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영문 원문
David, having given charge concerning the building of the temple, in this and the following chapters settles the method of the temple-service and puts into order the offices and officers of it. In the late irregular times, and during the wars in the beginning of his reign, we may suppose that, though the Levitical ordinances were kept up, yet it was not in the order, nor with the beauty and exactness, that were desirable. Now David, being a prophet, as well as a prince, by divine warrant and direction, "set in order the things that were wanting." In this chapter we are informed, I. He declared Solomon to be his successor, 1Ch 23:1. II. He numbered the Levites, and appointed them to their respective offices, 1Ch 23:2-5. III. He took an account of the several families of the Levites, 1Ch 23:6-23. IV. He made a new reckoning of them from twenty years old, and appointed them their work, 1Ch 23:24-32. And in this he prepared for the temple as truly as when he laid up gold and silver for it; for the place is of small account in comparison with the work.
1-23
The Numbering of the Levites (1015 BC)
繁體中文
利未人的數點（主前 1015 年）
¹ 大衛年紀老邁，日子滿足，就立他兒子所羅門作以色列的王。 ² 他招聚以色列的眾首領、祭司和利未人。 ³ 利未人從三十歲以上的都被數點；他們按名冊計算，共有三萬八千人。 ⁴ 其中有二萬四千人管理耶和華殿的事；有六千人作官長和士師； ⁵ 又有四千人作守門的；又有四千人用大衛所作的樂器讚美耶和華。 ⁶ 大衛將他們分為班次，歸在利未的兒子革順、哥轄、米拉利名下。 ⁷ 革順人中有拉但和示每。 ⁸ 拉但的兒子，為首的是耶希伊勒，還有細坦和約珥，共三人。 ⁹ 示每的兒子是示羅密、哈悉、哈蘭，共三人。這是拉但家族的族長。 ¹⁰ 示每的兒子是雅哈、細拿、耶烏施、比利亞，共四人。 ¹¹ 雅哈為長，細撒為次；耶烏施和比利亞的兒子不多，所以他們算為一族，歸在一個父家。 ¹² 哥轄的兒子是暗蘭、以斯哈、希伯崙、烏薛，共四人。 ¹³ 暗蘭的兒子是亞倫和摩西。亞倫被分別出來，使他和他子孫永遠分別為聖，將至聖之物分別為聖，在耶和華面前燒香，事奉他，奉他的名永遠祝福。 ¹⁴ 至於神人摩西，他的子孫算在利未支派中。 ¹⁵ 摩西的兒子是革順和以利以謝。 ¹⁶ 革順的子孫中，為首的是細布業。 ¹⁷ 以利以謝的兒子中，為首的是利哈比雅。以利以謝沒有別的兒子；但利哈比雅的子孫甚多。 ¹⁸ 以斯哈的子孫中，為首的是示羅密。 ¹⁹ 希伯崙的兒子是耶利雅為長、亞瑪利亞為次、雅哈悉為三、耶加面為四。 ²⁰ 烏薛的兒子是米迦為長、耶西雅為次。 ²¹ 米拉利的兒子是抹利和母示。抹利的兒子是以利亞撒和基士。 ²² 以利亞撒死了，沒有兒子，只有女兒；他們本族基士的弟兄娶了她們為妻。 ²³ 母示的兒子是抹利、以得、耶羅摩，共三人。
我們在此看到：
一、王位按照神的命定而傳承（代上二十三1）。大衛立所羅門作王，不是與他同朝，也不是在他以下作王，而只是在他之後作王。他這樣作，1. 是在他「年紀老邁、日子滿足」之時。他死的時候不過七十歲，卻已是日子滿足（satur dierum）──對活在這世上已經滿足。當他發覺自己將要離去，便為死後國家的福祉作了預備，並因教會和國家可望順利安定的美好前景而心中快慰。2. 他在議會中行此事，在以色列所有首領的莊嚴集會中行之；這使亞多尼雅企圖侵犯所羅門的權利、將之推翻之舉，雖然有此公開的承認和確立，卻顯得更加厚顏、不敬、荒謬。請注意，將王位安定在聖殿的利益之中，是百姓極大的福分，也是離世之人極大的安慰。
二、利未人按著摩西時代的規矩被數點──從三十歲到五十歲（民四2、3）。摩西時代按此規矩計算的人數是八千五百八十人（民四47、48），但如今已增加了四倍多，比其他支派增加的比例更大；因為如今利未支派能事奉的人數是三萬八千人──除非我們假設此處將五十歲以上的人也計算在內，而那時並沒有如此算。約押沒有數點利未人（代上二十一6），但大衛如今數點了，不是出於驕傲，而是為了正當的目的，所以不必懼怕因此招惹忿怒。
三、利未人被分派到各自的崗位（代上二十三4、5），使人人都有事可作（因為在所有人中，閒懶的利未人最為難看），並使工作的每一部分都得到仔細的辦理。如今有如此眾多的僕人伺候神的殿和殿中的事務，這是為神的尊榮。偉人的氣派，很大一部分在於他們隨從的眾多。當神在以色列中設立家業之時，請看他有何等大的家眷，全都得著美好的供養和教導。但這些與天上寶座旁的侍從，與那無數的天使相比，又算得甚麼呢？以色列的有福之處，在於他們中間有如此龐大的一群人，其職責正是促進和維持他們中間的信仰。若是對神的敬拜在以色列中衰微了，不要說是因為缺乏對其維持的適當供應，而要說那些本當如此行的人疏忽、不忠。派給利未人的工作有四方面：1. 有些人，而且絕大多數，是要「管理耶和華殿的事」：二萬四千人，幾乎佔三分之二，被指派擔任這項事奉，協助祭司宰殺祭牲、剝皮、洗滌、切塊、焚燒，預備素祭和奠祭，搬除污物，保持聖殿一切器皿潔淨，並各物各歸其位，使事奉既迅速又精確地進行。這些人每週一千人值勤，如此分二十四班輪流。也許聖殿建造之時，他們當中有些人被派去協助推進那工程，協助建殿的工人，至少激勵他們，維持他們之間的良好秩序和聖殿工程當有的端莊。2. 另一些人作官長和士師，不是辦理聖殿的事務和那裏發生的爭訟（因為我們可以假定那裏由祭司主持），而是在全國各地。他們是行政官，負責將神的律法交代百姓，解決疑難，並裁決因律法而起的爭訟。這樣的人有六千名，分駐王國各處，協助各支派的君長和長老執行司法。3. 又有人作守門的，看守通往神殿的一切通道，查驗請求入內的人，抵擋強行闖入的人。這些人是聖殿的禁衛軍，大概也配備了相應的武器。4. 又有人作歌唱的和奏樂的，負責維持事奉中的這一部分；這是新設立的職分。
四、利未人被點閱，並編入各自的家族和宗族，以便更好地保存他們的記錄，並且更容易發現那些疏忽職守的人──只要點名唱到，各按自己的家族回答即可。當同一家族的人一同事奉之時，這會促使他們彼此相愛、互相幫助。基督差遣門徒兩個兩個地出去之時，也將兄弟編在一起。此處有兩個家族因為人數不多而被合成一族（代上二十三11）。那些單獨看來軟弱微小的人，合在一起便可能顯得可觀。在這份利未人家族的記錄中，最值得注意的是：摩西（那位偉人）的後裔與普通的利未人地位平等，並沒有甚麼獨特的尊榮或特權；而亞倫的後裔卻被提升到祭司的職分，「將至聖之物分別為聖」（代上二十三13）。誠然，論到摩西的孫子利哈比雅，經上說他的兒女「大大增多」（代上二十三17，旁註）。當初神向摩西提議：他若肯放下為以色列代求的職分，神便要使他成為大國；他慷慨地拒絕了；為了報答他，他的家族在此大大加增，在人數上彌補了它在地位上的不足，歸於利未支派之中。如今，1. 摩西家族與其他人平起平坐，這是他捨己的明證。他在神和人面前都有如此大的情面，他若要為自己的家族謀求高升、使之得尊榮和富足，本可輕而易舉地作到；但他不是一個營私的人──這從他沒有留給兒女任何特殊標記便可看出，證明他有神的靈，沒有世界的靈。2. 亞倫家族被高舉在其他人之上，這是對他捨己的報答。當摩西（他的弟弟）被立為法老的神，而他只是他的先知或發言人──要聽從他的吩咐、照他所命的而行──亞倫從未提出異議，也沒有堅持自己的年長地位，而是樂意接受神所派給他的次位，順服摩西，在適當的場合還稱他為「主」；正因為他如此在自己個人方面順服了一個比自己年幼的人，以符合神的旨意，神便將他的家族高舉，甚至超過摩西的家族。甘心卑微的人，最有可能升高。尊榮以先，必有謙卑。
영문 원문
The Numbering of the Levites (1015 BC)
¹ So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.
