1 Chronicles 23:1-19

1David was old and his life had nearly finished. He chose his son Solomon to rule over Israel as king.

2He brought together all Israel's leaders, as well as the priests and the Levites.

3His officers counted all the Levites who were 30 years old or older. There were 38,000 men.

4David said, ‘24,000 of these Levite men must have authority for the work of the Lord's temple. 6,000 of them will be officers and judges.

54,000 of them will be guards at the gates of the temple. 4,000 of them will use music to praise the Lord. They will use the musical instruments that I have provided for them.’

6David made the Levites into three separate groups. Each group had descendants from one of Levi's sons: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

7From Gershon's clan there were Ladan and Shimei.

8Ladan's three sons were: Jehiel, the firstborn, then Zetham and Joel.

9Shimei's three sons were: Shelomoth, Haziel and Haran. Those men were the leaders of Ladan's family.

10Shimei had four more sons: Jahath, Ziza, Jeush and Beriah.

11Jahath was the oldest son and Ziza was the second. But Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons. So the officers counted them together as one family.

12Kohath's four sons were: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.

13Amram's sons were Aaron and Moses. The Lord chose Aaron and his descendants for special work for all time. Their work was to offer special holy things to the Lord. They would offer sacrifices to the Lord. They would serve him in the temple. And they would use his name to bless the people.

14The tribe of Levi included the sons of Moses, God's servant.

15Moses' sons were Gershom and Eliezer.

16Gershom's oldest son was Shebuel.

17Eliezer's son was Rehabiah. He was the leader of the family. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah had many descendants.

18From the family of Kohath's second son Izhar, Shelomith was the leader.

19Hebron had four sons: Jeriah was the leader, Amariah was second, Jahaziel was third and Jekameam was fourth.