1 Chronicles 23

1 So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

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

2 And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.

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

3 Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand.

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

4 Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the LORD; and six thousand were officers and judges:

“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.

5 Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.

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

6 And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

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

7 Of the Gershonites were, Laadan, and Shimei.

The sons of Gershon: Ladan and Shimei.

8 The sons of Laadan; the chief was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.

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

9 The sons of Shimei; Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief of the fathers of Laadan.

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

10 And the sons of Shimei were, Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.

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

11 And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons; therefore they were in one reckoning, according to their father’s house.

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

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

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

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

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.

14 Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi.

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

15 The sons of Moses were, Gershom, and Eliezer.

The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.

16 Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief.

The sons of Gershom: Shebuel (chief).

17 And the sons of Eliezer were, Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had none other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.

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

18 Of the sons of Izhar; Shelomith the chief.

The sons of Izhar: Shelomith (chief).

19 Of the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.

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

20 Of the sons of Uzziel; Micah the first and Jesiah the second.

The sons of Uzziel: Micah (chief) and Isshiah (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 And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters: and their brothers the sons of Kish took them.

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

23 The sons of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

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

24 These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and upward.

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.

25 For David said, The LORD God of Israel has given rest to his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:

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

26 And also to the Levites; they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof.

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

27 For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above:

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

28 Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God;

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.

29 Both for the show bread, and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size;

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.

30 And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even:

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

31 And to offer all burnt sacrifices to the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded to them, continually before the LORD:

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.

32 And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brothers, in the service of the house of the LORD.

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.