1 Chronicles 23

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1. 1When David was old and had lived a long, full life, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.
2. 2He gathered all the leaders of Israel, along with the priests and the Levites.
3. 3The Levites who were 30 years old and above were counted, and the total came to 38,000 men.
4. 4David said, "Of these, 24,000 are to oversee the work of the LORD's house, 6,000 are to serve as officers and judges,
5. 54,000 are to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 are to praise the LORD with the instruments I had made for that purpose."
6. 6David organized them into divisions based on the 3 sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
7. 7From the Gershonites came Laadan and Shimei.
8. 8Laadan had 3 sons: Jehiel was the leader, followed by Zetham and Joel.
9. 9Shimei had 3 sons: Shelomith, Haziel, and Haran. These were the heads of Laadan's family clans.
10. 10The sons of Shimei were Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.
11. 11Jahath was the leader and Zizah was second. Jeush and Beriah didn't have many sons, so they were counted together as one family clan.
12. 12Kohath had 4 sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
13. 13Amram's sons were Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart—he and his descendants forever—to make the most holy things sacred, to burn incense before the LORD, to serve him, and to pronounce blessings in his name for all time.
14. 14As for Moses, the man of God, his sons were counted as part of the tribe of Levi.
15. 15Moses' sons were Gershom and Eliezer.
16. 16From Gershom's descendants, Shebuel was the leader.
17. 17From Eliezer's descendants, Rehabiah was the leader. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah's descendants were very numerous.
18. 18From Izhar's descendants, Shelomith was the leader.
19. 19From Hebron's descendants: Jeriah was the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
20. 20From Uzziel's descendants: Micah was the first and Jesiah the second.
21. 21Merari's sons were Mahli and Mushi. Mahli's sons were Eleazar and Kish.
22. 22Eleazar died without having any sons — only daughters. Their relatives, the sons of Kish, married them.
23. 23Mushi had 3 sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth.
24. 24These were the descendants of Levi listed by their family clans — the heads of each clan, counted individually by name. They carried out the work of serving in the LORD's house, from 20 years old and above.
25. 25David said, "The LORD God of Israel has given rest to his people, so they may dwell in Jerusalem forever."
26. 26And also concerning the Levites: they will no longer carry the tabernacle or any of its vessels for service.
27. 27According to David's final instructions, the Levites were counted from 20 years old and above.
28. 28Their job was to assist Aaron's descendants in the service of the LORD's house — working in the courtyards, the storerooms, and the purification of all the holy items, along with every other task related to God's house.
29. 29They were responsible for the showbread, the fine flour for grain offerings, the unleavened cakes, the baked items, the fried offerings, and all measurements of weight and volume.
30. 30They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and to do the same every evening.
31. 31To offer all burnt sacrifices to the LORD on the Sabbaths, at the New Moons, and during the appointed feasts, by number, according to the regulations, continually before the LORD.
32. 32And they were to be responsible for the care of the meeting tent, the holy place, and the duties of the sons of Aaron, their brothers, in the service of the house of the LORD.