Samuel Thru Solomon Lesson 33-2 Samuel 23:1-29 1 Chronicles 11:10-47, 23:1-26:32 In the last lesson we saw the final months of David's reign. He had become infirm and bedridden and they had gotten a beautiful young virgin from Shunem to keep him warm in bed. It was at this time that, Adonijah, David's eldest son, who was about twenty years the senior of Solomon tried to upset David's plan to put the untried and untested young Solomon on the throne as his heir. Joab, David's general, and Abiathar, one of David's two high priests joined in the plot. We saw how Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, prompted David to action, and how they enlisted the help of Beniah, the head of David's palace guard, and Zadok, the other high priest to pre-empt Adonijah's coup and have Solomon immediately seated on the throne. The coup fell apart, and the conspirators sued for mercy and got it. Lastly, we saw David's instructions to Solomon to somehow punish Joab, and to bring Shimei, who had not participated in the coup, to execution. At this point, we will study some of the passages that we skipped in 2 Samuel because they were either out of order chronologically, or interrupted the flow of the history. The first of these is 2 Samuel 23:1-7, which were called "the last words of David." This could mean they were the last words he spoke, or it could mean they were the last words he wrote. 1 / 28
2 Samuel 23:1 These are the last words of David, the oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel's singer of songs : David was just a man, who God exalted to Kingship, and anointed for the special destiny of being the "father" or ancestor of the Messiah. An inseparable part of that destiny was to be the instrument of the Holy Spirit in writing down many of the Psalms. Quite a few of David's Psalms spoke of the Messiah and a number of them clearly spoke in the voice of Jesus Christ, the Messiah to come. Some of them spoke in his own voice. 2 Samuel 23:2 "The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. What David treasured most of all was that the Holy Spirit spoke through him in writing the Psalms. Jesus Christ himself confirmed this was true. [a] When David sinned in the matter of Bathsheba, one of his main petitions was: Psalm 51:11 "Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me." 2 Samuel 23:3-4 The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from 2 / 28
the earth.' This was the LORD describing the reign of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. It did not describe the reign of David, although, with all his flaws, David was one of the better Kings of Israel. [b] 2 Samuel 23:5a "Is not my house right with God? Here David records his response at the end of his life to what God had said to him. His faith had to be somewhat shaken, not surprising, considering all the sins that beset him during the end of his life. He did not say "My house is right with God!" He said, "Is not my house right with God?" He was concerned about his "house" because of what God had promised David: 2 Samuel 7:11b "The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you." 2 Samuel 23:5b Has he not made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part? 3 / 28
Again he referred to the Covenant the LORD had made with him, which had said: 2 Samuel 7:12-16 "When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your seed after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. [c] When he does wrong, [d] I will punish him with the rod [e] of men, with floggings inflicted [f] by men. [g] But my love will never be taken away from him, [h] as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.'" 2 Samuel 23:5c For it is all my salvation, and all my desire, Although he maketh it not to grow. [i] The fulfillment of the covenant was the focus of David's desire. However, it was not coming about in the way that he had envisioned. In spite of all the "help" he was giving God, it wasn't happening in the way he had hoped. Certainly, the attempted coup against the son he had picked was not what he had envisioned. 4 / 28
2 Samuel 23:6-7 But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns, which are not gathered with the hand. Whoever touches thorns uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear; they are burned up where they lie." However, he recommends that the "evil men" (no doubt speaking of conspirators like Joab, or possible conspirators like Shimei) be dealt with harshly. This lines up with David's final instructions to Solomon in 1 Kings 2:5-9. That these were David's final words speaks of the state of his heart at his death. Not hopeful ("he maketh it not to grow"), but vengeful. However, David has long since discovered with joy that the LORD's plan for the "son of David" would not only grow, but was merciful. Both Shimei and Joab are in heaven. Finally, we have not covered the lists of David's mighty men, or his ordering of the Tabernacle services. 5 / 28
First, there are the lists of David's mighty men from both 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles. The major difficulties in comparing the two lists is that 2 Samuel was written close to the time of David, probably about 950 BC, while 1 Chronicles was probably written about the time of the return from the Babylonian exile, about 500 BC. Because Hebrew was originally written without vowels, and because people were often known by more than one name (King Uzziah was also known as King Azariah), it is obvious that the same man is sometimes listed under two names. Also, pronunciations change over time. I live in Texas, which two hundred years ago was called Tejas. There are also more men in the list in 1 Chronicles than the list in 2 Samuel. There were also more than thirty men in the honorary list of "the thirty" than thirty men. In our day, we have eleven members of the "Big Ten." In 2 Samuel, we have "the Three," who were considered the greatest fighters of all. 1 Chronicles lists two of these men and their exploits, but does not call them "the Three." 2 Samuel 23:8 These are the names of David's mighty men: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter. 1 Chronicles 11:10-11 These were the chiefs of David's mighty men--they, together with all Israel, gave his kingship strong support to extend it over the whole land, as the LORD had promised-- this is the list of David's mighty men: Jashobeam, a Hacmonite, was chief of the officers; he raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter. 6 / 28
