from twenty. In Ch.

Numbers 4:3 From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host...

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

30 years; and in

1 Chronicles 23:24 These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers...

, 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 these were of the father of Etam; Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash: and the name of their sister was Hazelelponi:

, 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 Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma 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 even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host...

1 Chronicles 23:3,24-27 Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man...

1 Chronicles 28:12,13 And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about...

wait upon. Heb. war the warfare of

1 Corinthians 9:7 Who goes a warfare any time at his own charges? who plants a vineyard, and eats not of the fruit thereof? or who feeds a flock...

2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

1 Timothy 1:18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on you...

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto you are also called...

2 Timothy 2:3-5 You therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ...