1 Chronicles, 23

1. So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

1. When David was very old, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.

2. And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.

2. He then gathered all the Israelite leaders together, with the priests and Levites.

3. Now 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.

3. A census was taken of those Levites thirty years old or older. The total was thirty-eight thousand;

4. Of which, twenty and four thousand [were] to set forward the work of the house of the LORD; and six thousand [were] officers and judges:

4. twenty-four thousand of these were responsible for the services of the house of Yahweh; six thousand were scribes and judges;

5. Moreover four thousand [were] porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, [said David], to praise [therewith].

5. four thousand were keepers of the gate; four thousand praised Yahweh on the instruments David had made for that purpose.

6. And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, [namely], Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

6. Then David divided the Levites into three groups, according to their clans: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

7. Of the Gershonites [were], Laadan, and Shimei.

7. For the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.

8. The sons of Laadan; the chief [was] Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.

8. Sons of Ladan: Jehiel first, Zetham, Joel; three in all.

9. The sons of Shimei; Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These [were] the chief of the fathers of Laadan.

9. Sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, Haran; three in all. These are the heads of families of Ladan.

10. And the sons of Shimei [were], Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four [were] the sons of Shimei.

10. Sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zirah, Jeush, Beriah; these were the sons of Shimei; four in all.

11. And 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.

11. Jahath was the eldest, Zirah the second, then Jeush and Beriah, who had not many children and were counted as one family.

12. The sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.

12. Sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, Uzziel; four in all.

13. The 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.

13. Sons 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.

14. Now [concerning] Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi.

14. As for Moses, the man of God, his sons were included among the Levites.

15. The sons of Moses [were], Gershom, and Eliezer.

15. Sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.

16. Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel [was] the chief.

16. Sons of Gershom: Shebuel, the first:

17. And the sons of Eliezer [were], Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had none other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.

17. Eliezer had sons: Rehabiah, the first. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous.

18. Of the sons of Izhar; Shelomith the chief.

18. Sons of Izhar: Shelomith, the first.

19. Of the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.

19. Sons of Hebron: Jeriah first, Amariah second, Jahaziel third, Jekameam fourth.

20. Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah the first, and Jesiah the second.

20. Sons of Uzziel: Micah first, Isshiah second.

21. The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. The sons of Mahli; Eleazar, and Kish.

21. Sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. Sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.

22. And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters: and their brethren the sons of Kish took them.

22. Eleazar died leaving no sons but only daughters; their cousins, the sons of Kish, married these.

23. The sons of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

23. Sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, Jeremoth; three in all.

24. 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, from the age of twenty years and upward.

24. These 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.

25. For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:

25. For David had said, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, has given peace to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever.

26. And also unto the Levites; they shall no [more] carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof.

26. The Levites are no longer required to carry the Holy Tent or anything used in its service."

27. For by the last words of David the Levites [were] numbered from twenty years old and above:

27. According to the last words of David, the Levites who had been registered were of twenty years and older.

28. Because 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;

28. Their 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.

29. Both 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;

29. They 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.

30. And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even;

30. They have to be present every morning to give glory and praise to Yahweh, and also in the evening,

31. And 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:

31. and 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.

32. 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 their brethren, in the service of the house of the LORD.

32. In 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.