1 Chronicles 21:1-26:32

Memory Verse: 21:24

Questions

Outline

I. David's Self Confidence (21:1-30)

* The engraving to the right is by Martin Luther (1483-1546). It depicts David sending Joab to count Israel's army. In the background are men of Israel holding battle armaments. David while gesturing to the fighting men is ordering the army commander Joab who has a sword. Courtesy of the Digital Image Archive, Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology, Emory University: http://www.pitts.emory.edu.

>1. What did the Satan inticed David to do? (1)

* 1 Chronicles 21:1 "Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.

* 2 Samuel 24:1-17 also records David counting the men able to fight.

* "he incited David against them" -The Lord permitted Satan to do this; Satan being the means of the punishment. The Lord did not hold back Satan from doing this. 1 Chron. 21:1 says, "Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel." Man and Satan's actions are under God's sovereign control. (Ex. 4:21, 7:3, 9:12, 10:1,20,27, 11:10, 14:4; Jos. 11:20; and 1 Kings 22:22-23; Job 1:12; 2:10; Exe. 3:20; 14:9; Acts 4:28)

* 2 Samuel 24:1 states that the Lord incited David. The Lord had Satan do it. The Scripture is clear that God does not cause anyone to sin, it is also clear that man's -and Satan's- evil acts are under God's sovereign control.

* 2 Samuel 24:1 states that "the anger of the LORD burned against Isael." We are not told why the anger burned against Israel not David. There is a possibility it was because of the widespread support of Absalom and then Sheba over David, the anointed king by the command of the LORD. Israel's kings were to serve to death.

* From the exodus to David's reign whenever Israel sinned, the anger of the LORD burned against Israel. His anger is good because it leads to repentance and maturity of his people. In David's time there was also a famine. (21:1)

* Paul states the principle of Satan being a messenger and permitted by the Lord God in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9. "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

* 2 Samuel 24:1 adds "saying". Therefore, a false prophet must have been the means for this communication.

* "a census" -A census is not evil. (Numbers 1:2-3; 26:2-4) This one was based in pride and dependents on men instead of God.

* God's way of working is often mysterious. The outcome of this event was that the land that David bought to offer the sacrifice became the place where the temple was built, the very land that Abraham was about to offer Isaac as a sacrifice out of obedience and faith. Since all of Israel would know of the judgement and the sacrifice no one can say that the land was purchased incorrectly.

* With that just being said, it can be seen that in some ways this event is prophetic. In order to stop the retribution of the Lord because of the sins of Israel and it's leaders a sacrifice will be offered on Mt. Moriah, namely, the Lord Jesus Christ. The sin in both events was pride and self reliance instead of relying on the Lord.

>How did David respond?

* 1 Chronicles 21:2 "So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, "Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are."

* "Joab" -Joab was a ruthless commander whose loyalty to David was unchanging though he did all he could to do things his way even at times over David's command.

* "the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan" -2 Samuel 24:1 says, "Israel and Judah" instead of "Beersheba to Dan". These two cities make the most southern and northern cities of David's kingdom. Judah is one of the tribes of Israel and yet they are seperated from the other eleven because they became a seperate nation when Solomon died.

* 2 Samuel 24:3 includes "and enroll the fighting men". The root of the problem was trusting and having pride in the number of men at his disposal.

* "how many there are" -Knowing the number of enemies slain to advance the kingdom was right. Knowing the number of men to advance the kingdom was wrong for it did not trust in the Lord who fought and won all the battles.

>What did Joab remind David?

* 1 Chronicles 21:3 "But Joab replied, "May the LORD multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord's subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?"

* "May the Lord" -Joab reminded David of the Lord whom David called his God. Joab, though did not say "our" God.

* "multiply his troops a hundred times over" -Joab reminded David that the Lord is in control. The Lord can raise up troops anytime he wanted to. The Lord didn't even need any troops. In fact as the previous chapter shows the Lord often used one man of faith the win great victories. David himself had been used this way when he was used as a lad to slay the giant Goliath.

