The Divisions and Duties of the Levites

2 And he gathered together all the leaders of Israel with the priests and the Levites . 3 The Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward , and their number by census of men was 38,000 e e . 4 Of these , 24,000 e e were to oversee the work of the house of the Lord ; and 6,000 e were officers and judges 5 and 4,000 e were gatekeepers , and 4,000 e were praising the Lord with the instruments which David made for giving praise . 6 David divided them into divisions according to the sons of Levi : Gershon , Kohath , and Merari .

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 23:2-6

Commentary on 1 Chronicles 23:1-23

(Read 1 Chronicles 23:1-23)

David, having given charge concerning the building of the temple, settles the method of the temple service, and orders the officers of it. When those of the same family were employed together, it would engage them to love and assist one another.