In 2 Samuel the number killed by this man is listed as eight hundred, while 1 Chronicles has 300. In lesson 30, I explained how transmissional errors with regard to numbers occurred because of the way numbers are recorded in Hebrew. The expression "raised his spear against" evidently means "to lead against." By the usage of the ancient world this almost certainly means that in his capacity as a commander of a detachment of soldiers, those under his command killed 300 or 800. 2 Samuel 23:9-10 Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered [at Pas Dammim] for battle. Then the men of Israel retreated, but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead. 1 Chronicles 11:12-14 Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men. He was with David at Pas Dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. At a place where there was a field full of barley, the troops fled from the Philistines. But they took their stand in the middle of the field. They defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory. Pas Dammim was the same battleground (1 Samuel 17:1) where David had struck down Goliath. The battle referred to here obviously occurred after David became King of all Israel, during his wars with the Philistines that led to their eventual subjugation (2 Samuel 8:1) 7 / 28
2 Samuel 23:11-12 Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. [j] When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel's troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory. For some reason, Shammah is not mentioned in the list of 1 Chronicles 11, even though he seems to have been one of "the Three." 2 Samuel 23:13-17 During harvest time, three of the thirty chief men came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!" So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD. "Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this!" he said. "Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?" And David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men. 1 Chronicles 11:15-19 Three of the thirty chiefs came down to David to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time 8 / 28
David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!" So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD. "God forbid that I should do this!" he said. "Should I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives?" Because they risked their lives to bring it back, David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men. This occurred when the Philistines came up to attack David just after he had conquered Jerusalem and he had become King of both Judah and Israel (1 Samuel 5:17-19). 2 Samuel 23:18-19 Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them. 1 Chronicles 11:20-21 Abishai the brother of Joab was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. He was doubly honored above the Three and became their commander, even though he was not included among them. 9 / 28
These three were under the command of Abishai. Both accounts make it sound like the famous "Three" were the three men who had gotten water from Bethlehem for David. The three hundred men that were slain in this case could have been the number Abishai killed during his forty plus years as a soldier. 2 Samuel 23:20-23 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, [k] who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab's best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear. Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty men. He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard. 1 Chronicles 11:22-25 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab's best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. And he struck down an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall. [l] Although the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver's rod in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear. Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty men. He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard. Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada who was leader of the family of Aaron and the priests (1 Chronicles 12:27) and succeeded Ahithophel as David's chief counselor (1 Chronicles 27:34). He was one of the most famous of David's mighty men (Samuel 23:20-24, 1 Chronicles 10 / 28
12:22-26). He was also a priest (1 Chronicles 27:5). He became the chief of David's bodyguard. Solomon later appointed him leader of the army in place of Joab and had him kill Adonijah, Joab, and Shimei. His name is mentioned 20 times in the Bible. The Hebrew word translated "pit" here is 9&" {bore} which a word for a covered cistern. This indicates that it was a very cold day on which the men needed shelter from the elements and they found a cistern that would help them, but a lion was already in residence. Benaiah's action was not a feat of bravado, but a feat of courage which saved others. "The Thirty" was evidently the title given to the chiefs who gathered to David at the rock of Adullam when he first fled Saul. The name stuck, like "the Order of Garter" in England. It eventually included others and became more than thirty. 2 Samuel 23:24-26 Among the Thirty were: Asahel [m] the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem, Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, 11 / 28