² And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.
³ Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand.
⁴ Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the LORD; and six thousand were officers and judges:
⁵ Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.
⁶ And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
⁷ Of the Gershonites were, Laadan, and Shimei.
⁸ The sons of Laadan; the chief was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.
⁹ The sons of Shimei; Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief of the fathers of Laadan.
¹⁰ And the sons of Shimei were, Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.
¹¹ And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons; therefore they were in one reckoning, according to their father's house.
¹² The sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.
¹³ The sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name for ever.
¹⁴ Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi.
¹⁵ The sons of Moses were, Gershom, and Eliezer.
¹⁶ Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief.
¹⁷ And the sons of Eliezer were, Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had none other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.
¹⁸ Of the sons of Izhar; Shelomith the chief.
¹⁹ Of the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
²⁰ Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah the first, and Jesiah the second.
²¹ The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. The sons of Mahli; Eleazar, and Kish.
²² And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters: and their brethren the sons of Kish took them.
²³ The sons of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.
Here we have, I. The crown entailed, according to the divine appointment, 1Ch 23:1. David made Solomon king, not to reign with him, or reign under him, but only to reign after him. This he did, 1. When he was old and full of days. He was but seventy years old when he died, and yet he was full of days, satur dierum—satisfied with living in this world. When he found himself going off, he made provision for the welfare of the kingdom after his decease, and pleased himself with the hopeful prospect of a happy settlement both in church and state. 2. He did it in parliament, in a solemn assembly of all the princes of Israel, which made Adonijah's attempt to break in upon Solomon's title and set it aside, notwithstanding this public recognition and establishment of it, the more impudent, impious, and ridiculous. Note, The settling or securing of the crown in the interests of the temple is a great blessing to the people and a great satisfaction to those who are themselves leaving the world.
II. The Levites numbered, according to the rule in Moses's time, from thirty years old to fifty, Nu 4:2,3. Their number in Moses's time. by this rule, was 8580 (Nu 4:47,48), but now it had increased above four-fold, much more in proportion than the rest of the tribes; for the serviceable men of Levi's tribe were now 38,000, unless we suppose that here those were reckoned who were above fifty, which was not the case there. Joab had not numbered the Levites (1Ch 21:6), but David now did, not in pride, but for a good purpose, and then he needed not fear wrath for it.
III. The Levites distributed to their respective posts (1Ch 23:4,5), that every hand might be employed (for, of all men, an idle Levite makes the worst figure), and that every part of the work might be carefully done. Now it was for the honour of God that so great a number of servants attended his house and the business of it. Much of the state of great men consists in the greatness of their retinue. When God kept house in Israel see what a great household he had, and all well fed and well taught. But what were these to the attendants of his throne above, and the innumerable company of angels? It was the happiness of Israel that they had among them such a considerable body of men who were obliged by their office to promote and keep up religion among them. If the worship of God go to decay in Israel, let it not be said that it was for want of due provision for the support of it, but that those who should have done it were careless and false. The work assigned the Levites was four-fold:—1. Some, and indeed far the greater number, were to set forward the work of the house of the Lord: 24,000, almost two-thirds, were appointed for this service, to attend the priests in killing the sacrifices, flaying them, washing them, cutting them up, burning them, to have the meat-offerings and drink-offerings ready, to carry out dirt, and keep all the vessels and utensils of the temple clean, and every thing in its place, that the service might be performed both with expedition and with exactness. These served 1000 a-week, and so went round in twenty-four courses. Perhaps while the temple was in building some of these were employed to set forward that work, to assist the builders, at least to quicken them, and keep good order among them, and the decorum which became temple-work. 2. Others were officers and judges, not in the affairs of the temple, and in the controversies that arose there (for there, we may suppose, the priests presided), but in the country. They were magistrates, to give the laws of God in charge, to resolves difficulties, and to determine controversies that arose upon them. Of these there were 6000, in the several parts of the kingdom, that assisted the princes and elders of every tribe in the administration of justice. 3. Others were porters, to guard all the avenues of the house of God, to examine those that desired entrance, and to resist those that would force an entrance. These were the life-guards of the temple, and probably were armed accordingly. 4. Others were singers and players on instruments, whose business it was to keep up that part of the service; this was a new-erected office.
