1 Chronicles 23:24 kjv
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.
1 Chronicles 23:24 nkjv
These were the sons of Levi by their fathers' houses?the heads of the fathers' houses as they were counted individually by the number of their names, who did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and above.
1 Chronicles 23:24 niv
These were the descendants of Levi by their families?the heads of families as they were registered under their names and counted individually, that is, the workers twenty years old or more who served in the temple of the LORD.
1 Chronicles 23:24 esv
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.
1 Chronicles 23:24 nlt
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.
1 Chronicles 23 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 4:3 | "from thirty years old even to fifty years old, all who can enter..." | Levite age for tabernacle service (older) |
| Num 8:24 | "This is the law of the Levites: From twenty-five years old and upward..." | Levite age for tabernacle service (slightly revised) |
| 1 Chr 23:3 | "...and of these, from twenty years old and upward, four thousand." | Echoes 20-year age for Levite count |
| 1 Chr 23:27 | "For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above." | Explicitly states David changed the age rule |
| Ezra 3:8 | "...the Levites from twenty years old and upward were appointed..." | Re-establishment of 20-year age post-exile |
| Num 1:2 | "Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel..." | Emphasizes biblical importance of numbering |
| Exod 30:12 | "When you take the census of the children of Israel, according to their numbers..." | Census for accountability |
| Num 26:53 | "To these the land shall be divided as an inheritance..." | Census often linked to inheritance/roles |
| Deut 18:5 | "For the Lord your God has chosen him and his sons out of all your tribes..." | The Lord's choice of Levites for service |
| 1 Chr 9:13 | "...mighty men of valor for the work of the service of the house of God..." | Mentions dedicated Levite service at Temple |
| Neh 10:37 | "...to the Levites that the Levites might have the tithes in all..." | Levite sustenance and their service |
| 1 Cor 14:40 | "Let all things be done decently and in order." | Principle of divine order in ministry |
| Tit 1:5 | "For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order..." | Importance of established church order |
| 1 Pet 5:1-2 | "...shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers..." | Order and structure in Christian ministry |
| Rom 12:4-5 | "For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not..." | Different functions within God's organized body |
| Exod 36:1 | "...every skilled artisan in whom the Lord has put wisdom and understanding..." | Preparatory work for sanctuary |
| Isa 60:7 | "...they shall come up with acceptance on My altar, and I will glorify the house of My glory." | Anticipation of glorifying God's house |
| Hag 1:8 | "Go up to the mountains and bring wood and rebuild the temple..." | Command to build and serve the House of the Lord |
| Eph 4:12 | "...for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry..." | Equipping believers for service |
| Col 3:23-24 | "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men..." | Serving diligently as unto the Lord |
| Heb 7:12 | "For when there is a change of the priesthood, there is necessarily also a change of the law." | Points to changes in law/service over time |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "...you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood..." | All believers as a spiritual priesthood |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation..." | Believers as a royal priesthood |
| Rev 1:6 | "...and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father..." | Believers' priestly role in New Covenant |
| Rev 5:10 | "...and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth." | Reinforces priestly status of the redeemed |
1 Chronicles 23 verses
1 Chronicles 23 24 Meaning
This verse defines the qualifications and organization of the Levites designated for Temple service during King David's reign. It specifies that those appointed for duties in the House of the Lord were male descendants of Levi, identified and counted individually according to their patriarchal family lineages, with an age requirement of twenty years and older. This organizational structure prepared them for their permanent and structured roles in the forthcoming Temple worship.
1 Chronicles 23 24 Context
1 Chronicles 23 is situated within David's preparations for the Temple. Having been forbidden to build the Temple himself, David dedicates his efforts to organizing its future administration and worship. This chapter specifically focuses on the Levites, who were central to the Tabernacle and later Temple service. It describes David's systematic numbering and division of the Levites into distinct roles—musicians, gatekeepers, and those performing general Temple duties. This particular verse, 1 Chr 23:24, serves as a general introductory statement concerning the entire group of Levites subject to this organization. It highlights a significant change in the age requirement for Levitical service from the Mosaic law (which typically stipulated ages 25 or 30 for Tabernacle duties) to a new age of twenty years old and upward, implemented by David for the enduring service of the fixed Temple.
