1 Chronicles 23:3

3 The Levites, thirty years old and upward, were counted, and the total was thirty-eight thousand.

1 Chronicles 23:3 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 23:3

Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years, and
upward
So they were numbered in the days of Moses, and by his order, and so they were now at first; though afterwards there was a new reckoning of them, ( 1 Chronicles 23:24 )

and their number by their posts;
or, according to their heads:

man by man, was thirty and eight thousand;
which vastly exceeds the number in the times of Moses; see ( Numbers 4:47 Numbers 4:48 ) , but then those above fifty years of age were not numbered, as they now might; since their work in the temple would be much more easy, no burdens to carry, as the ark, the vessels

1 Chronicles 23:3 In-Context

1 When David was old and full of days, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.
2 David assembled all the leaders of Israel and the priests and the Levites.
3 The Levites, thirty years old and upward, were counted, and the total was thirty-eight thousand.
4 "Twenty-four thousand of these," David said, "shall have charge of the work in the house of the Lord, six thousand shall be officers and judges
5 four thousand gatekeepers, and four thousand shall offer praises to the Lord with the instruments that I have made for praise."
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.