1 Chronicles 23:24

24 These were the descendants of Levi by their families—the heads of families as they were registered under their names and counted individually, that is, the workers twenty years old or more who served in the temple of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 23:24 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
24 These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and upward.
English Standard Version (ESV)
24 These were the sons of Levi by their fathers' houses, the heads of fathers' houses as they were listed according to the number of the names of the individuals from twenty years old and upward who were to do the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
New Living Translation (NLT)
24 These were the descendants of Levi by clans, the leaders of their family groups, registered carefully by name. Each had to be twenty years old or older to qualify for service in the house of the LORD .
The Message Bible (MSG)
24 These are the sons of Levi twenty years and older, divided up according to families and heads of families and listed in the work groups that took care of the worship in the sanctuary of God.
American Standard Version (ASV)
24 These were the sons of Levi after their fathers' houses, even the heads of the fathers' [houses] of those of them that were counted, in the number of names by their polls, who did the work for the service of the house of Jehovah, from twenty years old and upward.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
24 These were Levi's descendants, who were grouped according to their families. The heads of their families were registered by name as they were counted. Everyone who served in the LORD's temple was at least 20 years old.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
24 These were the sons of Levi by their ancestral houses-the heads of families, according to their registration by name in the headcount-20 years old or more, who worked in the service of the Lord's temple.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
24 Those were the family lines of Levi. They were recorded under the names of the family leaders. Each worker who was 20 years old or more was counted. They served in 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 Eleazar died without having sons: he had only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them.
23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth—three in all.
24 These were the descendants of Levi by their families—the heads of families as they were registered under their names and counted individually, that is, the workers twenty years old or more who served in the temple of the LORD.
25 For David had said, “Since the LORD, the God of Israel, has granted rest to his people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem forever,
26 the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles used in its service.”

Cross References 1

  • 1. S Numbers 4:3; Numbers 10:17,21
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