Levites in the Bible

Exact Match

And the sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their generations.

And Eleazar Aaron's son took him one of the daughters of Putiel to wife; and she bare him Phinehas: these are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families.

And Moses stood at the camp’s entrance and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites gathered around him.

Verse ConceptsChoicesGood Decision Making ExamplesRankChoosingAssembling LeadersStanding In The Gateway

The Levites did as Moses commanded, and about 3,000 men fell dead that day among the people.

Verse ConceptsThree Thousand And UpKilling Within Israelgenocide

Then Moses said [to the Levites], “Dedicate yourselves today to the Lord—for each man has been against his own son and his own brother [in his attempt to escape execution]—so that He may restore and bestow His blessing on you this day.”

Verse ConceptsSanctification, Nature And BasisConsecrationGod Appointing OthersMay God Bless!

This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest.

Notwithstanding the cities of the Levites, and the houses of the cities of their possession, may the Levites redeem at any time.

And if a man purchase of the Levites, then the house that was sold, and the city of his possession, shall go out in the year of jubile: for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel.

Verse ConceptsTownReal EstateReversion Of Things

But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.

Verse ConceptsCareRankTentsCarrying Holy ThingsCamping During The ExodusThe Tabernacle

And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

Verse ConceptsAccess To God, In Old TestamentStrangersExclusionMaking The TabernacleDeath Due To God's PresenceDanger When God Is NearDeath ApproachingMoving To A New Place

But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.

Verse ConceptsCamping During The ExodusAction Lest God Be Angry

Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards.

Verse ConceptsCamp, Of IsraelLevitesThe Middle

But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Verse ConceptsCounting Levites

And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.

And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;

Verse ConceptsCovenant, God's with Israel's priestsVicarious Substitution

“Register the Levites by their ancestral houses and their clans. You are to register every male one month old or more.”

Verse ConceptsAge Ranges Of Levites

And the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers.

And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.

All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.

Verse ConceptsTwenty Thousand And UpAge Ranges Of LevitesCounting Levites

And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel.

Verse ConceptsI Am The Lord

and all the firstborn males from a month old and upward as numbered were 22,273 [273 more than the Levites].

Verse ConceptsTwenty Thousand And Up

Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD.

Verse ConceptsLivestockI Am The LordPeople Belong To God

And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites;

Verse ConceptsTwo Hundred And Some

and give the money, the ransom (redemption price) of those who outnumber the Levites to Aaron and to his sons.”

Verse ConceptsGiving, Of Possessions

And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites:

“Among the Levites, take a census of the Kohathites by their clans and their ancestral houses,

Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:

All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered, after their families, and after the house of their fathers,

Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service.

Verse ConceptsAcceptance, divineAcceptance, Of Worshipperformance

And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites.

And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together:

Verse ConceptsCongregationAssembling Israel

And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites:

Verse ConceptsLaying On Of HandsLaying On Hands To Commission

And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD.

Verse ConceptsReadinessWave OfferingsSwinging

And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, unto the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites.

Verse ConceptsExpiationLaying Hands On SacrificesSacrificing CattlePriests Atoning

And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for an offering unto the LORD.

Verse ConceptsWave OfferingsSwinging

And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them for an offering.

Verse ConceptsSwinging

And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel.

Verse ConceptsSubstitution

And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.

Verse ConceptsLevitesSanctuaryDeath Due To God's PresenceDanger When God Is NearPriests Atoning

And Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel, did to the Levites according unto all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did the children of Israel unto them.

And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them as an offering before the LORD; and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them.

Verse ConceptsSwingingClean ClothesBeing Cleansed From SinPriests Atoning

And after that went the Levites in to do their service in the tabernacle of the congregation before Aaron, and before his sons: as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did they unto them.

Verse ConceptsOverseers

This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:

Verse ConceptsMiddle AgeParticipation, In Christ

But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.

Verse ConceptsGroups Helping

place fire in them and put incense on them before the Lord. Then the man the Lord chooses will be the one who is set apart. It is you Levites who have gone too far!”

Verse ConceptsHoliness, Believers' Growth In

Moses also told Korah, “Now listen, Levites!

He has brought you near, and all your fellow Levites who are with you, but you are seeking the priesthood as well.

Verse ConceptsPriesthood, In OtSeeking For Abstract Things

So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers which the Levites who were burned had offered, and they were hammered out [into broad sheets] as a plating for the [bronze] altar [of burnt offering],

Verse ConceptsCensers

And the Levites shall attend to your duty [as assistants] and to the duties of all the tent (tabernacle); only they shall not approach the articles of the sanctuary and the altar, or both they and you will die.

Verse ConceptsExclusionDeath Due To God's PresenceDanger When God Is Near

And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the LORD, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Verse ConceptsDedication In Ot

“Behold, I have given the Levites all the tithe in Israel as an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).

Verse ConceptsCollectionsTaxationTithesThe Tithe For LevitesTithes And Offering

But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.

Verse ConceptsIncurring GuiltOffenceOrdinancesNo Earthly Inheritance

But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

Verse ConceptsAnimal Sacrifices, Heave OfferingFood For Priests DefinedNo Earthly InheritanceThe Tithe For LevitesTithes And Offering

Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe.

Verse ConceptsTithesTithes And Offering

Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress.

And these are they that were numbered of the Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites: of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites: of Merari, the family of the Merarites.

These are the families of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korathites. And Kohath begat Amram.

And those that were numbered of the Levites were twenty-three thousand, all males from a month old and upward; for they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.

