1st Chronicles Chapter 23 verse 4 Holy Bible
Of these, twenty and four thousand were to oversee the work of the house of Jehovah; and six thousand were officers and judges;
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Of these, twenty-four thousand were to be overseers of the work of the house of the Lord, and six thousand were judges and men of authority;
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Of these, twenty-four thousand were to preside over the work of the house of Jehovah; and six thousand were officers and judges;
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Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the LORD; and six thousand were officers and judges:
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Of which, twenty and four thousand were to oversee the work of the house of the LORD; and six thousand were officers and judges:
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Of these, twenty-four thousand were to oversee the work of the house of Yahweh; and six thousand were officers and judges;
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Of these to preside over the work of the house of Jehovah `are' twenty and four thousand, and officers and judges six thousand,
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Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 4. - To set forward (Hebrew לְנַצֵּחַ, Piel conjugation). The strict meaning of the word here is to superintend. The word has already occurred in the same sense in 1 Chronicles 15:21. Officers and judges (Hebrew וְשֹׁמְרִים וְשֹׁפְטִים). The explanation of the nature of the work of these, as really outward work, for the "outward business of Israel," is distinctly stated in 1 Chronicles 26:29; 2 Chronicles 19:5-11. These officers are mentioned under the same Hebrew term in Exodus 5:6, in a very different connection. It is plain that they were generally foremen, or overseers; while the judges took cognizance of matters which involved the interests of religion. This verse and the following give between them the four divisions of Levites, afterwards to be more fully described. The fuller account of the "twenty-four thousand" priests (including attendants) occupies ch. 24; the "six thousand" officers and judges, 1 Chronicles 26:20-32; the "four thousand" porters, 1 Chronicles 26:1-19; and the "four thousand who praised the Lord with the instruments," ch. 25.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(4) Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward.--It is clear from 1Chronicles 23:5 that David himself is supposed to utter both verses, thus personally assigning their commission to the Levites. The Hebrew here is peculiar. We may render: "Of these let there be for superintending the work of the house of Jehovah twenty-four thousand, and scribes and judges six thousand."To set forward.--An infinitive, as at 1Chronicles 22:12. The verb is that of which the participle often occurs in the titles of the Psalms. (Authorised "Version, "chief musician.") It means "to lead," or "superintend." The Levites had a share in prisoners of war, according to Numbers 31:30. These they could employ in the more menial work of the sanctuary. The Gibeonites were spared on condition of becoming "hewers of wood and drawers of water," i.e., Levitical bondsmen; and other whole cities may have received the same terms (Joshua 9:23; Joshua 9:27). We have details of the functions of these superintending Levites in 1Chronicles 23:28-32, below. . . .