1 Chronicles 23:24-32

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 23:26

And also unto the Levites ,.... Or with respect to them: they shall no more carry the tabernacle : on their shoulders, from place to place, as they had done: nor any vessels of it for the service thereof ; and so the service of it did not require men at their full strength, but such as were but twenty years of age might be employed in it. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 23:27

For by the last words of David ,.... Or therefore by the last orders he gave before his death: the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above ; as able and sufficient to do the work of their office. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 23:28

Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron ,.... The priests: for the service of the house of the Lord ; to assist them therein, and not to bear burdens as in times past; the Targum is,"wherefore the place of their habitations was by the side of the sons of Aaron, for the worship of the sanctuary of the Lord:" in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God ; to keep the house, and all the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 23:29

Both for the shewbread ,.... Also to make and get that ready every week for the priests to set on the shewbread table, when they took off the other that had stood a week, see 1 Chronicles 9:32 . and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried ; to deliver out the flour of which these several things were made, see 1 Chronicles 9:31 , and Leviticus 2:1 , and for all manner of measures and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 23:30

And to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord ,.... The office of others of them was to sing the praises of God, both vocally and with instruments of music, at the time of the morning sacrifice: and likewise at even ; at the time of the evening sacrifice, by way of thankfulness for the mercies of the night and of the day. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 23:31

And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the Lord ,.... This was the work of the priests to offer such sacrifices, and not the Levites; but the meaning is, according to the Targum, and so Kimchi, that these not only sung the praises of God morning and evening, but at all times when burnt offerings were offered to the Lord; besides, some of them helped the priests at such times in slaying the sacrifices, and bringing them to the altar: and especially their service was requisite in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 23:32

And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation ,.... That no unclean persons entered into it, and that none of the vessels were carried out of it; this was the business of the porters: and the charge of the holy place ; of things that belonged unto it, the vessels in it, and what was requisite for it, and used there: and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren; the priests, whatever they should command them to do: in the service of the house of the... read more

Group of Brands