This count includes 6. 2 Chronicles 11:26-28a The mighty men were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem, Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, 5 Asahel was killed by Abner early in David's reign at Hebron (2 Samuel 2:18-23). Elika is not mentioned in Chronicles. 2 Samuel 23:27-30 Abiezer from Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite, Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, [n] Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash, This count includes 8. 12 / 28
2 Chronicles 11:28b-32a Abiezer from Anathoth, Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hurai from the ravines of Gaash, (8) Here we have several cases of different names for the same man. 1 Samuel 23:31-33 Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, [o] Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan son of Shammah the Hararite, [p] Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite, [q] This count includes 7, if we count two unnamed sons of Jashen. 2 Chronicles 11:32b-35 Abiel the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite, [ r] Ahiam son of Sacar [s] 13 / 28
the Hararite, (7) Again we have several cases of different names for the same man. 1 Samuel 23:34-39a Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, [t] Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, the son of Hagri, Zelek the Ammonite, [u] Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite and Uriah the Hittite. [v] This count includes 11, if we count the unnamed son of Hagri. 14 / 28
2 Chronicles 11:35b-41 Eliphal son of Ur, Hepher the Mekerathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai, Joel the brother of Nathan, [w] Mibhar son of Hagri, Zelek the Ammonite, [x] Naharai the Berothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, Uriah the Hittite, [y] (13) 1 Chronicles 11:40b-47 Zabad son of Ahlai, Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, who was chief of the Reubenites, and the thirty with him, Hanan son of Maacah, Joshaphat the Mithnite, Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, Jediael son of Shimri, his brother Joha the Tizite, Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite, Eliel, Obed and Jaasiel the Mezobaite. (15) 2 Samuel 23:39b There were thirty-seven in all. 15 / 28
This agrees with count of men in 2 Samuel. There is no total in recorded in 1 Chronicles, but number of mighty men recorded there is 53. Several are not recorded by their own name, but only as "sons of." You may notice that there are a few who are on the list in 2 Samuel, but are not on the list in 1 Chronicles. There are many who are on the list in 1 Chronicles but were not on the list in 2 Samuel. I can't tell you why either is so. Also worth noting is that there are included a Hittite, an Ammonite, and a Moabite. When you consider that Philistines made up the palace guard of David, you can begin to see how many Gentiles threw in their lot with Israel during that time. Next, in the order of passages we previously skipped, we turn to the 1 Chronicles account of David's disposition for the administration of the Temple, and the Kingdom. 1 Chronicles 23:1-5 When David was old and full of years, he made his son Solomon king over Israel. He also gathered together all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and Levites. The Levites thirty years old or more were counted, and the total number of men were thirty-eight thousand. David said, "Of these, twenty-four thousand are to 16 / 28
supervise the work of the temple of the LORD and six thousand are to be officials and judges. Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise the LORD with the musical instruments I have provided for that purpose." The Levites were separated into four functions. Evidently, at the first, David ordained that those Levites who were counted were men over the age of thirty. First, were those who participated in the work related to the sacrifices and offering inside the Temple (24,000). Next were those who were to keep order in the Temple and provide security (4,000). Next were those who were to provide the music, both with musical instruments and with voice (4000). Finally, Levites were to serve as officials and judges to administer the Law throughout Israel (6000). In later history, this caused the Levites to be expelled from the northern Kingdom. 1 Chronicles 23:6-12 David divided the Levites into groups corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Belonging to the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei. The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the first, Zetham and Joel--three in all. The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel and Haran--three in all. These were the heads of the families of Ladan. And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Ziza, Jeush and Beriah. These were the sons of Shimei--four in all. Jahath was the first and Ziza the second, but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons; so they were counted as one family with one assignment. The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel--four in all. First he established the correct family trees of all the Levites. 17 / 28