Verse ConceptsLand, As A Divine ResponsibilityTwenty Thousand And UpNo Earthly InheritanceAge Ranges Of Levites

And of the children of Israel's half, thou shalt take one portion of fifty, of the persons, of the beeves, of the asses, and of the flocks, of all manner of beasts, and give them unto the Levites, which keep the charge of the tabernacle of the LORD.

Even of the children of Israel's half, Moses took one portion of fifty, both of man and of beast, and gave them unto the Levites, which kept the charge of the tabernacle of the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them.

And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about.

Verse ConceptsWalls

You shall also measure outside the city on the east, south, west, and north sides two thousand cubits (3,000 ft.), with the city in the center. This shall belong to the Levites as pasture lands for the cities.

Verse ConceptsWeights And Measures, DistancesNorth, South, East And West

And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities.

Verse ConceptsFugitivesDeath penaltyRefugeesSanctuaryManslaughterTypes Of ChristAsylumSix ThingsForties

So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities: them shall ye give with their suburbs.

Verse ConceptsForties

And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth.

Verse ConceptsAccording To PeopleFew PeopleMany In Israel

Wherefore the Levites have no part nor inheritance with their brethren. The LORD he is their inheritance, as the LORD thy God hath promised them.

Verse ConceptsGod Is My PortionNo Earthly Inheritance

You shall rejoice in the presence of the Lord your God, along with your sons, daughters, male and female servants, and the Levites in your villages (since they have no allotment or inheritance with you).

Verse ConceptsNo Earthly Inheritance

Only in the presence of the Lord your God may you eat these, in the place he chooses. This applies to you, your son, your daughter, your male and female servants, and the Levites in your villages. In that place you will rejoice before the Lord your God in all the output of your labor.

Verse ConceptsEating Before GodEating Drinking And Rejoicing

Be careful not to overlook the Levites as long as you live in the land.

Verse ConceptsMastersNeglectPeople Not AbandoningTaking Care Of The Earth

As for the Levites in your villages, you must not ignore them, for they have no allotment or inheritance along with you.

Verse ConceptsMastersNeglectNeglecting PeopleNo Earthly Inheritancefriendliness

Then the Levites (because they have no allotment or inheritance with you), the resident foreigners, the orphans, and the widows of your villages may come and eat their fill so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work you do.

Verse ConceptsPoverty, Attitudes TowardsSatisfactionSaints, Care For The PoorWidows, Should BeLoving ForeignersGod Will BlessNo Earthly InheritancePeople Helping Orphansfriendliness

You shall rejoice before him -- you, your son, your daughter, your male and female slaves, the Levites in your villages, the resident foreigners, the orphans, and the widows among you -- in the place where the Lord chooses to locate his name.

Verse ConceptsOrphansPoverty, Attitudes TowardsWidowsWidows, Should BeRejoicingForeigners Permitted At The FeastsPeople Helping OrphansEating Drinking And RejoicingA Place For God's Name

You are to rejoice in your festival, you, your son, your daughter, your male and female slaves, the Levites, the resident foreigners, the orphans, and the widows who are in your villages.

Verse ConceptsWidowsForeigners Permitted At The FeastsPeople Helping OrphansEating Drinking And Rejoicing

And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and inquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment:

Verse ConceptsCourtsPriesthood, In OtPriests, Function In Ot Timespriests

And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:

Verse ConceptsScrollsThroneWritingCopies Of Documentslawroyalty

The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance.

Verse ConceptsLand, As A Divine ResponsibilityPriests, Institution In Ot TimesNo Earthly InheritancePriestly InheritancePermitted To Eat Offeringspriests

Then he shall minister in the name of the LORD his God, as all his brethren the Levites do, which stand there before the LORD.

Verse ConceptsIn God's Name

Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do.

Verse ConceptsInstructionHygieneKeeping Man's Word

You will celebrate all the good things that the Lord your God has given you and your family, along with the Levites and the resident foreigners among you.

Verse ConceptsGod, Goodness OfJoy, Of IsraelLoving ForeignersEating Drinking And Rejoicing

When you finish tithing all your income in the third year (the year of tithing), you must give it to the Levites, the resident foreigners, the orphans, and the widows so that they may eat to their satisfaction in your villages.

Verse ConceptsGiving, Of PossessionsCropsForeignersethics, socialBereaved, Care ForSatisfactionWidowsAliensTithes And Offering

Then you shall say before the Lord your God, "I have removed the sacred offering from my house and given it to the Levites, the resident foreigners, the orphans, and the widows just as you have commanded me. I have not violated or forgotten your commandments.

Verse ConceptsNot Forgetting

And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God.

Verse ConceptsSpiritual AdoptionCurbing Speech

And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice,

And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.

Verse ConceptsThe Ark Moved AroundPriests In Action

And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.

Verse ConceptsArk Of The Covenant, EventsJudgesFractions, One HalfHalf Of GroupsPriests In Action

Only the tribe of Levites Moses did not give an inheritance; the offerings made by fire to Yahweh the God of Israel [are] their inheritance, just as he promised to them.

Verse ConceptsLand, As A Divine ResponsibilityNo Earthly InheritancePriestly InheritanceRegulating Sacrifices

However, Moses did not assign land as an inheritance to the Levites; their inheritance is the Lord God of Israel, as he instructed them.

Verse ConceptsGod Is My PortionNo Earthly Inheritance

For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them.

Verse ConceptsBeyond Jordan

For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.

Verse ConceptsTribes Of Israel

But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance: and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.

Verse ConceptsHeirsPriesthood, In OtBeyond JordanNo Earthly InheritancePriestly InheritanceReuben Gad And Half Manasseh

Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;

And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs.

And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, which were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.

Verse ConceptsThirteen

And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

to the descendants of Aaron from the Kohathite clans of the Levites, because they received the first lot.

And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.

Thematic Bible



after him, repaired, the Levites, Rehum son of Bani, - at his hand, repaired, Hashabiah, ruler of the half-circuit of Keilah, for his circuit;

Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah;

And, the chiefs of the Levites, Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise - to give thanks, by the commandment of David the man of God, - ward joined to ward.


and, Conaniah, and Shemaiah and Nethanel his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, rulers of the Levites, presented to the Levites, for passover offerings, five thousand, and, of bullocks, five hundred.


Wherefore did ye not eat the sin-bearer in the holy place? for most, holy, it is, - and thee same, hath he given you that ye may bear the iniquity of the assembly, to put a propitiatory-covering over them before Yahweh.

and Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram, and the bread that is in the basket, - at the opening of the tent of meeting:

Then spake Moses unto Aaron and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar his sons that were left, Take ye the meal-offering that is left of the altar-flames of Yahweh, and eat it unleavened beside the altar, - for, most holy, it is;

And the remainder thereof, shall Aaron and his sons eat, - as unleavened cakes, shall it be eaten, in a holy place, within the court of the tent of meeting, shall they eat it.

Any male among the priests, may eat thereof, - in a holy place, shall it be eaten, most holy, it is.

But, as for the flesh of his peace-offering of thanksgiving, on the day of bringing it near, shall it be eaten, - he shall not leave thereof until morning,

And Moses said unto Aaron and unto his sons Boil ye the flesh, at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and there, shall ye eat it, and the bread which is in the basket of installation, - as I have been commanded, saying, Aaron and his sons, shall eat it.

so shall it be for Aaron and for his sons, and they shall eat it in a holy place, - for most holy, shall it be unto him from among the altar-flames of Yahweh, a statute age-abiding.

And ye shall eat it in any place, ye, and your household, - for a reward, it is unto you, the allotted portion for your laborious work in the tent of meeting.


And they who were numbered of them were found to be - twenty-three thousand, all the males from one month old and upwards - for they had not numbered themselves in the midst of the sons of Israel, because there was given unto them no inheritance, in the midst of the sons of Israel.

For this cause, hath Levi neither portion nor inheritance with his brethren, - Yahweh, is his inheritance, as Yahweh thy God spake unto him.

So shall ye rejoice before Yahweh your God, Ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your servants and your handmaids, - and the Levite that is within your gates, forasmuch as he hath neither portion nor inheritance with you.

but before Yahweh thy God, shalt thou eat it in the place which Yahweh thy God shall choose, thou and thy son and thy daughter, and thy servant and thy handmaid, and the Levite who is within thy gates, - so shalt thou rejoice before Yahweh thy God, in all whereunto thou puttest thy hand. Take heed to thyself, lest thou forsake the Levite, - all thy days upon thy soil.

and, the Levite who is within thy gates, thou shalt not forsake him, - for he hath neither portion nor inheritance with thee. At the end of three years, shalt thou bring forth all the tithe of thine increase in that year, - and shalt lay it up within thy gates; and the Levite shall come in - because he hath neither portion nor inheritance with thee - and the sojourner and the fatherless and the widow who are within thy gates, and they shall eat and be satisfied, - that Yahweh thy God may bless thee, in all the work of thy hand which thou shalt do.

Neither the priests the Levites nor any of the tribe of Levi, shall have either portion or inheritance with Israel, - the altar-flames of Yahweh and his inheritance, shall they eat. But inheritance, shall he not have, in the midst of his brethren, - Yahweh, is his inheritance, as he spake unto him. This, therefore shall be the due of the priests from the people from them who offer the sacrifice whether ox or lamb, - there shall be given unto the priest, the shoulder and the two cheeks and the maw: read more.
the firstfruit of thy corn thy new wine and thine oil and the first of the fleece of thy flock, shalt thou give unto him. For of him, hath Yahweh thy God made choice out of all thy tribes, - to stand to minister in the name of Yahweh of him and his sons all the days. And when the Levite shall come in out of any of thy gates out of any part of Israel, where he is sojourning, - yea shall come in with all the desire of his soul, into the place which Yahweh shall choose, then may he minister in the name of Yahweh his God, - like any of his brethren the Levites who are standing there before Yahweh. Portion for portion, shall they eat, - apart from his possessions upon his patrimony.

Howbeit, unto the tribe of Levi, gave he no inheritance, - the altar-flames of Yahweh God of Israel, are his inheritance, as he spake unto him.

For Moses had given the two tribes and the half tribe their inheritance over the Jordan, - but, unto the Levites, gave he no inheritance in their midst;

For Levi hath no portion in your midst, for, the priesthood of Yahweh, is his inheritance, - and, Gad, and Reuben, and the half tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance, beyond the Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave unto them.

And, these, are their dwelling-places, according to their encampments, in their boundary, - pertaining to the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, for, theirs, was the lot: so they gave them Hebron, in the land of Judah, and the pasture lands thereof, round about it; but, the field-land of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb son of Jephunneh. read more.
And, to the sons of Aaron, gave they, the cities of refuge - Hebron, and Libnah, with her pasture lands, - and Jattir and Eshtemoa, with her pasture lands; and Hilen with her pasture lands, Debir, with her pasture lands; and Ashan, with her pasture lands, and Bethshemesh, with her pasture lands; and, out of the tribe of Benjamin, Geba, with her pasture lands, and Allemeth, with her pasture lands, - and Anathoth, with her pasture lands; - all their cities, were thirteen cities, throughout their families. And, unto the rest of the sons of Kohath - of the families of the tribe of Ephraim and of the tribe of Dan, and of the half-tribe of Manasseh, by lot ten cities. And, to the sons of Gershom, by their families - out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities. And, unto seas of Merari, by their families - out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, by lot twelve cities. So then the sons of Israel gave, to the Levites, - the cities and the pasture lands thereof; yea they gave, by lot, out of the tribe of the sons of Judah, and out of the tribe of the sons of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the sons of Benjamin, these cities which are mentioned by name. But, as for some of the families of the sons of Kohath, they had the cities of their lot, out of the tribe of Ephraim; and they gave unto them the cities of refuge - Shechem and her pasture lands, in the hill country of Ephraim, - and Gezer, with her pasture lands; and Jokmeam, with her pasture lands, and Beth-heron, with her pasture lands; and Aijalon, with her pasture lands, and Gath-rimmon, with her pasture lands; and, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Aner, with her pasture lands, and Bileam, with her pasture lands, - for the rest of the family of the sons of Kohath. Unto the sons of Gershom - out of the family of the half tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan, with her pasture lands, - and Ashtaroth, with her pasture lands. And, out of the tribe of Issachar, Kedesh, with her pasture lands, - Daberath, with her pasture lands; and Ramoth, with her pasture lands, and Anem, with her pasture lands. And, out of the tribe of Asher, Mashal, with her pasture lands, - and Abdon, with her pasture lands; and Hukok, with her pasture lands, - and Rehob, with her pasture lands. And, out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee, with her pasture lands, and Hammon, with her pasture lands, - and Kiryathaim, with her pasture lands. Unto the rest of the sons of Merari - out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmono, with her pasture lands, - Tabor, with her pasture lands. And, beyond the Jordan at Jericho, on the east of the Jordan - out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness, with her pasture lands, - and Jahzah, with her pasture lands; and Kedemoth, with her pasture lands, and Mephaath, with her pasture lands. And, out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead, with her pasture lands, - and Mahanaim, with her pasture lands; and Heshbon, with her pasture lands, and Jazer, with her pasture lands.

Show 3 more verses
And David said to all the convocation of Israel, If, unto you, it seemeth to be good, and from Yahweh our God, we will urgently send unto our brethren who remain in all the lands of Israel, and, with them, the priests and the Levites in their pasture-land cities, - that they may gather together unto us;

And they went round throughout Judah, and gathered together the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the ancestral chiefs of Israel, - and they came into Jerusalem.

Son of man, Prophesy against the shepherds of Israel,- Prophesy, and thou shalt say unto them, even to the shepherds - Thus, saith My Lord Yahweh - Alas! for the shepherds of Israel who have been tending, themselves, Is it not the flock that the shepherds should tend? The milk, ye do eat And with the wool, ye do clothe your- selves, The well-fed, ye do sacrifice, The flock, ye do not tend The weak, have ye not strengthened And, the sick, have ye not healed. And the torn, have ye not hound up, And that which was driven out, have ye not brought back, And that which was straying, have ye not sought out; But with force, have ye ruled them and with rigour. read more.
And they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; And they became food for every wild beast of the field. So were they scattered.


And, on the fourth day, was weighed - the silver and the gold and the utensils, in the house of our God, unto the hand of Meremoth son of Uriah, the priest, and, with him, was Eleazar son of Phinehas, - and, with them, were Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui, Levites:

So he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said unto them - Go ye out unto the cities of Judah, and gather out of all Israel silver to repair the house of your God, year by year, and, ye, shall hasten the matter, - but the Levites hastened it not.

So they went in unto Hilkiah the high priest, and delivered the silver that had been brought into the house of God, which the Levites who kept the entrance-hall had collected from the hand of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel, and from all Judah and Benjamin, - and returned to Jerusalem.

And, every one with whom were found precious stones, gave to the treasure of the house of Yahweh, - unto the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.

And, all that Samuel the seer, and Saul son of Kish, and Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah, had hallowed, whosoever had hallowed anything, it was under the direction of Shelomoth, and his brethren.

For, in trust, were four mighty men of the keepers of the gates, the same, were Levites, - and they were over the chambers, and over the treasuries of the house of God. And, round about the house of God, used they to lodge, - for, upon them, was the charge, and they were over the setting open, morning by morning. And, some from among them, were over the utensils of the service, - for, by number, used they to bring them in, and, by number, used they to take them forth. read more.
And, some from among them, were appointed over the utensils, yea over all the vessels of the holy place, - and over the fine meal, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.

