1 Chronicles 23:24

24 These were the descendants of Levi, by clans and families, every one of them registered by name. Each of his descendants, twenty years of age or older, had a share in the work of the Lord's Temple.

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 but Eleazar died without having any sons, only daughters. His daughters married their cousins, the sons of Kish.

23 Merari's second son, Mushi, had three sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth.

24 These were the descendants of Levi, by clans and families, every one of them registered by name. Each of his descendants, twenty years of age or older, had a share in the work of the Lord's Temple.

25 David said, "The Lord God of Israel has given peace to his people, and he himself will live in Jerusalem forever.

26 So there is no longer any need for the Levites to carry the Tent of the Lord's presence and all the equipment used in worship."