THE FIRST BOOK OF THE
CHRONICLES
1 Chronicles 23 ©
David, shortly before his death, declares that Solomon his son be king, v. 1, etc. And he caused the Levites to be numbered from thirty years old and upward, who were found to be eight and thirty thousand in number, 3. They are divided into several offices, according to their families, 4, etc.
SO when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.
¶And 1he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.
Now the Levites were numbered 2from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number 3by their 4polls,a man by man, was thirty and eight thousand.
Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forwardb the work of the house of the LORD; and six thousand were 5officers and judges:
Moreover four thousand were porters; and 6four thousand 7praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, 8to praise therewith.
And 9David divided them into 10courses among the sons of Levi, namely, 11Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
¶Of the Gershonites were, 12Laadan, and 13Shimei.
14The sons of Laadan; the 15chief was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.
The sons of 16Shimei; Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief 17of the fathers of Laadan.
And the sons of 18Shimei were, Jahath, 19Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.
And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah 20had not many sons; therefore 21they were in one reckoning, according to their father's house.
¶The sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.
Thec sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aarond was separated, 22that he should sanctify 23the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister unto him, and 24to bless in his name for ever.
Now concerning Moses the man of God, 25his sons were named of the tribe of Levi.
Thee sons of Moses were, Gershom, and Eliezer.
Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief.
26And the sons of Eliezer were, Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had none other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.
Of the sons of Izhar; Shelomith the chief.
Of the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah the first, and Jesiah the second.
¶The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. The sons of Mahli; Eleazar, and Kish.
And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters: and their 27brethren the sons of Kish 28took them.
The sons of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.
¶These 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, 29from the age of twenty years and upward.
For David 30said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:
And also 31unto the Levites; 32they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof.
For by the last 33words of David the Levites 34were numbered from twenty years old and above:
Because their office was 35to wait 36on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying 37of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God;
Both 38for the shewbread, and for 39the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and 40for that which is baked in the pan, and for 41that which is fried, and 42for all manner of measure and 43size;
And to stand 44every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even;
And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set 45feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD:
And 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 46their brethren, in the service of the house of the LORD.