* "Why" -We should also seek and accept the reason why we do things. The Lord knows the motivations of the heart and this will be exposed when we stand before the Lord. Luke 12:1b-3 records Jesus telling the disciples, "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs."

* David was told by Joab what was right. David had no excuse. Joab did wrong things, but at times he was the only one able to speak out and question the motives of the king. Every leader needs a bold man like Joab. Though Joab did wrong things he had his good qualities and uses.

* David did not answer Joab's question, thus showing his guilt.

* David ordered Joab, Israel's army commander to count the mighty men. Joab knew this was wrong. He knew it was the Lord who gives armies strength (3). The Lord enables small armies to defeat large armies. David needed to examine why he wanted to count the number of fighting men (3).

David was either worried or proud. These are self-centered and destructive. Both are motivations outside of love for God and trust in God.

Relying on self is always eventually self-defeating. Having confidence in abilities and opportunities while acknowledging that the Lord gives them is not the same as independent self-confidence. Am I proud of myself or grateful to God?

Worry is related to self-confidence. The two work together like coffee stains on wood. Worry is eventually self-defeating. I trust in God don't I? Then why do I worry and fret? Why do I worry about the clothes that I will wear? Why do I worry about the food that I will eat? Why do I worry about the bills that need to be paid? Why do I count?

Jesus taught, "Seek first the kingdom of God and all these will be given to you as well." Jesus is the king, not me.

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>What did they concede to do? (4)

* 1 Chronicles 21:4 "The king's word, however, overruled Joab; so Joab left and went throughout Israel and then came back to Jerusalem. "

* "The king's word" -Sometimes our leaders give direction that harms many. A leader must therefore be very careful to follow the ways of the Lord.

* Those who followed the bad advice of David was just as guilty as David. Joab was the only one who was not guilty for he spoke up against the king.

* "so Joab left" -After the direction was given Joab followed the direction even though he knew the motives were wrong. Joab also had known the motives behind the death of Uriah, yet he obeyed what he knew was wrong and later saw David suffer for it. That may have been the reason why Joab spoke up here.

* The census took nine months and 20 days according to 2 Samuel 24:8.

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>What might we learn here? (Zech. 4:6)

* Zechariah 4:6 "So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty."

* The Lord does all and does not need any man to do his will.

* 1 Chronicles 21:5 "Joab reported the number of the fighting men to David: In all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand men who could handle a sword, including four hundred and seventy thousand in Judah. 6 But Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, because the king's command was repulsive to him. 7 This command was also evil in the sight of God; so he punished Israel."

* 2 Samuel 21 does not include the number of fighting men Joab had counted. That fact is only in 1 Chronicles 21.

* See a wood engraving by Gustave Dore (1832-1883) to the right depicting the plague of Jerusalem. Dore's drawings were in Bibles that are now in public domain. This one was scanned in by creationism.org.

>2. What happened to David when he got the count? (8)

* "Then David said to God, "I have sinned greatly by doing this. Now, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing." (8)

* 2 Samuel 24:10 adds the obvious that David was "conscience-stricken". David knew that he had done wrong even when Joab had questioned his motives. Now, the deed was done. The conscience is that which knows good from bad. The righteous are condemned by the conscience. The ungodly suppress and justify the conscience until their hearts become hard.

* "David said to God" -David prayed. When we realize that we had done wrong we need to tell the Lord of our sins.

>Who did the Lord send to David?

* 1 Chronicles 21:9-10 "The LORD said to Gad, David's seer, "Go and tell David, 'This is what the LORD says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.'"

* "Gad, David's seer" -Gad is first mentioned in 1 Samuel 22:5. Here Gad is refereed to as "David's seer". That the Lord had given kings personal prophets (seers) is a new development in the time of kings.

* "three options" -David would thus be the instrument. His character is about to be revealed by his choice. The fact there there was a choice and that that choice was enacted shows that this was indeed the Lord's punishment.

