1 Chronicles 23
Complete Jewish Bible
23 David had now grown old; he had lived many years; so he made Shlomo his son king over Isra’el.
2 Then he assembled all the leaders of Isra’el, with the cohanim and L’vi’im. 3 A census of L’vi’im thirty years old and over was taken, and their number came to 38,000. 4 Of these, 24,000 were to oversee the work on the house of Adonai, while 6,000 were officials and judges, 5 4,000 were gatekeepers, and 4,000 sang praise to Adonai “with the instruments I made for the purpose of singing praise.”
6 David organized them into divisions named after the sons of Levi — Gershon, K’hat and M’rari.
7 For the Gershuni: La‘dan and Shim‘i. 8 The sons of La‘dan: Yechi’el the chief, Zetam and Yo’el — three. 9 The sons of Shim‘i: Shlomit, Hazi’el and Haran — three. These were the heads of the clans of La‘dan. 10 The sons of Shim‘i: Yachat, Zina Ye‘ush and B’ri‘ah. These four were the sons of Shim‘i. 11 Yachat was the chief and Zizah the second, then Ye‘ush and B’ri‘ah, who did not have many descendants and were therefore counted as one clan.
12 The sons of K’hat: ‘Amram, Yitz’har, Hevron and ‘Uzi’el — four. 13 The sons of ‘Amram: Aharon and Moshe. Aharon was set apart to be consecrated as especially holy, he and his sons forever; so that they might bring offerings before Adonai, perform the service for him and bless in his name forever. 14 But as for Moshe the man of God, his sons are included with the tribe of Levi. 15 The sons of Moshe: Gershom and Eli‘ezer. 16 The sons of Gershom: Sh’vu’el the chief. 17 The sons of Eli‘ezer were: Rechavyah the chief. Eli‘ezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rechavyah were very numerous.
18 The sons of Yitz’har: Shlomit the chief. 19 The sons of Hevron: Yeriyahu the chief, Amaryah the second, Yachzi’el the third and Y’kam‘am the fourth. 20 The sons of ‘Uzi’el: Mikhah the chief and Yishiyah the second.
21 The sons of M’rari: Machli and Mushi. The sons of Machli: El‘azar and Kish. 22 El‘azar died without having sons, but daughters only; their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them. 23 Mushi had three sons — Machli, ‘Eder and Yeremot.
24 These were the descendants of Levi, according to their clans, the heads of clans according to their listing in the register, who did the work for the service of the house of Adonai, those twenty years old and over. 25 For David said, “Adonai the God of Isra’el has given rest to his people, and he lives in Yerushalayim forever. 26 The L’vi’im will no longer have to carry the tabernacle and all the equipment that goes with it for its service.” 27 For, according to David’s last instructions, the descendants of Levi twenty years old and over were to be counted. 28 Their role was to assist the descendants of Aharon with the service of the house of Adonai in the courtyards and rooms, and with purification of all the holy articles — in other words, with the work needed to minister in the house of God. 29 They were to assist with the showbread and the finely ground flour needed for grain offerings, no matter whether of matzah, pan-baked bread or mixed with oil, and no matter what shape or size. 30 They were to stand every morning to sing thanks and praises to Adonai, and likewise every evening. 31 They were to be present regularly before Adonai whenever burnt offerings were offered to Adonai on Shabbat, at Rosh-Hodesh, and at the other designated times, in the numbers required by the rules for sacrifices. 32 Finally, for the service in the house of Adonai they were to perform their duties in relation to the tent of meeting, the Holy Place and their kinsmen the descendants of Aharon.
Divrey Hayamim Alef 23
Orthodox Jewish Bible
23 So when Dovid was old and full of days, he made Sh’lomo bno Melech Yisroel.
2 And he gathered together all the sarim of Yisroel, with the Kohanim and the Levi’im.
3 Now the Levi’im were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward; and their number by their gulgelot (totals, head count), gevarim (men), was thirty and eight elef.
4 Of which, twenty and four elef were to look after the work of the Beis Hashem; and six alafim were shoterim (officials) and shofetim (judges);
5 Moreover four alafim were sho’arim (gatekeepers); and four alafim praised Hashem with the kelim (instruments) which I made, said Dovid, to praise therewith.
6 And Dovid divided them into divisions among the Bnei Levi, namely, Gershon, Kehat, and Merari.
7 Of the Gershoni were La’dan, and Shimei.
8 The Bnei La’dan; the rosh was Yechiel, and Zetam, and Yoel, three.
9 The Bnei Shimei; Shlomit, and Chaziel, and Haran, three. These were the rashei avot of La’dan.
10 And the Bnei Shimei were Yachat, Zina, and Yeush, and Beriah. These four were the Bnei Shimei.
11 And Yachat was rosh, and Zizah the second; but Yeush and Beriah had not many banim; therefore they were in pekudah echad (one reckoning), according to their bais av.
12 The Bnei Kehat; Amram, Yitzhar, Chevron, and Uzziel, four.
13 The Bnei Amram; Aharon and Moshe; Aharon was separated, to set him apart as Kodesh Kodashim, he and his banim ad olam, to burn offerings before Hashem, to minister unto Him, and to bless b’Shmo ad olam.
14 Now concerning Moshe the Ish HaElohim, his banim were reckoned of the Shevet Levi.
15 The Bnei Moshe were Gershom, and Eliezer.
16 Of the Bnei Gershom, Shevuel was the rosh.
17 And the Bnei Eliezer were Rechavyah the rosh. And Eliezer had no banim acharim; but the Bnei Rechavyah were very many.
18 Of the Bnei Yitzhar: Shlomit the rosh.
19 Of the Bnei Chevron: Yeriyahu the first, Amaryah the seond, Yachziel the third, and Yekam’am the fourth.
20 Of the Bnei Uzziel: Michah the first and Yishiyah the second.
21 The Bnei Merari: Machli, and Mushi. The Bnei Machli; Eleazar, and Kish.
22 And Eleazar died, and had no banim, only banot, and their brethren the Bnei Kish took them as wives.
23 The Bnei Mushi; Machli, and Eder, and Yeremot, three.
24 These were the Bnei Levi after the bais avoteihem; even the rashei avot, as they were counted by number of shmot by their head count, that did the work for the avodas Beis Hashem, from the age of twenty shanah and upward.
25 For Dovid said, Hashem Elohei Yisroel hath given rest unto His people, that they may dwell in Yerushalayim ad l’olam;
26 And also unto the Levi’im; they shall no more carry the Mishkan, nor any kelim (vessels) of it for the avodah thereof.
27 According to the last instructions of Dovid the Bnei Levi were numbered from those twenty shanah and above;
28 Because their ma’amad (position) was to wait on the Bnei Aharon for the avodas Beis Hashem, in the khatzerot, and in the rooms, and in the tahorat (cleansing) of kol kodesh, and the work of the avodas Beis HaElohim;
29 Both for the Lechem HaMa’arechet (showbread), and for the solet (flour) for minchah, and for the cakes of matzot, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is scalded, and for all manner of measure and size;
30 And to stand baboker baboker to thank and praise Hashem, and likewise at erev (evening);
31 And to offer all olot (burnt offerings) unto Hashem on Shabbatot, at Rosh Chodesh, and at mo’adim, according to their number ordained for them, tamid before Hashem;
32 And that they should be shomer to keep the mishmeret (watch, guard responsibility) of the Ohel Mo’ed and the mishmeret of the Kodesh, and the mishmeret of the Bnei Aharon their brethren, in the avodas Beis Hashem.
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
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