And prepare yourselves by the houses of your fathers, after your courses, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son.

2 CHRONICLES 35:4KJV
Know the Bible

2 Chronicles 35:4 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 35:4 mean?

2 Chronicles 35:4 instructs the Levites to get ready for their duties by organizing themselves according to their ancestral families and the assigned divisions, following the instructions left by King David and his son Solomon. The verse emphasizes careful preparation and order in carrying out religious responsibilities during King Josiah’s Passover.

King Josiah is speaking to the Levites, the tribe responsible for temple service, as he prepares for a major Passover celebration in Jerusalem. The verse highlights the importance of following the established traditions and written guidelines from David and Solomon, ensuring that each group of Levites knows their specific role and place in the ceremony.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 35:4

  • "prepare" (כּוּן, kun): This word means to establish, set up, or make ready. Here, it stresses the need for the Levites to be properly organized and ready for their sacred tasks.
  • "houses" (בַּיִת, bayit) and "fathers" (אָב, av): These words refer to the family groupings or clans within the tribe of Levi. The Levites are to arrange themselves by their ancestral households, which was a key part of their organization.
  • "courses" (מִשְׁמָרֶת, mishmarot): This term refers to the divisions or shifts of service among the Levites, a system set up by David to ensure orderly worship.
  • "writing" (כְּתוּב, ketuv) and "writing" (מִכְתָּב, miktav): These words refer to the official written instructions or records from David and Solomon, showing that the Levites’ organization was not arbitrary but based on established, authoritative guidelines.

Why 2 Chronicles 35:4 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the Levites’ service was not improvised but carefully structured according to longstanding tradition, reinforcing the importance of order in worship.
  • By mentioning both David and Solomon, the verse connects Josiah’s reforms to the golden age of Israel’s monarchy, highlighting continuity and faithfulness to earlier leaders.
  • The verse helps readers understand the background for the detailed preparations described in the rest of the chapter, showing that Josiah’s Passover was rooted in respect for God’s instructions through past generations.

Where else these words appear

“writing” Hebrew H4385 · used in 8 verses

  • Exodus 32:16 And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.
  • Deuteronomy 10:4 And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me.
  • 2 Chronicles 36:22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

“writing” Hebrew H3791 · used in 16 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 28:19 All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.
  • Esther 1:22 For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.
  • Esther 8:9 Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.

“courses” Hebrew H4256 · used in 36 verses

  • Joshua 11:23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.
  • 1 Chronicles 27:5 The third captain of the host for the third month was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
  • 1 Chronicles 28:13 Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD.