1 Chronicles 23

1 Now David was old and full of days; and 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 And the Levites were numbered from thirty years old 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 these, twenty and four thousand were to oversee 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 and four thousand were doorkeepers; 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 according to the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

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

7 Of the Gershonites; Ladan and Shimei.

The sons of Gershon: Ladan and Shimei.

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

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

9 The sons of Shimei; Shelomoth, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers’ [houses] of Ladan.

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; 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 became a fathers’ house in one reckoning.

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 unto 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 But as for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among 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; Gershom and Eliezer.

The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.

16 The sons of Gershom; Shebuel 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 The sons of Izhar; Shelomith the chief.

The sons of Izhar: Shelomith (chief).

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

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

20 The sons of Uzziel; Micah the chief, and Isshiah 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 only: and their brethren the sons of Kish took them [to wife].

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 their fathers’ houses, even the heads of the fathers’ [houses] of those of them that were counted, in the number of names by their polls, who did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from twenty years old 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, the God of Israel, hath given rest unto his people; and he dwelleth 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 the Levites shall no more have need to carry the tabernacle and all the 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 sons of Levi were numbered, from twenty years old and upward.

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

28 For 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, even 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 for the shewbread 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 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 offerings unto the LORD, in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feast, in number according to the ordinance concerning 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 tent of meeting, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, for 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.