(24) These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers.--Rather, These were the sons of Levi, according to their father-houses (clans), heads of the houses (fathers, i.e., father-houses), to those mustered of them, in an enumeration of names according to their polls. This is the subscription to the foregoing list of names of the Levitical houses, as entered in the muster-rolls of David.
That did the work for the service of the house of the Lord.--This description identifies these Levites with the 24,000 mentioned in 1 Chronicles 23:4.
That didthe work.--Literally, doing. This participle has the form of the singular here and elsewhere in the Chronicles, though the sense demands a plural. It is probably meant as plural, being a variant spelling. (Comp. 2 Chronicles 24:12; 2 Chronicles 34:10; 2 Chronicles 34:13; Ezra 3:9; Nehemiah 2:16.)
From the age oftwenty years and upward.--1 Chronicles 23:3 states that the Levites were numbered "from the age of thirty and upward." Some would banish discrepancy by the assumption that "thirty" is an ancient error of transcription; others imagine that the chronicler has simply incorporated two divergent statements, as he found them in his authorities. According to Numbers 4:3; Numbers 4:23; Numbers 4:30; Numbers 4:35; Numbers 4:43; Numbers 4:47, the Levites were bound to serve "from thirty years old and upward" to fifty years of age; whereas Numbers 8:24-25, fixes the age "from twenty and five years old and upward" to fifty; and this, according to Ewald, is the more exact account. It appears from 2 Chronicles 31:17, that the later practice, at all events, was for the Levites to enter on their sacred functions at the age of twenty. Accordingly, the older commentators have supposed that David twice numbered the Levites: first, as the Law required, from the age of thirty (1 Chronicles 23:3); and again, towards the close of his reign (1 Chronicles 23:27), from the age of twenty, because he perceived that the duties had become less onerous, and might therefore be borne by younger men. (Comp. however, Numbers 1:3, from which it appears that the military age, i.e., the age of full virile strength, was reckoned "from twenty years old and upward.')
Verse 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, 21-23, 29, 30; Numbers 8:23-26.) It is not easy to reconcile this verse with ver. 3. Keil cuts the knot at once by supposing the "thirty" years of ver. 3 to be the error of a copyist, to whose memory the Mosaic census was present. And with Bertheau, he objects to the supposition that this verse describes a supplementary census, in conformity with "David's last words" (ver. 27), and as contrasted with his former directions. With the exception of what is contained in vers. 25-27, it is true that these do not offer themselves sufficient indications to make one feel confident of this explanation. On the other hand, to set down the number "thirty" in ver. 3 at once to the mistake of a copyist is too summary and convenient a way of escaping an awkward difficulty. It is evident that the following three verses do purport to explain why at this time the age of allowable service was altered to a standard so much lower than of old, and to assert that this alteration was recognized by the last orders of David.
23:24-32 Now the people of Israel were so many, there should be more employed in the temple service, that every Israelite who brought an offering might find a Levite ready to help him. When more work is to be done, it is pity but there should be more workmen. A new heart, a spiritual mind, which delights greatly in God's commandments, and can find a refreshing feast in his ordinances, forms the great distinction between the true Christian and all other men in the world. To the spiritual man every service will yield satisfaction. He will be ever abounding in the work of the Lord; being never so happy as when employed for such a good Master, in so pleasant a service. He will not regard whether he is called to take the lead, or to keep the charge of others who are placed over him. May we seek and serve the Lord uprightly, and leave all the rest to his disposal, by faith in his word.
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.
As they were counted.--Numbers 1:21; Exodus 30:14. The word is that used in 1 Chronicles 21:6 (p?qad).
By number of names.--Numbers 1:18; Numbers 3:43.
That did the work for the service of the house of the Lord.--This description identifies these Levites with the 24,000 mentioned in 1 Chronicles 23:4.
That did the work.--Literally, doing. This participle has the form of the singular here and elsewhere in the Chronicles, though the sense demands a plural. It is probably meant as plural, being a variant spelling. (Comp. 2 Chronicles 24:12; 2 Chronicles 34:10; 2 Chronicles 34:13; Ezra 3:9; Nehemiah 2:16.)
From the age of twenty years and upward.--1 Chronicles 23:3 states that the Levites were numbered "from the age of thirty and upward." Some would banish discrepancy by the assumption that "thirty" is an ancient error of transcription; others imagine that the chronicler has simply incorporated two divergent statements, as he found them in his authorities. According to Numbers 4:3; Numbers 4:23; Numbers 4:30; Numbers 4:35; Numbers 4:43; Numbers 4:47, the Levites were bound to serve "from thirty years old and upward" to fifty years of age; whereas Numbers 8:24-25, fixes the age "from twenty and five years old and upward" to fifty; and this, according to Ewald, is the more exact account. It appears from 2 Chronicles 31:17, that the later practice, at all events, was for the Levites to enter on their sacred functions at the age of twenty. Accordingly, the older commentators have supposed that David twice numbered the Levites: first, as the Law required, from the age of thirty (1 Chronicles 23:3); and again, towards the close of his reign (1 Chronicles 23:27), from the age of twenty, because he perceived that the duties had become less onerous, and might therefore be borne by younger men. (Comp. however, Numbers 1:3, from which it appears that the military age, i.e., the age of full virile strength, was reckoned "from twenty years old and upward.')
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.