Just How Many People - 1 Chronicles 25-27

This is Episode #129 and today we’ll read 1 Chronicles chapters 25-27 together.   We find out in this episode just how many people it takes to run God’s temple.  A lot.  

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Transcript

Joy: You’re listening to Season 2 of the Lifting Her Voice podcast.   This is Episode #129 and today we’ll read 1 Chronicles chapters 25-27 together.   We find out in this episode just how many people it takes to run God’s temple.  A lot.  

Welcome

Welcome to the Lifting Her Voice podcast, Season 2!  I'm your host, Joy Miller, and I invite you to grab your Bible and join me - from the beginning - simply reading God's word together.  We built some spiritual muscles in 2020 with just the New Testament.  But this year we’re going all out, cover-to-cover, Old Testament and New.  So, whether with your first cup in the morning, your commute to work, or as the last thing on your mind before sleep, God’s Word will equip you for every good work.  I’m really glad you’re here!

1 Chronicles Chapter 25:

The Levitical Musicians

David and the officers of the army also set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, who were to prophesy accompanied by lyres, harps, and cymbals. This is the list of the men who performed their service:

From Asaph’s sons:

Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, sons of Asaph, under Asaph’s authority, who prophesied under the authority of the king.

From Jeduthun: Jeduthun’s sons:

Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah — six — under the authority of their father Jeduthun, prophesying to the accompaniment of lyres, giving thanks and praise to the Lord.

From Heman: Heman’s sons:

Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. All these sons of Heman, the king’s seer, were given by the promises of God to exalt him, for God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.

All these men were under their own fathers’ authority for the music in the Lord’s temple, with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of God’s temple. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the king’s authority. They numbered 288 together with their relatives who were all trained and skillful in music for the Lord. They cast lots for their duties, young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil.

The first lot for Asaph fell to Joseph, his sons, and his relatives — | 12
to Gedaliah the second: him, his relatives, and his sons — | 12
the third to Zaccur, his sons, and his relatives — | 12
the fourth to Izri,his sons, and his relatives — | 12
the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons, and his relatives — | 12
the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons, and his relatives — | 12
the seventh to Jesarelah, his sons, and his relatives — | 12
the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons, and his relatives — | 12
the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons, and his relatives — | 12
the tenth to Shimei, his sons, and his relatives — | 12
the eleventh to Azarel,his sons, and his relatives — | 12
the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons, and his relatives — | 12
the thirteenth to Shubael, his sons, and his relatives — | 12
the fourteenth to Mattithiah, his sons, and his relatives — | 12
the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons, and his relatives — | 12
the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons, and his relatives — | 12
the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons, and his relatives — | 12
the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons, and his relatives — | 12
the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons, and his relatives — | 12
the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons, and his relatives — | 12
the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons, and his relatives — | 12
the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons, and his relatives — | 12
the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons, and his relatives — | 12
and the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his sons, and his relatives — | 12.

1 Chronicles Chapter 26:

The Levitical Gatekeepers

The following were 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, Sachar the fourth,

Nethanel the fifth, Ammiel the sixth,

Issachar the seventh, and Peullethai the eighth,

for God blessed him.

Also, to his son Shemaiah were born sons who ruled their ancestral families because they were strong, capable men.

Shemaiah’s sons: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad; his relatives Elihu and Semachiah were also capable men. All of these were among the sons of Obed-edom with their sons and relatives; they were capable men with strength for the work — sixty-two from Obed-edom.

Meshelemiah also had sons and relatives who were capable men — eighteen.

Hosah, from the Merarites, also had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father had appointed him as the first), Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, and Zechariah the fourth. The sons and relatives of Hosah were thirteen in all.

These divisions of the gatekeepers, under their leading men, had duties for ministering in the Lord’s temple, just as their relatives did. They cast lots for each temple gate according to their ancestral families, young and old alike.

The lot for the east gate fell to Shelemiah. They also cast lots for his son Zechariah, an insightful counselor, and his lot came out for the north gate. Obed-edom’s was the south gate, and his sons’ lot was for the storehouses; it was the west gate and the gate of Shallecheth on the ascending highway for Shuppim and Hosah.

There were guards stationed at every watch. There were six Levites each day on the east, four each day on the north, four each day on the south, and two pair at the storehouses. As for the court on the west, there were four at the highway and two at the court. Those were the divisions of the gatekeepers from the descendants of the Korahites and Merarites.

The Levitical Treasurers and Other Officials

From the Levites, Ahijah was in charge of the treasuries of God’s temple and the treasuries of what had been dedicated. From the sons of Ladan, who were the descendants of the Gershonites through Ladan and were the family heads belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli. The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel, were in charge of the treasuries of the Lord’s temple.

From the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites: Shebuel, a descendant of Moses’s son Gershom, was the officer in charge of the treasuries. His relatives through Eliezer: his son Rehabiah, his son Jeshaiah, his son Joram, his son Zichri, and his son Shelomith. This Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of all the treasuries of what had been dedicated by King David, by the family heads who were the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and by the army commanders. They dedicated part of the plunder from their battles for the repair of the Lord’s temple. All that the seer Samuel, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah had dedicated, along with everything else that had been dedicated, were in the care of Shelomith and his relatives.

