1 Chronicles 23

Solomon Reigns

1So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel. 2And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.

Divisions of the Levites

3Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand. 4Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the LORD; and six thousand were officers and judges: 5Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith. 6And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

The Gershonites

(Numbers 3:21-26; Numbers 4:21-28; Numbers 4:38-41)

7Of the Gershonites were, Laadan, and Shimei. 8The sons of Laadan; the chief was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three. 9The sons of Shimei; Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief of the fathers of Laadan. 10And the sons of Shimei were, Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei. 11And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons; therefore they were in one reckoning, according to their father's house.

The Kohathites

(Numbers 3:27-32; Numbers 4:1-20; Numbers 4:34-37)

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 for ever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name for ever. 14Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi. 15The sons of Moses were, Gershom, and Eliezer. 16Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief. 17And the sons of Eliezer were, Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had none other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many. 18Of the sons of Izhar; Shelomith the chief. 19Of the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. 20Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah the first, and Jesiah the second.

The Merarites

(Numbers 3:33-37; Numbers 4:29-33; Numbers 4:42-49)

21The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. The sons of Mahli; Eleazar, and Kish. 22And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters: and their brethren the sons of Kish took them. 23The sons of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

Levite Duties Revised

24These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and upward. 25For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever: 26And also unto the Levites; they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof. 27For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above: 28Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God; 29Both for the shewbread, and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size; 30And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even; 31And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD: 32And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the house of the LORD.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Divisions of the Levites

1 Now David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his son king over Israel. 2 He gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.

3 The Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty-eight thousand. 4 David said, “Of these, twenty-four thousand were to oversee the work of the house of Yahweh; six thousand were officers and judges; 5 four thousand were doorkeepers; and four thousand praised Yahweh with the instruments which I made, for giving praise.” 6 David divided them into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

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

7 Of the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei. 8 The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, and Zetham, and Joel, three. 9 The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers’ households of Ladan. 10 The sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei. 11 Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah didn’t have many sons; therefore they became a fathers’ house in one reckoning.

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

12 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four. 13 The 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 Yahweh, to minister to him, and to bless in his name, forever. 14 But as for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi. 15 The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer. 16 The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief. 17 The sons of Eliezer were: Rehabiah the chief; and Eliezer had no other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many. 18 The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief. 19 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. 20 The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief, and Isshiah the second.

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

21 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. 22 Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters only: and their brothers the sons of Kish took them as wives. 23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

Levite Duties Revised

24 These were the sons of Levi after their fathers’ houses, even the heads of the fathers’ houses of those who were counted individually, in the number of names by their polls, who did the work for the service of the house of Yahweh, from twenty years old and upward. 25 For David said, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people; and he dwells in Jerusalem forever. 26 Also the Levites will no longer need to carry the tabernacle and all its vessels for its service.” 27 For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered, from twenty years old and upward. 28 For their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of Yahweh, in the courts, and in the rooms, and in the purifying of all holy things, even the work of the service of the house of God; 29 for the show bread also, and for the fine flour for a meal offering, whether of unleavened wafers, or of that which is baked in the pan, or of that which is soaked, and for all kinds of measure and size; 30 and to stand every morning to thank and praise Yahweh, and likewise in the evening; 31 and to offer all burnt offerings to Yahweh, on the Sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, in number according to the ordinance concerning them, continually before Yahweh; 32 and that they should keep the duty of the Tent of Meeting, and the duty of the holy place, and the duty of the sons of Aaron their brothers, for the service of the house of Yahweh.

The Divisions of the Levites

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

3 The 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, 6,000 are to be officers and judges, 5 4,000 are to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 are to praise the LORD with the instruments I have made for giving praise.”

6 Then David divided the Levites into divisions according to the sons of Levi:

Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.

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

7 The Gershonites: Ladan b and Shimei.

8 The sons of Ladan: Jehiel c the first, Zetham, and Joel—three in all.

9 The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran—three in all. These were the heads of the families of Ladan.

10 And the sons of Shimei: d Jahath, Zina, e Jeush, and Beriah. These were the sons of Shimei—four in all. 11 Jahath was the first and Zizah was the second; but Jeush and Beriah 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)

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

13 The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister before Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name forever. 14 As for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.

15 The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.

16 The descendants of Gershom: Shebuel was the first.

17 The descendants of Eliezer: Rehabiah was the first. Eliezer did not have any other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous.

18 The sons of Izhar: Shelomith was the first.

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

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

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

21 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi.

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

23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth f—three in all.

Levite Duties Revised

24 These were the descendants of Levi 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.

25 For David had said, “The LORD, the God of Israel, has given rest to His people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem forever. 26 So now the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles for its service.”

27 For according to the final instructions of David, the Levites twenty years of age or older were counted, 28 but their duty was to assist the descendants of Aaron with the service of the house of the LORD, 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, 29 as 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.

30 They were also to stand every morning to give thanks and praise to the LORD, and likewise in the evening. 31 Whenever burnt offerings were presented to the LORD on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts, they were to serve regularly before the LORD in the numbers prescribed for them. 32 So 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, the service of the house of the LORD.

 

Footnotes:

4 a Hebrew does not include said David,
7 b Ladan  is a variant of Libni ; also in verses 8 and 9; see 1 Chronicles 6:17.
8 c Jehiel  is a variant of Jehieli ; see 1 Chronicles 26:21.
10 d Shimei  was possibly a son or grandson of the Shimei  listed in verse 9.
10 e Most Hebrew manuscripts; one Hebrew manuscript, LXX, and Vulgate (see also verse 11) Zizah
23 f Jeremoth  is a variant of Jerimoth ; see 1 Chronicles 24:30.

Solomon Reigns

1And David is old, and satisfied with days, and causeth his son Solomon to reign over Israel, 2and gathereth all the heads of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites;

Divisions of the Levites

3and the Levites are numbered from a son of thirty years and upward, and their number, by their polls, is of mighty men thirty and eight thousand. 4Of these to preside over the work of the house of Jehovah are twenty and four thousand, and officers and judges six thousand, 5and four thousand gatekeepers, and four thousand giving praise to Jehovah, 'with instruments that I made for praising,' saith David. 6And David distributeth them into courses: Of the sons of Levi: of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

The Gershonites

(Numbers 3:21-26; Numbers 4:21-28; Numbers 4:38-41)

7Of the Gershonite: Laadan and Shimei. 8Sons of Laadan: the head is Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three. 9Sons of Shimei are Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three; these are heads of the fathers of Laadan. 10And sons of Shimei are Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah; these are sons of Shimei, four. 11And Jahath is the head, and Zizah the second, and Jeush and Beriah have not multiplied sons, and they become the house of a father by one numbering.

The Kohathites

(Numbers 3:27-32; Numbers 4:1-20; Numbers 4:34-37)

12Sons of Kohath are Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four. 13Sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron is separated for his sanctifying the holy of holies, he and his sons -- unto the age, to make perfume before Jehovah, to serve Him, and to bless in His name -- unto the age. 14As to Moses, the man of God, his sons are called after the tribe of Levi. 15Sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer. 16Sons of Gershom: Shebuel the head. 17And sons of Eliezer are Rehabiah the head, and Eliezer had no other sons, and the sons of Rehabiah have multiplied exceedingly. 18Sons of Izhar: Shelomith the head. 19Sons of Hebron: Jeriah the head, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. 20Sons of Uzziel: Micah the head, and Ishshiah, the second.

The Merarites

(Numbers 3:33-37; Numbers 4:29-33; Numbers 4:42-49)

21Sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi; sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. 22And Eleazar dieth, and he had no sons, but daughters, and sons of Kish their brethren take them. 23Sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth, three.

Levite Duties Revised

24These are sons of Levi, by the house of their fathers, heads of the fathers, by their appointments, in the number of names, by their polls, doing the work for the service of the house of Jehovah, from a son of twenty years and upward, 25for David said, 'Jehovah, God of Israel, hath given rest to His people, and He doth tabernacle in Jerusalem unto the age;' 26and also of the Levites, 'None are to bear the tabernacle and all its vessels for its service;' 27for by the last words of David they took the number of the sons of Levi from a son of twenty years and upward, 28for their station is at the side of the sons of Aaron, for the service of the house of Jehovah, over the courts, and over the chambers, and over the cleansing of every holy thing, and the work of the service of the house of God, 29and for the bread of the arrangement, and for fine flour for present, and for the thin unleavened cakes, and for the work of the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all liquid measure and solid measure; 30and to stand, morning by morning, to give thanks, and to give praise to Jehovah, and so at evening; 31and for all the burnt-offerings -- burnt-offerings to Jehovah for sabbaths, for new moons, and for appointed seasons, by number, according to the ordinance upon them continually, before Jehovah. 32And they have kept the charge of the tent of meeting, and the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the sons of Aaron, their brethren, for the service of the house of Jehovah.

buy a coffee

This page is made possible by the generosity of coffee club members. Buy a coffee to show your support.

Share your love
Jean Paul Joseph
Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. Learn more about the F.O.G.

Add your first comment to this post