Topical Bible: Courses

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical terminology, the term "courses" often refers to the organized divisions or orders, particularly in the context of religious service and duties. This concept is most prominently seen in the Old Testament, where it pertains to the structured service of the Levites and priests in the temple.

Priestly Courses

The establishment of courses for the priests is attributed to King David, who organized the Levitical priesthood into 24 divisions or "courses" to ensure the orderly conduct of temple worship. This system is detailed in 1 Chronicles 24, where David, with the help of Zadok and Ahimelech, divides the sons of Aaron into these courses. Each course was responsible for ministering in the temple for a week at a time, twice a year, ensuring that the worship and sacrifices were conducted continuously and efficiently.

1 Chronicles 24:1-3 states: "Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and they had no children; so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests. With the help of Zadok, a descendant of Eleazar, and Ahimelech, a descendant of Ithamar, David divided them according to the offices of their service."

Levitical Courses

In addition to the priests, the Levites were also organized into courses. These divisions were responsible for various duties in the temple, including music, gatekeeping, and assisting the priests. The Levites were divided into 24 courses as well, as described in 1 Chronicles 23-26. This organization ensured that the temple functioned smoothly and that all aspects of worship were covered.

1 Chronicles 23:6 notes: "David divided the Levites into divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari."

New Testament Context

While the New Testament does not explicitly mention the continuation of these courses, the concept is indirectly referenced. For example, in the Gospel of Luke, Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, is described as serving in the temple according to his division. Luke 1:8-9 states: "One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense."

This passage indicates that the system of courses was still in place during the time of Jesus, highlighting the enduring nature of this organizational structure.

Symbolic and Spiritual Implications

The division of courses in the temple service symbolizes order, dedication, and the communal responsibility of worship. It reflects the importance of structured service to God and the need for each member of the community to contribute to the spiritual life of the nation. The courses ensured that worship was a continuous and collective effort, emphasizing the unity and cooperation required in serving God.

In a broader spiritual sense, the concept of courses can be seen as a metaphor for the Christian life, where believers are called to serve God in an orderly and dedicated manner, each fulfilling their role within the body of Christ. As 1 Corinthians 14:40 advises, "But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner." This principle underscores the importance of organization and commitment in the life of faith.

ATS Bible Dictionary

Courses

The order in which the priests were on duty at the temple. See ABIA.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

When David was not permitted to build the temple, he proceeded, among the last Acts of his life, with the assistance of Zadok and Ahimelech, to organize the priestly and musical services to be conducted in the house of God.

(1.) He divided the priests into twenty-four courses (1 Chronicles 24:1-19), sixteen being of the house of Eleazar and eight of that of Ithamar. Each course was under a head or chief, and ministered for a week, the order being determined by lot.

(2.) The rest of the 38,000 Levites (23:4) were divided also into twenty-four courses, each to render some allotted service in public worship: 4,000 in twenty-four courses were set apart as singers and musicians under separate leaders (25); 4,000 as porters or keepers of the doors and gates of the sanctuary (26:1-19); and 6,000 as officers and judges to see to the administration of the law in all civil and ecclesiastical matters (20-32).

This arrangement was re-established by Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 31:2); and afterwards the four sacerdotal courses which are said to have returned from the Captivity were re-divided into the original number of twenty-four by Ezra (6:18).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

STARS, COURSES OF

See ASTRONOMY, sec. I, 1.

Strong's Hebrew

5439. sabib -- circuit, round about
... around (68), all around about (1), all sides (3), all* (2), altogether* (1), around
(114), around about (1), around* (1), circular courses (1), circumference ...
/hebrew/5439.htm - 6k

4546. mesillah -- a highway
... Word Origin from salal Definition a highway NASB Word Usage courses (1),
highway (17), highways (7), path (1), steps (1). causeway ...
/hebrew/4546.htm - 6k

Library

College Voluntary Study Courses
... COLLEGE VOLUNTARY STUDY COURSES. "The Social Principles of Jesus" takes seventh
place in a series of text-books known as College Voluntary Study Courses. ...
/.../the social principles of jesus/college voluntary study courses.htm

Thine Head Upon Thee is Like Carmel, and the Hair of Thy Head Like ...
... CHAPTER VII. 5. Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thy
head like the King's purple, bound by the water courses. ...
/.../guyon/song of songs of solomon/5 thine head upon thee.htm

That God Only, the Creator of all Things, is to be Worshipped, and ...
... the Stoic Lucilius thus speaks in Cicero: [159] "This regularity, therefore, in
the stars, this great agreement of the times in such various courses during all ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap v that god only the.htm

Footnotes
... error of the Latin copy of the second book Against Apion, sect.8, [for the Greek
is there lost,] which says, there were then only four tribes or courses of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the life of flavius josephus/footnotes.htm

Bible Study for Boys
... Other courses have sprung up, being written and used among boys here and
there, and later worked together into a Bible study scheme. ...
/.../alexander/the boy and the sunday school/ix bible study for boys.htm

Religious Education --The Fundamental Problem of To-Day
... With careful adjustment, these courses, adapted to different ages, could be arranged
so that at least the intermediate grades in the Sunday-school would be ...
/.../xvi religious educationthe fundamental problem.htm

The Founder and Finisher of the Temple
... During all that time, the hole in the ground, where the foundations had been dug
and a few courses of stones been laid, gaped desolate, a sad reminder to the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the founder and finisher of.htm

How St. Augustine, Being Made a Bishop, Sent to Acquaint Pope ...
... Or whether it is lawful for her to come into the church when she has her
courses, or to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion? ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xxvii how st augustine.htm

That David Made Great Preparations for the House of God; and That ...
... He divided them also into courses: and when he had separated the priests from them,
he found of these priests twenty-four courses, sixteen of the house of ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 14 that david made.htm

