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2 Chronicles 8:14
And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required: the porters also by their courses at every gate: for so had David the man of God commanded.

2 Chronicles 29:25
And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: forso was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets.

2 Chronicles 31:2
And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.

courses [heb] divisions

1 Chronicles 24:1
Nowthese are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

1 Chronicles 26:1
Concerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhiteswas Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.

1 Chronicles 6:1,16
The sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari…

Exodus 6:16-24
And theseare the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari: and the years of the life of Leviwere an hundred thirty and seven years…

Numbers 26:57,58
And theseare they that were numbered of the Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites: of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites: of Merari, the family of the Merarites…

according to the sons of Levi:
The sons of Levi refer to the three main family lines descending from Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. Levi's descendants were chosen by God for the special role of serving in the tabernacle and later the temple. This lineage is significant because it underscores the hereditary nature of the Levitical priesthood and service, as established in the Mosaic Law. The division according to these family lines ensured that the duties were distributed fairly and in accordance with God's earlier instructions.

Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
These are the three sons of Levi, each representing a distinct clan within the tribe of Levi. Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle's fabrics and coverings, as outlined inNumbers 3:25-26. The Kohathites had the most sacred duties, including the care of the ark, table, lampstand, altars, and other sacred objects, as described inNumbers 3:31. The Merarites were tasked with the maintenance of the tabernacle's structural components, such as the frames, bars, pillars, and bases, as seen inNumbers 3:36-37. This division of labor highlights the importance of each clan's role in maintaining the worship practices of Israel and foreshadows the organized worship in the temple. The Kohathites' role, in particular, points to the centrality of the ark, which is a type of Christ, symbolizing God's presence among His people.

David is nearing the end of his reign (1 Chronicles 23:1-2), and he is making practical preparations for temple worship that Solomon will soon oversee (1 Chronicles 28:11-13). His action is decisive and deliberate, reflecting the same orderly spirit behind the earlier divisions of priests and musicians (1 Chronicles 24:3; 25:1). By personally organizing the Levites, David shows that leadership takes responsibility for both spiritual and administrative details—a reminder echoed later when Hezekiah “appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites” (2 Chronicles 31:2).

The Levites had been set apart generations earlier: “At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the Ark of the Covenant … to stand before the LORD to minister” (Deuteronomy 10:8).Numbers 3:5-9 details their calling, and1 Chronicles 23:3-5 explains that they are now 38,000 strong, responsible for temple service, gatekeeping, and praise. By focusing on this tribe, David honors God’s unchanging assignment first given inExodus 32:29 and confirmed inNumbers 18:1-7.

Order matters in worship. Divisions (Hebrew “mishmeret” in earlier passages) ensure every task is covered and no one is overburdened. Similar divisions for priests appear inLuke 1:5-9 when Zechariah serves “in the priestly division of Abijah.” David’s structure therefore anticipates New-Testament practice and affirms that worship flourishes when responsibilities are clear (1 Corinthians 14:40).

Bullet points on why divisions help:

• Consistency—each team knows its schedule (1 Chronicles 24:19).

• Accountability—leaders can be identified (Nehemiah 12:24).

• Continuity—future generations inherit an organized system (2 Chronicles 8:14).

David follows the family lines God Himself established: “The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari” (Exodus 6:16). By organizing along these lines he neither adds to nor subtracts from God’s design, mirroring the principle found inDeuteronomy 12:32—“You shall not add to it or subtract from it.” This continuity also preserves heritage; each clan can trace its role back to the wilderness (Numbers 3:17-39).

• Gershonites—charged with curtains, coverings, and soft furnishings (Numbers 4:24-28). Their work emphasizes beauty and protection in God’s house.

• Kohathites—tasked with the most holy articles (Numbers 4:15). From their line come Moses, Aaron, and later the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 1:1). Their responsibility underscores reverence.

• Merarites—responsible for frames, bars, and structural hardware (Numbers 4:31-32). They illustrate that sturdy, unseen labor is just as sacred.

Taken together these families show that every aspect of worship, from visible glory to hidden support, matters equally to God (Ephesians 4:16).

1 Chronicles 23:6 records David’s faithful implementation of God’s longstanding plan for the Levites. By dividing them—exactly according to the three original sons of Levi—he preserves divine order, equips the temple for effective ministry, and models godly leadership that respects heritage while preparing for future service.

(6)And David divided them into courses.--Heb.,he divided him them (reflexive form of verb, with suffix)into divisions. (Comp.1Chronicles 24:3, andGenesis 14:15.) Others read the simple voice of the verb here, as at1Chronicles 24:4-5,2Chronicles 23:18,Nehemiah 9:22; others, again, the intensive voice, as at1Chronicles 16:3 (only). It is a question of pointing, the consonants remaining the same in each form. "David divided them,"i.e., the 2,400 superintendents (1Chronicles 23:4; comp.1Chronicles 23:24). Many of the names here enumerated recur in1Chronicles 24:20-31;1Chronicles 26:20-28; whereas the names of the courses of musicians (1Chronicles 25:1-31), warders (1Chronicles 26:1-19), and scribes and judges (1Chronicles 26:29-32), are totally different. . . .