Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 23:2
Then he gathered all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and Levites.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David, acting as the aging monarch immediately after installing Solomon, summons Israel’s civil officials alongside the priestly and Levitical orders. This assembly occurs at the precise moment of royal transition to restructure national administration.
The words — The verb וַ/יֶּאֱסֹף (va/i.ye.'e.Sof) literally renders “and he gathered,” taking the direct marker אֶת\־ (et-) toward כָּל\־ שָׂרֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (kol- sa.Rei Yis.ra.'El), “all the leaders of Israel.” The construction then appends וְ/הַ/כֹּהֲנִ֖ים (ve./ha./ko.ha.Nim) “and the priests” and וְ/הַ/לְוִיִּֽם\׃ (ve./ha/l.vi.Yim) “and the Levites” as co-equal targets of the gathering.
The thread — This formal assembly pattern repeats in Joshua’s summons of elders and officers in Joshua 23:2 and Joshua 24:1, and aligns with David’s earlier consultation with military commanders in 1 Chronicles 13:1. The textual sequence shows leadership consolidation preceding administrative reform.
Why it lands — The passage requires a reader to note the deliberate inclusion of civil, priestly, and Levitical ranks before any census or duty assignment occurs. It asks the reader to observe how institutional continuity is secured through structured gathering rather than unilateral decree.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.
Cross-references
- Joshua 23:2 he summoned all Israel, including its elders, leaders, judges, and officers. “I am old and well along in years,” he said,
- Joshua 24:1 Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges, and officers of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.
- 1 Chronicles 13:1 Then David conferred with all his leaders, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds.
- 1 Chronicles 28:1 Now David summoned all the leaders of Israel to Jerusalem: the leaders of the tribes, the leaders of the divisions in the king’s service, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and cattle of the king and his sons, along with the court officials and mighty men—every mighty man of valor.
- 2 Chronicles 34:29 Then the king summoned all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.