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>What three options did David have?

* 1 Chronicles 21:11-12 "So Gad went to David and said to him, "This is what the LORD says: 'Take your choice: three years of famine, three months of being swept away before your enemies, with their swords overtaking you, or three days of the sword of the LORD--days of plague in the land, with the angel of the LORD ravaging every part of Israel.' Now then, decide how I should answer the one who sent me.""

* "three" -The shorter the period the stronger the punishment.

* Sometimes in life we are given choices that none is pleasant.

* "the angle" -Angles are elsewhere agents of God's wrath. (i.e. Sodom and Gomorrah)

* 2 Samuel 24:1-17 also records that the Lord gave David the choice of three punishments for counting the men able to fight.

Actions have consequences. Trust, humility, and obedience will bring blessing. Doubt, pride, and rebellion will bring punishment. This is the clear message of the Chronicler(s). Is this true? It is true only for believers in Jesus, or rather those who have made a decision to live by faith in Christ.

Why are the principles of punishment and reward so fundamentally true and important? The declaration of the Lord to Israel at Mount Ebal when they entered the promised land and this chapter validates these basic principles are true (Deut. 27). They are not only in the Old Testament. Jesus' parables also validated the principles. The fact that Jesus and the apostles taught that when he comes again he will send out his angels to separate the lambs (the faithful) and the goats (the rebellious).

Maybe the only reason that the principles of faithful trust and obedience bring reward and faithless doubt and rebellion bring punishment for those who have decided to live according to Jesus' teachings is because the sinful nature will wage war in the soul of God's children until the day we are transformed at his second coming.

The fact that I have a choice to do what is good and right or not is helped by the understanding and acceptance of these two principles. The fear of the Lord for the believer is the beginning of wisdom, fear of the consequences of making the wrong choice. There are consequences. This is as sure as the truth that as long as the world spins gravity will continually pull my body to its center. Someday the gravity of punishment-reward will not be needed for I will be given the ability to fly. Until then I will learn to walk in the Lord.

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>What does David's choice tell us?

* 1 Chronicles 21:13-16 "David said to Gad, "I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men." So the LORD sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead. And God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But as the angel was doing so, the LORD saw it and was grieved because of the calamity and said to the angel who was destroying the people, "Enough! Withdraw your hand." The angel of the LORD was then standing at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. David looked up and saw the angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand extended over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown."

* "into the hands of the Lord" -David had learned to trust in the mercy of God.

* "into the hands of men" -David did not want to engage in a cat and mouse game with men as he did with Saul. He did not want to live in tents. He did not trust men over the Lord.

* God in his anger is more merciful than man let loose in the rampages of war. (Psalms 30:5)

* "standing at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." -Araunah was threshing wheat as the king approached, information is not found in 2 Samuel 24:16 and 20. However, Josephus and the fragmentary text of Samuel from the dead sea scroll found at Qumran both mention this information.

* Verse 16 has no parallel in the traditional Hebrew text of 2 Samuel 24, so some scholars regard verse 16 as an addition by the Chronicler(s) reflecting the more developed doctrin of angels in the postexilic period. However, a fragmentary Hebrew text of Samuel from the third century B.C., discovered in a dead sea scroll found at Qumran, contains the verse. It now appears that the Chronicler(s) were carefully copying the Samuel text at his disposal, which differed in some respects from the Masoretic (traditional Hebrew) text. Josephus, who appears to be following the text of Samuel, also reported this information. Presumably, he too used a text of Samuel similar to that followed by the Chronicler(s). (NIV Study Bible)

* The engraving to the right is by Edel, Josef Samule. It depicts when an angel appears to David and the elders, they bow in worship. In the background 70,000 men of Israel die from a plauge. God is represented by the Tetragrammation. Courtesy of the Digital Image Archive, Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology, Emory University: http://www.pitts.emory.edu.

