1 Chronicles 23:24-25 WEB

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 23:24-32

Here is, I. An alteration made in the computation of the effective men of the Levites?that whereas, in Moses's time, they were not enlisted, or taken into service, till they were thirty-years old, nor admitted as probationers till twenty-five (Num. 8:24), David ordered, by direction from God, that they should be numbered for the service of the house of the Lord, from the age of twenty years and upwards, 1 Chron. 23:24. This order he confirmed by his last words, 1 Chron. 23:27. When he put his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 23:24

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 23:25

For David said ,.... As a reason why he ordered a new account to be taken: the Lord God of Israel hath given rest unto his people : from all their enemies round about, and settled rest in the land, so that there was no danger of being carried captive, as they were time after time in the days of the Judges, and whereby they became more numerous: that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever ; where the temple would always continue, and not be removed, as the ark and tabernacle had been,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 23:24

This and the remaining verses of the chapter contain some general provisions regarding the offices and future work of the Levites—in part David's last edition of such provisions. (On the present verse comp. Numbers 1:1-4 ; Numbers 4:1-3 , Numbers 4:21-23 , Numbers 4:29 , Numbers 4:30 ; Numbers 8:23-26 .) It is not easy to reconcile this verse with 1 Chronicles 23:3 . Keil cuts the knot at once by supposing the "thirty" years of 1 Chronicles 23:3 to be the error of a copyist, to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 23:25

For David said . The "for" of this clause cannot be supposed to account exclusively for the inclusion in the census of Levites beginning from the age of twenty years; it accounts no doubt for the whole proceeding. Since there would be no more journeyings for people, for buildings, or for sacred vessels, it was nosy fully time to organize religious duty and "the service of the house of God" in a manner adapted to permanent institutions. In order to this, the first step was to know and to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Chronicles 23:24

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... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Chronicles 23:24

1 Chronicles 23:24. From the age of twenty years and upward As the Levites were anciently numbered from two several times, from the twenty-fifth year of their age, and from the thirtieth, (Numbers 4:3; Numbers 8:24,) in like manner they are here numbered, both from their twentieth year, when they were solemnly prepared for, and instructed, and by degrees exercised, in some parts of their work; and from their thirtieth year, when they were admitted to the full exercise of their office. And... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 23:1-32

Arrangements for the Levites (23:1-26:32)Having appointed Solomon to be his successor, David made further arrangements for the service of the temple. First, he set out a plan to distribute duties among the Levites. A census showed that there were 38,000 Levites eligible for temple service. Of these, 14,000 were official record-keepers, judges, guards, singers and musicians. The remainder were to help in the general service of the temple (23:1-6). Clearly, there were far too many Levites to work... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Chronicles 23:24

THE LEVITICAL HEADS OF FATHERS' HOUSES"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 of the house of Jehovah, from twenty years old and upward. For David said, Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath given rest unto his people; and he dwelleth in Jerusalem for ever: and also the Levites shall no more have need to carry the tabernacle and all the vessels of it for... read more