I Chronicles 23:6-11 · Bible study
1 Chronicles 23:6-11 Commentary: David's Levite Divisions
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
David organizes Levites by Gershon, Kohath, Merari. The Gershonite family divisions show God's care for order and for small clans in temple service.
Research Summary
- Meaning: David organized the Gershonite Levites by their fathers’ houses for temple service, merging the small family of Jeush and Beriah into one unit.
- Key words: machle.kot (divisions, courses); va.i.yih.yu l'veit av l'ifkuddah echat (they became a father’s house in one reckoning).
- Main debate: Whether the two Shimeis (v.9 and v.10) are the same person or different; most commentators identify two distinct Shimeis.
- Theological theme: God values order in worship and cares for every family, including the smallest, ensuring all have a role in His service.
- Best use: Teaching on church organization, inclusion of small groups, and God’s attention to genealogical detail in redemptive history.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
6Then David divided the Levites into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
7The Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.
8The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the first, Zetham, and Joel—three in all.
9The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran—three in all. These were the heads of the families of Ladan.
10And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. These were the sons of Shimei—four in all.
11Jahath was the first and Zizah was the second; but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they were counted as one family and received a single assignment.
WEB World English Bible 2000
6David divided them into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
7Of the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.
8The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, Zetham, and Joel, three.
9The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers’ households of Ladan.
10The sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.
11Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah didn’t have many sons; therefore they became a fathers’ house in one reckoning.
KJV King James Version 1769
6And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
7Of the Gershonites were, Laadan, and Shimei.
8The sons of Laadan; the chief was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.
9The sons of Shimei; Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief of the fathers of Laadan.
10And the sons of Shimei were, Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.
11And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons; therefore they were in one reckoning, according to their father’s house.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
6And David divided them into courses according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
7Of the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.
8The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, and Zetham, and Joel, three.
9The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers’housesof Ladan.
10And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.
11And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons; therefore they became a fathers’ house in one reckoning.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
6And David distributeth them into courses: Of the sons of Levi: of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
7Of the Gershonite: Laadan and Shimei.
8Sons of Laadan: the head is Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.
9Sons of Shimei are Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three; these are heads of the fathers of Laadan.
10And sons of Shimei are Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah; these are sons of Shimei, four.
11And Jahath is the head, and Zizah the second, and Jeush and Beriah have not multiplied sons, and they become the house of a father by one numbering.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
6And David divided them into courses according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
7Of the Gershonites: Laadan and Shimei.
8The sons of Laadan: the head was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.
9The sons of Shimei: Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief fathers of Laadan.
10And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Ziza, and Jeush, and Beriah. These were the four sons of Shimei.
11And Jahath was the head, and Ziza the second; and Jeush and Beriah had not many sons: as father's house, therefore, they were reckoned as one.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
6And David distributed them into courses by the families of the sons of Levi, to wit, of Gerson, and of Caath, and of Merari.
7The sons of Gerson were Leedan and Semei.
8The sons of Leedan: the chief Jahiel, and Zethan, and Joel, three.
9The sons of Semei: Salomith, and Hosiel, and Aran, three: these were the heads of the families of Leedan.
10And the sons of Semei were Leheth, and Ziza, and Jaus, and Baria: these were the sons of Semei, four.