>3. Was the Lord merciful as David said? (17)

* 1 Chronicles 21:17 "David said to God, "Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I am the one who has sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? O LORD my God, let your hand fall upon me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on your people."

* Jerusalem was spared because of the mercy of the Lord. The judgment against all of Israel was not completely carried out.

* "I am the one who sinned" -David confessed his sin. He offered his family in place of Israel.

* 2 Samuel 24:17 adds "David saw the angel". The angel was visible. Angels are not always visible and sometimes they appear as men as with the angles who visited Abraham before Sodom's destruction.

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>What did David do for his people?

* 1 Chronicles 21:18-30 "Then the angel of the LORD ordered Gad to tell David to go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. 19 So David went up in obedience to the word that Gad had spoken in the name of the LORD. 20 While Araunah was threshing wheat, he turned and saw the angel; his four sons who were with him hid themselves. 21 Then David approached, and when Araunah looked and saw him, he left the threshing floor and bowed down before David with his face to the ground. 22 David said to him, "Let me have the site of your threshing floor so I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague on the people may be stopped. Sell it to me at the full price." 23 Araunah said to David, "Take it! Let my lord the king do whatever pleases him. Look, I will give the oxen for the burnt offerings, the threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for the grain offering. I will give all this." 24 But King David replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing." 25 So David paid Araunah six hundred shekels of gold for the site. 26 David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He called on the LORD, and the LORD answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering. 27 Then the LORD spoke to the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath. 28 At that time, when David saw that the LORD had answered him on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, he offered sacrifices there. 29 The tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses had made in the desert, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time on the high place at Gibeon. 30 But David could not go before it to inquire of God, because he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the LORD."

* 2 Samuel 24:18-26 also records David building this altar and making a sacrifice to the Lord.

* The angel of the Lord responded when David repented (18). David was to make a sacrifice on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. (18) This is the place that Abraham was about to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. This is the sight where David would prepare the temple to be built.

Everyone saw the angel with his sword drawn; Araunah, his sons, David, Gad, and the elders of Israel. The angel of the Lord was standing about ready to kill Araunah and his sons as part of the punishment that resulted in David counting the fighting men. No wonder Araunah was so willing to give the rocky mountain plateau (23). Even David who had fought many battles was afraid (30)

David insisted on paying the full price saying, "I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing." (24)

The Lord requires a tenth of income to be given. David's sacrifice was more than the tithe. The sacrifice was to be an atonement to the LORD for David's arrogant sin. Often offerings hurt. Offerings will be painful at times. "Though there is pain in the sacrifice..." is how a modern Christian worship song goes. (I can't remember the rest right now.) Sacrifice can be a part of worship.

>How is this a change of heart for David?

* "These are but sheep" -David accepted that they followed his order. He knew he was the shepherd, as all leaders of Israel were. (5:2, 7:7)

* David was willing to sacrifice himself so that Jerusalem could be spared.

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II. David Preparations to Build the Temple (22:1-19)

>4. What was David's desire? (22:1, 5) What did he mean by "the house of the Lord"? What was "the altar of burnt offering"? Where did David get labors? (2) Where did the cedar come from? (3) Was David's plans and actions the Lord's intent for the king, his people, and his name?

* 1 Chronicles 22:1-6 "Then David said, "The house of the LORD God is to be here, and also the altar of burnt offering for Israel." 2 So David gave orders to assemble the aliens living in Israel, and from among them he appointed stonecutters to prepare dressed stone for building the house of God. 3 He provided a large amount of iron to make nails for the doors of the gateways and for the fittings, and more bronze than could be weighed. 4 He also provided more cedar logs than could be counted, for the Sidonians and Tyrians had brought large numbers of them to David. 5 David said, "My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the LORD should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it." So David made extensive preparations before his death. 6 Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel.

* 1 Chronicles 22:1-29:30 (the last chapters of the book) is mostly unique to Chronicles, found nowhere else in the Bible.

* The rest of 1 Chronicles portray a theocratic "Messianic" kingdom as it existed under David and Solomon.

* 1 Chronicles 28 continues David's plans for the temple and his instructions to Solomon. The chapters in-between (23-27) concern how David and Solomon organized the temple service and the kingdom.

* 1 Kings 5 concern Solomon announcing his intentions to build the temple to the king of Tyre and retrieve cedar from his kingdom.

* David was a man, a husband, a father, a king (thus a warrior), and a man after God's heart. That which defined him came with certain responsibilities and duties, all claiming his attention. Throughout his life, the most consistent of who he was as a person was a man who loved God with all his heart, mind, soul, and strength. The relationship between David and God had made it possible for David to balance the others.

David had always made a way to have time with the Lord. While in exile from Saul the high priest of the Lord (who had the ephod breastplate) was with him (1 Sam 22:10,20; 23:6; 30:7). When David moved to Jerusalem he had the Ark of the Lord brought there (1 Chron. 16).

However, David had a problem with maintaining his relationship with his Lord. The tabernacle of the Lord, that which was to house the Ark, was on the high place at Gibeon. (1 Chron. 21:29). The tabernacle was a tent. The Lord had instructed Moses on how it was to be built and maintained. The tabernacle was the place where God's people and especially their leaders were to inquire of the Lord and offer sacrifices.

The solution was to build a new temple made of stone much like the one that had been at Shiloh (Jos. 18:1; Judges 18:31; 1 Sam. 3:21; 4:4; 1 Kings 2:27). David said, "The house of the LORD God is to be here, and also the altar of burnt offering for Israel" (1).

David was told by the Lord that he would not be the one to build the temple, his son would. However, David did make preparations to build the temple. David believed that the LORD God being the center of life was the most important relationship a person and nation were to have. He did all in his power to ensure it.

The business of life is not an excuse to cut back on my personal and public time with the Lord. Rather, it is an incentive to become creative in how I maintain my relationship with the Lord.

Jesus' life was often filled with nonstop healing and teaching. So he often woke up early in the morning and spent personal time with his Father (Matt. 14:23). I can follow David and Jesus' example.

>5. Why was David told by the Lord that he could not build the temple? (8) Did this deter his desire to build the temple? (15-16) What did he tell Solomon he could do and why? (9-10) Even though David had prepared for Solomon to build the temple, what was Solomon personally responsible to do? (11-13)

* 1 Chronicles 22:7-19 "David said to Solomon: "My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God. 8 But this word of the LORD came to me: 'You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. 9 But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. 10 He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.' 11 "Now, my son, the LORD be with you, and may you have success and build the house of the LORD your God, as he said you would. 12 May the LORD give you discretion and understanding when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the LORD your God. 13 Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the LORD gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged. 14 "I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the LORD a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them. 15 You have many workmen: stonecutters, masons and carpenters, as well as men skilled in every kind of work 16 in gold and silver, bronze and iron--craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and the LORD be with you." 17 Then David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon. 18 He said to them, "Is not the LORD your God with you? And has he not granted you rest on every side? For he has handed the inhabitants of the land over to me, and the land is subject to the LORD and to his people. 19 Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the LORD."

* David's last words to Solomon is also recorded in 1 Chronicles 28:7-21 and 1 Kings 2:1-12. Compare David's final words to Solomon here with those in 1 Kings 2:1-12.

* David was intent on building the temple. He wanted it to be "of great magnificence and fame and splendor" (5). Why? What purpose was it that the building was as such? David wanted it so because it was to be "in the sight of all the nations".

David told his very young son Solomon of his desire and inability to build the temple (6,7). God told David that Solomon would be able to build the temple (10).

Yet, is this what the Lord wanted? Did he want a stone, cedar, and gold temple of great magnificence and fame and splendor? Is that how God wanted his name to be of fame in all the nations? No. He wanted his fame to spread because his people had and followed his laws. "Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: The law will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations." (Isa. 51:4) God's desire was for his people to live according to his word and spread his great name.