From the Izrahites: Chenaniah and his sons had duties outside the temple as officers and judges over Israel. From the Hebronites: Hashabiah and his relatives, 1,700 capable men, had assigned duties in Israel west of the Jordan for all the work of the Lord and for the service of the king. From the Hebronites: Jerijah was the head of the Hebronites, according to the family records of his ancestors. A search was made in the fortieth year of David’s reign and strong, capable men were found among them at Jazer in Gilead. There were among Jerijah’s relatives 2,700 capable men who were family heads. King David appointed them over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh as overseers in every matter relating to God and the king.

1 Chronicles Chapter 27:

David’s Secular Officials

This is the list of the Israelites, the family heads, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in every matter to do with the divisions that were on rotated military duty each month throughout the year. There were 24,000 in each division:

Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division, for the first month; 24,000 were in his division. He was a descendant of Perez and chief of all the army commanders for the first month.

Dodai the Ahohite was in charge of the division for the second month, and Mikloth was the leader; 24,000 were in his division.

The third army commander, as chief for the third month, was Benaiah son of the priest Jehoiada; 24,000 were in his division. This Benaiah was a mighty man among the Thirty and over the Thirty, and his son Ammizabad was in charge of his division.

The fourth commander, for the fourth month, was Joab’s brother Asahel, and his son Zebadiah was commander after him; 24,000 were in his division.

The fifth, for the fifth month, was the commander Shamhuth the Izrahite; 24,000 were in his division.

The sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; 24,000 were in his division.

The seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite from the descendants of Ephraim; 24,000 were in his division.

The eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, a Zerahite; 24,000 were in his division.

The ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer the Anathothite, a Benjaminite; 24,000 were in his division.

The tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai the Netophathite, a Zerahite; 24,000 were in his division.

The eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah the Pirathonite from the descendants of Ephraim; 24,000 were in his division.

The twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel’s family; 24,000 were in his division.

The following were in charge of the tribes of Israel:

For the Reubenites, Eliezer son of Zichri was the chief official;

for the Simeonites, Shephatiah son of Maacah;

for the Levites, Hashabiah son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok;

for Judah, Elihu, one of David’s brothers; for Issachar, Omri son of Michael;

for Zebulun, Ishmaiah son of Obadiah;

for Naphtali, Jerimoth son of Azriel;

for the Ephraimites, Hoshea son of Azaziah;

for half the tribe of Manasseh, Joel son of Pedaiah;

for half the tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo son of Zechariah;

for Benjamin, Jaasiel son of Abner;

for Dan, Azarel son of Jeroham.

Those were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.

David didn’t count the men aged twenty or under, for the Lord had said he would make Israel as numerous as the stars of the sky. Joab son of Zeruiah began to count them, but he didn’t complete it. There was wrath against Israel because of this census, and the number was not entered in the Historical Record of King David.

Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the king’s storehouses.

Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses in the country, in the cities, in the villages, and in the fortresses.

Ezri son of Chelub was in charge of those who worked in the fields tilling the soil.

Shimei the Ramathite was in charge of the vineyards.

Zabdi the Shiphmite was in charge of the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars.

Baal-hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and sycamore trees in the Judean foothills.

Joash was in charge of the stores of olive oil.

Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the herds that grazed in Sharon, while Shaphat son of Adlai was in charge of the herds in the valleys.

Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels.

Jehdeiah the Meronothite was in charge of the donkeys.

Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the flocks.

All these were officials in charge of King David’s property.

David’s uncle Jonathan was a counselor; he was a man of understanding and a scribe. Jehiel son of Hachmoni attended the king’s sons. Ahithophel was the king’s counselor. Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend. After Ahithophel came Jehoiada son of Benaiah, then Abiathar. Joab was the commander of the king’s army.

Close

It seems you don’t have to teach David twice.  When the mishandling of the Ark of the Covenant caused Uzzah’s death, David regrouped, and revisited Aaron’s exact instructions as given by God.  These three chapters go into great detail about the administration of the temple.  Each person had a specific job and no aspect was overlooked.  I think our inclination as humans many times is to get by with the bare minimum, especially when the work is tedious.  We can fall into giving even service to the Lord a lick and a promise.  We do well to remember that our God gives perfection and expects the same attitude from us.  I think He knows we will never be able to achieve perfection, but, as always, it is the attitude of the heart that He is most interested in.  Give me your perspective on this at Lifting Her Voice.com, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thank you for joining me here today.  I pray that by spending time in His Word every day, you will by changed.  Visit me at Lifting Her Voice.com with your comments and questions.  And don’t forget to visit the Blog page while you’re there.  If you like the podcast, it would be great if you’d give it a five-star review and share it with everyone you know.  Don't forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  See you tomorrow!

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible(r), Copyright (c) 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible(r) and CSB(r) are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.