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

When David was an old man, he made his son Solomon king of Israel.

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

He gathered together all the leaders of Israel, the religious leaders, and the Levites.

3 N ow 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.

The Levites were numbered from thirty years old and older. Their number was 38, 000.

4 O f which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the Lord; and six thousand were officers and judges:

Of these, 24, 000 were to watch over the work of the Lord’s house. There were 6, 000 who were leaders and men who were to judge.

5 M oreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the Lord with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.

There were 4, 000 gate-keepers. And 4, 000 were praising the Lord with the things for playing music that David had made.

6 A nd David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

David divided them into groups by the sons of Levi, Gershon and Kohath and Merari.

7 O f the Gershonites were, Laadan, and Shimei.

The sons of Gershon were Ladan and Shimei.

8 T he sons of Laadan; the chief was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.

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

9 T he sons of Shimei; Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief of the fathers of Laadan.

The three sons of Shimei were Shelemoth, Haziel and Haran. These were the heads of the fathers’ houses of Ladan.

10 A nd the sons of Shimei were, Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.

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

11 A nd 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.

Jahath was the first, and Zizah the second. But Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they were numbered together as one father’s house.

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

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

13 T he 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.

The sons of Amram were Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart for holy work, he and his sons forever. They were to burn special perfume before the Lord, and do His work. And they were to pray for good to come to the people in the Lord’s name forever.

14 N ow concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi.

But the names of the sons of Moses the man of God were among the family of Levi.

15 T he sons of Moses were, Gershom, and Eliezer.

The sons of Moses were Gershom and Eliezer.

16 O f the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief.

The son of Gershom was Shebuel the leader.

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

The son of Eliezer was Rehabiah the leader. Eliezer had no other sons. But Rehabiah had many sons.

18 O f the sons of Izhar; Shelomith the chief.

The son of Izhar was Shelomith the leader.

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

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

20 O f the sons of Uzziel; Micah the first and Jesiah the second.

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

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

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

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

Eleazar died and had no sons, only daughters. Their brothers the sons of Kish married them.

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

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

24 T hese 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.

These were the sons of Levi by their fathers’ houses. They were the heads of the fathers’ houses of those whose names were numbered from twenty years old and older. They were to do the work of the Lord’s house.

25 F or David said, The Lord God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:

For David said, “The Lord God of Israel has given peace to his people. And He lives in Jerusalem forever.

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

The Levites do not need to carry the meeting tent and all the parts for its work any longer.”

27 F or by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above:

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

28 B ecause 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;

He said, “Their duties are to help Aaron’s sons with the work of the Lord’s house, in the open spaces and in the rooms. They are to make clean all the holy things, and do any work needed to be done in the house of God.

29 B oth 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;

They are to take care of the holy bread, the fine flour for a grain gift, and the bread without yeast. They are to take care of what is baked, and what is well mixed, of all the right amounts.

30 A nd to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at even:

They are to stand every morning and evening to thank and praise the Lord.

31 A nd 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:

And they are to give all the burnt gifts to the Lord on the Days of Rest, the new moons, and the special days. They are to do this before the Lord all the time, by the number set by the Law.

32 A nd 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.

In this way they are to take care of the meeting tent, the holy place, and help their brothers the sons of Aaron, for the work of the Lord’s house.