1 Chronicles 23:24

24 These were the sons of Levi, grouped by families, the heads of the families of those who were numbered by name, by heads, all those of twenty years old and over who did the work of the house of the Lord.

1 Chronicles 23:24 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 23:24

These were the sons of Levi, after the house of their fathers,
&c.] According to the three classes of them, as descending from the three sons of Levi:

[even] the chief of the fathers;
or heads of families:

as they were counted by number of names by their polls;
or according to their heads, one by one:

that did the work for the service of the house of the Lord;
the particulars of which are in ( 1 Chronicles 23:28-31 )

from the age of twenty years, and upwards;
they were first numbered thirty and upwards, ( 1 Chronicles 23:3 ) , but David before his death ordered they should be numbered from twenty and upwards, ( 1 Chronicles 23:27 ) , because the Israelites being increased, there would be more work for the priests in the temple, which would require the assistance of more Levites. The reasons follow.

1 Chronicles 23:24 In-Context

22 And at his death Eleazar had no sons, but only daughters, and their relations, the sons of Kish, took them as wives.

23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli and Eder and Jeremoth, three.

24 These were the sons of Levi, grouped by families, the heads of the families of those who were numbered by name, by heads, all those of twenty years old and over who did the work of the house of the Lord.

25 For David said, The Lord, the God of Israel, has given his people rest, and he has made his resting-place in Jerusalem for ever;

26 And from now, there will be no need for the House of the Lord, and the vessels used in it, to be moved about by the Levites.