Verses 1 and 2 of chapter 23 provide an outline for what follows in chapters 23-27 but in reverse order. After David appointed Solomon as his coregent in 973 B.C., he began the preparations the writer described here.
David adapted the service of the Levites, who assisted the priests, to the new temple ritual. This form of worship was a combination of tabernacle and divinely approved revised worship (Num. 3; 23:3-32). The Chronicler gave the names of the family heads in Levi's tribe first (vv. 3-24). Then he explained the duties that David prescribed for them (vv. 25-32). In all this David was careful to abide within the guidelines of the Mosaic Law and other instructions he had received from the Lord (cf. 28:19). Previously the Levites had served mainly by carrying the tabernacle and its furnishings from place to place (Num. 2-4). Now their duty was to maintain the temple and its worship with the exception of matters reserved for the priests (vv. 28-32).
"To entitle this section the organization of the Levites' is to make it sound like bureaucratic regimentation. It is rather to be seen as a scaffolding for that house, a structure to enable God's people to function as they ought."74
The high priest supervised the priests in their temple service (23:28; 24:1-19). Priests were descendants of Aaron and constituted only one branch of the Levitical family (Num. 18:7). The priests continued to offer sacrifices and offerings on the brazen and incense (golden) altars (Num. 18:1-7). David organized the priests into 24 groups each of which served for one week at a time (2 Chron. 23:8). Zadok and Ahimelech served as high priests. Ahimelech, a descendant of Eli, served at the Jerusalem tent David had erected for the ark until Zadok replaced him. Zadok originally oversaw the sanctuary at Gibeon until David brought him into Jerusalem to take Ahimelech's place. Abiathar, Ahimelech's son, revolted against Solomon, and from then on Zadok served as high priest alone.
The writer also recorded the order of Levitical service (24:20-31). The casting of lots determined this order. Every detail of temple service was important to David. This shows his heart for God and how he lived in the present with the future God had promised clearly in view. David lowered the age required for Levitical service from 30 to 20. He may have done this because there was a need for many more Levites under the new system of worship (vv. 24, 27; cf. v. 3).75
David also organized some of the Levitical families as temple musicians. Asaph was a Gershonite (6:39-43), Heman a Kohathite (6:33), and Jeduthun (Ethan) a Merarite (6:44-47). They were responsible for singing praises to God and leading the people in doing the same. This is what "prophesying"included (25:1). The re-establishment of temple worship was important in postexilic Israel, and music played a large part in it. Consequently David's organization would have been of great interest then.
The organization of a temple choir is surprising since the Chronicler elsewhere presented Israel's worship as done in compliance with the Mosaic Law, which made no provision for a choir. However the prophets Nathan and Gad had authorized this choir (2 Chron. 29:25). Furthermore this choir was in harmony with other legislation in the Law directing praise of the Lord (cf. Num. 10:10; Deut. 10:8; 18:5). Also the general scriptural admonition to rejoice in God's presence encouraged creative expressions of worship in harmony with God's Word.76
David also organized the officers of the Levites as gatekeepers (26:1-19), treasury guards (26:20-28), and leaders in external affairs (26:29-32). The gatekeepers were the temple guards (cf. 26:7-8).77David even specified the number of guards at each temple gate (26:17-18). There were 24 guard stations manned 24 hours a day. In view of the wealth in and on the temple, security needed to be tight (cf. 26:27-28).
"In the capitals of the Asiatic kingdoms of antiquity, enormous quantities of precious metals were accumulated."78
