1 Chronicles 23:20-29
Merari <04847> [Merari.]
Mahli ....... Mahli <04249> [Mahli.]
[Mahali.]
sons ....... sons <01121> [had no sons.]
cousins <0251> [brethren. or, kinsmen. took them.]
Jeremoth <03406> [Jeremoth.]
[Jerimoth.]
descendants ... Levi .............................. old <03878 01121> [the sons of Levi.]
families ..................... temple <01004> [after the house.]
individually <01538> [by their polls.]
descendants ................................ old <01121> [from the age.]
At first David appointed the Levites to serve from thirty years old and upwards; but considering, probably, that the temple which was about to be built, with its courts, chambers, etc., would require a more numerous ministry, he fixed this period, by this subsequent regulation, at twenty years and upwards. In the time of Moses, the age was from thirty years to fifty: here this latter period is not mentioned, probably because the service was not so laborious now; for the ark being fixed, they had no longer any burdens to carry; and therefore even an old man might continue to serve. See the Note on Nu 8:24.
twenty <06242> [twenty.]
Lord <03068> [The Lord.]
settled ... Jerusalem <07931 03389> [that they may dwell in Jerusalem. or, and he dwelleth in]
Jerusalem.
carry <05375> [carry.]
final <0314> [by the last.]
counted <04557> [numbered. Heb. numbers.]
ceremonial <03027 04612> [office was to wait, etc. Heb. station was at the hand of]
Aaron.
service ............................ service <05656> [for the service.]
purification <02893> [purifying.]
bread <03899> [for the shewbread.]
It was the priests' office to place this bread before the Lord; and it was their privilege to feed on the old loaves when they were replaced by the new.
flour <05560> [the fine flour.]
unleavened <04682> [unleavened.]
round cakes <04227> [pan. or, flat plate. for all manner of measure.]
The standards of all weights and measures were in the sanctuary; and therefore the Levites had the inspection of weights and measures of every kind, that no fraud might in this way be committed. Honesty is inseparably connected with piety; and hence the Levites, being sufficiently numerous, were employed to superintend the former, as well as the latter.
