chronicles. importance of priests.

The first and second book of Chronicles places emphasis upon the Davidic covenant and temple practices. Jewish exiles could benefit from these writings as they depict God’s authority over the nation of Israel. Despite certain failures of Israel’s past, God would remain faithful to his people and bless them. The first part of 1 Chronicles depicts different genealogies of Israel’s history. Then the book goes on to describe the nation under the leadership of three different kings: Saul, David and Solomon. Second Chronicles begins by summarizing the monarchy of Judah when the kingdom was divided. The last part of Chronicles deals with the release of Judah after the 70 years of captivity. God will remain faithful to his covenants. The Jews in exile returned to the land promised to Abraham. A king would be raised to fulfill the covenant made with David. Throughout the entire Old Testament one theme is continual reiterated: Obedience results in God’s blessing, while disobedience results in God’s wrath. The history chronicled in these books paints a picture clearly of this particular theme. Especially when studying the priests and their duties. This paper will examine the different priests and the positive actions that are portrayed throughout first and second Chronicles.

A large portion within the two books of Chronicles describe the building of the temple in Jerusalem. David began the work before handing over the assignment to his son, and future king, Solomon. The temple took nearly seven years to complete. It was the center of worship for the Israelites for many generations. True knowledge of God was passed on from generation to generation by strictly adhering to the law. The temple symbolized God’s presence with his people, and also served as reminder to the significance of sin. Prayer was an important component of the temple as well. Priests were given charge of upholding and adhering to the laws. When the ark of the covenant was taken into the temple, many priests were present to secure the correct movement of the ark (2 Chronicles 5-11) as laid out in prior commandments.

The Levites were the priests of Israel. In 1 Chronicles 23 it states the numbers and offices of different Levites. The census showed the number of men to be 38,000. Of this number King David appointed 24,000 to oversee the work of the Lord, 6,000 as officers and judges, and 4,000 as musicians to sing and play music to the Lord (1 Chronicles 23:3-5). Solomon maintained these divisions. “Now according to the ordinance of his father David, he appointed the division of the priests for their service, and the Levites for their duties of praise and ministering before the priests according to the daily rule, and the gatekeepers by their divisions at every gate; for David the man of God had so commanded. And they did not depart from the commandment of the king to the priests and Levites in any manner or concerning the storehouses” (2 Chronicles 8:14-15). The Levites obeyed the commands given them by David and Solomon, but more importantly upheld the law expanded upon in the book of Leviticus.

The priests played a vital role in moving the ark into the temple. “Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the inner sanctuary of he house, to the holy of holies, under the wings of the cherubim” (2 Chronicles 5:5). The priests adhered to the strict guidelines depicted in Numbers 4:1-49 for moving the ark. In 1 Chronicles 13 Uzza is struck dead as he reaches out to steady the ark as it is moved by David’s orders. Therefore, the fact the ark is moved into the temple without fatalities exemplifies the meticulousness of the Levites in following guidelines.

After the death of Solomon a civil war rises amongst the nation of Israel. Abijah is king over Judah, and Jeroboam has authority over Israel. In chapter 13 of 2 Chronicles Abijah addresses Jeroboam stating that God is on their side because Jeroboam has removed the levitical priests who follow the letters of the law, and have replaced them with false priests. Of Judah, Abijah states: “But as for us, the Lord Is our God, and we have not forsaken Him; and the sons of Aaron are ministering to the Lord as priests, and the Levites attend to their work” (2 Chronicles 13:10). Abijah goes on to describe how the priests of Judah accomplish their duties of offering burnt sacrifices and incense. A warning is given against Jeroboam and Israel not to attack for surely God will favor Judah for they kept God’s commands. Jeroboam does not listen and ambushes Judah. The priests of Abijah sound their horns and victory is given to Judah on that day. The priests are in charge of keeping the law. Obedience is blessed by God, and disobedience unleashes God’s wrath. This consistent theme of the Old Testament is portrayed clearly in chapter 13 of second Chronicles.

