Ver. 1. So when David was old.] Tacitis senescimus annis. Old age stealeth upon us; let us pack up our bundles, and prepare for our long home, And full of days.] Satur dierum. He had seen enough of this world, and had a satiety of life. He could better say than old Cato did, If I might become as young as ever I was, I would not accept of it. He made Solomon his son king.] This he had done before he was bedridden. (1 Chronicles 28:2 29:12)
Ver. 2. With the priests and the Levites.] These were most of all concerned in the following charge: but the princes and people were to be informed of it. And albeit this and the three following chapters may seem to be of little use unto us, yet we are to hold that “every word of God is pure”; and “all Scripture is profitable to instruct.” Here we may learn that there should still be a supply of faithful ministers; and these to be ordered by the supreme authority of the land; that there are different offices of ministers; that order is to be observed in the Church; that each one is to do his own work with utmost diligence, &c.
Ver. 3. Now the Levites were numbered.] Not as the people had been, (1 Chronicles 21:5,6) out of curiosity and vainglory: but on piety and prudence, and by a divine instinct.
Ver. 4. Of which, twenty and four thousand were, &c.] That is, They performed their different offices in their various courses, Hinc sequitur, Hence it followeth, saith an expositor, that each priest and Levite ministered in the temple not much oftener than twice a year; for there were of them twenty-four classes, each whereof served a week together, and no more. Gospel ministers have a far harder task.
Ver. 5. Moreover four thousand were porters.] Quos barbare vocant Sacristas. And four thousand praised the Lord.] Whereof some were teachers, (1 Chronicles 25:7) and some scholars. Which I made,] i.e., Invented, (Amos 6:6) and appointed to be used in the temple by God’s commandment. (1 Chronicles 29 1 Chronicles 25)
Ver. 6. And David divided them into courses.] Into certain ranks and distinct functions, according to the commandment of God by Gad and Nathan. (2 Chronicles 29:25) David, at the beginning of his reign, had distinguished the priests and Levites into certain ranks and orders, (1 Chronicles 16:4) but now that their number was greatly increased, and they were to serve in the temple that was shortly after to be erected, he ordered all things better, and with greater diligence.
Ver. 13. And Aaron was separated.] (Exodus 28 Heb 5:4). So was Paul, (Romans 1:1) and so is every faithful minister “separated unto the gospel of God” (ib.). See Galatians 1:15. And to bless in his name.] See Numbers 6:23. To pronounce God’s blessing upon his people, is no small part of a minister’s duty: to blame, surely, are they that slight it.
Ver. 14. Now concerning Moses the man of God.] Who was so familiar with God, and his ambassador to the people. We must think and speak honourably of the saints departed. His sons were named of the tribe of Levi.] Chief of the Levites, (1 Chronicles 26:23) but below the sons of Aaron, the priests. And here A Lapide hath this good note, Mira fuit Moysis resignatio et humilitas, &c. Wonderful was the self-denial and humility of Moses in submitting to God’s appointment herein, that the principality should be transferred to Joshua, and that his sons should be reckoned not priests, but Levites only, though himself were “king in Jeshurun.”
Ver. 24. From the age of twenty years and upward.] The reason whereof followeth: (1 Chronicles 23:25) the people were increased and in peace; and consequently God’s service much increased in the labour of it.
Ver. 29. And for all manner of measure.] Sacred howsoever; whether civil or not, is uncertain. Some say the Levites kept the standards in the temple, that if the common weights and measures were by any means corrupted, they might thereby be rectified.