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50 Rather, you shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the covenant and over all its equipment and over all that belongs to it; they are to carry the tabernacle and all its equipment, and they shall tend it and shall camp around the tabernacle.(A)

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50 Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle(A) of the covenant law(B)—over all its furnishings(C) and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it.

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Materials of the Tabernacle

21 These are the records of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the covenant, which were drawn up at the commandment of Moses, the work of the Levites being under the direction of Ithamar son of the priest Aaron.(A)

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The Materials Used

21 These are the amounts of the materials used for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the covenant law,(A) which were recorded at Moses’ command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar(B) son of Aaron, the priest.

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15 When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, as the camp sets out, after that the Kohathites shall come to carry these, but they must not touch the holy things, or they will die. These are the things of the tent of meeting that the Kohathites are to carry.(A)

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15 “After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move,(A) only then are the Kohathites(B) to come and do the carrying.(C) But they must not touch the holy things(D) or they will die.(E) The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.

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The Two Tablets of the Covenant

18 When God[a] finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the covenant, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 31.18 Heb he

18 When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai,(A) he gave him the two tablets of the covenant law, the tablets of stone(B) inscribed by the finger of God.(C)

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22 And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.(A)

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22 Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and go and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy.

Remember(A) me for this also, my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.

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10 I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers who had conducted the service had gone back to their fields.(A) 11 So I contended with the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their stations.(B) 12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses.(C) 13 And I appointed as treasurers over the treasuries Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and as their assistant Hanan son of Zaccur son of Mattaniah, for they were considered faithful, and their duty was to distribute to their associates.(D)

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10 I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them,(A) and that all the Levites and musicians responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields.(B) 11 So I rebuked the officials and asked them, “Why is the house of God neglected?”(C) Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts.

12 All Judah brought the tithes(D) of grain, new wine and olive oil into the storerooms.(E) 13 I put Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and a Levite named Pedaiah in charge of the storerooms and made Hanan son of Zakkur, the son of Mattaniah, their assistant, because they were considered trustworthy. They were made responsible for distributing the supplies to their fellow Levites.(F)

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Families of the Levites and Their Functions

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

David assembled all the leaders of Israel and the priests and the Levites. The Levites, thirty years old and up, were counted, and the total head count of men was thirty-eight thousand.(B) “Twenty-four thousand of these,” David said, “shall have charge of the work in the house of the Lord, six thousand shall be officers and judges,(C) four thousand gatekeepers, and four thousand shall offer praises to the Lord with the instruments that I have made for praise.”(D) And David organized them in divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.(E)

The sons of Gershon[a] were Ladan and Shimei. The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, Zetham, and Joel, three. The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of families of Ladan. 10 And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, 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, so they were enrolled as a single family.

12 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.(F) 13 The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart to consecrate the most holy things, so that he and his sons forever should make offerings before the Lord and minister to him and pronounce blessings in his name forever,(G) 14 but as for Moses the man of God, his sons were to be reckoned among the tribe of Levi. 15 The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer. 16 The son of Gershom: Shebuel the chief.(H) 17 The son of Eliezer: Rehabiah the chief; Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous. 18 The son of Izhar: Shelomith the chief. 19 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. 20 The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief and Isshiah the second.

21 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.(I) 22 Eleazar died having no sons but only daughters; their kindred, the sons of Kish, married them. 23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

24 These were the sons of Levi by their ancestral houses, the heads of families as they were enrolled according to the number of the names of the individuals from twenty years old and up who were to do the work for the service of the house of the Lord.(J) 25 For David said, “The Lord, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people, and he resides in Jerusalem forever.(K) 26 And so the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the things for its service”(L) 27 for according to the last words of David these were the number of the Levites from twenty years old and up— 28 “but their duty shall be to assist the descendants 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 to assist also with the rows of bread, the choice flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the baked offering, the offering mixed with oil, and all measures of quantity or size.(M) 30 And they shall stand every morning thanking and praising the Lord, and likewise at evening, 31 and whenever burnt offerings are offered to the Lord on Sabbaths, new moons, and appointed festivals, according to the number required of them, regularly before the Lord.(N) 32 Thus they shall keep charge of the tent of meeting and the sanctuary and shall attend the descendants of Aaron, their kindred, for the service of the house of the Lord.”(O)

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Footnotes

  1. 23.7 Vg Compare Gk Syr: Heb to the Gershonite

The Levites

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

He also gathered together all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and Levites. The Levites thirty years old or more(C) were counted,(D) and the total number of men was thirty-eight thousand.(E) David said, “Of these, twenty-four thousand are to be in charge(F) of the work(G) of the temple of the Lord and six thousand are to be officials and judges.(H) Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise the Lord with the musical instruments(I) I have provided for that purpose.”(J)

David separated(K) the Levites into divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi:(L) Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

Gershonites

Belonging to the Gershonites:(M)

Ladan and Shimei.