The Social Principles of Jesus
... Title Page. College Voluntary Study Courses Fourth Year -- Part 1. The Social
Principles Of Jesus. By. Walter Rauschenbusch. Professor ...
/.../rauschenbusch/the social principles of jesus/title page.htm

Thesaurus

Courses (28 Occurrences)
... (1.) He divided the priests into twenty-four courses (1 Chronicles 24:1-19), sixteen
being of the house of Eleazar and eight of that of Ithamar. ...
/c/courses.htm - 17k

Water-courses (9 Occurrences)
Water-courses. Watercourses, Water-courses. Water-door . Multi-Version
Concordance Water-courses (9 Occurrences). Isaiah ...
/w/water-courses.htm - 9k

Gatekeepers (38 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 26:1 For the courses of the gatekeepers: of the Korhites 'is'
Meshelemiah son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph; (YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/g/gatekeepers.htm - 19k

Charges (58 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 8:14 And he appointed, according to the order of David his father,
the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges ...
/c/charges.htm - 22k

Course (87 Occurrences)
... any part of a progress from one place to another, which is in a straight line, or
on one direction; as, a ship in a long voyage makes many courses; a course ...
/c/course.htm - 38k

Ministering (63 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). 1 Chronicles 26:12 These courses of the doorkeepers, even the chief men,
had wards over against their brethren, to minister in the house of the LORD. ...
/m/ministering.htm - 25k

Zacharias (11 Occurrences)
... (1.) A priest of the course of Abia, the eighth of the twenty-four courses into
which the priests had been originally divided by David (1 Chronicles 23:1-19). ...
/z/zacharias.htm - 15k

Upwards (18 Occurrences)
... upward, even every one that entered into the house of the LORD, for his daily portion,
for their service in their charges according to their courses; (See RSV). ...
/u/upwards.htm - 12k

Jehoiarib (2 Occurrences)
... Jehovah defends, a priest at Jerusalem, head of one of the sacerdotal courses (1
Chronicles 9:10; 24:7). His "course" went up from Babylon after the Exile ...
/j/jehoiarib.htm - 8k

Levy (19 Occurrences)
... Solomon raised a "great levy" of 30,000 men, about two per cent. of the
population, to work for him by courses on Lebanon. Adoram ...
/l/levy.htm - 13k

Resources

What is the Cursillo movement? | GotQuestions.org

Trinity Poem | GotQuestions.org

What is antifa? How should a Christian view antifa? | GotQuestions.org

Courses: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Courses (28 Occurrences)

Judges 5:20
From the sky the stars fought. From their courses, they fought against Sisera.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 5:14
He sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses; a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home; and Adoniram was over the men subject to forced labor.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

1 Kings 6:36
He built the inner court with three courses of cut stone, and a course of cedar beams.
(WEB ASV RSV NIV)

1 Kings 7:12
The great court around had three courses of cut stone, and a course of cedar beams; like as the inner court of the house of Yahweh, and the porch of the house.
(WEB ASV RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 23:6
And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

1 Chronicles 24:1
And the courses of the sons of Aaron were these. The sons of Aaron: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
(ASV JPS YLT)

1 Chronicles 26:1
For the courses of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
(ASV JPS YLT)

1 Chronicles 26:12
Of these were the courses of the doorkeepers, even of the chief men, having offices like their brethren, to minister in the house of Jehovah.
(ASV JPS YLT)

1 Chronicles 26:19
These were the courses of the doorkeepers; of the sons of the Korahites, and of the sons of Merari.
(ASV JPS YLT)

1 Chronicles 27:1
Now the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers that served the king in any matter of the courses, which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, of every course were twenty and four thousand.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

1 Chronicles 28:1
And David assembleth all the heads of Israel, heads of the tribes, and heads of the courses who are serving the king, and heads of the thousands, and heads of the hundreds, and heads of all the substance and possessions of the king, and of his sons, with the officers and the mighty ones, even to every mighty one of valour -- unto Jerusalem.
(YLT)

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.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

2 Chronicles 5:11
And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, ( for all the priests that were present had sanctified themselves, and did not keep their courses;
(ASV DBY JPS YLT)

2 Chronicles 8:14
And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required: the porters also by their courses at every gate: for so had David the man of God commanded.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

2 Chronicles 23:8
So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

2 Chronicles 31:2
And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

2 Chronicles 31:15
And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small:
(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

2 Chronicles 31:16
Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto every one that entereth into the house of the LORD, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses;
(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

2 Chronicles 31:17
Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses;
(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

2 Chronicles 35:4
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.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

2 Chronicles 35:10
So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king's commandment.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Ezra 6:4
with three courses of great stones, and a course of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house.
(WEB ASV RSV NIV)

Ezra 6:18
They set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT RSV)

Nehemiah 11:36
And of the Levites, certain courses in Judah were joined to Benjamin.
(ASV JPS YLT)

Proverbs 5:16
Should thy springs be dispersed abroad, And streams of water in the streets?
(See JPS)

Ecclesiastes 1:6
The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.
(WEB NAS)

Isaiah 44:4
and they will spring up among the grass, as willows by the watercourses.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Jeremiah 8:6
I have given attention, yea, I hearken, They do not speak right, No man hath repented of his wickedness, Saying, What have I done? Every one hath turned to his courses, As a horse is rushing into battle.
(YLT)

Subtopics

Courses

Related Terms

Court-gate (4 Occurrences)

Palace-court (2 Occurrences)

Outer-court (1 Occurrence)

Inner-court (1 Occurrence)

Pegs (22 Occurrences)

Screen (26 Occurrences)

Pins (12 Occurrences)

Appeal (30 Occurrences)

Finely (27 Occurrences)