God told Moses to tell the Israelites what the king of his people is to do in Deuteronomy 14:14-20. This passage does not say the king was to build a temple. Instead, it greatly emphasizes that he is to copy the law of the Lord, read it daily, learn to revere the Lord his God, and follow carefully all the words of his law and decrees.

Jesus lived the life that David, Solomon, and all the kings of Israel were to live. He made the name of God great in all the nations. He did not do this with a magnificent building of stone, silver, and gold. He did this by living and teaching God's word.

Jesus is building a temple of flesh, bone, heart, mind, soul, and spirit. Jesus is God's son and God is his Father (10). God established Jesus' throne. His kingdom over Israel is forever (10). Jesus is my example.

* David in his old age spoke of two subjects to his son; building the temple (11) and discretion and understanding in leading Israel (12).

Parents who love the Lord want their children to accept and live in a relationship with the Lord. David wanted this for his children, especially Solomon.

Parents who love their children also want their children to succeed in life; to live to the full. David wanted this for his children, especially Solomon. The man and woman who have faith in Jesus realize that the two are connected.

Solomon's wisdom would become famous (the subject of a future DB). A wise person has the quality to apply experience, knowledge, and good judgment to life. Discretion is the freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation. Understanding is having insight or good judgment.

Wisdom, discretion, and understanding are all gifts of God. Reading and applying the words of the Lord will give all three and success (13). Yet if a person doesn't practically apply wisdom, live by discretion, and follow thru understanding they are like a ship with sails that are unfurled on a windy way. They get nowhere in life.

III. Those Who Serve the Lord in the Temple (23:1-26:32)

>6. Who did David make the next king of Israel? (1) What were the circumstances of his birth? (2 Samuel 12:24-25) Who did he prepare to support Solomon's rule? (2)

* 1 Chronicles 23:1-6 "When David was old and full of years, he made his son Solomon king over Israel. 2 He also gathered together all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and Levites. 3 The Levites thirty years old or more were counted, and the total number of men was thirty-eight thousand. 4 David said, "Of these, twenty-four thousand are to supervise the work of the temple of the LORD and six thousand are to be officials and judges. 5 Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise the LORD with the musical instruments I have provided for that purpose." 6 David divided the Levites into groups corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari."

* 1 Chronicles 23 thru 26 are unique to Chronicles. These genealogies are listed nowhere else in the Bible. They were of significance to the Jews who retruned from exhile in Babylon and Assyria.

* "Solomon" -Solomon was not the oldest son of David (2 Samuel 3:2-5; 5:13-16). He was considerably younger than many other of David's son. His mother was not David's first wife. David's first wife was Saul's daughter. She did not have children by David. Nor was Solomon the son of David's second, third, or fourth, or... wife. Solomon was the son of David and Bathsheba, who was not Israelite. The unusual circumstances that lead to Solomon's birth are not recorded by the Chronicler(s). They are recorded in 2 Samuel chapters 11 and 12.

* 2 Samuel 12:24-25 "Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and made love to her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The Lord loved him; 25and because the Lord loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah."

* "elders of Israel" -Each of the twelve tribes had at least one male elder. They represented their tribe in all official matters.

* "priests" -Descendants of Aaron specifically reasonable for making special offerings.

* This drawing in public domain is drawing by Gustave Dore (1832-1883) from "The Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments, according to the authorized version. With illustrations by Gustave Doré." The titled is "Death of Eleazar". A depiction of 1 Maccabees 6. Eleazar dies killing an elephant in battle. The artist, Gustave Doré (1832-1883), has placed his signature at the lower left of the woodcut, and the engraver's signature, Hurel, is located at the lower right. Courtesy of the Digital Image Archive, Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology, Emory University: http://www.pitts.emory.edu.

>7. Who were the Levites? (Ex. 30:27-29; Nu. 1:47-53) What had God instructed Moses what they were to do? Now that the Israel was established in the promised land and Jerusalem was chosen to be it's temple what problem was there? (25-26) What new responsibility did David give the Levites?