The sons of Ladan:

Jehiel the first, Zetham and Joel—three in all.

The sons of Shimei:

Shelomoth, Haziel and Haran—three in all.

These were the heads of the families of Ladan.

10 And the sons of Shimei:

Jahath, Ziza,[a] Jeush and Beriah.

These were the sons of Shimei—four in all.

11 Jahath was the first and Ziza the second, but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons; so they were counted as one family with one assignment.

Kohathites

12 The sons of Kohath:(N)

Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel—four in all.

13 The sons of Amram:(O)

Aaron and Moses.

Aaron was set apart,(P) he and his descendants forever, to consecrate the most holy things, to offer sacrifices before the Lord, to minister(Q) before him and to pronounce blessings(R) in his name forever. 14 The sons of Moses the man(S) of God were counted as part of the tribe of Levi.

15 The sons of Moses:

Gershom and Eliezer.(T)

16 The descendants of Gershom:(U)

Shubael was the first.

17 The descendants of Eliezer:

Rehabiah(V) was the first.

Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous.

18 The sons of Izhar:

Shelomith(W) was the first.

19 The sons of Hebron:(X)

Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth.

20 The sons of Uzziel:

Micah the first and Ishiah the second.

Merarites

21 The sons of Merari:(Y)

Mahli and Mushi.(Z)

The sons of Mahli:

Eleazar and Kish.

22 Eleazar died without having sons: he had only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them.(AA)

23 The sons of Mushi:

Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth—three in all.

24 These were the descendants of Levi by their families—the heads of families as they were registered under their names and counted individually, that is, the workers twenty years old or more(AB) who served in the temple of the Lord. 25 For David had said, “Since the Lord, the God of Israel, has granted rest(AC) 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.”(AD) 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(AE) 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,(AF) the special flour for the grain offerings,(AG) the thin loaves made without yeast, the baking and the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size.(AH) 30 They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord. They were to do the same in the evening(AI) 31 and whenever burnt offerings were presented to the Lord on the Sabbaths, at the New Moon(AJ) feasts and at the appointed festivals.(AK) They were to serve before the Lord regularly in the proper number and in the way prescribed for them.

32 And so the Levites(AL) carried out their responsibilities for the tent of meeting,(AM) for the Holy Place and, under their relatives the descendants of Aaron, for the service of the temple of the Lord.(AN)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 23:10 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint and Vulgate (see also verse 11); most Hebrew manuscripts Zina

11 Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff; water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank.(A)

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11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water(A) gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

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25 They shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tent of meeting with its covering, and the outer covering of fine leather[a] that is on top of it, and the screen for the entrance of the tent of meeting,(A) 26 and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the entrance of the gate of the court that is around the tabernacle and the altar, and their cords, and all the equipment for their service, and they shall do all that needs to be done with regard to them. 27 All the service of the Gershonites shall be at the command of Aaron and his sons, in all that they are to carry and in all that they have to do, and you shall assign to them as duties all that they are to carry.(B) 28 This is the service of the clans of the Gershonites relating to the tent of meeting, and their duties are to be under the oversight of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

29 “As for the Merarites, you shall enroll them by their clans and their ancestral houses; 30 from thirty years old up to fifty years old you shall enroll them, everyone who qualifies to do the work of the tent of meeting.(C) 31 This is their duty to carry, as the whole of their service in the tent of meeting: the frames of the tabernacle, with its bars, pillars, and bases,(D) 32 and the pillars of the court all around with their bases, pegs, and cords, with all their equipment and all their related service, and you shall assign by name the objects that they are required to carry. 33 This is the service of the clans of the Merarites, the whole of their service relating to the tent of meeting, under the hand of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”(E)

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Footnotes

  1. 4.25 Meaning of Heb uncertain

25 They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle,(A) that is, the tent of meeting,(B) its covering(C) and its outer covering of durable leather, the curtains for the entrance to the tent of meeting, 26 the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,(D) the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard,(E) the ropes and all the equipment(F) used in the service of the tent. The Gershonites are to do all that needs to be done with these things. 27 All their service, whether carrying or doing other work, is to be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons.(G) You shall assign to them as their responsibility(H) all they are to carry. 28 This is the service of the Gershonite clans(I) at the tent of meeting. Their duties are to be under the direction of Ithamar(J) son of Aaron, the priest.

