1 Chronicles 23

1 When David was old, having lived a long life, he made his son Solomon king of Israel.

Now David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

2 He also summoned all the leaders of Israel, the priests, and the Levites.

He gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.

3 The Levites over thirty years old were counted, and there was 38,000 in total.

The Levites were counted from thirty years old and upward; and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty-eight thousand.

4 “Of these 24,000 will be in charge of the work of the house of the LORD, while 6,000 will be officers and judges,” David instructed.

David said, “Of these, twenty-four thousand were to oversee the work of Yahweh’s house, six thousand were officers and judges,

5 “And 4,000 will be gatekeepers, while 4,000 will praise the Lord using the musical instruments I have provided for praise worship.”

four thousand were doorkeepers, and four thousand praised Yahweh with the instruments which I made for giving praise.”

6 David divided them into sections corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

David divided them into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

7 The sons of Gershon: Ladan and Shimei.

Of the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.

8 The sons of Ladan: Jehiel (chief), and Zetham, and Joel, three in total.

The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, Zetham, and Joel, three.

9 The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, three in total. These were the leaders of the families of Ladan.

The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers’ households of Ladan.

10 The sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zizah, Jeush, and Beriah—four in total.

The sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.

11 Jahath (chief), and Zizah (second); but because Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons they were counted as a single family.

Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah didn’t have many sons; therefore they became a fathers’ house in one reckoning.

12 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel—a total of four.

The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.

13 The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was dedicated to service with the most holy things, that he and his sons should always present offerings to the Lord, and minister before him, and give blessings in his name forever.

The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was separated that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons forever, to burn incense before Yahweh, to minister to him, and to bless in his name forever.

14 As for Moses, the man of God, his sons were included with the tribe of Levi.

But as for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.

15 The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.

The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.

16 The sons of Gershom: Shebuel (chief).

The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief.

17 The sons of Eliezer: Rehabiah (chief). Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah had many sons.

The son of Eliezer was Rehabiah the chief; and Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.

18 The sons of Izhar: Shelomith (chief).

The son of Izhar: Shelomith the chief.

19 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah (chief), Amariah (second), Jahaziel (third), and Jekameam (fourth).

The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.

20 The sons of Uzziel: Micah (chief) and Isshiah (second).

The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief, and Isshiah the second.

21 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.

The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.

22 Eleazar died without having sons, only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them.

Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters only; and their relatives, the sons of Kish, took them as wives.

23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth—three in total.

The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

24 These were the descendants of Levi by family, the heads of families chiefs listed individually by name—those twenty years of age or more who served in the house of the Lord.

These were the sons of Levi after their fathers’ houses, even the heads of the fathers’ houses of those who were counted individually, in the number of names by their polls, who did the work for the service of Yahweh’s house, from twenty years old and upward.

25 For David said, “The Lord, the God of Israel, has given peace to his people, and he will live in Jerusalem forever.

For David said, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people; and he dwells in Jerusalem forever.

26 So the Levites don't need to carry the Tent any longer, or anything needed for its service.”

Also the Levites will no longer need to carry the tabernacle and all its vessels for its service.”

27 In accordance with David's final instructions, Levites twenty years of age or more were counted.

For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were counted, from twenty years old and upward.

28 Their assignment was to help the descendants of Aaron with the service of the house of the Lord They were responsible for the courtyards and rooms, for cleansing all the holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God.

For their duty was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of Yahweh’s house—in the courts, in the rooms, and in the purifying of all holy things, even the work of the service of God’s house;

29 They were also responsible for the showbread that was placed on the table, the special flour for the grain offerings, the unleavened bread, the baking, the mixing, and dealing with all amounts and measurements.

for the show bread also, and for the fine flour for a meal offering, whether of unleavened wafers, or of that which is baked in the pan, or of that which is soaked, and for all measurements of quantity and size;

30 They also had to stand every morning to give thanks and praise to the Lord, and do the same in the evening,

and to stand every morning to thank and praise Yahweh, and likewise in the evening;

31 and whenever burnt offerings were presented to the Lord whether on Sabbaths, new moons, and feast days. They were to serve regularly before the Lord according to the number required for them.

and to offer all burnt offerings to Yahweh on the Sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, in number according to the ordinance concerning them, continually before Yahweh;

32 So the Levites were to carry out the responsibility of caring for the Tent of Meeting and the sanctuary, and with their brothers the descendants of Aaron, they served the house of the Lord.

and that they should keep the duty of the Tent of Meeting, the duty of the holy place, and the duty of the sons of Aaron their brothers for the service of Yahweh’s house.