The work of the Levites
1When David was very old, he made his son Solomon king over Israel. 2He then gathered all the Israelite leaders together, with the priests and Levites.
3A census was taken of those Levites thirty years old or older. The total was thirty-eight thousand; 4twenty-four thousand of these were responsible for the services of the house of Yahweh; six thousand were scribes and judges; 5four thousand were keepers of the gate; four thousand praised Yahweh on the instruments David had made for that purpose.
6Then David divided the Levites into three groups, according to their clans: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
7For the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei. 8Sons of Ladan: Jehiel first, Zetham, Joel; three in all. 9Sons of Shimei: She lomoth, Haziel, Haran; three in all. These are the heads of families of Ladan. 10Sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zirah, Jeush, Beriah; these were the sons of Shimei; four in all. 11Jahath was the eldest, Zirah the second, then Jeush and Beriah, who had not many children and were counted as one family.
12Sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, Uzziel; four in all. 13Sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were set apart to be in charge of the sacred objects forever, to burn incense in the presence of Yahweh, to serve him and to bless the people in his name forever. 14As for Moses, the man of God, his sons were included among the Levites. 15Sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer. 16Sons of Gershom: Shebuel, the first: 17Eliezer had sons: Rehabiah, the first. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous.
18Sons of Izhar: Shelomith, the first. 19Sons of Hebron: Jeriah first, Amariah second, Jahaziel third, Jekameam fourth. 20Sons of Uzziel: Micah first, Isshiah second.
21Sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. Sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. 22Eleazar died leaving no sons but only daughters; their cousins, the sons of Kish, married these. 23Sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, Jeremoth; three in all.
24These were the sons of Levi by their families, the heads of families, and those registered by name, individually; whoever was twenty years old or older had his duty in the service of the Temple of Yahweh. 25For David had said, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, has given peace to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever. 26The Levites are no longer required to carry the Holy Tent or anything used in its service.”
27According to the last words of David, the Levites who had been registered were of twenty years and older. 28Their duty is to assist the sons of Aaron with the service of the Temple of Yahweh, in the courts and chambers, to purify everything that is sacred; their duty is to serve the Temple of God. 29They are also responsible for the loaves set out in rows, and for the flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the cakes baked on the griddle or mixed, and they are to weigh and measure the Temple offerings. 30They have to be present every morning to give glory and praise to Yahweh, and also in the evening, 31and at every burnt offering to Yahweh on the sabbath, New Moon or solemn feast, in such numbers as are prescribed. They must always be present before Yahweh. 32In serving the Temple of Yahweh they observe the ritual of the Tent of Meeting, the ritual of the sanctuary and the ritual of their brethren, the sons of Aaron.
