English Standard Version

International Standard Version

1When David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

1After David had reached old age, and had completed his reign, he set his son Solomon as king over Israel.

2David assembled all the leaders of Israel and the priests and the Levites.

2David then gathered together all of the leaders of Israel, including the priests and descendants of Levi.

3The Levites, thirty years old and upward, were numbered, and the total was 38,000 men.

3descendants of Levi 30 years old and above were counted for a total of 38,000.

4“Twenty-four thousand of these,” David said, “shall have charge of the work in the house of the LORD, 6,000 shall be officers and judges,

4"24,000 of these," David said, "are to be set in charge of the work of the Temple of the LORD, with 6,000 serving as officers and judges,

54,000 gatekeepers, and 4,000 shall offer praises to the LORD with the instruments that I have made for praise.”

5with 4,000 gatekeepers, and with 4,000 offering praises to the LORD with the musical instruments that I have had crafted."

6And David organized them in divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

6David divided them into divisions based on Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, Levi's sons.

7The sons of Gershon were Ladan and Shimei.

7The descendants of Gershon?? were Ladan and Shimei.

8The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, and Zetham, and Joel, three.

8The three descendants of Ladan included Jehiel (their chief), Zetham, and Joel.

9The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers’ houses of Ladan.

9The three descendants of Shimei included Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran. These were the heads of families of Ladan.

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

10The descendants of Shimei included Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. These four were sons of Shimei.

11Jahath 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.

11Jahath served as chief and Zizah was second in rank, but since Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, they were enrolled as a single family unit.

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

12The four descendants of Kohath included Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

13The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart to dedicate the most holy things, that he and his sons forever should make offerings before the LORD and minister to him and pronounce blessings in his name forever.

13The descendants of Amram included Aaron and Moses. Aaron had been set apart to consecrate the most holy things, with the intent that he and his sons should present offerings in the LORD's presence forever, ministering to him and pronouncing blessings in his name forever.

14But the sons of Moses the man of God were named among the tribe of Levi.

14Meanwhile, as for Moses the man of God, his sons were considered among the tribe of Levi.

15The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.

15The descendants of Moses included Gershom and Eliezer.

16The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief.

16The descendants of Gershom included Shebuel as their chief.

17The sons of Eliezer: Rehabiah the chief. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.

17The descendants of Eliezer included Rehabiah as their chief. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah had many descendants.

18The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief.

18The descendants of Izhar included Shelomith their chief.

19The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.

19The descendants of Hebron included Jeriah their chief, Amariah their second in rank, Jahaziel their third, and Jekameam their fourth.

20The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief and Isshiah the second.

20The descendants of Uzziel included Micah their chief and Isshiah their second in rank.

21The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.

21The descendants of Merari included Mahli and Mushi. The descendants of Mahli included Eleazar and Kish,

22Eleazar died having no sons, but only daughters; their kinsmen, the sons of Kish, married them.

22but Eleazar died having no sons, but only daughters. Their relatives (the descendants of Kish) married them.

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

23The three descendants of Mushi included Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth.

24These were the sons of Levi by their fathers’ houses, the heads of fathers’ houses as they were listed according to the number of the names of the individuals from twenty years old and upward who were to do the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

24These were the descendants of Levi according to their ancestral households, with family heads documented according to the names of persons 20 years and older who were appointed to perform work in service to the Temple of the LORD.

25For David said, “The LORD, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever.

25For David had said "The LORD God of Israel has granted rest to his people, and he has taken Israel as his eternal residence.

26And so the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the things for its service.”

26Therefore the descendants of Levi are no longer to carry the Tent or its service implements."

27For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward.

27Since, according to David's final instructions, the list above contains the total number of descendants of Levi from the age of 20 years and upward,

28For 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.

28David issued these orders: "Instead, they are to assist by lending a hand to the descendants of Aaron regarding service to the Temple of the LORD relating to the courts, the chambers, purification of everything pertaining to holiness, and to anything else pertaining to service on behalf of the Temple of God,

29Their duty was also to assist with the showbread, the 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.

29including assisting with the rows of showbread, selecting flour for the grain offerings, the unleavened bread, baked offerings, and oil-based offerings, no matter what the quantity or sizes.

30And they were to stand every morning, thanking and praising the LORD, and likewise at evening,

30They are to take their stand morning by morning, thanking and praising the LORD right through until the evening,

31and whenever burnt offerings were offered to the LORD on Sabbaths, new moons, and feast days, according to the number required of them, regularly before the LORD.

31whenever burnt offerings are presented to the LORD, whether on Sabbaths, New Moons, or scheduled festivals, regularly in the LORD's presence in accordance with the number required to conduct their service.

32Thus they were to keep charge of the tent of meeting and the sanctuary, and to attend the sons of Aaron, their brothers, for the service of the house of the LORD.

32By doing this, they will fulfill their obligation as trustees over the Tent of Assembly and the Sanctuary, attending to the needs of their relatives, who are descendants of Aaron, in keeping with their service on behalf of the Temple of the LORD."

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

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