IV. The Levites mustered, and disposed of into their respective families and kindreds, that an account of them might the better be kept, and those that neglected their duty might be the more easily discovered, by calling over the roll, and obliging them to answer to their names, which each family might do for itself. When those of the same family were employed together it would engage them to love and assist one another. When Christ sent forth his disciples two and two he put together those that were brethren. Two families were here joined in one (1Ch 23:11) because they had not many sons. Those that are weak and little, separately, may be put together and appear considerable. That which is most observable in this account of the families of the Levites is that the posterity of Moses (that great man) stood upon the level with common Levites, and had no dignities or privileges at all peculiar to them; whilst the posterity of Aaron were advanced to the priest's office, to sanctify the most holy things, 1Ch 23:13. It is said indeed of the grandson of Moses, Rehabiah, that his sons were highly multiplied, 1Ch 23:17, margin. When God proposed to him that, if he would let fall his intercession for Israel, he would make of him a great nation, he generously refused it, in recompence for which his family is here greatly increased, and makes up in number what it wants in figure, in the tribe of Levi. Now, 1. The levelling of Moses' family with the rest is an evidence of his self-denial. Such an interest had he both with God and man that if he had aimed to raise his own family, to dignify and enrich that, he might easily have done so; but he was no self-seeking man, as appears from his leaving to his children no marks of distinction, which was a sign that he had the spirit of God and not the spirit of the world. 2. The elevation of Aaron's family above the rest was a recompence for his self-denial. When Moses (his younger brother) was made a god to Pharaoh, and he only his prophet or spokesman, to observe his orders and do as he was bidden, Aaron never disputed it, nor insisted upon his seniority, but readily took the inferior post God put him in, submitted to Moses, and, upon occasion, called him his lord; and because he thus submitted himself, in his own person, to his junior, in compliance with the will of God, God highly exalted his family, even above that of Moses himself. Those that are content to stoop are in the fairest way to rise. Before honour is humility.
