1 Chronicles 23:23
New International Version
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth—three in all.

New Living Translation
Three of the descendants of Mushi were Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth.

English Standard Version
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

Berean Standard Bible
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth—three in all.

Berean Literal Bible
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth—three.

King James Bible
The sons of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

New King James Version
The sons of Mushi were Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth—three in all.

New American Standard Bible
The sons of Mushi were three: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth.

NASB 1995
The sons of Mushi were three: Mahli, Eder and Jeremoth.

NASB 1977
The sons of Mushi were three: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth.

Legacy Standard Bible
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

Amplified Bible
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth—three in all.

Berean Annotated Bible
The sons of Mushi (yielding): Mahli (sick), Eder (a flock), and Jeremoth (Jerimoth) three in all.

Christian Standard Bible
Mushi’s sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth—three.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Mushi’s sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth—three.

American Standard Version
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

Contemporary English Version
Mushi the second son of Merari, was the father of Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth.

English Revised Version
The sons of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Mushi had three sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth.

Good News Translation
Merari's second son, Mushi, had three sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth.

International Standard Version
The three descendants of Mushi included Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth.

NET Bible
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth--three in all.

New Heart English Bible
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

Webster's Bible Translation
The sons of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth—three in all.

World English Bible
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth—three.

Berean Literal Bible
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth—three.

Young's Literal Translation
Sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth, three.

Smith's Literal Translation
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The sons of Musi: Moholi, and Eder, and Jerimoth, three.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

New American Bible
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth; three in all.

New Revised Standard Version
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The sons of Mushi: Makhli and Adar and Yarmun the third.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The sons of Musi; Mooli, and Eder, and Jarimoth, three.

Additional Translations ...



Context
The Merarites
22Eleazar died without having any sons; he had only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them. 23The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth— three in all.

Cross References
The sons of Mushi:

1 Chronicles 24:30
And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites, according to their families.

Numbers 3:33
From Merari came the clans of the Mahlites and Mushites; these were the Merarite clans.

Exodus 6:19
The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites according to their records.
Mahli,

1 Chronicles 24:26
The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The son of Jaaziah: Beno.

Numbers 3:20
And the sons of Merari by their clans were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites, according to their families.
Eder,

1 Chronicles 8:15
Zebadiah, Arad, Eder,

Joshua 15:21
These were the southernmost cities of the tribe of Judah in the Negev toward the border of Edom: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,

Genesis 35:21
Israel again set out and pitched his tent beyond the Tower of Eder.
and Jeremoth—

Ezra 10:26
From the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.

Ezra 10:27
From the descendants of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.

Ezra 10:29
From the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.
three in all.

1 Chronicles 6:19
The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites listed according to their fathers:

Numbers 26:58
These were the families of the Levites: The Libnite clan, the Hebronite clan, the Mahlite clan, the Mushite clan, and the Korahite clan. Now Kohath was the father of Amram,
Numbers 3:12-13
“Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel in place of every firstborn Israelite from the womb. The Levites belong to Me, / for all the firstborn are Mine. On the day I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They are Mine; I am the LORD.”

Numbers 8:14-19
In this way you shall separate the Levites from the rest of the Israelites, and the Levites will belong to Me. / After you have cleansed them and presented them as a wave offering, they may come to serve at the Tent of Meeting. / For the Levites have been wholly given to Me from among the sons of Israel. I have taken them for Myself in place of all who come first from the womb, the firstborn of all the sons of Israel. …

Numbers 18:6
Behold, I Myself have selected your fellow Levites from the Israelites as a gift to you, dedicated to the LORD to perform the service for the Tent of Meeting.


Treasury of Scripture

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

Jeremoth

1 Chronicles 24:30
The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after the house of their fathers.

Jerimoth

Jump to Previous
Eder Jeremoth Jer'emoth Jerimoth Mahli Mushi Three
Jump to Next
Eder Jeremoth Jer'emoth Jerimoth Mahli Mushi Three
1 Chronicles 23
1. David in his old age makes Solomon king
2. The number and distribution of the Levites
7. The families of the Gershonites
12. The sons of Kohath
21. The sons of Merari
24. The office of the Levites












The sons of Mushi:

Mushi belonged to the Merarite branch of Levi. His household shared in the Levites’ sacred responsibility to support the tabernacle and, in David’s day, the coming temple service.

