23:1 When David was old and approaching the end of his life,1 he made his son Solomon king over Israel.
23:2 David2 assembled all the leaders of Israel, along with the priests and the Levites. 23:3 The Levites who were 30 years old and up were counted; there were 38,000 men.3 23:4 David said,4 “Of these, 24,000 are to direct the work of the LORD’s temple; 6,000 are to be officials and judges; 23:5 4,000 are to be gatekeepers; and 4,000 are to praise the LORD with the instruments I supplied for worship.”5 23:6 David divided them into groups corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari:
23:7 The Gershonites included Ladan and Shimei.
Jechiel the oldest, Zetham and Joel—three in all.
Shelomoth, Haziel and Haran—three in all.
These were the leaders of the family of Ladan.
Jachath, Zina,6 Jeush and Beriah. These were Shimei’s sons—four in all.7 23:11 Jachath was the oldest and Zizah the second. Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they were considered one family with one responsibility.
Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel—four in all.
Aaron and Moses.
Aaron and his descendents were chosen on a permanent basis to consecrate the most holy items, offer sacrifices before the LORD, serve him, and praise his name.8 23:14 The descendents of Moses, the man of God, were considered Levites.9
Gershom and Eliezer.
23:16 The son10 of Gershom:
Shebuel the oldest.
23:17 The son of Eliezer was11 Rechabiah, the oldest. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rechabiah had many descendents.
23:18 The son12 of Izhar:
Shelomith the oldest.
Jeriah the oldest, Amariah the second, Jachaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
Micah the oldest, and Ishiah the second.
Machli and Mushi.
The sons of Machli:
Eleazar and Kish.
23:22 Eleazar died without having sons; he had only daughters. The sons of Kish, their cousins, married them.13
Machli, Eder and Jeremoth—three in all.
23:24 These were the descendents of Levi according to their families, that is, the leaders of families as counted and individually listed who carried out assigned tasks in the LORD’s temple and were 20 years of age and up.14 23:25 For David said, “The LORD God of Israel has given his people rest, and has permanently settled in Jerusalem. 23:26 So the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the items used in its service.” 23:27 According to David’s final instructions, the Levites 20 years of age and up were counted.15
23:28 Their job was to help Aaron’s descendents in the service of the LORD’s temple. They were to take care of the courtyards, the rooms, ceremonial purification of all holy items, and other jobs related to the service of God’s temple.16 23:29 They also took care of17 the bread that is displayed, the flour for offerings, the unleavened wafers, the round cakes, the mixing and all the measuring.18 23:30 They also stood in a designated place19 every morning and offered thanks and praise to the LORD. They also did this in the evening 23:31 and whenever burnt sacrifices were offered to the LORD on the Sabbath and at new moon festivals and assemblies. A designated number were to serve before the LORD regularly in accordance with regulations.20 23:32 They were in charge of the meeting tent and the holy place, and helped their relatives, the descendents of Aaron, in the service of the LORD’s temple.21