And it came to pass, what time the chest was brought into the office of the king by the hand of the Levites, and when they had seen that abundant was the silver, that the scribe of the king came in, and the officer of the chief priest, and they emptied the chest, and bare it, and put it back in its place, - thus, they did, day by day, and collected silver, in abundance;

Then Hezekiah gave word to prepare chambers, in the house of Yahweh, and they prepared them; and brought in the heave-offering and the tithe and the hallowed things, faithfully, - and, over them, as chief ruler, was Cononiah the Levite, and Shimei his brother, next; and Jehiel and Azaziah and Nahath and Asahel and Jerimoth and Jozabad, and Eliel and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, - overseers under the direction of Cononiah and Shemei his brother, by the appointment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the chief ruler of the house of God. read more.
And, Kore, son of Imnah the Levite, the door-keeper on the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, - to give the heave-offering of Yahweh, and the most holy things. And, under his direction, were Eden and Miniamin and Jeshua and Shemaiah, Amariah and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in trust to give unto their brethren by courses, as the great so the small; besides registering them by males, from three years old and upward, unto every one that entered into the house of Yahweh, in the need of a day upon its day, - by their service, in their watches, according to their courses: both the registering of the priests, by their ancestral houses, and the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, - in their watches, in their courses; even to the registering of all their little ones, their wives and their sons and their daughters, unto all the convocation, - for, in their trust, they hallowed themselves in holiness; also unto the sons of Aaron the priests in the fields of the pasture land of their cities, in every several city, men who were expressed by name, - to give portions to every male among the priests, and to all registered among the Levites.

Watch and guard, until ye weigh them before the rulers of the priests and the Levites and the ancestral rulers of Israel, in Jerusalem, - in the chambers of the house of Yahweh. So the priests and the Levites accepted the weight of the silver and the gold, and the utensils, - to bring to Jerusalem, unto the house of our God.

And there were sot in charge, on that day, certain men, over the chambers for the treasures, for the heave-offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, out of the fields of the cities, the portions appointed by the law, for the priests, and for the Levites, - for, the joy of Judah, was over the priests and over the Levites, who were remaining.


Neither the priests the Levites nor any of the tribe of Levi, shall have either portion or inheritance with Israel, - the altar-flames of Yahweh and his inheritance, shall they eat. But inheritance, shall he not have, in the midst of his brethren, - Yahweh, is his inheritance, as he spake unto him. This, therefore shall be the due of the priests from the people from them who offer the sacrifice whether ox or lamb, - there shall be given unto the priest, the shoulder and the two cheeks and the maw: read more.
the firstfruit of thy corn thy new wine and thine oil and the first of the fleece of thy flock, shalt thou give unto him. For of him, hath Yahweh thy God made choice out of all thy tribes, - to stand to minister in the name of Yahweh of him and his sons all the days. And when the Levite shall come in out of any of thy gates out of any part of Israel, where he is sojourning, - yea shall come in with all the desire of his soul, into the place which Yahweh shall choose, then may he minister in the name of Yahweh his God, - like any of his brethren the Levites who are standing there before Yahweh. Portion for portion, shall they eat, - apart from his possessions upon his patrimony.

Howbeit, unto the tribe of Levi, gave he no inheritance, - the altar-flames of Yahweh God of Israel, are his inheritance, as he spake unto him.

And there were sot in charge, on that day, certain men, over the chambers for the treasures, for the heave-offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, out of the fields of the cities, the portions appointed by the law, for the priests, and for the Levites, - for, the joy of Judah, was over the priests and over the Levites, who were remaining.

Because the tenth of the sons of Israel which they shall offer up unto Yahweh as a heave-offering, have I given unto the Levites as an inheritance, - for this cause, said I regarding them, In the midst of the sons of Israel, shall they take no inheritance.

Unto the Levites, therefore shalt thou speak and shalt say unto them, When ye shall take of the sons of Israel the tenth which I have given unto you from them as your inheritance, then shall ye offer up therefrom the heave-offering of Yahweh, a tenth of the tenth. shall your heave-offering be reckoned your own, - as corn out of the threshing-floor, and as the abundance out of the wine-press. Thus, shall ye also, offer up the heave-offering of Yahweh, out of all your tenths which ye shall take from the sons of Israel, - and give therefrom the heave-offering of Yahweh, unto Aaron the priest. read more.
Out of all your gifts, shall ye offer up every b heave-offering of Yahweh, - out of all the best thereof, the hallowed pert thereof out of it. And thou shalt say unto them, - When ye offer the best thereof out of it, then shall it be reckoned to belong unto the Levites, as the increase of the threshing-floor and as the increase of the wine-press, And ye shall eat it in any place, ye, and your household, - for a reward, it is unto you, the allotted portion for your laborious work in the tent of meeting. And ye shall not by reason of it bear sin, when ye offer up the best thereof, out of it; and the hallowed things of the sons of Israel, shall ye not profane neither shall ye die.

and shalt rejoice in all the good things which Yahweh thy God, hath given unto thee, and unto thy house, - thou and the Levite, and the sojourner who is in thy midst. When thou shalt make an end of tithing all the tithe of thine increase in the third year the year of tithing, - and shalt give unto the Levite unto the sojourner, unto the fatherless and unto the widow, and they shall eat within thy gates and be satisfied, then shalt thou say - before Yahweh thy God: - I have carefully removed that which was hallowed out of the house moreover also I have given it unto the Levite, and unto the sojourner unto the fatherless and unto the widow, according to all thy commandment which thou hast commanded me, - I have not transgressed any of thy commandments neither have I forgotten,

And the priest the son of Aaron should be with the Levites, when the Levites should take the tithes, - and the Levites, should bring up the tithe of the tithe, unto the house of our God, into the chambers pertaining unto the treasure-house. For, into the chambers, should the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi bring in the heave-offering of the corn, the new wine and the oil, since, there, are the utensils of the sanctuary, and the priests who are in attendance, and the doorkeepers, and the singers, - so would we not neglect the house of our God.

Now, all Israel - in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, used to give the portions of the singers and the doorkeepers, the need of a day upon its day, - and they hallowed them unto the Levites, and, the Levites, hallowed them unto the sons of Aaron.


