1 Chronicles 24:20

The object of this second enumeration of the Levitical families (compare 1 Chronicles 23:7) seems to be the designation of the heads of the families in David’s time. The omission of the Gershonites is curious, and can only be accounted for by supposing that the author did not find any account of their heads in his authorities. The addition to the Merarites 1 Chronicles 24:26 is also curious. It brings the number of families up to twenty-five, which is one more than we should have expected.