1 Chronicles 23:24

Levite Duties Revised

24 These were the descendants of Levi by their families—the heads of families, registered individually by name—those twenty years of age or older who worked in the service 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 Eleazar died without having any sons; he had only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them.

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

24 These were the descendants of Levi by their families—the heads of families, registered individually by name—those twenty years of age or older who worked in the service of the house of the LORD.

25 For David had said, “The LORD, the God of Israel, has given rest to His people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem forever.

26 So now the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles for its service.”