Then was taken down the habitation, - and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward bearing the habitation.

and four of the waggons, and eight of the oxen, gave he unto the sons of Merari, - according to the need of their laborious work, in the hand of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest;

And the sons of Merari by their families, Mahli and Mushi. These, are they - the families of the Levites by their ancestral houses.

To Merari, belonged the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites, - these, are they - the families of Merari. And they who were numbered of them in the counting of every male, from one month old and upwards, were six thousand, and two hundred. And the prince of the ancestral house of the families of Merari, was Zuriel son of Abihail, - on the side of the habitation, were they to encamp northward. read more.
And the oversight of the charge of the sons of Merari, was - the boards of the habitation, and the bars thereof and the pillars thereof and the sockets thereof, - and all the furniture thereof, as to all the laborious work thereof; also the pillars of the court round about and their sockets, - and their pins and their cords.

And, this, shall be their charge of the burdens, to the extent of all their labour in the ten of meeting, the boards of the habitation, and the bars thereof and he pillars thereof and the sockets thereof: and the pillars of the court round about and their sockets anti their pins and their cords, to the extent of all their articles, to the extent of all their labour, and by names, shall ye put under their care the articles of their charge of burdens. This, shall be the labour of the families of the sons of Merari, to the extent of all their labour in the tent of meeting, - in the hand of Ithamar, son of Aaron, the priest.

The sons of Merari, Mahli and Mushi. And, these, are the families of Levi by their fathers:

the sons of Merari, Mahli, - Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son; Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son.

The sons of Merari, were Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli, were Eleazar and Kish. But Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters only, - and so the sons of Kish their brethren took them. The sons of Mushi, were Mahli and Eder and Jeremoth, three.


and said to the Levites who gave instruction to all Israel as to the things which were hallowed unto Yahweh, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon son of David king of Israel did build, it is not yours as a burden on the shoulder, - Now, serve ye Yahweh your God, and his people Israel;

May teach thy regulations unto Jacob, And thy law unto Israel, - May put incense in thy nostrils, And a whole-offering upon thine altar.

and, with them, Levites, Shemaiah and Nethaniah and Zebadiah and Asahel and Shemiramoth and Jehonathan, and Adonijah and Tobijah and Tob-adonijah, Levites, - and, with them, Elishama and Jehoram, priests; and they taught throughout Judah, and, with them, was the book of the law of Yahweh, - so they went round throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.

And Hezekiah spake unto the heart of all the Levites who were giving good instruction respecting Yahweh, - and they did eat the appointed feast seven days, sacrificing the peace-offerings, and offering praise unto Yahweh, God of their fathers.

And, Jeshua and Bani and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, did cause the people to understand the law, the people, remaining in their places. So they read in the book of the law of God, distinctly, - and, giving the sense, caused them to understand the reading. Then Nehemiah - he, was the governor - and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites who were causing the people to understand, said unto all the people, To-day, is, holy, unto Yahweh your God, do not mourn, nor weep, - for, weeping, were all the people, when they heard the words of the law. read more.
So he said unto them - Go your way, eat the fat and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared, for holy is the day, unto our Lord, - and be not grieved, for, the joy of Yahweh, is your strength. And, the Levites, were quieting all the people, saying - Hush! for, the day, is holy, - and be not grieved. And all the people went their way, to eat and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great rejoicing, - because they had understood the words which were made known unto them. And, on the second day, were gathered together - the ancestral heads of all the people, the priests and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, - even to give attention unto the words of the law.

The deliverance of truth, was in his mouth, and, perverseness, was not found in his lips, - In well-doing and in uprightness, walked he with me, and, multitudes, did he turn from iniquity. For, the lips of a priest, should keep knowledge, and, a deliverance, should men seek at his mouth, - for, the messenger of Yahweh of hosts, he is.


But the Levites, were not numbered in the midst of the sons of Israel, - As Yahweh commanded Moses.

But the Levites by the tribe of their fathers were not numbered in their midst. For Yahweh spake unto Moses saying: Only the tribe of Levi, shalt thou no number, nor the sum of them, shalt thou reckon up, in the midst of the sons of Israel.

