1 Chronicles 23:1-13 ▼

1 When David (beloved) was old and full of years, he installed his son Solomon (peace) as king over Israel (he wrestles with God).

2 Then he gathered all the leaders of Israel (he wrestles with God), as well as the priests and Levites.

3 The Levites thirty years of age or older were counted, and the total number of men was 38,000.

4 “Of these,” said David, “24,000 are to oversee the work of the house of the LORD {YHWH}, 6,000 are to be officers and judges,

5 4,000 are to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 are to praise the LORD {YHWH} with the instruments I have made for giving praise.”

6 Then David (beloved) divided the Levites into divisions according to the sons of Levi (joined to): Gershon (exile), Kohath (assembly), and Merari (bitter).

7 The Gershonites: Ladan (Libni) and Shimei (renowned).

8 The sons of Ladan (put in order): Jehiel (Jehieli) the first, Zetham (olive), and Joel (YHWH is God)—three in all.

9 The sons of Shimei (renowned): Shelomoth (peaceful), Haziel (vision of God), and Haran (mountaineer)—three in all. These were the heads of the families of Ladan (put in order).

10 And the sons of Shimei (Shimei): Jahath (He will snatch up), Zina [Zizah], Jeush (He hurries to aid), and Beriah (with a friend). These were the sons of Shimei (renowned)—four in all.

11 Jahath (He will snatch up) was the first and Zizah (abundance) was the second; but Jeush (He hurries to aid) and Beriah (with a friend) did not have many sons, so they were counted as one family and received a single assignment.

12 The sons of Kohath (assembly): Amram (exalted people), Izhar (shining oil), Hebron (association), and Uzziel (my strength is God)—four in all.

13 The sons of Amram (exalted people): Aaron (light bringer) and Moses (drawn out). Aaron and his descendants were set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense before the LORD {YHWH}, to minister before Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name forever.