1 Chronicles 23

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 When David had grown old and was near the end of his days, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.	1 When David had become old and ful of days, he made his son Solomon king of Israel,
2 He then gathered together all the leaders of Israel, together with the priests and the Levites.	2 and then summoned al the leaders of Israel, with the priests and Levites.
3 The Levites thirty years old and above were counted, and their total number was found to be thirty-eight thousand men.	3 A census was taken of those Levites thirty years old and upwards. On a count of heads, theynumbered thirty-eight thousand men;
4 Of these, twenty-four thousand were to direct the service of the house of the LORD, six thousand were to be officials and judges,	4 twenty-four thousand were responsible for the service of the House of Yahweh, six thousand wereofficials and judges,
5 four thousand were to be gatekeepers, and four thousand were to praise the LORD with the instruments which David had devised for praise.	5 four thousand were gatekeepers and four thousand praised Yahweh on the instruments which Davidhad made for praising him.
6 David divided them into classes according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.	6 David then divided the Levites into classes: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
7 To the Gershonites belonged Ladan and Shimei.	7 Of the Gershonites there were Ladan and Shimei.
8 The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, then Zetham and Joel; three in all.	8 Sons of Ladan: Jehiel first, Zetham, Joel; three in al .
9 The sons of Shimei were Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran; three. These were the heads of the families of Ladan.	9 Sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, Haran; three in al . These are the heads of families of Ladan.
10 The sons of Shimei were Jahath, Zizah, Jeush, and Beriah; these were the sons of Shimei, four in all.	10 Sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, Jeush, Beriah; these were the sons of Shimei; four in al .
11 Jahath was the chief and Zizah was second to him; but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons, and therefore they were classed as a single family, fulfilling a single office.	11 Jahath was the eldest, Zizah the second, then Jeush and Beriah, who had not many children andwere reckoned as one family.
12 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel; four in all.	12 Sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, Uzziel; four in al .
13 The sons of Amram were Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart to be consecrated as most holy, he and his sons forever, to offer sacrifice before the LORD, to minister to him, and to bless his name forever.	13 Sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart to consecrate the things that were especial yholy, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense in the presence of Yahweh, to serve him and to bless in his namefor ever.
14 As for Moses, however, the man of God, his sons were counted as part of the tribe of Levi.	14 Moses, man of God, and his sons were reckoned with the tribe of Levi.
15 The sons of Moses were Gershom and Eliezer.	15 Sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.
16 The sons of Gershom: Shubael the chief.	16 Sons of Gershom: Shebuel, the first.
17 The sons of Eliezer were Rehabiah the chief--Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous.	17 Of the sons of Eliezer, Rehabiah was the first. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiahwere very numerous.
18 The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief.	18 Sons of Izhar: Shelomith, the first.
19 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah, the chief, Amariah, the second, Jahaziel, the third, and Jekameam, the fourth.	19 Sons of Hebron: Jeriah first, Amariah second, Jahaziel third, Jekameam fourth.
20 The sons of Uzziel: Micah, the chief, and Isshiah, the second.	20 Sons of Uzziel: Micah first, Isshiah second.
21 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.	21 Sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. Sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.
22 Eleazar died leaving no sons, only daughters; the sons of Kish, their kinsmen, married them.	22 Eleazar died without sons, but he did have daughters, whom their cousins, the sons of Kish, married.
23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth; three in all.	23 Sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, Jeremoth: three in al .
24 These were the sons of Levi according to their ancestral houses, the family heads as they were enrolled one by one according to their names. They performed the work of the service of the house of the LORD from twenty years of age upward,	24 These were the sons of Levi by their families, the heads of families, and those registered by name,individual y; whoever was twenty years old or upwards had his function in the service of the Temple of Yahweh.
25 David said: "The LORD, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people, and has taken up his dwelling in Jerusalem.	25 For David said, 'Since Yahweh, God of Israel, has given rest to his people Israel and has taken upresidence in Jerusalem for ever,
26 Henceforth the Levites need not carry the Dwelling or any of its furnishings or equipment.	26 the Levites need no longer carry the Dwel ing or any of the objects required for its service.'
27 for David's final orders were to enlist the Levites from the time they were twenty years old.	27 For, according to the last words of David, the Levites who had been registered were of twenty yearsand upwards.
28 Rather, their duty shall be to assist the sons of Aaron in the service of the house of the LORD, having charge of the courts, the chambers, and the preservation of everything holy: they shall take part in the service of the house of God.	28 Their duty now is to help the sons of Aaron in the service of the House of Yahweh, in the care of thecourts and rooms, the purification of al the holy things, the work for the service of the House of God,
29 They shall also have charge of the showbread, of the fine flour for the cereal offering, of the wafers of unleavened bread, and of the baking and mixing, and of all measures of quantity and size.	29 the loaves of permanent offering, the flour for the oblation, the wafers of unleavened bread, the pan-baked materials, the unmixed materials and all measures of volume and length.
30 They must be present every morning to offer thanks and to praise the LORD, and likewise in the evening;	30 Furthermore, they have to be present every morning to give thanks and praise to Yahweh, and alsoin the evening,
31 and at every offering of holocausts to the LORD on sabbaths, new moons, and feast days, in such numbers as are prescribed, they must always be present before the LORD.	31 and at the bringing of every burnt offering to Yahweh on Sabbath, New Moon or solemn feast,appearing regularly before Yahweh in accordance with the numbers required of them.
32 They shall observe what is prescribed for them concerning the meeting tent, the sanctuary, and the sons of Aaron, their brethren, in the service of the house of the LORD."	32 In serving the Temple of Yahweh they observe the ritual of the Tent of Meeting, the ritual of thesanctuary and the ritual of their kinsmen, the sons of Aaron.'