Then spake Yahweh unto Moses, in the desert of Sinai, saying: - Number thou the sons of Levi, by their ancestral houses, by their families, - every male, from one month old and upwards, shalt thou number them. So then Moses numbered them according to the bidding of Yahweh, - as he was commanded. read more.
And these were the sons of Levi, by their names, - Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari. And these, the names of the sons of Gershon by their families, - Libni and Shimei. And, the sons of Kohath, by their families Amram, and Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. And the sons of Merari by their families, Mahli and Mushi. These, are they - the families of the Levites by their ancestral houses. To, Gershon, belonged the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites, - these, are they - the families of the Gershonites. They who were numbered of them in the counting of every male, from one month old, and upwards, - they who were num-bered of them, were seven thousand and five hundred. the families of the Gershonites, to the rear of the habitation, were to encamp, westward. And, the prince of the ancestral house of the Gershonites, was Eliasaph son of Lael. And, the charge, of the sons of Gershon, was over the tent of meeting, the habitation, and the tent, - the covering thereof, and the screen for the entrance of the tent of meeting; and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the entrance of the court which was near the habitation and near the altar, round about, - and the cords thereof, as to all the laborious work thereof. And to Kohath, belonged the family of the Amramites and the family of the Izharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites, - these, are they - the families of the Kohathites. In, the counting of every male, from one month old and upwards, there were eight thousand and six hundred, to keep the charge of the sanctuary. The, families of the sons of Kohath, were to encamp, - on the side of the habitation, south-ward. And the prince of the ancestral house of the families of the Kohathites, was Elizaphan, son of Uzziel. And their charge, was - the ark and the table and the lampstand and the altars, and the utensils of the sanctuary wherewith they were to minister, - and the screen, as to all the laborious work thereof. And the prince of the princes of the Levites, was Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, - to have the oversight of them that were to keep the charge of the sanctuary. To Merari, belonged the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites, - these, are they - the families of Merari. And they who were numbered of them in the counting of every male, from one month old and upwards, were six thousand, and two hundred. And the prince of the ancestral house of the families of Merari, was Zuriel son of Abihail, - on the side of the habitation, were they to encamp northward. And the oversight of the charge of the sons of Merari, was - the boards of the habitation, and the bars thereof and the pillars thereof and the sockets thereof, - and all the furniture thereof, as to all the laborious work thereof; also the pillars of the court round about and their sockets, - and their pins and their cords. But, they who were to encamp before the habitation eastwards before the tent of meeting, towards sunrise, were Moses and Aaron and his sons. to keep the charge of the sanctuary, as the charge of the sons of Israel and, the stranger that came near, was to be put to death. All they who were numbered of the Levites whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the bidding of Yahweh by their families, - every male, from one month old and upwards, were two-and-twenty thousand.

Reckon up the sum of the sons of Kohath, out of the midst of the sons of Levi, - by their families by their ancestral house: from thirty years old, and upwards, even unto fifty years, - every one that can enter into the host, to do service in the tent of meeting.

And these, are they who were numbered of the Levites by their families, To Gershon, pertained the family of the Gershonites, To Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; To Merari, the family of the Merarites. These, are the families of Levi - The family of the Libnites, The family of the Hebronites, The family of the Mahlites, The family of the Mushites, The family of the Korahites, - And, Kohath, begat Amram; and the name of the wife of Amram, was Jochebed daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt, - and she bare to Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister: read more.
And, there were born to Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, - Eleazar and Ithamar; But Nadab and Abihu died, - when they brought near strange fire before Yahweh: And they who were numbered of them were found to be - twenty-three thousand, all the males from one month old and upwards - for they had not numbered themselves in the midst of the sons of Israel, because there was given unto them no inheritance, in the midst of the sons of Israel.

Now the Levites were numbered, from thirty years old and upwards, - and their number by their polls, of mature men, was thirty-eight thousand. Of these - to preside over the work of the house of Yahweh, were twenty-four thousand, - and officers and judges, six thousand; and four thousand, were doorkeepers, - and, four thousand, were offerers of praise unto Yahweh, with instruments, which said David I made for offering praise.


At that time, did Yahweh separate the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, - to stand before Yahweh to wait upon him and to bless in his name (until this day).

Then, said David, None must carry the ark of God, save the Levites, - for, of them, did Yahweh make choice, to bear the ark of Yahweh, and to attend it, unto times age-abiding.

And these, are they who were numbered of the Levites by their families, To Gershon, pertained the family of the Gershonites, To Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; To Merari, the family of the Merarites. These, are the families of Levi - The family of the Libnites, The family of the Hebronites, The family of the Mahlites, The family of the Mushites, The family of the Korahites, - And, Kohath, begat Amram; and the name of the wife of Amram, was Jochebed daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt, - and she bare to Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister: read more.
And, there were born to Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, - Eleazar and Ithamar; But Nadab and Abihu died, - when they brought near strange fire before Yahweh: And they who were numbered of them were found to be - twenty-three thousand, all the males from one month old and upwards - for they had not numbered themselves in the midst of the sons of Israel, because there was given unto them no inheritance, in the midst of the sons of Israel.

But the Levites by the tribe of their fathers were not numbered in their midst. For Yahweh spake unto Moses saying: Only the tribe of Levi, shalt thou no number, nor the sum of them, shalt thou reckon up, in the midst of the sons of Israel. read more.
But do, thou thyself, put the Levites in charge over the habitation of the testimony, and over all the furniture thereof and over all that pertaineth thereto, they, shall bear the habitation, and all the furniture thereof, and they, shall attend thereupon; and, round about the habitation, shall they encamp. And, when the habitation is to set forward, the Levites shall take it down, and when the habitation is to be pitched, the Levites, shall set it up, but the stranger that draweth near, shall be put to death. So then the sons of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man, near his own camp, and, every man, near his own standard, by their hosts; but the Levites, shall pitch their tents round about the habitation of the testimony, that there be no wrath upon the assembly of the sons of Israel, - so shall the Levites keep the watch of the habitation of the testimony. Thus did the sons of Israel, - according to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so, did they.

Bring near the tribe of Levi, and thou shalt cause it to stand before Aaron the priest, - so shall they wait upon him; so shall they keep his charge, and the charge of all the assembly, before the tent of meeting, - to do the laborious work of the habitation; so shall they have charge of all the furniture of the tent of meeting, even the charge of the sons of Israel, - to do the laborious work of the habitation. read more.
Thus shalt thou give the Levites unto Aaron and unto his sons, - given, given, they are unto him, from among the sons of Israel; but unto Aaron, and unto his sons, shalt thou give oversight, so shall they keep charge of their priesthood, - and, the stranger who cometh near, shall be put to death. I, therefore, lo! I have taken the Levites out of the midst of the sons of Israel, instead of every firstborn that a mother beareth, from among the sons of Israel, - so shall the Levites be mine; for, mine, is every firstborn, in the day when I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt, hallowed unto myself every firstborn in Israel, both of man and of beast, - mine, did they become, and belong unto me, Yahweh. Then spake Yahweh unto Moses, in the desert of Sinai, saying: - Number thou the sons of Levi, by their ancestral houses, by their families, - every male, from one month old and upwards, shalt thou number them. So then Moses numbered them according to the bidding of Yahweh, - as he was commanded.