* 1 Chronicles 23:24-32 "These were the descendants of Levi by their families--the heads of families as they were registered under their names and counted individually, that is, the workers twenty years old or more who served in the temple of the LORD. 25 For David had said, "Since the LORD, the God of Israel, has granted rest to his people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem forever, 26 the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles used in its service." 27 According to the last instructions of David, the Levites were counted from those twenty years old or more. 28 The duty of the Levites was to help Aaron's descendants in the service of the temple of the LORD: to be in charge of the courtyards, the side rooms, the purification of all sacred things and the performance of other duties at the house of God. 29 They were in charge of the bread set out on the table, the flour for the grain offerings, the unleavened wafers, the baking and the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size. 30 They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD. They were to do the same in the evening 31 and whenever burnt offerings were presented to the LORD on Sabbaths and at New Moon festivals and at appointed feasts. They were to serve before the LORD regularly in the proper number and in the way prescribed for them. 32 And so the Levites carried out their responsibilities for the Tent of Meeting, for the Holy Place and, under their brothers the descendants of Aaron, for the service of the temple of the LORD."

* "the descendants of Levi" -The descendants of Levi were considered Levites. They were responsible for all things religious in Israel. They were well educated in the Torah, far above the other tribes. They were also educated in other things like law, music, and health.

* "the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari" -Genesis 46:11 is the first reference of Levi's sons. Exodus 6:16-19 and Numbers 3:1-39 gives further detail of the descendants of Levi's three sons. Joshua 21 lists the towns allotted to the Levites. 1 Chronicles 6 also gives a list of the Levites.

* Chapters 23 thru 26 are about organization of the labor for the Levites, priests, musicians, gatekeepers and the army.

Concerning the Levites there was a problem to solve. Moses had said the Lord told him that they were carry the ark, set up the tabernacle, and take it down when they moved. However, since the moving had stopped, what were they to do? (23:25-26) David gave them new duties to perform in the temple. This nullified many laws and regulations.

Jesus also nullified many more when he came including the entire sacrificial system. The law is good, but also temporary. God's plan is coming to a specific result that will eventually make all laws void.

* Exodus 30:27-29 "Then he said to them, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.'" The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. Then Moses said, "You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day."

* Numbers 1:47-53 "The ancestral tribe of the Levites, however, was not counted along with the others. The Lord had said to Moses: 'You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle of the covenant law over all its furnishings and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it. Anyone else who approaches it is to be put to death. The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each of them in their own camp under their standard. The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the covenant law so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the covenant law."

* Numbers 3:9 "Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him."

* Numbers 18:21-24 "I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting. From now on the Israelites must not go near the tent of meeting, or they will bear the consequences of their sin and will die. It is the Levites who are to do the work at the tent of meeting and bear the responsibility for any offenses they commit against it. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites. Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord. That is why I said concerning them: 'hey will have no inheritance among the Israelites.'"

>8. How can the ministry of temple worship and word be described? (24:19) What had always been the Lord's intent according to Deut. 16:11?

* 1 Chronicles 24:19 "This was their appointed order of ministering when they entered the temple of the LORD, according to the regulations prescribed for them by their forefather Aaron, as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded him."

* The Levites were not to be neglected by the other tribes of Israel (Deut. 12:19; 14:27)

* Deuteronomy 16:11 "And rejoice before the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name - you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites in your towns, and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows living among you."

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>9. What was always a part of service of the Levites? (25:1) What accompanied prophesying?

* 1 Chronicles 25:1 "David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals. Here is the list of the men who performed this service:"

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>10. What would be the need of gatekeepers? (26:1) What did this include? (26:20)

* 1 Chronicles 26:1 "The divisions of the gatekeepers: From the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph."

* 1 Chronicles 26:20 "Their fellow Levites were in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries for the dedicated things."

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