Beginning

22 Then David said, “This is where Yahweh Elohim’s temple will be. Israel’s altar for burnt offerings will also be here.”

David Helps Solomon Prepare to Build the Temple

² David ordered the foreigners living in Israel to gather. He appointed some of them to cut stones to build Elohim’s temple. ³ David prepared a large quantity of iron for nails and fittings on the doors of the gates. He also prepared so much bronze that it couldn’t be weighed. ⁴ The men of Sidon and Tyre brought David so many cedar logs that the logs couldn’t be counted.

⁵ David thought, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the temple that will be built for Yahweh must be magnificent, large, famous, praised, and honored in all other countries. I’ll prepare the building materials for him.” So David prepared many materials for Solomon before he died.

⁶ He summoned his son Solomon and commanded him to build a temple for Yahweh Elohim of Israel. ⁷ David told his son Solomon, “I had my heart set on building a temple for the name of Yahweh, my Elohim. ⁸ But Yahweh spoke his word to me by saying, ‘You have caused a lot of bloodshed and fought in a lot of wars. You must not build a temple for my name because you have caused so much bloodshed in my presence. ⁹ You will have a son who will be a peaceful man. I will give him peace from all the enemies around him. His name will be Solomon [Peace], and in his time I will give Israel peace and quiet. ¹⁰ He will build a temple for my name. He will be my son, and I will be his Ab. I will establish the throne of his kingdom permanently over Israel.’”

¹¹ David continued, “Now, son, Yahweh will be with you. You will be successful, and you will build the temple of Yahweh your Elohim as he predicted you would. ¹² Yahweh will give you insight and understanding as he commands you to take charge of Israel and to follow the Teachings of Yahweh your Elohim. ¹³ Then you will succeed if you will carefully obey the laws and decrees Yahweh commanded Moses to give to Israel. Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or terrified.

¹⁴ “Despite my troubles I’ve made preparations for Yahweh’s temple. There are 7,500,000 pounds of gold, 75,000,000 pounds of silver, and so much bronze and iron that it can’t be weighed. I’ve also prepared wood and stones, and you may add to them. ¹⁵ You have many kinds of workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and men skilled in every kind of work. ¹⁶ The gold, silver, bronze, and iron are more than can be counted. So get to work! May Yahweh be with you.”

¹⁷ David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon. ¹⁸ David said, “Isn’t Yahweh your Elohim with you? Hasn’t he given you peace with all your neighbors? He put the people who live in this country under my power, and the country has been conquered by Yahweh and his people. ¹⁹ So dedicate your hearts and lives to serving Yahweh your Elohim. Start building the holy place of Yahweh Elohim so that you can bring the ark of Yahweh’s promise and Elohim’s holy utensils into the temple that will be built for Yahweh’s name.”

The Levites Are Organized to Serve in the Temple

23 When David had grown old and had lived out his years, he made his son Solomon king of Israel. ² He gathered all the officials of Israel and the priests and Levites. ³ Every male Levite who was at least 30 years old was counted. There were 38,000. ⁴ Of these, 24,000 were appointed to supervise the work on Yahweh’s temple, 6,000 were appointed to be officers and judges, ⁵ 4,000 were appointed to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 were appointed to praise Yahweh with the instruments David had made for praising God. ⁶ David organized the Levites into divisions based on which of Levi’s sons (Gershon, Kohath, or Merari) they were descended from.

⁷ Ladan and Shimei were Gershon’s descendants. ⁸ Ladan had three sons: Jehiel was the first, then Zetham, and Joel. ⁹ Shimei had three sons: Shelomith, Haziel, and Haran. They were the heads of Ladan’s families. ¹⁰ Shimei’s sons were Jahath, Zina,^[a] Jeush, and Beriah. They were Shimei’s four sons. ¹¹ Jahath was the first, and Ziza was the second. Jeush and Beriah didn’t have many sons, so they were given an assignment as one family.

¹² Kohath had four sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. ¹³ Amram’s sons were Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his sons were forever designated to dedicate the most holy things to God, to offer sacrifices to Yahweh, to serve him, and always give the blessing in his name. ¹⁴ The sons of Moses, the man of Elohim, were counted with the tribe of Levi. ¹⁵ Moses’ sons were Gershom and Eliezer. ¹⁶ Gershom’s only son was Shebuel. ¹⁷ Eliezer’s only son was Rehabiah. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah had many sons. ¹⁸ Izhar’s only son was Shelomith. ¹⁹ Hebron’s first son was Jeriah; his second was Amariah; his third was Jahaziel; his fourth was Jekameam. ²⁰ Uzziel’s first son was Micah; his second was Isshiah.

