1 Ch. 23: Gershon, Kohath and Merari

1 Ch. 23: "the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles used in its service."

David's winding it down, and making some more preparations for the temple. The Levites, who had been responsible for the care and transportation of all the elements that made up the tabernacle, were numbered. They were part of three distinct groups, sons of Levites: The Gershonites, the Kohathits, and the Merarites. In verse 3, it says Levites age 30 and older were counted, while in verse 24, it talks about Levites age 20 and older. Contradiction? I thought so at first, but there's a distinction...Those 30 and older were counted from the entire tribe, numbering 38,000. Those 20 and older were those who served in the temple. At least that's how I read it.

Now that the tabernacle was done away with, and a permanent temple was in place, the Levites could cross that off their list...the hassle with the takedown and assembly of the tent all the time. But they still had their responsibilities to serve inside the temple. It was a new thing for them. 

The wandering tabernacle days were over. This temple is where God would be always.