11And Leheth was the first, Ziza the second: but Jaus and Baria had not many children, and therefore they were counted in one family, and in one house.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Chronicles 23:6
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that David restored the ancient tripartite division of Levi (Gershon, Kohath, Merari) and subdivided the Gershonites into fathers’ houses for organized service. The Gershonites counted nine houses: six from Ladan (Jehiel, Zetham, Joel, Shelomoth, Haziel, Haran) and three from Shimei (Jahath, Zizah, and the combined house of Jeush and Beriah). Keil and Delitzsch note that the verb va.i.ye.chal.kem (“he divided them”) is a rare form of the imperfect, used to describe David’s administrative action. Lange and the Cambridge Bible observe that Jeush and Beriah “did not have many sons,” so they were counted as one father’s house, a practical accommodation for a small clan. Gill and the Geneva Bible identify two Shimeis in the passage: one a descendant of Ladan (v.9) and the other the brother of Ladan (v.10). A minor debate among scholars (noted by Bertheau and countered by Keil) concerns whether these verses list all Levites or only the 24,000 assigned to temple service. The consensus holds that the text presents David’s census-based reorganization, grounded in the existing family structures already described in Exodus and Numbers.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: David organized the Levites by their ancestral houses for temple service, merging two small families into one father's house.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Gershonite houses | Most commentators agree that the Gershonites had nine fathers' houses in David's organization. | Some traditions count six houses under Ladan and three under Shimei (Lange, Keil), while others see four houses under Shimei the brother of Ladan, with Jeush and Beriah as one (Gill). |
| Identification of Shimei | The text mentions two different men named Shimei, one in v.9 (descendant of Ladan) and one in v.10 (son of Gershon). | A minority view (not represented in major commentaries) suggests only one Shimei, with v.9 and v.10 listing his descendants in two groups. |
| Scope of the census | David counted all Levites and organized them by ancestral houses. | Keil argues the list includes all Levites, while Bertheau (cited by Lange) limits it to the 24,000 assigned to temple work. |
| Age of service | The passage itself does not specify age; surrounding context (v.3, v.27) indicates a shift from thirty to twenty years. | Christians have understood this shift differently: some see it as a pragmatic adjustment, others as a softening of Mosaic requirements. |
Historical & Cultural Context
David’s census and reorganization of the Levites (1 Chr 23:2-5) took place near the end of his reign, as he prepared for the construction of the temple. Earlier in Israel’s history, the Levites were assigned specific duties based on the ancestral lines of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari (Num 3-4; 1 Chr 6:1). Under Moses, the age of service was thirty to fifty (Num 4:3); David lowered the starting age to twenty due to a need for more workers (1 Chr 23:24-27). The Gershonites, descendants of Levi’s eldest son, originally served by carrying the tabernacle’s curtains and coverings (Num 4:21-28). By David’s time, the temple was stationary, and many Levites served as administrators, judges, and musicians (1 Chr 23:4-5).
This passage lists the fathers’ houses within the Gershonite clan. The names reflect families that had grown and branched over centuries. Ladan is a variant of Libni (Ex 6:17; Num 3:18); Shimei (also rendered Shimhi) is the other son of Gershon. The two Shimeis in verses 9 and 10 confused later readers: the first is a descendant of Ladan, the second is the brother of Ladan (as Kimchi and Gill explain). The combining of Jeush and Beriah into one house shows that the reorganization was not rigid, it responded to actual family size. This mirrors the earlier practice in the wilderness, where small clans were merged to share duties (Num 26:56). The historical context underscores God’s attention to the details of worship and the inclusion of even the smallest families in the service of the sanctuary.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants in these verses. Keil and Delitzsch discuss the pointing of the verb form va.i.ye.chal.kem (a rare imperfect from chalaq), but this does not affect the meaning. The name Zina appears in v.10 while the parallel form Zizah occurs in v.11; some Hebrew manuscripts and versions (Septuagint, Vulgate) read Zizah in both places. This is a spelling variation within the same family.
Reception History
This passage has been used throughout church history to illustrate the importance of order in worship and pastoral care for smaller congregations. Early Christian writers like Jerome and Augustine saw the Levitical divisions as types of the order within the Church, each member having a distinct role. In medieval cathedral chapters, the principle of organizing clergy by family or house was echoed in collegiate and monastic structures. Reformers such as Calvin and Matthew Henry highlighted the inclusion of Jeush and Beriah as evidence of God's compassion: even a small clan received a recognized place. More recently, this text has been cited in discussions of church polity to affirm the value of genealogical continuity and the need for flexible administration.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Order in worship: David’s division of the Levites by their ancestral lines demonstrates that God is a God of order. The temple service required structure, with each family assigned a clear role. This order was not rigid but flexible enough to accommodate small families.
- Continuity with the past: The three sons of Levi, Gershon, Kohath, Merari, reach back to Israel’s wilderness journey. David did not invent new structures but built on what God had established through Moses, adapting it for the new temple context.
- Care for the small: The merging of Jeush and Beriah into one father’s house shows that no family was overlooked. Their small size did not exclude them from service; it simply adjusted their grouping. God values every clan, even those with few sons.
Five-point outline
- Foundations of service: Levi’s three sons (Gershon, Kohath, Merari) form the basis of Levitical organization, pointing to the tribal structure established at Sinai.
- Detailed record: The specific names, Ladan, Shimei, Jehiel, Zetham, Joel, show that God keeps track of individuals and families, not just large groups.
- Two Shimeis: The presence of two family heads named Shimei reminds us that names can recur; careful genealogy was needed for proper assignments.
- Gathering the few: Jeush and Beriah had few sons, so they received a single father’s house and one assignment. This preventive wisdom ensured that no duty was left undone.
- One reckoning: The phrase “in one reckoning” (v.11) means they were counted as a single unit for work. Unity in service matters more than the size of a group.
Illustration hooks
- A church’s budget committee merges two small deacon families so each can serve without being overwhelmed.
- A church plant in a rural area has only three families; they share all responsibilities rather than dividing into separate teams.
- A small business with two branches combines their accounting departments into one, ensuring the work gets done even though each branch is small.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God care about how we organize our church, or is it just human preference?
- If our church is small, do we still have a place in God’s plan?
- Why does the Bible spend so many verses on lists of names? Is this relevant today?
Leading a Discussion
This passage may seem dry, just a list of names, but it reveals God’s heart for order and for every family. David’s reorganization of the Levites was not bureaucratic; it was pastoral. Even the smallest clan received a place and a responsibility. As you discuss this text, consider how your church or small group can ensure everyone is included, regardless of size or status.
Discussion questions
- What does the fact that David “divided them into courses” (v.6) suggest about the importance of organization in worship?
- Why do you think the writer lists the names so carefully? What does this level of detail tell us about God?
- In verse 11, Jeush and Beriah “did not have many sons,” so they became one family. What does this show about God’s attitude toward small families or small groups?
- How might the principle of “one reckoning” apply to a small group or ministry in your context that feels too small to make a difference?
- This passage builds on older lists from Exodus and Numbers. How does continuity with the past shape the way we approach church leadership or traditions today?
- What challenges might come from combining small families or groups? What benefits might there be?
- How can you personally contribute to making sure no one in your fellowship feels overlooked?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 6:16 | These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari; and the years of the life of Levi were one hundred thirty-seven years. |
| Exodus 6:24 | The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the families of the Korahites. |
| Numbers 26:57 | These are those who were counted 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. |
| Numbers 26:58 | These are the families of Levi: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, and the family of the Korahites. Kohath became the father of Amram. |
| I Chronicles 6:1 | The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. |
| I Chronicles 6:16 | The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. |
| I Chronicles 24:1 | These were the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. |
| I Chronicles 26:1 | For the divisions of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that Shimei's family was too small to handle the work assigned to a single Levitical family, so it was merged with Laadan's to share the load. The union was a practical arrangement: what would have overwhelmed either group separately became manageable together.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentator notes that the two different ages given for Levite service—thirty in one account and twenty in another—likely reflect an actual change in practice over time. The original minimum was probably thirty, but a shortage of Levites forced the limit down to twenty.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes draw attention to how Ieush and Beriah, having few sons, were counted as a single family within the Gershonite lineage. This detail shows that the Levitical genealogies were arranged not just by ancestry but also by practical considerations for the distribution of temple duties.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill works through the genealogical details of the Levitical courses under David, noting that certain branches with few descendants were merged into one family for the sake of reckoning. He also clarifies that some names appearing in parallel lists are variant forms of the same person, reconciling the accounts.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that David's division of the Levites into courses is recorded here only for the twenty-four thousand assigned to Temple work. The fathers' houses correspond to the classes into which both Levites and priests were divided, with the Gershonites having nine such houses.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch note a textual quirk in the verb "divided" and argue that among Gershonites, Laadan and Shimei are not both sons of Gershon but founders of two separate lines. They count nine Gershonite fathers'-houses in David's time: six descended from Laadan and three from a different Shimei, a descendant of Libni.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees this verse as a deliberate structural introduction, framing all that follows as David's final acts before death. He compares it to John 13:1, where Jesus' farewell actions are introduced with a similar purpose. The notice does not replace the later anointing account but sets the scene for the king's last will.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights the careful, orderly distribution of the Levites into specific duties—work, governance, guarding, and music—as a model of how God’s house should be served. Every tribe and family had its appointed place, showing that even the smallest roles in worship matter to God.