47 The ancestral tribe of the Levites,(A) however, was not counted(B) along with the others. 48 The Lord had said to Moses: 49 “You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites.

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33 The Levites, however, were not counted(A) along with the other Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses.

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14 The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,(A) 15 “Count(B) the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.”(C) 16 So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

17 These were the names of the sons of Levi:(D)

Gershon,(E) Kohath(F) and Merari.(G)

18 These were the names of the Gershonite clans:

Libni and Shimei.(H)

19 The Kohathite clans:

Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.(I)

20 The Merarite clans:(J)

Mahli and Mushi.(K)

These were the Levite clans, according to their families.

21 To Gershon(L) belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites;(M) these were the Gershonite clans. 22 The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 7,500. 23 The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle.(N) 24 The leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael. 25 At the tent of meeting the Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle(O) and tent, its coverings,(P) the curtain at the entrance(Q) to the tent of meeting,(R) 26 the curtains of the courtyard(S), the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,(T) and the ropes(U)—and everything(V) related to their use.

27 To Kohath(W) belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites;(X) these were the Kohathite(Y) clans. 28 The number of all the males a month old or more(Z) was 8,600.[a] The Kohathites were responsible(AA) for the care of the sanctuary.(AB) 29 The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side(AC) of the tabernacle. 30 The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan(AD) son of Uzziel. 31 They were responsible for the care of the ark,(AE) the table,(AF) the lampstand,(AG) the altars,(AH) the articles(AI) of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain,(AJ) and everything related to their use.(AK) 32 The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar(AL) son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible(AM) for the care of the sanctuary.(AN)

33 To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites;(AO) these were the Merarite clans.(AP) 34 The number of all the males a month old or more(AQ) who were counted was 6,200. 35 The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.(AR) 36 The Merarites were appointed(AS) to take care of the frames of the tabernacle,(AT) its crossbars,(AU) posts,(AV) bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use,(AW) 37 as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard(AX) with their bases, tent pegs(AY) and ropes.

38 Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east(AZ) of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the tent of meeting.(BA) They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary(BB) on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.(BC)

39 The total number of Levites counted(BD) at the Lord’s command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000.(BE)

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 3:28 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts 8,300

“Take a census(A) of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families.

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Count(A) all the men from thirty to fifty years of age(B) who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

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57 These were the Levites(A) who were counted by their clans:

through Gershon, the Gershonite clan;

through Kohath, the Kohathite clan;

through Merari, the Merarite clan.

58 These also were Levite clans:

the Libnite clan,

the Hebronite clan,

the Mahlite clan,

the Mushite clan,

the Korahite clan.

(Kohath was the forefather of Amram;(B) 59 the name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed,(C) a descendant of Levi, who was born to the Levites[a] in Egypt. To Amram she bore Aaron, Moses(D) and their sister(E) Miriam.(F) 60 Aaron was the father of Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.(G) 61 But Nadab and Abihu(H) died when they made an offering before the Lord with unauthorized fire.)(I)

62 All the male Levites a month old or more numbered 23,000.(J) They were not counted(K) along with the other Israelites because they received no inheritance(L) among them.(M)

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 26:59 Or Jochebed, a daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi

Israel’s Sons(A)

These were the sons of Israel:

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

Judah(B)

To Hezron’s Sons

The sons of Judah:(C)

Er, Onan and Shelah.(D) These three were born to him by a Canaanite woman, the daughter of Shua.(E) Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death.(F) Judah’s daughter-in-law(G) Tamar(H) bore Perez(I) and Zerah to Judah. He had five sons in all.

The sons of Perez:(J)

Hezron(K) and Hamul.

The sons of Zerah:

Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Kalkol and Darda[a]—five in all.

The son of Karmi:

Achar,[b](L) who brought trouble on Israel by violating the ban on taking devoted things.[c](M)

The son of Ethan:

Azariah.

The sons born to Hezron(N) were:

Jerahmeel, Ram and Caleb.[d]

From Ram Son of Hezron

10 Ram(O) was the father of

Amminadab(P), and Amminadab the father of Nahshon,(Q) the leader of the people of Judah. 11 Nahshon was the father of Salmon,[e] Salmon the father of Boaz, 12 Boaz(R) the father of Obed and Obed the father of Jesse.(S)

13 Jesse(T) was the father of

Eliab(U) his firstborn; the second son was Abinadab, the third Shimea, 14 the fourth Nethanel, the fifth Raddai, 15 the sixth Ozem and the seventh David. 16 Their sisters were Zeruiah(V) and Abigail. Zeruiah’s(W) three sons were Abishai, Joab(X) and Asahel. 17 Abigail was the mother of Amasa,(Y) whose father was Jether the Ishmaelite.