The Merarites

29 “Count(K) the Merarites by their clans and families.(L) 30 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting. 31 As part of all their service at the tent, they are to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases,(M) 32 as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes,(N) all their equipment and everything related to their use. Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry. 33 This is the service of the Merarite clans as they work at the tent of meeting under the direction of Ithamar(O) son of Aaron, the priest.”

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23 The clans of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle on the west, 24 with Eliasaph son of Lael as head of the ancestral house of the Gershonites. 25 The responsibility of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting was the tabernacle, the tent with its covering, the screen for the entrance of the tent of meeting,(A) 26 the hangings of the court, the screen for the entrance of the court that is around the tabernacle and the altar, and its cords—all the service pertaining to these.

27 To Kohath belonged the clan of the Amramites, the clan of the Izharites, the clan of the Hebronites, and the clan of the Uzzielites; these were the clans of the Kohathites.(B) 28 Counting all the males, from a month old and up, there were eight thousand six hundred performing the duties of the sanctuary. 29 The clans of the Kohathites were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle,(C) 30 with Elizaphan son of Uzziel as head of the ancestral house of the clans of the Kohathites. 31 Their responsibility was the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which the priests minister, and the screen—all the service pertaining to these. 32 Eleazar son of Aaron the priest was to be chief over the leaders of the Levites and to have oversight of those who performed the duties of the sanctuary.

33 To Merari belonged the clan of the Mahlites and the clan of the Mushites; these were the clans of Merari.(D) 34 Their enrollment, counting all the males from a month old and up, was six thousand two hundred. 35 The head of the ancestral house of the clans of Merari was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle. 36 The responsibility assigned to the sons of Merari was the frames of the tabernacle, the bars, the pillars, the bases, and all their accessories—all the service pertaining to these,(E) 37 also the pillars of the court all around, with their bases and pegs and cords.

38 Those who were to camp in front of the tabernacle on the east—in front of the tent of meeting toward the sunrise—were Moses and Aaron and Aaron’s sons, who were to perform the duties of the sanctuary, whatever had to be done for the Israelites, and any outsider who came near was to be put to death.(F)

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23 The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle.(A) 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(B) and tent, its coverings,(C) the curtain at the entrance(D) to the tent of meeting,(E) 26 the curtains of the courtyard(F), the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,(G) and the ropes(H)—and everything(I) related to their use.

27 To Kohath(J) belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites;(K) these were the Kohathite(L) clans. 28 The number of all the males a month old or more(M) was 8,600.[a] The Kohathites were responsible(N) for the care of the sanctuary.(O) 29 The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side(P) of the tabernacle. 30 The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan(Q) son of Uzziel. 31 They were responsible for the care of the ark,(R) the table,(S) the lampstand,(T) the altars,(U) the articles(V) of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain,(W) and everything related to their use.(X) 32 The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar(Y) son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible(Z) for the care of the sanctuary.(AA)

33 To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites;(AB) these were the Merarite clans.(AC) 34 The number of all the males a month old or more(AD) 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.(AE) 36 The Merarites were appointed(AF) to take care of the frames of the tabernacle,(AG) its crossbars,(AH) posts,(AI) bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use,(AJ) 37 as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard(AK) with their bases, tent pegs(AL) and ropes.

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

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Footnotes

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

26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the Lord’s side? Come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. 27 He said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Put your sword on your side, each of you! Go back and forth from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill your brother, your friend, and your neighbor.”(A) 28 The sons of Levi did as Moses commanded, and about three thousand of the people fell on that day. 29 Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for the service of the Lord, each one at the cost of a son or a brother, and so have brought a blessing on yourselves this day.”

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26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him.

27 Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’”(A) 28 The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. 29 Then Moses said, “You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day.”

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To it the tribes go up,
    the tribes of the Lord,
as was decreed for Israel,
    to give thanks to the name of the Lord.(A)

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That is where the tribes go up—
    the tribes of the Lord
to praise the name of the Lord
    according to the statute given to Israel.

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prepared for Tobiah a large room where they had previously put the grain offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.(A)

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and he had provided him with a large room formerly used to store the grain offerings and incense and temple articles, and also the tithes(A) of grain, new wine and olive oil prescribed for the Levites, musicians and gatekeepers, as well as the contributions for the priests.

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