1Ch 24:30 And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth.…
Num 3:33 From Merari came the clans of the Mahlites and Mushites;…
Exo 6:19 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi.…

Mahli,

Mahli, whose name means “sick” or “weak,” headed one of Mushi’s family lines. The repeated preservation of Levitical names guarded the ordered inheritance of service that God had assigned to the tribe of Levi.

1Ch 24:26 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The son of Jaaziah:…
Num 3:20 And the sons of Merari by their clans were Mahli and Mushi.…

Eder,

Eder’s inclusion—his name means “flock”—shows that every household within the Merarite clan was counted for its appointed work. The Levites served Israel by maintaining the worship God had established and by assisting the priests descended from Aaron.

1Ch 8:15 Zebadiah, Arad, Eder,
Jos 15:21 These were the southernmost cities of Judah in the Negev…
Gen 35:21 Israel again set out and pitched his tent…

and Jeremoth—

Jeremoth, whose name means “heights” or “elevations,” completed the recorded sons of Mushi. Their family would have served under the supervision of the Merarite leaders in the practical duties connected with the house of God.

Ezr 10:26 From the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah…
Ezr 10:27 From the descendants of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib…
Ezr 10:29 From the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch…

three in all.

The careful enumeration reflects David’s preparation for temple worship according to the divisions of the Levites. God’s service was not left to human preference but ordered through the families He had set apart.

1Ch 6:19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans…
Num 26:58 These were the families of the Levites: The Libnite clan…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Mushi
Mushi is one of the sons of Merari, who was one of the three sons of Levi. The Levites were set apart for the service of the tabernacle and later the temple. Mushi's descendants were part of the Levitical order responsible for various duties in the temple.

2. Mahli
Mahli is one of the sons of Mushi. His name is mentioned in the genealogies of the Levites, indicating his role in the priestly lineage and duties.

3. Eder
Eder is another son of Mushi. His inclusion in the genealogical record underscores the importance of family lineage in the Levitical service.

4. Jeremoth
Jeremoth is the third son of Mushi. Like his brothers, he is part of the Levitical family, which had specific roles in the worship and service of God.

5. Levitical Service
The Levites, including the descendants of Mushi, were responsible for the care and maintenance of the tabernacle and later the temple. They played a crucial role in the religious life of Israel.
Teaching Points
Importance of Genealogy in Scripture
Genealogies in the Bible, such as the one in 1 Chronicles 23:23, highlight the importance of family lineage and heritage in God's plan. They remind us that God values each individual and their role in His divine purpose.

Faithfulness in Service
The Levites, including the descendants of Mushi, were dedicated to serving God in the temple. This teaches us the importance of faithfulness and dedication in our own service to God, regardless of how visible or prominent our role may be.

God's Order and Structure
The detailed genealogies and assigned duties reflect God's order and structure in worship. This encourages us to seek order and discipline in our spiritual lives, ensuring that we are aligned with God's purposes.

Legacy of Faith
The mention of Mushi's sons serves as a reminder of the legacy of faith we leave behind. It challenges us to consider how we are passing on our faith to the next generation.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 23:23?

2. How does 1 Chronicles 23:23 reflect God's order in Levitical duties?

3. What can we learn about family roles from 1 Chronicles 23:23?

4. How does 1 Chronicles 23:23 connect with other Levitical instructions in the Bible?

5. How can we apply the principles of service in 1 Chronicles 23:23 today?

6. What does 1 Chronicles 23:23 teach us about faithfulness in assigned responsibilities?

7. What is the significance of the family lineage mentioned in 1 Chronicles 23:23?

8. How does 1 Chronicles 23:23 contribute to understanding the Levitical duties?

9. Why is the genealogy in 1 Chronicles 23:23 important for biblical history?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Chronicles 23?