1 Chronicles 23:13 The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart, he and his descendants forever, to consecrate the most holy things, to offer sacrifices before the LORD, to minister before him and to pronounce blessings in his name forever. Out of the Levites, the descendants of Aaron were a separate category. Only they could be involved with the most holy things and sacrifices. 1 Chronicles 23:14-23 The sons of Moses the man of God were counted as part of the tribe of Levi. The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer. The descendants of Gershom: Shubael was the first. The descendants of Eliezer: Rehabiah was the first. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous. The sons of Izhar: Shelomith was the first. The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth. The sons of Uzziel: Micah the first and Isshiah the second. The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. Eleazar died without having sons: he had only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them. The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth--three in all. The Levites descended from Moses were Kohathites. 1 Chronicles 23:24-27 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 18 / 28
workers twenty years old or more who served in the temple of the LORD. 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, the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles used in its service." According to the last instructions of David, the Levites were counted from those twenty years old or more. According to David's last instruction, he changed the age of eligible service. David made two changes. First the youngest a Levite could serve was changed from twenty-five years of age to twenty. Second, the oldest a Levite could serve was changed from fifty to indeterminate. David reasoned that since the Levites no longer had to carry the Tabernacle and equipment of the Tabernacle from place to place, age was no longer as much of a limiting factor as it had been during the Exodus. Numbers 8:23-25 "The LORD said to Moses, This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work at the Tent of Meeting, but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer.'" He also changed the age of being counted in the census from his first choice of thirty. This was at variance from the way the LORD had them counted during the Exodus: Numbers 3:42-43 "So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the LORD commanded him. The total number of firstborn males a month old or more, listed by name, was 22,273." 1 Chronicles 23:28-32 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. 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. They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD. They were to do the same in the evening 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. And so the Levites carried out their responsibilities for the Tent of Meeting, for the Holy Place and, 19 / 28
under their brothers the descendants of Aaron, for the service of the temple of the LORD. David established the duties of the Levites. 1 Chronicles 24:1-5 These were the divisions of the sons of Aaron: The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, and they had no sons; so Eleazar and Ithamar served as the priests. With the help of Zadok a descendant of Eleazar and Ahimelech a descendant of Ithamar, David separated them into divisions for their appointed order of ministering. A larger number of leaders were found among Eleazar's descendants than among Ithamar's, and they were divided accordingly: sixteen heads of families from Eleazar's descendants and eight heads of families from Ithamar's descendants. They divided them impartially by drawing lots, for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar. David divided the Aaronic priests into twenty four orders. Each order would serve half a month in turn during the course of a year. 1 Chronicles 24:6-19 The scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded their names in the presence of the king and of the officials: Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites--one family being taken from 20 / 28
Eleazar and then one from Ithamar. The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, the fifth to Malkijah, the sixth to Mijamin, the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah, the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim, the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab, the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez, the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel, the twenty-first to Jakin, the twenty-second to Gamul, the twenty-third to Delaiah and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah. 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 order was drawn by lots. 1 Chronicles 24:20-31 As for the rest of the descendants of Levi: from the sons of Amram: Shubael; from the sons of Shubael: Jehdeiah. As for Rehabiah, from his sons: Isshiah was the first. From the Izharites: Shelomoth; from the sons of Shelomoth: Jahath. The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth. The son of Uzziel: Micah; from the sons of Micah: Shamir. The brother of Micah: Isshiah; from the sons of Isshiah: Zechariah. The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The son of Jaaziah: Beno. The sons of Merari: from Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur and Ibri. From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons. From Kish: the son of Kish: Jerahmeel. And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth. These were the Levites, according to their families. They also cast lots, just as their brothers the descendants of Aaron did, in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites. The families of the oldest brother were treated the same as those of the youngest. 21 / 28
