counted by number from twenty years of age and upward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/1_chronicles/23.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />For by David’s last words the Levites were enlisted from the time they were twenty years old.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/1_chronicles/23.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />for according to the last words of David these were the number of the Levites from twenty years old and upward—<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/1_chronicles/23.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and upward,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/1_chronicles/23.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Because by the last words of David, the computation of the children of Levi from a son of twenty years and above ended.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/1_chronicles/23.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />For by the last ordinances of David the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/1_chronicles/23.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />For by the last words of David was the number of the Levites <i>taken</i> from twenty years old and upward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/1_chronicles/23-27.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wtNNY-qpWWI?start=6559" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/1_chronicles/23.htm">Levite Duties Revised</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">26</span>So now the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles for its service.” <span class="reftext">27</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">For</a> <a href="/hebrew/314.htm" title="314: hā·’a·ḥă·rō·nîm (Art:: Adj-mp) -- Coming after or behind. Or;acharon; from 'achar; hinder; generally, late or last; specifically western.">according to the final</a> <a href="/hebrew/1992.htm" title="1992: hêm·māh (Pro-3mp) -- They. Or hemmah; masculine plural from halak; they."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1697.htm" title="1697: ḇə·ḏiḇ·rê (Prep-b:: N-mpc) -- Speech, word. From dabar; a word; by implication, a matter or thing; adverbially, a cause.">instructions</a> <a href="/hebrew/1732.htm" title="1732: ḏā·wîḏ (N-proper-ms) -- Perhaps beloved one, a son of Jesse. Rarely; Daviyd; from the same as dowd; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse.">of David,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: bə·nê- (N-mpc) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">the Levites</a> <a href="/hebrew/3878.htm" title="3878: lê·wî (N-proper-ms) -- A son of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him. From lavah; attached; Levi, a son of Jacob."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6242.htm" title="6242: ‘eś·rîm (Number-cp) -- Twenty. From eser; twenty; also twentieth.">twenty</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: mib·ben (Prep-m:: N-msc) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">years of age</a> <a href="/hebrew/8141.htm" title="8141: šā·nāh (N-fs) -- A year. (in plura or shanah; from shanah; a year."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4605.htm" title="4605: ū·lə·mā·‘ə·lāh (Conj-w, Prep-l:: Adv:: 3fs) -- From alah; properly, the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc.">or older</a> <a href="/hebrew/4557.htm" title="4557: mis·par (N-msc) -- Number, tally. From caphar; a number, definite or indefinite; also narration.">were counted,</a> </span><span class="reftext">28</span>but their duty was to assist the descendants of Aaron with the service of the house of the LORD, being responsible for the courts and chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God,…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/23-24.htm">1 Chronicles 23:24-26</a></span><br />These were the descendants of Levi by their families—the heads of families, registered individually by name—those twenty years of age or older who worked in the service of the house of the LORD. / For David had said, “The LORD, the God of Israel, has given rest to His people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem forever. / So now the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles for its service.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/28-13.htm">1 Chronicles 28:13</a></span><br />for the divisions of the priests and Levites, for all the work of service in the house of the LORD, and for all the articles of service in the house of the LORD:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/28-21.htm">1 Chronicles 28:21</a></span><br />The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the service of the house of God, and every willing man of every skill will be at your disposal for the work. The officials and all the people are fully at your command.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/8-14.htm">2 Chronicles 8:14</a></span><br />In keeping with the ordinances of his father David, Solomon appointed the divisions of the priests over their service, and the Levites for their duties to offer praise and to minister before the priests according to the daily requirement. He also appointed gatekeepers by their divisions at each gate, for this had been the command of David, the man of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/29-25.htm">2 Chronicles 29:25</a></span><br />Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres according to the command of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet. For the command had come from the LORD through His prophets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/35-4.htm">2 Chronicles 35:4</a></span><br />Prepare yourselves by families in your divisions, according to the instructions written by David king of Israel and Solomon his son.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezra/3-10.htm">Ezra 3:10</a></span><br />When the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their positions to praise the LORD, as David king of Israel had prescribed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/12-24.htm">Nehemiah 12:24</a></span><br />The leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel, along with their associates, who stood across from them to give praise and thanksgiving as one section alternated with the other, as prescribed by David the man of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/12-45.htm">Nehemiah 12:45-46</a></span><br />They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, along with the singers and gatekeepers, as David and his son Solomon had prescribed. / For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there were directors for the singers and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/134-1.htm">Psalm 134:1</a></span><br />A song of ascents. Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who serve by night in the house of the LORD!