I do not interrupt the reading of this list of the Levites, but bring the account altogether into one view, because the observations arising out of the whole are one and the same. The Reader may perhaps be led to remark, from the great number of Levites here mentioned, and which it should seem were much increased from the days of Moses, (see Numbers 4:48) how large an house of servants the Lord kept. And what a precious thought it is, that there was not only room enough for them, but a plentiful table for them, and every supply. The promise runs to this amount; They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fulness of thine house, and thou shalt make them drink of the rivers of thy pleasures. Psalms 36:8. Reader! do not overlook the privilege still of Jesus's people. They are spiritual Levites, nay, they are royal Levites, for he hath made them kings and priests unto God and the Father. Revelation 1:6. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house, they will be still praising thee. Psalms 84:4. But is there not an additional note to this divine song. Yes! there is, when the believer can sing it under the Spirit's teaching. I mean, when Jesus himself is beheld as the house and home, and habitation of his redeemed. If Moses sung this song. Reader, why may not you and I? Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations, Psalms 90:1.
1 Chronicles 23:4-24
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 coursesa among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
7 Of the Gershonites were, Laadan,b 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,c 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, Shebueld was the chief.
17 And the sons of Eliezer were, Rehabiah the chief.e And Eliezer had none other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.
18 Of the sons of Izhar; Shelomithf 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 brethreng the sons of Kish took them.
23 The sons of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.
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.