The Divisions of the Levites
1When David was old and full of days,23:1 1Ch 29:28 he installed his son Solomon as king over Israel.23:1 1Ch 28:5; 29:22
2Then he gathered all the leaders of Israel, the priests, and the Levites.
3The Levites thirty years old or more were counted;23:3 Nm 4:3–49 the total number of men was thirty-eight thousand by headcount.23:3 1Ch 23:24
7The Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.
8Ladan’s sons: Jehiel was the first, then Zetham, and Joel — three.
9Shimei’s sons: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran — three. Those were the heads of the families of Ladan.
10Shimei’s sons: Jahath, Zizah,23:10 LXX, Vg; MT reads Zina Jeush, and Beriah. Those were Shimei’s sons — four.
11Jahath was the first and Zizah was the second; however, Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they became one family23:11 Lit a father’s house and received a single assignment.
12Kohath’s sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel — four.
Aaron, along with his descendants,23:13 Ex 28:1 was set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense in the presence of the Lord,23:13 Ex 30:6–10 to minister to him, and to pronounce blessings in his name forever.
15Moses’s sons: Gershom and Eliezer.
16Gershom’s sons: Shebuel was first.
17Eliezer’s sons were Rehabiah, first; Eliezer did not have any other sons, but Rehabiah’s sons were very numerous.
18Izhar’s sons: Shelomith was first.
19Hebron’s sons: Jeriah was first, Amariah second, Jahaziel third, and Jekameam fourth.
20Uzziel’s sons: Micah was first, and Isshiah second.
21Merari’s sons: Mahli and Mushi.
Mahli’s sons: Eleazar and Kish.
22Eleazar died having no sons, only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them.
23Mushi’s sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth — three.
24These were the descendants of Levi by their ancestral families23:24 Lit the house of their fathers — the family heads, according to their registration by name in the headcount — twenty years old or more, who worked in the service of the Lord’s temple.23:24 Nm 10:17,21
25For David said, “The Lord God of Israel has given rest to his people,23:25 1Ch 22:9,18 and he has come to stay in Jerusalem forever.
26Also, the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the equipment for its service”23:26 Nm 4:5,15; 7:9 —
27for according to the last words of David, the Levites twenty years old or more were to be counted —
28“but their duty will be to assist the descendants of Aaron with the service of the Lord’s temple, being responsible for the courts and the chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of God’s temple —
29as well as the rows of the Bread of the Presence,23:29 Lv 24:5–9 the fine flour for the grain offering,23:29 Lv 6:20 the wafers of unleavened bread, the baking,23:29 Lit the griddle23:29 1Ch 9:31 the mixing,23:29 Lv 6:14–15; 7:12 and all measurements of volume and length.23:29 Ex 29:40; 30:13; Lv 19:35–36
30They are also to stand every morning to give thanks and praise to the Lord, and likewise in the evening.
31Whenever burnt offerings are offered to the Lord on the Sabbaths, New Moons,23:31 Is 1:13–14 and appointed festivals, they are to offer them regularly in the Lord’s presence according to the number prescribed for them.23:31 Lv 23:2–4
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