Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Chronicles 23:32
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.
32. the tabernacle of the congregation ] R.V. the tent of meeting.
the charge of the holy place] The limits within which this charge was confined are given Num 4:15. Not all Levites, but only the sons of Kohath had this particular charge.
the charge of the sons of Aaron ] Cp. Num 18:1-7.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 32. The charge of the sons of Aaron] It was the priests’ business to kill, flay, and dress, as well as to offer, the victims, but being few, they were obliged to employ the Levites to flay those animals. The Levites were, properly speaking, servants to the priests, and were employed about the more servile part of Divine worship.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The charge of the sons of Aaron, i.e. what the priests should commit to their charge, or command them to do.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation,…. That no unclean persons entered into it, and that none of the vessels were carried out of it; this was the business of the porters:
and the charge of the holy place; of things that belonged unto it, the vessels in it, and what was requisite for it, and used there: and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren; the priests, whatever they should command them to do: in the service of the house of the Lord; in any part and branch of it before specified.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
In conclusion, the whole duties of the Levites are summed up in three clauses: they were to keep the charge of the tabernacle, the charge of the sacred things, i.e., of all the sacred things of the worship, and the charge of the sons of Aaron, i.e., of all that the priests committed to them to be done; cf. Num 18:3., where these functions are more exactly fixed.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(32) And that they should keep.This verse sums up the functions of the Levites under three general heads: And let them keep the charge of the tent of meeting. The words are evidently based upon Num. 18:3-5.
And the charge of the sons of Aaron.That is, all that the priests committed to them, and required of them (1Ch. 23:28) as their appointed assistants. The word rendered charge literally means keeping, guard, watch.
In the service.For the service.
ADDITIONAL NOTE on 1Ch. 23:28; 1Ch. 23:32. The law respecting the sacred tent was naturally applied to the future Temple. It is hardly fair to say, with Reuss, that in the perspective of the author the Tabernacle of David and the Temple of Solomon were confounded with each other. In 1Ch. 16:37-39, the chronicler has clearly distinguished two sacred tents: that of the Ark on Mount Zion, and the ancient sanctuary at Gibeon. Throughout that lengthy narrative of the transfer of the Ark, the Temple is not mentioned at all. And if in 1Ch. 23:28 David speaks of courts and chambers, that only shows that the king meant his assignation of the duties of the Levites to be permanent. Nor will it make much difference if we allow that the writer, in speaking of Davids tent, has used language more applicable to the Temple of Solomon. The functions of the Levites in both would be essentially the same. The great historian Ewald believed the whole section, 1Ch. 23:24 to 1Ch. 24:31 to be an authentic extract from the Book of Origins, which he refers to the early years of Solomons reign.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
REFLECTIONS
READER! I only detain you with the reflection of one interesting thought, which seems to arise out of the perusal of this chapter, concerning the Levites. You see how numerous they were in those early ages of the church; and you will, I am sure, think with me, that in the present hour faithful ministers can never be too numerous, in labouring in the word and doctrine. If Jesus, in the days of his flesh, commanded his disciples to pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into his harvest; well may we with earnestness beseech of him, now in compassion to the perishing state of thousands everywhere around, to send forth truly awakened servants of the sanctuary to his service. Lord Jesus, I would say, thou great Bishop of souls! graciously do thou ordain pastors after thine own heart, which shall feed thy people with understanding and knowledge. Let them be such, O Lord, as shall do the work of Evangelists, and make full proof of their ministry. Oh! for the dawn of that glorious day when the watchmen upon the walls of Zion shall see eye to eye! when the church of Jesus upon earth shall b ear some resemblance to the church triumphant in glory. Surely, dearest Jesus, when that hour comes, so faithfully promised, and so devoutly prayed for by the faithful in all ages, under the quickening influences of the Holy Ghost; that hour, that day, when Ethiopia, and Seba, and the multitude of the isles, shall stretch forth their hands unto God: surely, Lord, thou wilt be adored by the redeemed below, in congregations as numerous as the multitude which John saw in heaven, whom no man could number. Lord! hasten the hour in mercy to a lost world; cut short thy work in righteousness, thou that art mighty to save; and bring on the latter day glory, when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. Amen.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
keep the charge. This is the idiom of the Pentateuch. Compare Gen 26:5. Num 18:3-5.
tabernacle = tent.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
keep: 1Ch 9:27, Num 1:53, 1Ki 8:4
the charge of the sons: Num 3:6-9, Num 3:38
Reciprocal: Num 3:25 – the charge Num 8:26 – to keep Num 31:30 – keep the 2Ki 11:5 – that enter 1Ch 9:23 – the oversight Neh 12:25 – keeping Eze 44:8 – charge Zec 3:7 – if thou wilt keep