1When David was old and neared the end of his days, he made Solomon, his son, king over Israel. 2And he gathered all the leaders of Israel, with the priests and the Levites. 3Now the Levites from the age of thirty years and upward were numbered; and their total number was thirty-eight thousand, 4Twenty-four thousand of which were to oversee the work of the Temple of the LORD; and six thousand were administrators and judges; 5Four thousand were gatekeepers; and four thousand musicians to praise the LORD with the instruments “which I made”, said David, “with which to praise.”

6And David divided the Levites into divisions; led by Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 7Of the Gershonites were Ladan, and Shimei. 8The sons of Ladan: the chief was Jehiel, Zetham, and Joel, three. 9The sons of Shimei: Shelomith, Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers of Ladan. 10And the sons of Shimei were Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah, four. 11And Jahath was the chief, Zizah being second. But Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons; so they were counted as one family with one assignment.

12The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four. 13The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things - he and his sons forever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister unto Him, and to bless worshipers in His name forever. 14As for Moses, the man of God, his sons were included in the tribe of Levi. 15His sons were Gershom, and Eliezer. 16Among the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief. 17Eliezer had just one son, Rehabiah, who was chief; but Rehabiah had very many sons. 18Of the sons of Izhar: Shelomith, was chief. 19Of the sons of Hebron: Jeriah, was first; Amariah, second; Jahaziel, third; and Jekameam, fourth. 20Of the sons of Uzziel: Michah, was first; and Isshiah, second.

21The sons of Merari were Mahli, and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar, and Kish. 22And Eleazar died without any sons, but daughters; and their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them. 23The three sons of Mushi were: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth.

24These were the sons of Levi by their families twenty years old and older that were registered by their names, who performed the service of the Temple of the LORD. 25For David had said, “The LORD God of Israel has given rest to His people, and He will dwell in Jerusalem forever. 26And so the Levites shall no longer need to carry the tabernacle, nor the utensils used for its service.” 27For by the last words of David, the Levites were numbered from twenty years of age and above: 28Because their duty was to assist the sons of Aaron in the service of the Temple of the LORD, in charge of the courtyards, the side chambers, and in purifying all holy things, for the service of the Temple of God; 29The showbread; the fine flour for meal offering; the unleavened cakes; for whatever is baked in the pan, or is fried; and for all the measuring and mixing; 30To stand every morning and evening to thank and praise the LORD; 31And whenever burnt sacrifices were to be presented unto the LORD on the Sabbaths, the new moons, and appointed festivals, the required number of Levites were to serve in the presence of the LORD; 32And so they served in the tent of meeting, and faithfully carried out their duties in the holy place, as directed by the priest, the sons of Aaron, their brethren, in the service of the Temple of the LORD.