24-32
The Office of the Levites (1015 BC)
繁體中文
利未人的職任（主前 1015 年）
²⁴ 以上記載的是利未的子孫，照著他們的宗族、家長、按著名數計算的，是從二十歲以外，所有辦理耶和華殿之事務的人。* ²⁵ 因為大衛說：「耶和華以色列的神已經使他的百姓平安，他永遠住在耶路撒冷。* ²⁶ 利未人不必再抬帳幕和其中一切器皿了。」* ²⁷ 照著大衛臨終的話，利未人從二十歲以上的都被數點。* ²⁸ 他們的職任是在亞倫的子孫手下辦理耶和華殿裡的事，管理院子和屋子，潔淨一切聖物，並辦理神殿的事務；* ²⁹ 又管理陳設餅、素祭的細麵、無酵薄餅、用盤烤的物、用油調和的物，以及各樣量度的器皿；* ³⁰ 每日早晨站立稱謝讚美耶和華，晚上也這樣行；* ³¹ 又在安息日、月朔、節期，按著數目，照著常例，不斷地在耶和華面前獻一切燔祭；* ³² 又看守會幕和聖所，並他們弟兄亞倫的子孫，在耶和華殿裡辦理的事務。*
此處我們看到：一、關於利未人有效人力計算方式的一項更改——在摩西的時候，他們要到三十歲才入伍服役，到二十五歲才被接納為見習（民八24）；大衛卻照著神的指示，下令他們當從「二十歲以外」就被數點「辦理耶和華殿的事務」，代上二十三24。這項命令他以自己臨終的話加以確認，代上二十三27。當他最後定稿這項體制之時，明確規定此後永遠當如此行——然而不是他，乃是主。1. 也許年輕的利未人到二十五歲才受派工作，其中許多人已養成閒懶的習慣，或沉溺於宴樂，這既成為他們名聲的污點，也成為日後用處的阻礙；為防止這弊端，他們在二十歲就被派工作，置於紀律之下。凡要出人頭地的，必須學會勤勉，而且要趁早勤勉。2. 當利未人的工作是抬重擔——帳幕和其中的器具——之時，神不等到他們力氣長成就不召他們擔任；因為他顧念我們的本體，在事奉上如同在受苦上，絕不將我們擔不起的擔子加在我們身上。但如今神已使他的百姓得享安息，又使耶路撒冷永遠作他的居所，於是不必再抬帳幕和其中的器皿；事奉輕省得多，他們就是從二十歲開始服役，也不致過勞或負荷過重。3. 如今以色列人多起來，上耶路撒冷朝見神的人比從前在示羅、挪伯、基遍更多，聖殿建成之後還要更多；因此聖殿事奉需要更多人手，好叫每一個來獻祭的以色列人都能找到利未人隨時相助。當工作增多之時，若不多召工人來作，實在可惜。「要收的莊稼多，作工的人少」（太九37），這豈不是遺憾嗎？
二、關於利未人工作的進一步說明。祭司的工作是甚麼，我們已經看到（代上二十三13）：「至聖的物都要分別為聖，在耶和華面前燒香，奉他的名祝福」——這項工作利未人不可插手；然而他們仍有足夠的、美好的工作，照著所指派他們的，代上二十三4,5。
1. 他們中間那些「辦理神殿事務的」（代上二十三4），要「在亞倫的子孫手下」服役（代上二十三28），就是作神殿裡粗重的工作（倘若為神所作的工可稱為「粗活」）——保持院子和屋子的清潔，把各物放在應放之處，並在要用之時預備妥當。他們要預備祭司擺在桌上的陳設餅，又要預備素祭用的麵粉和餅，使祭師樣樣都到手便用。
2. 他們中間那些作士師和官長的，特別負責監管一切「各樣量度的器皿」（代上二十三29）。所有度量的標準都存放在聖所裡；利未人負責看管，確保其精確，並在被上訴之時，用這些標準查驗別的度量衡。
3. 歌唱者的工作是「稱謝讚美耶和華」（代上二十三30），在獻早晚的燔祭和安息日、月朔等節期的其他祭物之時歌唱，代上二十三31。摩西曾吩咐他們在獻燔祭和其他祭物時，並在嚴肅的日子裡吹號（民十10）。號聲令人敬畏，也能感動敬拜的人，卻不能發出言語，不像大衛所設立的在這些場合唱詩的事奉那樣合理。猶太教會從嬰孩時期漸漸長成，其敬拜也越來越理智，直到最後在福音之下，「既成了人，就把孩子的事丟棄了」（林前十三11；加四3,9）。
4. 守門者的工作（代上二十三5），是「看守會幕和聖所」（代上二十三32），使未蒙允許的人不得近前來，蒙允許的人也不可越過所允許的界限。他們也要伺候亞倫的子孫，聽他們差遣，為他們奔走；然而經文稱亞倫的子孫為他們的「弟兄」，藉此提醒祭司：他們雖然被高舉到崇高的地位，卻是與普通利未人「從同一磐石鑿出」，因此不可轄管他們，倒要在凡事上以弟兄之禮相待。
영문 원문
The Office of the Levites (1015 BC)
²⁴ These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and upward.
²⁵ For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:
²⁶ And also unto the Levites; they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof.
²⁷ For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above:
²⁸ Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God;
²⁹ Both for the showbread, and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size;
³⁰ And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even;
³¹ And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD:
³² And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the house of the LORD.