What Does 1 Chronicles 23:23 Mean
The sons of Mushi

1 Chronicles 23 sits in a section where David organizes the Levites for temple service (compare 1 Chron 23:2–6). Verse 21 notes that Merari’s line produced two sons, Mahli and Mushi. Mushi’s branch is singled out here, reminding us that God records every family and task (Numbers 3:20; 1 Chron 24:26–30). The phrase “The sons of Mushi” immediately links this verse to the wider Levitical genealogy, anchoring the trio that follows in a divinely ordered lineage.


Mahli

Mahli appears earlier as Mushi’s brother (1 Chron 23:21) and again as Mushi’s first-listed son here. Lists in Scripture often place the most senior or significant person first (Genesis 10:1; Matthew 10:2). Mahli’s family later receives specific gatekeeping and musical duties (1 Chron 24:30; 1 Chron 6:44), showing that God turns mere names in a record into participants in worship.


Eder

Eder comes second. Though Scripture gives no narrative about him, his inclusion displays God’s perfect knowledge of every Levite assigned to ministry (Exodus 28:1; 1 Chron 15:17). Even without a storyline, Eder’s name stands as proof that faithful service can be quiet yet essential.


Jeremoth

Jeremoth (rendered Jerimoth in 1 Chron 24:30) rounds out Mushi’s line. Other men named Jeremoth appear later (e.g., 2 Chron 31:13), but the Chronicler distinguishes this Jeremoth by tying him to Mushi. The repetition across lists underlines continuity in temple service from David’s day forward (1 Chron 25:22).


Three in all

The closing count—“three in all”—confirms the completeness of Mushi’s immediate descendants. In genealogies, totals matter: they guarantee that every duty roster, tithe portion, and inheritance line is accurate (Numbers 4:48–49; Ezra 2:62). The brief tally underscores God’s orderliness and fairness: not one servant is overlooked, and not one extra is invented.


summary

1 Chronicles 23:23 is more than a footnote. By naming Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth and summing them as “three in all,” the verse shows God’s meticulous care for every Levitical family. Each name signals a real person with real responsibilities in worship, assuring us that the Lord both assigns and remembers faithful service, however small it may seem.

(23) The sons of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.—These, with the sons of Kish. make only four Merarite houses, whereas six are required to make up a total of twenty-four Levitical houses. But 1Chronicles 24:26-27 shows that the chronicler’s registers named a third son of Merari, viz., Jaaziah, whose descendents constituted the three houses of Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri, in the time of David. Adding these, we get seven clans, one too many for our purpose.

Perhaps the Mahli of 1Chronicles 23:23 is a mistaken repetition from 1Chronicles 23:21, due to some ancient scribe. The word “three” at the end of the verse would be added after the mistake had become fixed. It is wanting in 1Chronicles 24:30, which otherwise repeats 1Chronicles 23:23. Excluding this second Mahli as spurious, we get six clans of Merarites; and thus, altogether, twenty-four classes of Levitical overseers of the work of the sanctuary (...

Verse 23. - The sons of Mushi (comp. 1 Chronicles 24:30).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The sons
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Mushi:
מוּשִׁ֗י (mū·šî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4187: Mushi -- 'sensitive', a Levite

Mahli,
מַחְלִ֥י (maḥ·lî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4249: Mahli -- a Levite, also a son of Mushi

Eder,
וְעֵ֛דֶר (wə·‘ê·ḏer)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5740: A Levite

and Jeremoth—
וִירֵמ֖וֹת (wî·rê·mō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3406: Jeremoth -- the name of a number of Israelites

three [in all].
שְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃ (šə·lō·šāh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice


Additonal Resources
1 Chronicles 23:23 Blue Letter Bible
1 Chronicles 23:23 Bible Gateway
1 Chronicles 23:23 Bible.com

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1 Chronicles 23:23 Study Bible
1 Chronicles 23:23 Biblia Paralela
1 Chronicles 23:23 Chinese Bible
1 Chronicles 23:23 French Bible
1 Chronicles 23:23 Catholic Bible

OT History: 1 Chronicles 23:23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli and Eder (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)

1 Chronicles 23:22
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