Of the Levites, men were chosen to keep the treasures of the house of the Lord. Other men were chosen as rulers of the outward business over Israel, for every matter pertaining to God, and for the affairs of the king.

What Does It Say?

1. We are told how that David, the chief fathers, and the captains had out of the __________ won in battle dedicated to ___________ the house of the Lord.
2. Whosoever dedicated anything, it was under the hand of ______________ and of his brethren.
3. Of the Hebronites, men of _________ were officers among them of Israel.
4. Among the Hebronites was ___________ the chief.
5. 2700 chief fathers of Gilead were made rulers by king _________.

What Does It Mean?

1. This passage mentions the dedicated things several times having some form of the word six times. What were the dedicated things? Where did they come from? What were they used for? Read this passage carefully and then tell what you know about the dedicated things from these verses.
2. Verses 23 and 29 refer to the Izharites. Who are the Izharites? One of the best ways to find out is to look references in a concordance to Izhar since Izharites are descendents of this man.
3. The Izharites and the Hebronites served as officers “of Israel on this side Jordan westward” (v.30). But in the fortieth year of David’s reign (v.31), men were sought in Gilead to rule over the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh (v.31-32). Where did this second group do their work? See Joshua 18:7But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance: and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.
   See All...; 1 Chronicles 12:37And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, an hundred and twenty thousand.
   See All.... David only reigned for forty years (1 Kings 2:11And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
   See All...). Why do you think he did this in the last year of his reign?

What Does It Mean to Me?

1. The Hebronites were set up as officers “in all the business of the LORD, and in the service of the king” (v.30). Nehemiah speaks of the sons of Asaph who “over the business of the house of God” (Nehemiah 11:22The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the house of God.
   See All...). In the New Testament, the twelve-year old Jesus told his mother and Joseph, “I must be about my Father’s business” (Luke 2:49And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
   See All...). In what ways is the work of the Lord business? In what ways is it not a business? How can we be about our Father’s business?
2. The chief fathers of Gilead were made rulers “for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king” (v.32). Jesus taught, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's” (Matthew 22:21They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
   See All...). Do we still have this distinction today? If so, how can we tell what belongs to Caesar and what does not? How can we render to him the things that belong to him? How can we give to God the things that belong to Him?