²¹ Merari’s sons were Mahli and Mushi. Mahli’s sons were Eleazar and Kish. ²² Eleazar died without having any sons. He only had daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them. ²³ Mushi had three sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth.

²⁴ These were Levi’s descendants, who were grouped according to their families. The heads of their families were registered by name as they were counted. Everyone who served in Yahweh’s temple was at least 20 years old. ²⁵ David had said, “Yahweh Elohim of Israel has given his people rest. He will now live in Jerusalem forever. ²⁶ The Levites will no longer have to carry the tent and all the utensils used in worship.”

²⁷ David’s last instructions were to count the Levites who were at least 20 years old. ²⁸ They were appointed to stand beside Aaron’s descendants to serve in Yahweh’s temple. They were appointed to be in charge of the courtyards and the temple rooms, to ensure that all the holy things were clean,^[b] and to serve in Elohim’s temple. ²⁹ They were also responsible for the rows of bread, the flour for the grain offerings, the unleavened bread wafers, and the bread made in frying pans. In addition, they were responsible for mixing the ingredients and keeping track of all weights and measures. ³⁰ They were appointed to stand to give thanks and praise to Yahweh every morning. They were appointed to do the same thing in the evening. ³¹ They were appointed to stand in front of Yahweh in the required numbers whenever burnt offerings were made—on weekly worship days, at New Moon Festivals, and on appointed annual festivals. ³² They were appointed to follow the regulations for the tent of meeting and the holy place and to help their relatives, Aaron’s descendants, as they served in Yahweh’s temple.

The Organization of the Priests

24 The divisions of Aaron’s descendants were as follows: Aaron’s sons were Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. ² Nadab and Abihu died before their father died, and neither had any children. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.

³ David, Eleazar’s descendant Zadok, and Ithamar’s descendant Ahimelech divided Aaron’s descendants into groups for service. ⁴ Since Eleazar’s descendants had more men who were family heads than Ithamar’s descendants, they were divided so that Eleazar’s descendants had 16 family leaders and Ithamar’s descendants had 8 family leaders. ⁵ Both groups were divided impartially by drawing lots so that there were officers for the holy place and officers for Elohim among both Eleazar’s and Ithamar’s descendants. ⁶ The scribe Shemaiah was a son of Nethanel and a descendant of Levi. Shemaiah recorded their names in the presence of the king, the princes, the priest Zadok, Ahimelech (son of Abiathar), and the family leaders of the priests and Levites. One family was chosen for Eleazar, another for Ithamar.

⁷ The first lot drawn was for Jehoiarib, the second for Jedaiah, ⁸ the third for Harim, the fourth for Seorim, ⁹ the fifth for Malchiah, the sixth for Mijamin, ¹⁰ the seventh for Hakkoz, the eighth for Abijah, ¹¹ the ninth for Jeshua, the tenth for Shecaniah, ¹² the eleventh for Eliashib, the twelfth for Jakim, ¹³ the thirteenth for Huppah, the fourteenth for Jeshebeab, ¹⁴ the fifteenth for Bilgah, the sixteenth for Immer, ¹⁵ the seventeenth for Hezir, the eighteenth for Happizzez, ¹⁶ the nineteenth for Pethahiah, the twentieth for Jehezkel, ¹⁷ the twenty-first for Jachin, the twenty-second for Gamul, ¹⁸ the twenty-third for Delaiah, the twenty-fourth for Maaziah. ¹⁹ These were their priestly groups when they went to serve at Yahweh’s temple. Their ancestor Aaron made these rules for them, as Yahweh Elohim of Israel had commanded him.

The Organization of the Levites

²⁰ The following men were leaders for Levi’s descendants from Kohath:

²⁶ The following men were leaders from Levi’s descendants from Merari:

These were Levi’s descendants according to their families. ³¹ They drew lots as their relatives, Aaron’s descendants, had done. They drew them in front of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the leaders of the families of the priests and Levites. The families of the oldest brother were treated the same way as those of the youngest.