1 Chronicles 23:24

24 These are the sons of Levi in their kindreds and families, princes by their courses, and the number of every head that did the works of the ministry of the house of the Lord from twenty years old and upward.

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 Eleazar died, and had no sons but daughters: and the sons of Cis their brethren took them.

23 The sons of Musi: Moholi, and Eder, and Jerimoth, three.

24 These are the sons of Levi in their kindreds and families, princes by their courses, and the number of every head that did the works of the ministry of the house of the Lord from twenty years old and upward.

25 For David said: The Lord the God of Israel hath given rest to his people, and a habitation in Jerusalem for ever.

26 And it shall not be the office of the Levites to carry any more the tabernacle, and all the vessels for the service thereof.