Asa succeeded Abijah as ruler over Judah. Asa is portrayed as a good ruler as he rids the land of foreign altars and sacred pillars as was commanded by God. Asa “commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers and to observe the law and the commandment” (2 Chronicles 14:4). For Judah to observe the law and commandment, priests were needed. They were a key component of obedience. “For many days Israel was without the true God and without a teaching priest and without law. But in their distress they turned to the Lord God of Israel, and they sought him, and he let them find him” (2 Chronicles 15:3). Without priests it was difficult to be obedient to the law.

During Jehoshaphat’s reign, teachers of the law were sent out amongst the people. These included Levites: “They taught in Judah, having the book of the law of the Lord with them; and they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people” (2 Chronicles 17:7). Jehoshaphat also instituted certain reforms in the land appointing some of the Levites and priests to judge disputes in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 19:8).

The priests had been scattered throughout the area of Judah (2 Chronicles 11:13-14). But in the seventh reign of Athaliah, Jehoiada gathers the Levites from the small cities of Judah to the city of Jerusalem. Jehoiada had been the head priest, and was the leader of the priests under David at Hebron. After the death of Ahaziah, Athaliah (his mother) murderd all the royal offspring so she would inherit the throne. However, Jehoiada had hidden the last offspring of David, Joash. The child was kept in hiding for six years during the reign of Athaliah. The death of Joash would result in the destruction of the messianic line. But after six years, the time had come for Joash to be placed upon the throne. Jehoiada gathers the priests scattered throughout the land and brings them to Jerusalem. He commands the priests to allow no one to enter the house of the Lord, and arms the surrounding men with armor and weapons of King David. The crown is placed upon Joash’s head and he is pronounced King (2 Chronicles 23). Jehoiada was the head priest, and had been the leader of the priests at Hebron under David. He continues to implement reforms throughout the land. Idols and altars are destroyed and images are torn down. “Jehoiada placed the offices of the house of the Lord under the authority of the Levitical priests, whom David had assigned over the house of the Lord, as it is written in the law of Moses-with rejoicing and signing according to the order of David. He stationed the gatekeepers of the house of the Lord, so that no one would enter who was in any way unclean” (2 Chronicles 23:18-19). Jehoiada influenced the young King Joash as well. “Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest” (2 Chronicles 24:2). God worked through Jehoiada in powerful ways to draw his people back unto himself.

Hezekiah reigned from 715-686BC. Hezekiah “did right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done” (2 Chronicles 29:2). The first months of his reign were focused upon the spiritual downfalls of previous leaders. Hezekiah repairs the temple and gathers the priests and Levites together and initiates reforms throughout the land. He orders the priests to consecrate themselves, and to right the wrongs down under the previous rulers so that God’s favor will once again rest upon his people. Chapter 29 of 2 Chronicles depicts the extent to which many aspects of the temple are consecrated by the priests under the order of Hezekiah. After the extensive cleansing of the temple, worship is restored to the temple as Hezekiah offers sacrifices to the Lord God under the direction of the priests. The priests also worship the Lord through music during the sacrifice as directed by Hezekiah (and initially begun by David).

The kings after Hezekiah did not follow in God’s ways. They rebuilt the idols that had been destroyed and did not follow in Hezekiah’s ways. King Josiah was the next king to seek and follow in the steps of David and fear the Lord. During the reign of Josiah the temple was being restored. During this Hilkiah discovers the book of the law of Moses. Josiah is upset as the commands have not been followed. He gathers all the people, priests, and Levities around him and reads the book of the covenant before them. Josiah makes a covenant to keep his commandments and follow his statutes with all his heart and soul. All the people gathered also make the same covenant. Josiah places the priests in their offices and gives them orders to obey the commands given to them.

The priests and Levites played a strategic role in the rise and fall of Judah and Israel. Whenever a king was seeking to obey God’s commands the priests were ordered to the temple and to consecrate themselves and do their duties. Under corrupt kings they were scattered throughout the land. While the kings appeared fickle (some good and some bad) the priests and Levites remained steadfast in keeping the law whenever called upon or allowed. The priests were a key factor throughout the history of Israel as they kept the law and commands.