Study Desk

^(C1)Now when David ^(F1)reached old age, ^(C2)he made his son Solomon king over Israel.

And he gathered together all the leaders of Israel with the priests and the Levites.

^(C1)Now the Levites were counted from thirty years old and upward, and ^(C2)their number by ^(F1)head count of men was thirty-eight thousand.

Of these, twenty-four thousand were ^(C1)to oversee the work of the house of the LORD; and six thousand were ^(C2)officers and judges,

and four thousand were gatekeepers, and ^(C1)four thousand were praising the LORD with the instruments which ^(F1)David made for giving praise.

David divided them into divisions ^(C1)according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Of the Gershonites there were ^(F1)Ladan and Shimei.

The sons of Ladan were Jehiel the first, and Zetham and Joel, three.

The sons of Shimei were Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers' households of Ladan.

The sons of Shimei were Jahath, ^(F1)Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.

Jahath was the first and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they became a father's household, one group for duty.

The sons of Kohath were four in number: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

^(C1)The sons of Amram were Aaron and Moses. And ^(C2)Aaron was set apart to sanctify him as most holy, he and his sons forever, ^(C3)to burn incense before the LORD, to serve Him and bless in His name forever.

But as for ^(C1)Moses, the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.

The sons of Moses were Gershom and Eliezer.

The ^(F1)son of Gershom was ^(F2)Shebuel the chief.

The ^(F1)son of Eliezer was Rehabiah the chief; and Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.

The ^(F1)son of Izhar was ^(F2)Shelomith the chief.

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

The sons of Uzziel were Micah the first and Isshiah the second.

The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli were Eleazar and Kish.

Eleazar died and had no sons, but only daughters; so their relatives, the sons of Kish, took them as wives.

The sons of Mushi were three: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth.

^(C1)These were the sons of Levi according to their fathers' households, the heads of the fathers' households of those among them who were ^(F1)counted, in the number of names by their ^(F2)head count, doing the work for the service of the house of the LORD, ^(C2)from twenty years old and upward.

For David said, "The LORD God of Israel ^(C1)has given rest to His people, and He dwells in Jerusalem forever.

"Also, ^(C1)the Levites will no longer need to carry the tabernacle and all its utensils for its service."

For by the last words of David, the sons of Levi were counted from twenty years old and upward.

For their office is ^(F1)to assist the sons of Aaron with the service of the house of the LORD, in the courtyards and in the chambers, and in the purification of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God,

^(C1)and with the showbread, and ^(C2)the fine flour for a grain offering, and unleavened wafers, or ^(C3)what is baked in the pan or ^(C4)what is well-mixed, and ^(C5)all measures of volume and size.

They are to stand every morning to thank and to praise the LORD, and likewise at evening,

and to offer all burnt offerings to the LORD, ^(C1)on the Sabbaths, the new moons and ^(C2)the appointed festivals, in the number determined by the ordinance concerning them, continually before the LORD.

So ^(C1)they are to perform the ^(F1)duties of the tent of meeting, the holy place, and ^(C2)of assisting the sons of Aaron their relatives, for the service of the house of the LORD.

Now the divisions of the ^(F1)descendants of Aaron were these: ^(C1)the sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

^(C1)But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no ^(F1)sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.

David, with ^(C1)Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their offices ^(F1)for their ministry.

Since more chief men were found from the ^(F1)descendants of Eleazar than the ^(F1)descendants of Ithamar, they divided them this way: there were sixteen heads of fathers' households of the ^(F1)descendants of Eleazar, and eight of the ^(F1)descendants of Ithamar according to their fathers' households.

^(C1)So they were divided by lot, the one as the other; for they were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God, both from the ^(F1)descendants of Eleazar and the ^(F1)descendants of Ithamar.

Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel the scribe, from the Levites, recorded them in the presence of the king, the leaders, Zadok the priest, ^(C1)Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers' households of the priests and the Levites; one father's household taken for Eleazar and one taken for Ithamar.

Now the first lot came out for Jehoiarib, the second for Jedaiah,

the third for Harim, the fourth for Seorim,

the fifth for Malchijah, the sixth for Mijamin,

the seventh for Hakkoz, the eighth for ^(C1)Abijah,

the ninth for Jeshua, the tenth for Shecaniah,

the eleventh for Eliashib, the twelfth for Jakim,

the thirteenth for Huppah, the fourteenth for Jeshebeab,

the fifteenth for Bilgah, the sixteenth for Immer,

the seventeenth for Hezir, the eighteenth for Happizzez,

the nineteenth for Pethahiah, the twentieth for Jehezkel,

the twenty-first for Jachin, the twenty-second for Gamul,

the twenty-third for Delaiah, and the twenty-fourth for Maaziah.

^(C1)These were their offices for their ministry when they entered the house of the LORD according to the ordinance given to them through their father Aaron, just as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.

Now for the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, ^(F1)Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.

Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah, the first.

Of the Izharites, ^(F1)Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.

The sons ^(C1)of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.

Of the sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir.

The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.

The sons of Merari, Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah, Beno.

The sons of Merari: by Jaaziah were Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.

By Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.

By Kish: the sons of Kish, Jerahmeel.

The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites according to their fathers' households.

^(C1)These also cast lots just as their relatives, the sons of Aaron did in the presence of David the king, ^(C2)Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers' households of the priests and of the Levites—the head of fathers' households as well as those of his younger brother.

Moreover, David and the commanders of the army set apart for the service some of the sons of ^(C1)Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, who were to ^(C2)prophesy with lyres, ^(C3)harps, and cymbals; and the number of ^(F1)those who performed this service was:

Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and ^(F1)Asharelah; the sons of Asaph were ^(F2)under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied ^(F3)under the direction of the king.

^(C1)Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, ^(F1)Zeri, Jeshaiah, ^(F2)Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six in all, ^(F3)under the direction of their father Jeduthun with the harp, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising the LORD.

Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, ^(F1)Uzziel, ^(F2)Shebuel and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.

All these were the sons of Heman ^(C1)the king's seer to ^(F1)exalt him according to the words of God, for God gave fourteen sons and three daughters to Heman.

All of these were under the ^(F1)direction of their father to sing in the house of the LORD, ^(C1)with cymbals, harps, and lyres, for the service of the house of God. ^(C2)Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were ^(F1)under the direction of the king.

Their number who were trained in singing to the LORD, with their relatives, all who were skillful, was ^(C1)288.

^(C1)They cast lots for their duties, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the pupil.

Now the first lot came out for Asaph to Joseph, the second for Gedaliah, he with his relatives and sons were twelve;

the third to Zaccur, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

the fourth to ^(F1)Izri, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

the seventh to ^(F1)Jesharelah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

for the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

for the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

for the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

for the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

for the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

for the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

for the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

for the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

for the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

for the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

for the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his sons and his relatives, twelve.

For the divisions of the gatekeepers there were of the Korahites, ^(F1)Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of ^(F2)Asaph.

Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,

Elam the fifth, Johanan the sixth, and Eliehoenai the seventh.

^(C1)Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth,

Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, and Peullethai the eighth; God had indeed blessed him.

Also to his son Shemaiah sons were born who ruled over the house of their father, for they were valiant mighty men.

The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers, Elihu and Semachiah, were valiant men.

All these were of the sons of Obed-edom; they and their sons and relatives were able men with strength for the service, sixty-two from Obed-edom.

Meshelemiah had sons and relatives, eighteen valiant men.

Also ^(C1)Hosah, one of the sons of Merari had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father made him first),

Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, and Zechariah the fourth; the sons and relatives of Hosah were thirteen in all.

To these divisions of the gatekeepers, to the chief men, were given duties like their relatives, to serve in the house of the LORD.

^(C1)They cast lots, the small and the great alike, according to their fathers' households, for every gate.

The lot to the east fell to ^(F1)Shelemiah. Then they cast lots for his son Zechariah, a counselor with insight, and his lot came out to the north.

For Obed-edom it fell to the south, and to his sons went the storehouse.

For Shuppim and Hosah it was to the west, by the gate of Shallecheth, on the ascending highway. Guard corresponded to guard.

On the east there were six Levites, on the north four daily, on the south four daily, and at the storehouse two by two.

At the ^(F1)(C1)annex on the west there were four at the highway and two at the annex.

These were the divisions of the gatekeepers of the sons of Korah and of the sons of Merari.

^(F1)The Levites, their relatives, were in ^(C1)charge of the treasures of the house of God and of the treasures of the dedicated gifts.

The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, namely, the Jehielites, were the heads of the fathers' households, belonging to Ladan the Gershonite.

The sons of Jehieli, Zetham, and his brother Joel, were in charge of the treasures of the house of the LORD.

As for the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites,

Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was officer over the treasures.

His relatives by Eliezer were Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zichri his son, and Shelomoth his son.

This Shelomoth and his relatives were in charge of all the treasures of the dedicated gifts ^(C1)which King David and the heads of the fathers' households, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and the commanders of the army, had dedicated.

They dedicated ^(F1)part of the spoils won in battles to repair the house of the LORD.

And all that Samuel the seer had dedicated, and Saul the son of Kish, Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, everyone who had dedicated anything, all of this was ^(F1)under the care of ^(F2)Shelomoth and his relatives.

As for the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons ^(C1)were assigned to outside duties for Israel, as ^(C2)officers and judges.

As for the Hebronites, ^(C1)Hashabiah and his relatives, 1,700 capable men, ^(F1)were responsible for the affairs of Israel ^(F2)west of the Jordan, for all the work of the LORD and the service of the king.

As for the Hebronites, ^(C1)Jerijah the chief ^(F1)(these Hebronites were sought out according to their genealogies and fathers' households, in the fortieth year of David's reign, and men of outstanding capability were found among them at ^(C2)Jazer of Gilead)

and his relatives, capable men, numbered 2,700, heads of fathers' households. And King David appointed them as overseers of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites ^(C1)concerning ^(F1)all the affairs of God and of the king.