The Divisions of the Levites

1When David (beloved) was old and full of years, he installed his son Solomon (peace) as king over Israel (he wrestles with God). 2Then he gathered all the leaders of Israel (he wrestles with God), as well as the priests and Levites.

3The Levites thirty years of age or older were counted, and the total number of men was 38,000. 4“Of these,” said David,a “24,000 are to oversee the work of the house of the LORD {YHWH}, 6,000 are to be officers and judges, 54,000 are to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 are to praise the LORD {YHWH} with the instruments I have made for giving praise.”

6Then David (beloved) divided the Levites into divisions according to the sons of Levi (joined to):

Gershon (exile), Kohath (assembly), and Merari (bitter).

The Gershonites
(Numbers 3:21–26; Numbers 4:21–28)

7The Gershonites: Ladan (Libni)b and Shimei (renowned).

8The sons of Ladan (put in order): Jehiel (Jehieli)c the first, Zetham (olive), and Joel (YHWH is God)—three in all.

9The sons of Shimei (renowned): Shelomoth (peaceful), Haziel (vision of God), and Haran (mountaineer)—three in all. These were the heads of the families of Ladan (put in order).

10And the sons of Shimei (Shimei):d Jahath (He will snatch up), Zina [Zizah],e Jeush (He hurries to aid), and Beriah (with a friend). These were the sons of Shimei (renowned)—four in all. 11Jahath (He will snatch up) was the first and Zizah (abundance) was the second; but Jeush (He hurries to aid) and Beriah (with a friend) did not have many sons, so they were counted as one family and received a single assignment.

The Kohathites
(Numbers 3:27–32; Numbers 4:1–20)

12The sons of Kohath (assembly): Amram (exalted people), Izhar (shining oil), Hebron (association), and Uzziel (my strength is God)—four in all.

13The sons of Amram (exalted people): Aaron (light bringer) and Moses (drawn out). Aaron and his descendants were set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense before the LORD {YHWH}, to minister before Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name forever. 14As for Moses (drawn out) the man of God {Elohim}, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi (joined to).

15The sons of Moses (drawn out): Gershom (foreigner) and Eliezer (God is my helper).

16The descendants of Gershom (foreigner): Shebuel (captive of God) was the first.

17The descendants of Eliezer (God is my helper): Rehabiah (YHWH has enlarged) was the first. Eliezer did not have any other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous.

18The sons of Izhar (shining oil): Shelomith (peaceful) was the first.

19The sons of Hebron (association): Jeriah (taught by Yah) was the first, Amariah (YHWH has promised) the second, Jahaziel (beheld of God) the third, and Jekameam (let the people rise) the fourth.

20The sons of Uzziel (my strength is God): Micah (who is like God) was the first and Isshiah (YHWH will lend) the second.

The Merarites
(Numbers 3:33–37; Numbers 4:29–33)

21The sons of Merari (bitter): Mahli (sick) and Mushi (yielding).

The sons of Mahli: Eleazar (God has helped) and Kish (bent). 22Eleazar (God has helped) died without having any sons; he had only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish (bent), married them.

23The sons of Mushi (yielding): Mahli (sick), Eder (a flock), and Jeremoth (Jerimoth)f—three in all.

Levite Duties Revised

24These were the descendants of Levi (joined to) by their families—the heads of families, registered individually by name—those twenty years of age or older who worked in the service of the house of the LORD {YHWH}.

25For David (beloved) had said, “The LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), has given rest to His people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem (city of peace) forever. 26So now the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles for its service.”

27For according to the final instructions of David (beloved), the Levites (joined to) twenty years of age or older were counted, 28but their duty was to assist the descendants of Aaron (light bringer) with the service of the house of the LORD {YHWH}, being responsible for the courts and chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God {Elohim}, 29as well as for the rows of the showbread, the fine flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the baking, the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size.

30They were also to stand every morning to give thanks and praise to the LORD {YHWH}, and likewise in the evening. 31Whenever burnt offerings were presented to the LORD {YHWH} on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts, they were to serve regularly before the LORD in the numbers prescribed for them. 32So the Levites were to carry out the responsibilities for the Tent of Meeting and the Holy Place, and, under their brothers the descendants of Aaron (light bringer), the service of the house of the LORD {YHWH}.