Caleb Son of Hezron

18 Caleb son of Hezron had children by his wife Azubah (and by Jerioth). These were her sons: Jesher, Shobab and Ardon. 19 When Azubah died, Caleb(Z) married Ephrath, who bore him Hur. 20 Hur was the father of Uri, and Uri the father of Bezalel.(AA)

21 Later, Hezron, when he was sixty years old, married the daughter of Makir the father of Gilead.(AB) He made love to her, and she bore him Segub. 22 Segub was the father of Jair, who controlled twenty-three towns in Gilead. 23 (But Geshur and Aram captured Havvoth Jair,[f](AC) as well as Kenath(AD) with its surrounding settlements—sixty towns.) All these were descendants of Makir the father of Gilead.

24 After Hezron died in Caleb Ephrathah, Abijah the wife of Hezron bore him Ashhur(AE) the father[g] of Tekoa.

Jerahmeel Son of Hezron

25 The sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron:

Ram his firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem and[h] Ahijah. 26 Jerahmeel had another wife, whose name was Atarah; she was the mother of Onam.

27 The sons of Ram the firstborn of Jerahmeel:

Maaz, Jamin and Eker.

28 The sons of Onam:

Shammai and Jada.

The sons of Shammai:

Nadab and Abishur.

29 Abishur’s wife was named Abihail, who bore him Ahban and Molid.

30 The sons of Nadab:

Seled and Appaim. Seled died without children.

31 The son of Appaim:

Ishi, who was the father of Sheshan.

Sheshan was the father of Ahlai.

32 The sons of Jada, Shammai’s brother:

Jether and Jonathan. Jether died without children.

33 The sons of Jonathan:

Peleth and Zaza.

These were the descendants of Jerahmeel.

34 Sheshan had no sons—only daughters.

He had an Egyptian servant named Jarha. 35 Sheshan gave his daughter in marriage to his servant Jarha, and she bore him Attai.

36 Attai was the father of Nathan,

Nathan the father of Zabad,(AF)

37 Zabad the father of Ephlal,

Ephlal the father of Obed,

38 Obed the father of Jehu,

Jehu the father of Azariah,

39 Azariah the father of Helez,

Helez the father of Eleasah,

40 Eleasah the father of Sismai,

Sismai the father of Shallum,

41 Shallum the father of Jekamiah,

and Jekamiah the father of Elishama.

The Clans of Caleb

42 The sons of Caleb(AG) the brother of Jerahmeel:

Mesha his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph, and his son Mareshah,[i] who was the father of Hebron.

43 The sons of Hebron:

Korah, Tappuah, Rekem and Shema. 44 Shema was the father of Raham, and Raham the father of Jorkeam. Rekem was the father of Shammai. 45 The son of Shammai was Maon(AH), and Maon was the father of Beth Zur.(AI)

46 Caleb’s concubine Ephah was the mother of Haran, Moza and Gazez. Haran was the father of Gazez.

47 The sons of Jahdai:

Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah and Shaaph.

48 Caleb’s concubine Maakah was the mother of Sheber and Tirhanah. 49 She also gave birth to Shaaph the father of Madmannah(AJ) and to Sheva the father of Makbenah and Gibea. Caleb’s daughter was Aksah.(AK) 50 These were the descendants of Caleb.

The sons of Hur(AL) the firstborn of Ephrathah:

Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim,(AM) 51 Salma the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth Gader.

52 The descendants of Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim were:

Haroeh, half the Manahathites, 53 and the clans of Kiriath Jearim: the Ithrites,(AN) Puthites, Shumathites and Mishraites. From these descended the Zorathites and Eshtaolites.

54 The descendants of Salma:

Bethlehem, the Netophathites,(AO) Atroth Beth Joab, half the Manahathites, the Zorites, 55 and the clans of scribes[j] who lived at Jabez: the Tirathites, Shimeathites and Sucathites. These are the Kenites(AP) who came from Hammath,(AQ) the father of the Rekabites.[k](AR)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 2:6 Many Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also 1 Kings 4:31); most Hebrew manuscripts Dara
  2. 1 Chronicles 2:7 Achar means trouble; Achar is called Achan in Joshua.
  3. 1 Chronicles 2:7 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
  4. 1 Chronicles 2:9 Hebrew Kelubai, a variant of Caleb
  5. 1 Chronicles 2:11 Septuagint (see also Ruth 4:21); Hebrew Salma
  6. 1 Chronicles 2:23 Or captured the settlements of Jair
  7. 1 Chronicles 2:24 Father may mean civic leader or military leader; also in verses 42, 45, 49-52 and possibly elsewhere.
  8. 1 Chronicles 2:25 Or Oren and Ozem, by
  9. 1 Chronicles 2:42 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  10. 1 Chronicles 2:55 Or of the Sopherites
  11. 1 Chronicles 2:55 Or father of Beth Rekab

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