1 Chronicles 23 24 Word analysis
- These were the sons of Levi: This identifies the specific group. "Levi" (לֵוִי, Levi) signifies the tribal descendants of Jacob's third son, who were set apart by God for religious service (Exod 32:26-29, Num 3:12). Their role was hereditary.
- according to their fathers' houses: (בֵּית אָבוֹת, beit avot) This phrase emphasizes the patrilineal clan system as the fundamental unit of organization. Every Levite was registered by his ancestral household, reinforcing order, identity, and accountability within the tribal structure for accurate genealogical record-keeping and proper assignment.
- the heads of the fathers' houses: This points to the recognized leaders or chiefs of these patriarchal families. This indicates an organized leadership hierarchy, essential for managing the large body of Levites and coordinating their various complex duties.
- as they were counted individually by number of names: (מִסְפַּר שֵׁמוֹת, mispar shemot) This highlights a meticulous census or enumeration. "By number of names" implies a precise registration, ensuring every eligible individual was recorded and accounted for. This ordered counting reflects God's attention to detail and readiness for specific, assigned service within the community, vital for efficient Temple operations.
- who performed the work for the service of the house of the Lord: This specifies the function and purpose of their counting and organization.
- performed the work: (מְלָאכָה, mela'khah) Refers to their assigned tasks, duties, and labor. It's the practical execution of their responsibilities.
- for the service of the house of the Lord: (עֲבֹדָה, avodah) This is the sacred and dedicated purpose of their work. "Service" here implies both ritual performance (worship, priestly functions) and practical labor (maintenance, preparation). The "House of the Lord" (בֵּית יְהוָה, beit YHWH) explicitly refers to the permanent Temple being planned, signifying a fixed and ongoing sacred space where God's presence would dwell, unlike the portable Tabernacle. Their labor was consecrated directly to God's dwelling place.
- from twenty years old and upward: This specifies the minimum age for eligibility for service in the Temple. This age marker is a significant shift from the previous regulations given under Moses for Tabernacle service (Num 4:3 mentions 30-50 years for carrying Tabernacle items, and Num 8:24 mentions 25-50 years for general duties). David's reduction of the minimum age to 20 was a pragmatic and strategic decision. It ensured a larger, more stable workforce for the permanent Temple, providing more manpower and allowing Levites to serve for a longer period.
1 Chronicles 23 24 Bonus section
The alteration of the Levitical age requirement from 25 or 30 years to 20 by David was not an arbitrary decision but a divinely inspired adaptation to the new era of the permanent Temple. Unlike the mobile Tabernacle, which required Levites of greater physical strength and maturity to transport its sacred vessels, the stationary Temple demanded a vast, stable workforce for daily, continuous duties such as singing, gatekeeping, temple maintenance, and assisting priests. By lowering the age, David not only increased the pool of eligible servants but also extended their years of dedicated service, fostering deeper expertise and commitment. This administrative foresight ensured the seamless operation of Temple worship for generations, illustrating how divine requirements can adapt while remaining faithful to the core principle of consecrated service. This ordered preparation foreshadows the call for every believer in the New Covenant to be prepared for active spiritual service, with their abilities and "households" (families/churches) consecrated to the greater "House of the Lord" which is His Church.
1 Chronicles 23 24 Commentary
1 Chronicles 23:24 serves as a foundational statement for David's comprehensive reorganization of the Levitical service. This was a forward-looking provision for the forthcoming, permanent Temple. The verse highlights key principles: genealogical legitimacy ("sons of Levi... according to their fathers' houses"), accountability through systematic enumeration ("counted individually by number of names"), designated purpose ("performed the work for the service of the house of the Lord"), and an updated qualification criterion ("from twenty years old and upward"). The change in the minimum age from earlier Mosaic law (30 or 25) to 20 reflects the different nature of Temple service versus Tabernacle service; the former required more personnel for fixed, elaborate duties and offered a longer career of devotion within the House of God. This ensured the perpetuity and efficiency of worship in the newly planned sanctuary, reflecting a divinely guided orderliness in service.