⁶ David separated^(A) the Levites into divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi:^(B) Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

²⁵ For David had said, “Since the Lord, the God of Israel, has granted rest^(A) to his people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem forever, ²⁶ the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles used in its service.”^{(B) 27} According to the last instructions of David, the Levites were counted from those twenty years old or more.

²⁸ The duty of the Levites was to help Aaron’s descendants in the service of the temple of the Lord: to be in charge of the courtyards, the side rooms, the purification^(C) of all sacred things and the performance of other duties at the house of God. ²⁹ They were in charge of the bread set out on the table,^(D) the special flour for the grain offerings,^(E) the thin loaves made without yeast, the baking and the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size.^{(F) 30} They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord. They were to do the same in the evening^{(G) 31} and whenever burnt offerings were presented to the Lord on the Sabbaths, at the New Moon^(H) feasts and at the appointed festivals.^(I) They were to serve before the Lord regularly in the proper number and in the way prescribed for them.