Symbol, Service, and Song

Book excerpt: In the Old Testament, the Levites stand as key ministry leaders for the worship of the people of God, from their origins with Moses and the tabernacle, to their service at the Jerusalem temple, to their roles in the postexilic period. This study proposes a multidimensional reading of the texts centered on the Levites in the Davidic narratives of 1 Chronicles 10–29. From a literary point of view, the notion that the Levites are closely associated with the symbol of God’s presence is explored. From a historical perspective, the roles of the Levites in expanding the service to God and his people is examined. And from a theological perspective, the means by which the Levites facilitate the song of God’s people is studied. Overall, this work seeks to defend the idea that these texts contribute significantly to the rhetorical argumentation, the historiographic method, and the biblical-theological meaning of the canonical books of Chronicles generally, and of the Davidic narratives of 1 Chronicles 10–29 specifically, as they emphasize the central role played by proper Levitical worship leadership at the time of David and during the challenging situation of the Chronicler’s Yehudite postexilic audience.