The families of the Levites also drew lots for service, but it looks like they were not on a permanent rotation. Perhaps they drew lots every year. It looks like only some families served that first year. 1 Chronicles 25:1-31 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: From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were under the supervision of Asaph, who prophesied under the king's supervision. As for Jeduthun, from his sons: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah and Mattithiah, six in all, under the supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied, using the harp in thanking and praising the LORD. [z] As for Heman, from his sons: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael and Jerimoth; Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-Ezer; Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir and Mahazioth. All these were sons of Heman the king's seer. They were given him through the promises of God to exalt him. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. All these men were under the supervision of their fathers for the music of the temple of the LORD, with cymbals, lyres and harps, for the ministry at the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman were under the supervision of the king. Along with their relatives--all of them trained and skilled in music for the LORD--they numbered 288. Young and old alike, teacher as well as student, cast lots for their duties. The first lot, which was for Asaph, fell to Joseph, his sons and relatives, 12, the second to Gedaliah, he and his relatives and sons, 12, the third to Zaccur, his sons and relatives, 12, the fourth to Izri, his sons and relatives, 12, the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and relatives, 12, the sixth to Bukkiah, [aa] his sons and relatives, 12, the seventh to Jesarelah, his sons and relatives, 12, the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and relatives, 12, the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and relatives, 12, the tenth to Shimei, his sons and relatives, 12, the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and relatives, 12, the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and relatives, 12, the thirteenth to Shubael, his sons and relatives, 12, the fourteenth to Mattithiah, his sons and relatives, 12, the fifteenth to Jerimoth, his sons and relatives, 12, the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and relatives, 12, the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and relatives, 12, the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and relatives, 12, the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and relatives, 12, the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and relatives, 12, the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons and relatives, 12, the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons and relatives, 12, the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons and relatives, 12, the twenty-fourth to 22 / 28
Romamti-Ezer, his sons and relatives, 12. A ministry of prophesying (preaching) to music was given to the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun. Asaph wrote twelve of the Psalms through the Holy Spirit (Psalm 50, and 73-83). Heman wrote Psalm 88. All of them were Levites, but not priests. The sons were also divided into 24 orders of 12 who rotated in their duties. 1 Chronicles 26:1-19 The divisions of the gatekeepers: From the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph. Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth and Eliehoenai the seventh. Obed-Edom also had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh and Peullethai the eighth. (For God had blessed Obed-Edom.) His son Shemaiah also had sons, who were leaders in their father's family because they were very capable men. The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad; his relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also able men. All these were descendants of Obed-Edom; they and their sons and their relatives were capable men with the strength to do the work--descendants of Obed-Edom, 62 in all. Meshelemiah had sons and relatives, who were able men--18 in all. Hosah the Merarite had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father had appointed him the first), Hilkiah the second, Tabaliah the third and Zechariah the fourth. The sons and relatives of Hosah were 13 in all. These divisions of the gatekeepers, through their chief men, had duties for ministering in the temple of the LORD, just as their relatives had. Lots were cast for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike. The lot for the East Gate fell to Shelemiah. Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah, [bb] a wise counselor, and the lot for the North Gate fell to him. The lot for the South Gate fell to Obed-Edom, and the lot for the storehouse fell to his sons. The lots for the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the upper road fell to Shuppim and Hosah. Guard was alongside of guard: There were six Levites a day on the east, four a day on the north, four a day on the south and two at a time at the storehouse. As for the court to the west, there were four at the road and two at the court itself. These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah and Merari. 23 / 28
