The big picture
1 Chronicles 23 opens in verse 1 with “So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 16 with “Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief.”, and closes in verse 32 with “And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the…” Repeated or prominent terms include sons, LORD, chief, house, David. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Chronicles · King James Version · 321 Chronicles 23:1-8
1–8: So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king…
1 Chronicles 23:1–8 opens with “So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.” and reaches “The sons of Laadan; the chief was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 23 develops its own movement around sons, LORD, chief, house, David, with particular weight carried by David, Israel, Laadan.
Context that brings the passage to life
“So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man…” The number thirty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
1 Chronicles 23:1-8
King James Version1So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.
2And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.
3Now 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.
4Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the LORD ; and six thousand were officers and judges:
5Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.
6And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
7Of the Gershonites were, Laadan, and Shimei.
8The sons of Laadan; the chief was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.
1 Chronicles 23:9-16
9–16: The sons of Shimei; Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were…
1 Chronicles 23:9–16 opens with “The sons of Shimei; Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief of the fathers…” and reaches “Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 23 develops its own movement around sons, LORD, chief, house, David, with particular weight carried by sons, chief, Moses.
Context that brings the passage to life
“The sons of Shimei; Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief of the fathers of Laadan.” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons; therefore they were in one…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
1 Chronicles 23:9-16
King James Version9The sons of Shimei; Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief of the fathers of Laadan.
10And the sons of Shimei were, Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.
11And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons; therefore they were in one reckoning, according to their father’s house.
12The sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.
13The sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the LORD , to minister unto him, and to bless in his name for ever.
14Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi.
15The sons of Moses were, Gershom, and Eliezer.
16Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief.
1 Chronicles 23:17-24
17–24: The sons of Eliezer were, Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had none other…
1 Chronicles 23:17–24 opens with “And the sons of Eliezer were, Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had none other sons; but the sons…” and reaches “These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 23 develops its own movement around sons, LORD, chief, house, David, with particular weight carried by sons, chief, Mahli.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And the sons of Eliezer were, Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had none other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very…” Naming Eliezer and Rehabiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Of the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.” Naming Amariah and Hebron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Chronicles 23:17-24
King James Version17And the sons of Eliezer were, Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had none other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.
18Of the sons of Izhar; Shelomith the chief.
19Of the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
20Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah the first, and Jesiah the second.
21The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. The sons of Mahli; Eleazar, and Kish.
22And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters: and their brethren the sons of Kish took them.
23The sons of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.
24These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the LORD , from the age of twenty years and upward.
1 Chronicles 23:25-32
25–32: For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people…
1 Chronicles 23:25–32 opens with “For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in…” and reaches “And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 23 develops its own movement around sons, LORD, chief, house, David, with particular weight carried by LORD, service, charge.
Context that brings the passage to life
“For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above:” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“Both for the shewbread, and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is…” Naming Both keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Chronicles 23:25-32
King James Version25For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:
26And also unto the Levites; they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof.
27For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above:
28Because 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;
29Both for the shewbread, and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size;
30And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD , and likewise at even;
31And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD :
32And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the house of the LORD .
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Chronicles 23:1 begins with “So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.”
Where the chapter turns
1 Chronicles 23:14 forms a natural hinge: “Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi.”
The final note
1 Chronicles 23:32 leaves the reader with “And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words sons, LORD, chief, house, David, service help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Why repeat the details of the property?
The description establishes a recognized, witnessed holding for the family.
How do grief and promise coexist?
Abraham mourns fully while securing a burial place in the land associated with the promise.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.
