Of these, twenty-four thousand were to look after the work of the house of the Lord, six thousand were officers and judges,
Parallel translations
- WEB David said, “Of these, twenty-four thousand were to oversee the work of Yahweh’s house, six thousand were officers and judges,
- KJV Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the LORD; and six thousand were officers and judges:
- BSB “Of these,” said David, “24,000 are to oversee the work of the house of the LORD, 6,000 are to be officers and judges,
- NASB Of these, twenty-four thousand were to oversee the work of the house of the Lord; and six thousand were officers and judges,
- NLT Then David said, “From all the Levites, 24,000 will supervise the work at the Temple of the Lord. Another 6,000 will serve as officials and judges.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David assigned twenty-four thousand Levites to oversee temple work and six thousand to serve as officers and judges. He distributed them by their God-honoring tasks.
Overview
David apportioned the Levites to distinct duties: the largest group to direct the temple's work, and others to administer justice as officers and judges. This shows that serving God embraces both worship and the right ordering of society. The careful assignment of roles reflects the value of every gift and office offered in service to the LORD.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- 2 Chr 19:8Moreover in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed Levites and priests, and of the heads of the fathers’ households of Israel, for the judgment of Yahweh, and for controversies. They returned to Jerusalem.
- Deut 16:18You shall make judges and officers in all your gates, which Yahweh your God gives you, according to your tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.
- Deut 17:8–10If there arises a matter too hard for you in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within your gates; then you shall arise, and go up to the place which Yahweh your God chooses.
- Neh 11:22The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the business of God’s house.
- 1 Chr 9:28–32Certain of them were in charge of the vessels of service; for these were brought in by count, and these were taken out by count.
- 1 Chr 6:48Their brothers the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle of God’s house.
- 1 Chr 26:20–27Of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of God’s house and over the treasures of the dedicated things.
- 1 Chr 26:29–31Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.
- 1 Chr 23:28–32For their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of Yahweh’s house, in the courts, and in the rooms, and in the purifying of all holy things, even the work of the service of God’s house;
- Neh 11:9Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second over the city.
- Acts 20:28Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.
- Ezra 3:8–9Now in the second year of their coming to God’s house at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of Yahweh’s house.
- Mal 2:7For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Yahweh of Armies.
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Christ at the center
The genealogies and the everlasting covenant with David trace the single thread of promise running through the generations straight to the Christ in whom the line reaches its goal.
How 1 Chronicles 23:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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