The full time gatekeepers were also chosen by families. They drew lots among the four gates and the storehouse. They were all Levites. Among them was the family of Obed-Edom who had guarded the Ark for three months before David had it brought up to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:11). 1 Chronicles 26:20-28 Their fellow Levites were in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries for the dedicated things. The descendants of Ladan, who were Gershonites through Ladan and who were heads of families belonging to Ladan the Gershonite, were Jehieli, the sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel. They were in charge of the treasuries of the temple of the LORD. From the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites and the Uzzielites: Shubael, a descendant of Gershom son of Moses, was the officer in charge of the treasuries. His relatives through Eliezer: Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zicri his son and Shelomith his son. Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of all the treasuries for the things dedicated by King David, by the heads of families who were the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and by the other army commanders. Some of the plunder taken in battle they dedicated for the repair of the temple of the LORD. And everything dedicated by Samuel the seer and by Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner [cc] and Joab son of Zeruiah, and all the other dedicated things were in the care of Shelomith and his relatives. This was the appointment of the duties of caring for the treasury of the Temple. This seemed to have been a full time duty. By Christ's day, the riches of the Temple treasury became the main motivation for service by the religious leadership. 24 / 28
1 Chronicles 26:29-32 From the Izharites: Kenaniah and his sons were assigned duties away from the temple, as officials and judges over Israel. From the Hebronites: Hashabiah and his relatives--seventeen hundred able men--were responsible in Israel west of the Jordan for all the work of the LORD and for the king's service. As for the Hebronites, Jeriah was their chief according to the genealogical records of their families. In the fortieth year of David's reign a search was made in the records, and capable men among the Hebronites were found at Jazer in Gilead. Jeriah had twenty-seven hundred relatives, who were able men and heads of families, and King David put them in charge of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh for every matter pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king. Thus the Levites became the bureaucracy of the state. When the northern Kingdom cast off the government of Rehoboam (the son of Solomon) they also drove out the Levites. Thus the tribe of Levi moved almost entirely to Judah, and became "Jews" and was not part of the so called "lost tribes." [a] Matthew 22:43 "He (Jesus) said to them (the Pharisees), "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him Lord'? Also Mark 12:36. [b] According to scripture, the greatest King of all was Josiah: 2 Kings 23:25 "Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did--with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses." [c] From Hebrews 1:5 there can be no doubt that this refers to Jesus Christ. [d] The Hebrew word here is hw:[; {ä vä'} which means "twisted" or "bent" and by extension came to mean "wrongdoing." See the Messianic 25 / 28
Psalm 38:6 where it is translated "bowed down" and is also connected with the "searing pain" of flogging. This connects with the many times in Messianic Psalms where Christ is associated with sin. It must be remembered that this was not His sin, but ours that He took upon himself. [e] The Hebrew word )": {shay'-bet} rendered "rod" here, is translated "tribes" or "scepters" 150 of the 190 times it appears in the OT. No doubt because the rod was the symbol of the tribe it came to mean the same thing. [f] The Hebrew word 3#1 {neh'-gah} rendered "floggings inflicted" here, and "stripes" in the KJV is translated "plagues" or "sores" 71 of the 78 times it appears in the OT [g] The line of David did wrong. Jesus of the line of David did no wrong, but he was the only one that was flogged. (Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15, John 19:1) [h] By implication, this is the promise that after Jesus suffered for our sins, the Father would take Him to himself again. [i] I have substituted the translation of the American Standard version, which is similar to the King James. [j] Had a son, who was also one of David's mighty men mentioned in verse 33. [k] In the southern territory of Judah (Joshua 15:21). [l] In the original 5 cubits tall. 26 / 28
[m] Killed by Abner, early in David's reign at Hebron. [n] A town in Judah, Netophah (Nehemiah 7:26; 1 Chronicles 2:54). [o] Rendered as Bahurim in 1 Chronicles 11:33. Bahurim was the town of Benjamin where Shimei lived. [p] Son of "one of the three" mentioned in verse 11. [q] Hararite means literally, "hill dweller." [r] Evidently "Jonathan son of Shammah the Hararite." In 2 Samuel 23:11 Shammah is listed as the son of Agee. Here, son of is used in the sense of "descendant of," and Shagee should be Agee. [s] Listed as Sharar in 2 Samuel 23:33. [t] Elian was the father of Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:3), his father Ahithophel was David's closest counselor (2 Samuel 16:23), who later betrayed him in the Absalom revolt. [u] Note, a Gentile, not an Israelite. [v] The Hittites in that day were a powerful Gentile nation that were centered in modern day Turkey. In the time of Abraham, they had been part of the people of the land of promise. [w] Probably refers to David's spiritual adviser, Nathan. 27 / 28
[x] Note, a Gentile, not an Israelite. [y] The Hittites in that day were a powerful Gentile nation that was centered in modern day Turkey. In the time of Abraham, they had been part of the people of the land of promise. [z] An interesting description of using music to preach. [aa] Great-grandson of Samuel, son of Heman [bb] It is very likely that this Zechariah, who was the great grandson of Asaph (grandfather - Kore, father - Meshelemiah [20.1-2] ) was the Zechariah, son of Berechiah (Asaph's father) who was referred to by Jesus in Matthew 23:35 and Luke 11:51. [cc] Ner was also Kish's father, which made Abner Kish's brother or nephew and also either the uncle of King Saul or his first cousin. 28 / 28