1 Chronicles 23:24

Contextual Overview

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 . 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 the LORD, from twenty years old and upward. ²⁴ These were the sons of Levi after their fathers' houses, even the heads of the fathers' [houses] of the ones of those that were counted, in the number of names by their polls, who did the work for the service of the house of Yahweh, from twenty years old and upward. ²⁴ These were Levi's descendants listed by their families. They were the leaders of families. Each person who was twenty years old or older was listed. They served in the Lord 's Temple. ²⁴ These were the descendants of Levi according to their families, that is, the leaders of families as counted and individually listed who carried out assigned tasks in the Lord 's temple and were twenty years old and up. 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. ²⁴ These were the sons of Levi after their fathers' houses, even the heads of the fathers' [houses] of those of those who were counted, in the number of names by their polls, who did the work for the service of the house of Yahweh, from twenty years old and upward. ²⁴These were the Levites by their fathers' households, the heads of the fathers' households of those registered, according to the number of names of the individuals who were the servants of the house of the LORD, from twenty years old and upward.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 . ²⁴ These weren the sones of Leuy in her kynredis and meynees, prynces bi whilis, and noumbre of alle heedis, that diden the trauel of the seruyce of the hows of the Lord, fro twenti yeer and aboue.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the sons of Levi: Numbers 10:17, Numbers 10:21

after the house: Numbers 1:4, Numbers 2:32, Numbers 3:15, Numbers 3:20, Numbers 4:34-49

by their polls: Numbers 1:2, Numbers 1:18, Numbers 1:22, Numbers 3:47

from the age: At first David appointed the Levites to serve from thirty years old and upwards; but considering, probably, that the temple which was about to be built, with its courts, chambers, etc., would require a more numerous ministry, he fixed this period, by this subsequent regulation, at twenty years and upwards. In the time of Moses, the age was from thirty years to fifty: here this latter period is not mentioned, probably because the service was not so laborious now; for the ark being fixed, they had no longer any burdens to carry; and therefore even an old man might continue to serve. See note on Numbers 8:24.

twenty: 1 Chronicles 23:3, 1 Chronicles 23:27, Numbers 1:3, Numbers 4:3, Numbers 8:24, Ezra 3:8

Reciprocal: Numbers 4:35 - General 1 Chronicles 24:4 - according 1 Chronicles 24:6 - principal household 1 Chronicles 26:32 - chief fathers 2 Chronicles 31:17 - twenty

Gill's Notes on the Bible

These were the sons of Levi, after the house of their fathers,.... 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

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

From the age of twenty years - The Levites had hitherto not entered upon their regular functions until the age of thirty 1 Chronicles 23:3. Certain lighter duties were by the Law imposed on them at the age of twenty-five Numbers 8:24; but it was not until they were five years older that they became liable to the full service of the sanctuary. David appears now to have made a change. By his “last words” 1 Chronicles 23:27 the time for the Levites to enter on the full duties of their office was advanced from thirty to twenty years. This change was based upon the lighter character of the labors imposed on them now that the ark had ceased to be carried from place to place and obtained a permanent habitation 1 Chronicles 23:26. The limit of age continued in after times where David had fixed it (see Ezra 3:8).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Chronicles 23:24. Twenty years and upward. — It appears that this was a different ordinance from that mentioned 1 Chronicles 23:3. At first he appointed the Levites to serve from thirty years and upward; now from twenty years. These were David's last orders; see 1 Chronicles 23:27. They should begin at an earlier age, and continue later.

This was not a very painful task; the ark being now fixed, and the Levites very numerous, there could be no drudgery.