This is the law of the Levites: From twenty-five years old and upwards, they shall go in to minister in the tabernacle of the covenant.

from twenty.

Numbers 4:3 From thirty years old and upward, to fifty years old, of all that go in to stand and to minister in the tabernacle of the covenant.

, the Levites are appointed to the service of the tabernacle at the age of

30 years; and in

1 Chronicles 23:24 These are the sons of Levi in their kindreds and families, princes by their courses, and the number of every head that did the works of the ministry of the house of the Lord from twenty years old and upward.

, they are ordered to commence their work at

20 years of age. In order to reconcile this apparent discrepancy, it is to be observed,

1. At the time of which Moses speaks in ch

1 Chronicles 4:3 And this is the posterity of Etam: Jezrahel, and Jesema, And Jedebos: and the name of their sister was Asalelphuni.

, the Levitical service was exceedingly severe, and consequently required full grown, robust men, to perform it; the age of

30 was therefore appointed as the period for commencing this service, the weightier part of which was probably there intended.

2. In this place God seems to speak of the service in a general way; hence the age of

1 Chronicles 4:25 Sellum his son, Mapsam his son, Masma his son.

is fixed.

3. In David's time, and afterwards, in the fixed tabernacle and temple, the labouriousness of the service no longer existed, and hence

20 years was the age appointed.

Numbers 4:3,23 From thirty years old and upward, to fifty years old, of all that go in to stand and to minister in the tabernacle of the covenant. . . .

1 Chronicles 23:3,24-27 And the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years, and upwards: and there were found of them thirty-eight thousand men. . . .

1 Chronicles 28:12,13 As also of all the courts, which he had in his thought, and of the chambers round about, for the treasures of the house of the Lord, and for the treasures of the consecrated things, . . .

wait upon.

1 Corinthians 9:7 Who serveth as a soldier, at any time, at his own charges? Who planteth a vineyard and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Who feedeth the flock and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty to God, unto the pulling down of fortifications, destroying counsels,

1 Timothy 1:18 This precept, I commend to thee, O son Timothy: according to the prophecies going before on thee, that thou war in them a good warfare,

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art called and be it confessed a good confession before many witnesses.

2 Timothy 2:3-5 Labour as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. . . .