1 When David was very old, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.
2 He then gathered all the Israelite leaders together, with the priests and Levites.
3 A census was taken of those Levites thirty years old or older. The total was thirty-eight thousand;
4 twenty-four thousand of these were responsible for the services of the house of Yahweh; six thousand were scribes and judges;
5 four thousand were keepers of the gate; four thousand praised Yahweh on the instruments David had made for that purpose.
6 Then David divided the Levites into three groups, according to their clans: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
7 For the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.
8 Sons of Ladan: Jehiel first, Zetham, Joel; three in all.
9 Sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, Haran; three in all. These are the heads of families of Ladan.
10 Sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zirah, Jeush, Beriah; these were the sons of Shimei; four in all.
11 Jahath was the eldest, Zirah the second, then Jeush and Beriah, who had not many children and were counted as one family.
12 Sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, Uzziel; four in all.
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 As for Moses, the man of God, his sons were included among the Levites.
15 Sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.
16 Sons of Gershom: Shebuel, the first:
17 Eliezer had sons: Rehabiah, the first. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous.
18 Sons of Izhar: Shelomith, the first.
19 Sons of Hebron: Jeriah first, Amariah second, Jahaziel third, Jekameam fourth.
20 Sons of Uzziel: Micah first, Isshiah second.
21 Sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. Sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.
22 Eleazar died leaving no sons but only daughters; their cousins, the sons of Kish, married these.
23 Sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, Jeremoth; three in all.
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 had said, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, has given peace to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever.
26 The Levites are no longer required to carry the Holy Tent or anything used in its service."
27 According to the last words of David, the Levites who had been registered were of twenty years and older.
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 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 They have to be present every morning to give glory and praise to Yahweh, and also in the evening,
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 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.
Versículos relacionados com 1 Chronicles, 23:
1 Chronicles 23 deals with the organization of the Levites and their duties in the temple service. The chapter begins with David aging and preparing to transfer the responsibility of the temple to his son Solomon. He survey the Levites and their functions. Here are five verses related to the topics addressed in 1 chronicles 23:
Numbers 3:5-9: "The Lord spoke to Moses,: Make the sons of Levi's children for his families and clans. Tell all the men of one month up. They will be consecrated to me as Levites. Take Aaron and his children To help you and consecrate them to serve me as priests. Give the Levites the following responsibility: They will be responsible for the care of the tabernacle ... ”This verse is important because it talks about the role of the Levites in the tabernacle service, and how how They were chosen by God for this function.
Numbers 8:6-14: "Separate the Levites from the other Israelites and purify them. So you will do with them to purify them: Spirit Pure Water over them. Then, send a razor over their entire body and wash your clothes. So they will be purified. Take a bull with your cereal offer made with flour flower mixed with olive oil and a second bull for sacrifice by sin ... ”This verse describes the process of purification of the Levites before they begin to serve in the tabernacle.
1 Chronicles 23:2: "He gathered all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and the Levites." Here, David summons the leaders of Israel, priests and Levites to organize them to the temple service.
1 Chronicles 23:27-28: "For the sons of Merari: of the Levites, their clans and families, twelve groups were drawn, according to the lists. For the children of Gérson: of the Levites, their clans and families, were drawn thirteen groups , according to the lists. " These verses show how the Levites were divided into groups for the temple service.
1 Chronicles 23:30: "They should present themselves every morning to give thanks and praise the Lord, and every afternoons to do the same." Here, David orders the Levites to come daily to praise and thank God. This shows how the temple service was a continuous and daily task.
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