_A.M. 2989. B.C. 1015._ David declares Solomon his successor, 1 Chronicles 23:1. Numbers the Levites, and appoints them their several offices, 1 Chronicles 23:2. Takes an account of the families of the Levites, 1 Chronicles 23:6. Reckons them from twenty years old, and appoints them their work, 1 C... [ Continue Reading ]
_He made Solomon king over Israel_ Not that he resigned the kingdom to him, but only declared his mind concerning Solomon's succeeding him in the throne after his death. Thus David himself is called _king, 1 Samuel 16:1_, because he was appointed and anointed to be king after Saul's death, though ti... [ Continue Reading ]
_He gathered together all the princes_, &c. Partly to declare God's will, and his own desire, that Solomon should be his successor; and so to cut off the claims and pretences which others of his sons might have made to the crown; and partly to acquaint them with those directions which he had receive... [ Continue Reading ]
_From the age of thirty years and upward_ Not only till fifty, as it was appointed Numbers 4:2, but even till their death: for that was but a temporary law grounded upon a special reason, because the Levites were employed in carrying the tabernacle and sacred vessels from place to place; and therefo... [ Continue Reading ]
_To set forward the work of the house of the Lord_ To take care that all the work of the temple, about sacrifices, should be punctually performed, either by themselves or others; which they were not to do all at once, but by courses, a thousand at a time. _Six thousand were officers and judges_ Not... [ Continue Reading ]
_Four thousand were porters_ Whose office it was to take the charge of all the gates of the temple, and its courts, that no forbidden or unclean person might enter there, and of the courts themselves, and of the several chambers and buildings belonging to the temple and the service thereof. These al... [ Continue Reading ]
_David divided them into courses_ Which he did not by his own invention, but, as a man of God, by his command, and with the advice and concurrence of Gad and Nathan the prophets, as is manifest from 2 Chronicles 8:14; 2 Chronicles 29:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
_That he should sanctify the most holy things_ That he might keep them from pollution: for these most holy things were polluted when they were touched by any other person. _He and his sons for ever_ Not only his eldest sons the high-priests successively, but all his posterity, or all the priests: fo... [ Continue Reading ]
_His sons were named of the tribe of Levi_ They were accounted only as common Levites, and were not priests: which is mentioned for the honour of Moses, and the demonstration of his eminent piety and self-denial, who willingly left the government to Joshua, and the priesthood to Aaron, and was conte... [ Continue Reading ]
_From the age of twenty years and upward_ As the Levites were anciently numbered from two several times, from the twenty-fifth year of their age, and from the thirtieth, (Numbers 4:3; Numbers 8:24,) in like manner they are here numbered, both from their twentieth year, when they were solemnly prepar... [ Continue Reading ]
_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, presu... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the purifying of holy things_ Holy places, and garments, and vessels, and sacrifices, which were to be washed and cleansed from any filthiness that might cleave to them.... [ Continue Reading ]
_For all manner of measure_ All measures used either in sacred or civil things, the public standards whereof were kept in the temple; and therefore the care of keeping them inviolable, and producing them upon occasion, must needs belong to the priests, and under them to the Levites, who were to exam... [ Continue Reading ]
_To stand every morning, &c., and at evening_ The two solemn times of offering sacrifices: which work was attended with public prayer and thanksgiving. _According to the order commanded unto them continually_ That is, unto those persons, the Levites, of whom he speaks. _The charge of the sons of Aar... [ Continue Reading ]