Here is, I. An alteration made in the computation of the effective men of the Levites—that whereas, in Moses's time, they were not enlisted, or taken into service, till they were thirty-years old, nor admitted as probationers till twenty-five (Nu 8:24), David ordered, by direction from God, that they should be numbered for the service of the house of the Lord, from the age of twenty years and upwards, 1Ch 23:24. This order he confirmed by his last words, 1Ch 23:27. When he put his last hand to the draught of this establishment he expressly appointed this to be done for ever after; yet not he; but the Lord. 1. Perhaps the young Levites, having no work appointed them till twenty-five years old, had many of them got a habit of idleness, or grew addicted to their pleasures, which proved both a blemish to their reputation and a hindrance to their usefulness afterwards, to prevent which inconvenience they are set to work, and brought under discipline, at twenty-years old. Those that will be eminent must learn to take care and take care betimes. 2. When the work of the Levites was to carry burdens, heavy burdens, the tabernacle and the furniture of it, God would not call any to it till they had come to their full strength; for he considers our frame, and, in service as well as sufferings, will lay no more upon us than we are able to bear. But now God had given rest to his people, and made Jerusalem his dwelling-place for ever, so that there was no more occasion to carry the tabernacle and the vessels thereof, the service was much easier, and what would not over-work them nor over-load them if they entered upon it at twenty-years old. 3. Now the people of Israel were multiplied, and there was a more general resort to Jerusalem, and would be when the temple was built, than had ever been at Shiloh, or Nob, or Gibeon; it was therefore requisite there should be more hands employed in the temple-service, that every Israelite who brought an offering might find a Levite ready to assist him. When more work is to be done it is a pity but there should be more workmen fetched in for the doing of it. When the harvest is plenteous why should the labourers be few?
II. A further account of the Levites' work. What the work of the priests was we are told (1Ch 23:13): To sanctify the most holy things, to burn incense before the Lord, and to bless in his name; that work the Levites were not to meddle with, and yet they had work enough, and good work, according to that to which they were appointed, 1Ch 23:4,5. 1. Those of them that were to set forward the work of the house of God (1Ch 23:4) were therein to wait on the sons of Aaron (1Ch 23:28), were to do the drudgery-work (if any work for God is to be called drudgery) of the house of God, to keep the courts and chambers clean, set things in their places, and have them ready when there was occasion to use them. They were to prepare the show-bread which the priests were to set on the table, to provide the flour and cakes for the meat-offerings, that the priests might have every thing ready to their hands. 2. Those of them that were judges and officers had an eye particularly upon all measure and size, 1Ch 23:29. The standards of all weights and measures were kept in the sanctuary; and the Levites had the care of them, to see that they were exact, and to try other weights and measures by them when they were appealed to. 3. The work of the singers was to thank and praise the Lord (1Ch 23:30), at the offering of the morning and evening sacrifices, and other oblations on the sabbaths, new moons, etc., 1Ch 23:31. Moses appointed that they should blow with trumpets over their burnt offerings and other sacrifices, and on their solemn days, Nu 10:10. The sound of the trumpet was awful, and might be affecting to the worshippers, but was not articulate, nor such a reasonable service as this which David appointed, of singing psalms on those occasions. As the Jewish church grew up from its infancy, it grew more and more intelligent in its devotions, till it came at length, in the gospel, to put away childish things, 1Co 13:11, Ga 4:3,9. 4. The work of the porters (1Ch 23:5) was to keep the charge of the tabernacle and of the holy place, that none might come nigh but such as were allowed, and those no nearer than was allowed them, 1Ch 23:32. They were likewise to keep the charge of the sons of Aaron, to be at their beck and go on their errands, who are yet called their brethren, to be a memorandum to the priests that, though they were advanced to a high station, yet they were hewn out of the same rock with common Levites, and therefore must not lord it over them, but in all instances treat them as brethren.
大衛既已就建造聖殿之事作了吩咐，便在本章及以下幾章設立聖殿事奉的方法，並把其中的職分和職員加以編排。在先前那段不規律的時期，並在他作王初期戰爭頻仍之時，我們可以設想：利未人的條例雖被維持，卻不在所盼望的秩序、美觀和嚴謹之中。如今大衛既是先知，也是君王，便憑神的授權和指示，「將那缺欠的規整起來」。本章我們讀到：一、他宣告所羅門為他的繼承人（代上二十三1）。二、他數點利未人，並指派他們各自的職任（代上二十三2–5）。三、他記錄了利未人各家族的戶口（代上二十三6–23）。四、他重新從二十歲以上計算他們，並指派他們的工作（代上二十三24–32）。他在這事上為聖殿所作的預備，與他積存金銀為聖殿所作的預備同樣實在；因為與其工作相比，地點是次要的。