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/135-1.htm">Psalm 135:1-2</a></span><br />Hallelujah! Praise the name of the LORD. Give praise, O servants of the LORD, / who stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/1-8.htm">Luke 1:8-9</a></span><br />One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, / he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/1-23.htm">Luke 1:23</a></span><br />And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/6-4.htm">Acts 6:4</a></span><br />and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/13-2.htm">Acts 13:2</a></span><br />While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above:</p><p class="hdg">by the last</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_chronicles/23-3.htm">1 Chronicles 23:3,24</a></b></br> Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/23-1.htm">2 Samuel 23:1</a></b></br> Now these <i>be</i> the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man <i>who was</i> raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/72-20.htm">Psalm 72:20</a></b></br> The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.</p><p class="hdg">numbered [heb] numbers </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_chronicles/16-9.htm">Acts</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/23-24.htm">Counted</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/23-25.htm">David</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-24.htm">Instructions</a> <a href="/2_kings/22-20.htm">Last</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/23-3.htm">Numbered</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/21-6.htm">Numbering</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/22-13.htm">Ordinances</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/23-24.htm">Twenty</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/23-24.htm">Upward</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/17-23.htm">Words</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_chronicles/29-29.htm">Acts</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/2-2.htm">Counted</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/24-3.htm">David</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/28-13.htm">Instructions</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/29-29.htm">Last</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/2-2.htm">Numbered</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/27-24.htm">Numbering</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/28-7.htm">Ordinances</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/27-1.htm">Twenty</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/25-5.htm">Upward</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/25-5.htm">Words</a><div class="vheading2">1 Chronicles 23</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_chronicles/23-1.htm">David in his old age makes Solomon king</a></span><br><span class="reftext">2. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_chronicles/23-2.htm">The number and distribution of the Levites</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_chronicles/23-7.htm">The families of the Gershonites</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_chronicles/23-12.htm">The sons of Kohath</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_chronicles/23-21.htm">The sons of Merari</a></span><br><span class="reftext">24. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_chronicles/23-24.htm">The office of the Levites</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_chronicles/23.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_chronicles/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/1_chronicles/23.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>For according to the final instructions of David</b><br>David's final instructions reflect his deep concern for the proper worship and service in the temple. This directive is part of his broader preparations for the temple that his son Solomon would build. David's instructions are seen as divinely inspired, aligning with God's will for the organization of temple service. This reflects David's role as a type of Christ, who also prepares a place for worship and service (<a href="/john/14-2.htm">John 14:2-3</a>).<p><b>the Levites</b><br>The Levites were a tribe set apart for religious duties, distinct from the other tribes of Israel. Their role was crucial in maintaining the spiritual life of the nation. This separation for service is a foreshadowing of the priesthood of all believers in Christ (<a href="/1_peter/2-9.htm">1 Peter 2:9</a>), emphasizing holiness and dedication to God's work.<p><b>twenty years of age or older</b><br>Previously, the age for Levitical service was thirty (<a href="/numbers/4-3.htm">Numbers 4:3</a>), but David's instructions lowered it to twenty. This change indicates a shift in the needs and structure of temple service, possibly due to the increased responsibilities with the establishment of a permanent temple. It also suggests a readiness and willingness to serve God from a younger age, paralleling the call for young believers to be active in their faith (<a href="/1_timothy/4-12.htm">1 Timothy 4:12</a>).<p><b>were counted</b><br>The counting of the Levites signifies organization and preparation for the temple service. This census was not merely administrative but also spiritual, ensuring that those who served were qualified and dedicated. It reflects the importance of order in worship and service to God, as seen in the New Testament church's organization (<a href="/1_corinthians/14-40.htm">1 Corinthians 14:40</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/d/david.htm">David</a></b><br>The King of Israel who organized the Levites for temple service. His instructions were pivotal in the restructuring of the Levitical duties.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/l/levites.htm">Levites</a></b><br>A tribe set apart for religious duties, particularly in the service of the temple. Their roles were expanded under David's instructions.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/temple_service.htm">Temple Service</a></b><br>The context in which the Levites were counted and organized. This was central to Israel's worship and religious life.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The city where the temple was located, serving as the spiritual center for the Israelites.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/c/census_of_levites.htm">Census of Levites</a></b><br>An event where Levites aged twenty and above were counted for service, marking a shift from the previous age requirement of thirty.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_obedience_to_god's_instructions.htm">The Importance of Obedience to God’s Instructions</a></b><br>David's adherence to God's guidance in organizing the Levites demonstrates the importance of following divine instructions in our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_youth_in_god's_work.htm">The Role of Youth in God’s Work</a></b><br>Lowering the age for Levitical service to twenty emphasizes the value of involving young people in ministry and service to God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/o/organizational_leadership_in_ministry.htm">Organizational Leadership in Ministry</a></b><br>David's restructuring of the Levites shows the necessity of effective leadership and organization in church and ministry settings.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/continuity_and_change_in_worship_practices.htm">Continuity and Change in Worship Practices</a></b><br>The shift in age requirement reflects how worship practices can evolve while maintaining continuity with God’s overarching purposes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/commitment_to_worship_and_service.htm">Commitment to Worship and Service</a></b><br>The dedication of the Levites to temple service serves as a model for our commitment to worship and serving in our communities.