Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 23:28
but their duty was to assist the descendants of Aaron with the service of the house of the LORD, being responsible for the courts and chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David outlines the organizational structure for Levite temple service following his census of men aged twenty or older. He assigns specific administrative and ritual responsibilities to this group.
The words — The Hebrew term מַעֲמָדָם (ma'amad) denotes their assigned function or station, while עֲבֹדַת (avodat) specifies the ritual service required. Together they frame the Levites' role as a structured duty rather than a voluntary calling.
The thread — This administrative framework reappears in 2 Chronicles 31:11 when Hezekiah commands storeroom preparation, and in 2 Chronicles 35:3–11 where Josiah directs Levites for Passover preparations. The pattern shows royal authority organizing temple logistics rather than priestly initiative.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to recognize that temple worship depended on systematic human administration alongside ritual duty. It asks readers to account for the practical infrastructure that sustained sacred space.
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
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;
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 31:11 Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare storerooms in the house of the LORD, and they did so.
- 2 Chronicles 35:3 To the Levites who taught all Israel and were holy to the LORD, Josiah said: “Put the holy ark in the temple built by Solomon son of David king of Israel. It is not to be carried around on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and His people Israel.
- 2 Chronicles 35:11 And they slaughtered the Passover lambs, while the priests splattered the blood handed to them and the Levites skinned the animals.
- Nehemiah 13:9 Then I ordered that the rooms be purified, and I had the articles of the house of God restored to them, along with the grain offerings and frankincense.
- Numbers 3:6 “Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.
- 1 Kings 6:5 Against the walls of the temple and the inner sanctuary, Solomon built a chambered structure around the temple, in which he constructed the side rooms.
- 1 Chronicles 9:28 Some of them were in charge of the articles used in worship, to count them whenever they were brought in or taken out.
- 1 Chronicles 18:17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side.
- 1 Chronicles 23:4 “Of these,” said David, “24,000 are to oversee the work of the house of the LORD, 6,000 are to be officers and judges,
- 1 Chronicles 28:13 for the divisions of the priests and Levites, for all the work of service in the house of the LORD, and for all the articles of service in the house of the LORD: