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23 So when Dovid was old and full of days, he made Sh’lomo bno Melech Yisroel.

And he gathered together all the sarim of Yisroel, with the Kohanim and the Levi’im.

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.

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);

Moreover four alafim were sho’arim (gatekeepers); and four alafim praised Hashem with the kelim (instruments) which I made, said Dovid, to praise therewith.

And Dovid divided them into divisions among the Bnei Levi, namely, Gershon, Kehat, and Merari.

Of the Gershoni were La’dan, and Shimei.

The Bnei La’dan; the rosh was Yechiel, and Zetam, and Yoel, three.

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.

23 So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.

Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand.

Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the Lord; and six thousand were officers and judges:

Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the Lord with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.

And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Of the Gershonites were, Laadan, and Shimei.

The sons of Laadan; the chief was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.

The sons of Shimei; Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief of the fathers of Laadan.

10 And the sons of Shimei were, Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.

11 And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons; therefore they were in one reckoning, according to their father's house.

12 The sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, 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.

14 Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi.

15 The sons of Moses were, Gershom, and Eliezer.

16 Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the 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.

18 Of the sons of Izhar; Shelomith the chief.

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

20 Of the sons of Uzziel; Micah the first and Jesiah the second.

21 The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. The sons of Mahli; Eleazar, and Kish.

22 And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters: and their brethren the sons of Kish took them.

23 The sons of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

24 These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the Lord, from the age of twenty years and upward.

25 For David said, The Lord God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:

26 And also unto the Levites; they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof.

27 For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above:

28 Because 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, and the work of the service of the house of God;

29 Both for the shewbread, and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size;

30 And to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at even:

31 And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the Lord in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the Lord:

32 And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the house of the Lord.

David Organizes the Levites

23 (A)When David was old and full of days, (B)he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

David[a] assembled all the leaders of Israel and the priests and the Levites. The Levites, (C)thirty years old and upward, were numbered, and (D)the total was (E)38,000 men. “Twenty-four thousand of these,” David said,[b] (F)“shall have charge of the work in the house of the Lord, 6,000 shall be (G)officers and judges, 4,000 gatekeepers, and 4,000 shall offer praises to the Lord with the instruments (H)that I have made for praise.” (I)And David organized them in divisions (J)corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

(K)The sons of Gershon[c] were Ladan and Shimei. The sons of Ladan: (L)Jehiel the chief, and Zetham, and Joel, three. The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers' houses of Ladan. 10 And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, and Jeush and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei. 11 Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, therefore they became counted as a single father's house.

12 (M)The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four. 13 (N)The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. (O)Aaron was set apart to dedicate the most holy things, that he and his sons forever should (P)make offerings before the Lord and (Q)minister to him and (R)pronounce blessings in his name forever. 14 But the sons of Moses the (S)man of God were named among the (T)tribe of Levi. 15 The (U)sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer. 16 The sons of Gershom: (V)Shebuel the chief. 17 The sons of Eliezer: Rehabiah the chief. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many. 18 The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief. 19 The (W)sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. 20 (X)The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief and Isshiah the second.

21 (Y)The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and (Z)Kish. 22 Eleazar died (AA)having no sons, but only daughters; their (AB)kinsmen, the sons of Kish, married them. 23 (AC)The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

24 (AD)These were the sons of Levi by their fathers' houses, the heads of fathers' houses (AE)as they were listed according to the number of the names of the individuals from (AF)twenty years old and upward who were to do the work for the service of the house of the Lord. 25 For David said, “The Lord, the God of Israel, (AG)has given rest to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever. 26 And so the Levites no longer need (AH)to carry the tabernacle or any of the things for its service.” 27 For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered from (AI)twenty years old and upward. 28 For their duty was to assist the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the Lord, having the care of the courts and the chambers, the cleansing of all that is holy, and any work for the service of the house of God. 29 Their duty was also to assist with the (AJ)showbread, the (AK)flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the (AL)baked offering, the (AM)offering mixed with oil, and all (AN)measures of quantity or size. 30 And they were to stand every morning, thanking and praising the Lord, and likewise at evening, 31 and whenever burnt offerings were offered to the Lord (AO)on Sabbaths, (AP)new moons, and feast days, (AQ)according to the number required of them, regularly before the Lord. 32 Thus (AR)they were to keep charge of the tent of meeting and the sanctuary, and to attend the sons of Aaron, their brothers, for the (AS)service of the house of the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 23:2 Hebrew He
  2. 1 Chronicles 23:4 Hebrew lacks David said
  3. 1 Chronicles 23:7 Vulgate (compare Septuagint, Syriac); Hebrew to the Gershonite