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_chronicles_23.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Chronicles 23</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/did_the_chronicler_exaggerate_david's_reforms.htm">Could the chronicler have exaggerated details to elevate David's religious reforms, raising questions about the historical reliability of 1 Chronicles 23?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_1_chronicles_24's_priest_claim_plausible.htm">Is the claim in 1 Chronicles 24 of David having enough priests to fill 24 separate divisions historically plausible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_non-levites_handle_the_ark.htm">In 1 Chronicles 15:2, where David insists only the Levites may carry the Ark, how do we reconcile this claim with any instances where non-Levites handled it or transported it in other texts?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/where_is_malta_mentioned_in_the_bible.htm">Who was Ahithophel in the Bible?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_chronicles/23.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(27) <span class= "bld">For by the last words of David.</span>--That is, owing to his last commands. So Vulg. (juxta praecepta David novissima) and Syriac.<p><span class= "bld">The Levites were numbered.</span>--Literally, <span class= "ital">these</span> (are), <span class= "ital">i.e.,</span> according to the later idiom, <span class= "ital">this</span> (is) <span class= "ital">the</span> <span class= "ital">enumeration of the sons of Levi, from twenty years old and upward.</span> 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, <span class= "ital">For in the Last words </span>(<span class= "ital">i.e.,</span> records) <span class= "ital">of David is the number of the sons of Levi from twenty,</span> &c., as if the chronicler were referring to some historical work in which this special census was recorded. (Comp. <a href="/1_chronicles/29-29.htm" title="Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer,">1Chronicles 29:29</a>. ) The verse is a parenthetic remark of the chronicler, interrupting the speech of David, which, however, is resumed in <a href="/1_chronicles/23-28.htm" title="Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God;">1Chronicles 23:28</a>, and continued to the end of the chapter.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_chronicles/23.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 27.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The... words of David</span>. Although there are many instances of the expression, "the words of" David or some other king, as equivalent to his "doings" (<a href="/1_chronicles/29-29.htm">1 Chronicles 29:29</a>; <a href="/2_chronicles/9-29.htm">2 Chronicles 9:29</a>), and not a few instances of the same phrase, standing for the "account" or "history' of any one (<a href="/1_chronicles/27-24.htm">1 Chronicles 27:24</a>; <a href="/1_chronicles/29-29.htm">1 Chronicles 29:29</a>, three times; <a href="/2_chronicles/9-29.htm">2 Chronicles 9:29</a>), the expression here may rather parallel passages like <a href="/2_samuel/23-1.htm">2 Samuel 23:1</a>; <a href="/2_chronicles/29-30.htm">2 Chronicles 29:30</a>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/1_chronicles/23-27.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">For</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">according to the final</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאַ֣חֲרֹנִ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’a·ḥă·rō·nîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Adjective - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_314.htm">Strong's 314: </a> </span><span class="str2">Hinder, late, last, western</span><br /><br /><span class="word">instructions</span><br /><span class="heb">בְדִבְרֵ֤י</span> <span class="translit">(ḇə·ḏiḇ·rê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1697.htm">Strong's 1697: </a> </span><span class="str2">A word, a matter, thing, a cause</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of David,</span><br /><span class="heb">דָוִיד֙</span> <span class="translit">(ḏā·wîḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1732.htm">Strong's 1732: </a> </span><span class="str2">David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the Levites</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּנֵי־</span> <span class="translit">(bə·nê-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">twenty</span><br /><span class="heb">עֶשְׂרִ֥ים</span> <span class="translit">(‘eś·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6242.htm">Strong's 6242: </a> </span><span class="str2">Twenty, twentieth</span><br /><br /><span class="word">years of age</span><br /><span class="heb">מִבֶּ֛ן</span> <span class="translit">(mib·ben)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or older</span><br /><span class="heb">וּלְמָֽעְלָה׃</span> <span class="translit">(ū·lə·mā·‘ə·lāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Adverb | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4605.htm">Strong's 4605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The upper part, with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top</span><br /><br /><span class="word">were counted,</span><br /><span class="heb">מִסְפַּ֣ר</span> <span class="translit">(mis·par)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4557.htm">Strong's 4557: </a> </span><span class="str2">A number, definite, indefinite, narration</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_chronicles/23-27.htm">1 Chronicles 23:27 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/1_chronicles/23-27.htm">1 Chronicles 23:27 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/1_chronicles/23-27.htm">1 Chronicles 23:27 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/1_chronicles/23-27.htm">1 Chronicles 23:27 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/1_chronicles/23-27.htm">1 Chronicles 23:27 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/1_chronicles/23-27.htm">1 Chronicles 23:27 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_chronicles/23-27.htm">1 Chronicles 23:27 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_chronicles/23-27.htm">1 Chronicles 23:27 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/1_chronicles/23-27.htm">1 Chronicles 23:27 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/1_chronicles/23-27.htm">1 Chronicles 23:27 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/1_chronicles/23-27.htm">OT History: 1 Chronicles 23:27 For by the last words of David (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_chronicles/23-26.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Chronicles 23:26"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Chronicles 23:26" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_chronicles/23-28.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Chronicles 23:28"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Chronicles 23:28" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>