1 Chronicles 23
International Standard Version
The Levitical Divisions
23 After David had reached old age, and had completed his reign,[a] he set his son Solomon as king over Israel. 2 David then gathered together all of the leaders of Israel, including the priests and descendants of Levi. 3 descendants of Levi 30 years old and above were counted for a total of 38,000. 4 “24,000 of these,” David said, “are to be set in charge of the work of the Temple of the Lord, with 6,000 serving as officers and judges, 5 with 4,000 gatekeepers, and with 4,000 offering praises to the Lord with the musical instruments that I have had crafted.”
6 David divided them into divisions based on Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, Levi’s sons.
An Abbreviated Genealogy of Levi’s Sons
7 The descendants of Gershon were Ladan and Shimei. 8 The three descendants of Ladan included[b] Jehiel (their chief), Zetham, and Joel. 9 The three descendants of Shimei included Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran. These were the heads of families of Ladan.
10 The descendants of Shimei included Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. These four were sons of Shimei. 11 Jahath served as chief and Zizah was second in rank, but since Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, they were enrolled as a single family unit.
12 The four descendants of Kohath included Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 13 The descendants of Amram included Aaron and Moses. Aaron had been set apart to consecrate the most holy things, with the intent that he and his sons should present offerings in the Lord’s presence forever, ministering to him and pronouncing blessings in his name forever.
14 Meanwhile, as for Moses the man of God, his sons were considered among the tribe of Levi. 15 The descendants of Moses included Gershom and Eliezer. 16 The descendants of Gershom included Shebuel as their chief.
17 The descendants of Eliezer included Rehabiah as their chief. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah had many descendants.
18 The descendants of Izhar included Shelomith their chief.
19 The descendants of Hebron included Jeriah their chief, Amariah their second in rank, Jahaziel their third, and Jekameam their fourth.
20 The descendants of Uzziel included Micah their chief and Isshiah their second in rank.
21 The descendants of Merari included Mahli and Mushi. The descendants of Mahli included Eleazar and Kish, 22 but Eleazar died having no sons, but only daughters. Their relatives (the descendants of Kish) married them. 23 The three descendants of Mushi included Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth.
24 These were the descendants of Levi according to their ancestral households, with family heads documented according to the names of persons 20 years and older who were appointed to perform work in service to the Temple of the Lord.
25 For David had said “The Lord God of Israel has granted rest to his people, and he has taken Israel as his eternal residence. 26 Therefore[c] the descendants of Levi are no longer to carry the Tent or its service implements.”[d] 27 Since, according to David’s final instructions, the list above[e] contains the total number of descendants of Levi from the age of 20 years and upward, 28 David issued these orders:[f]
“Instead, they are to assist by lending a hand to the descendants of Aaron regarding service to the Temple of the Lord relating to the courts, the chambers, purification of everything pertaining to holiness, and to anything else pertaining to service on behalf of the Temple of God, 29 including assisting with the rows of showbread, selecting flour for the grain offerings, the unleavened bread, baked offerings, and oil-based offerings, no matter what the quantity or sizes. 30 They are to take their stand morning by morning, thanking and praising the Lord right through until the evening, 31 whenever burnt offerings are presented to the Lord, whether on Sabbaths, New Moons, or scheduled festivals, regularly in the Lord’s presence in accordance with the number required to conduct their service. 32 By doing this, they will fulfill their obligation as trustees over the Tent of Assembly and the Sanctuary, attending to the needs of[g] their relatives, who are descendants of Aaron, in keeping with their service on behalf of the Temple of the Lord.”
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 23:1 Lit. days
- 1 Chronicles 23:8 The Heb. lacks included; and so throughout the chapter.
- 1 Chronicles 23:26 Lit. Also
- 1 Chronicles 23:26 The quotation possibly concludes at the end of vs. 25.
- 1 Chronicles 23:27 The Heb. lacks above
- 1 Chronicles 23:28 The Heb. lacks David issued these orders
- 1 Chronicles 23:32 The Heb. lacks to the needs of
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.
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