I Chronicles 23:22

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 Ch1 23:28. from the age of twenty years, and upwards; they were first numbered thirty and upwards, Ch1 23:3, but David before his death ordered they should be numbered from twenty and upwards, Ch1 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.

David, having given charge concerning the building of the temple, in this and the following chapters settles the method of the temple-service and puts into order the offices and officers of it. In the late irregular times, and during the wars in the beginning of his reign, we may suppose that, though the Levitical ordinances were kept up, yet it was not in the order, nor with the beauty and exactness, that were desirable. Now David, being a prophet, as well as a prince, by divine warrant and direction, "set in order the things that were wanting." In this chapter we are informed, I. He declared Solomon to be his successor, (Ch1 23:1). II. He numbered the Levites, and appointed them to their respective offices (Ch1 23:2-5). III. He took an account of the several families of the Levites (v. 6-23). IV. He made a new reckoning of them from twenty years old, and appointed them their work (Ch1 23:24-32). And in this he prepared for the temple as truly as when he laid up gold and silver for it; for the place is of small account in comparison with the work.