Is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel hath separated you from the assembly of Israel, to bring you near unto himself, - to do the laborious work of the habitation of Yahweh, and to stand before the assembly, to wait upon them?


But do, thou thyself, put the Levites in charge over the habitation of the testimony, and over all the furniture thereof and over all that pertaineth thereto, they, shall bear the habitation, and all the furniture thereof, and they, shall attend thereupon; and, round about the habitation, shall they encamp. And, when the habitation is to set forward, the Levites shall take it down, and when the habitation is to be pitched, the Levites, shall set it up, but the stranger that draweth near, shall be put to death. So then the sons of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man, near his own camp, and, every man, near his own standard, by their hosts; read more.
but the Levites, shall pitch their tents round about the habitation of the testimony, that there be no wrath upon the assembly of the sons of Israel, - so shall the Levites keep the watch of the habitation of the testimony.

Bring near the tribe of Levi, and thou shalt cause it to stand before Aaron the priest, - so shall they wait upon him; so shall they keep his charge, and the charge of all the assembly, before the tent of meeting, - to do the laborious work of the habitation; so shall they have charge of all the furniture of the tent of meeting, even the charge of the sons of Israel, - to do the laborious work of the habitation. read more.
Thus shalt thou give the Levites unto Aaron and unto his sons, - given, given, they are unto him, from among the sons of Israel;

To, Gershon, belonged the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites, - these, are they - the families of the Gershonites. They who were numbered of them in the counting of every male, from one month old, and upwards, - they who were num-bered of them, were seven thousand and five hundred. the families of the Gershonites, to the rear of the habitation, were to encamp, westward. read more.
And, the prince of the ancestral house of the Gershonites, was Eliasaph son of Lael. And, the charge, of the sons of Gershon, was over the tent of meeting, the habitation, and the tent, - the covering thereof, and the screen for the entrance of the tent of meeting; and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the entrance of the court which was near the habitation and near the altar, round about, - and the cords thereof, as to all the laborious work thereof. And to Kohath, belonged the family of the Amramites and the family of the Izharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites, - these, are they - the families of the Kohathites. In, the counting of every male, from one month old and upwards, there were eight thousand and six hundred, to keep the charge of the sanctuary. The, families of the sons of Kohath, were to encamp, - on the side of the habitation, south-ward. And the prince of the ancestral house of the families of the Kohathites, was Elizaphan, son of Uzziel. And their charge, was - the ark and the table and the lampstand and the altars, and the utensils of the sanctuary wherewith they were to minister, - and the screen, as to all the laborious work thereof. And the prince of the princes of the Levites, was Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, - to have the oversight of them that were to keep the charge of the sanctuary. To Merari, belonged the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites, - these, are they - the families of Merari. And they who were numbered of them in the counting of every male, from one month old and upwards, were six thousand, and two hundred. And the prince of the ancestral house of the families of Merari, was Zuriel son of Abihail, - on the side of the habitation, were they to encamp northward. And the oversight of the charge of the sons of Merari, was - the boards of the habitation, and the bars thereof and the pillars thereof and the sockets thereof, - and all the furniture thereof, as to all the laborious work thereof; also the pillars of the court round about and their sockets, - and their pins and their cords.

Then spake Yahweh unto Moses and unto Aaron saying: Reckon up the sum of the sons of Kohath, out of the midst of the sons of Levi, - by their families by their ancestral house: from thirty years old, and upwards, even unto fifty years, - every one that can enter into the host, to do service in the tent of meeting. read more.
This, shall be the labour of the sons of Kohath, in the tent of meeting, - the most holy things, So then Aaron and his sons shall enter when the camp is to set forward, and take down the screening veil, - and enwrap therein the ark of the testimony; and put thereon a covering of badgers skin, and spread a complete wrapper of blue over above, - and put in the staves thereof. And over the Presence-table, shall they spread a wrapper of blue and put thereon the dishes and the pans and the bowls and the libation cups, the perpetual bread also, thereupon, shall remain; and they shall spread over them a wrapper of crimson, and cover the same with a covering of badgers skin, - and shall put in the staves thereof. Then shall they take a wrapper of blue, and cover the light-giving lampstand, and the lamps thereof, and the snuffers thereof and the snuff-trays thereof, - and all the oil-vessels, thereof, wherewith they minister thereunto; and shall put the same and all the vessels thereof, within a covering of, badger's skin, - and shall put it upon a frame. And upon the altar of gold, shall they spread a wrapper of blue, and shall cover the same in a covering of badgers skin, - and shall put in the staves thereof, And they shall take all the utensils of attendance wherewith they attend in the sanctuary, and put them within a wrapper of blue, and cover the same in a covering of badgers skin, - and put them on a frame. Then shall they remove the fat-ashes from the altar, - and spread over it a wrapper of purple; and put thereupon all the utensils thereof wherewith they minister thereupon - the fire-pans, the flesh-hooks - and the shovels and the tossing-bowls, all the utensils of the altar, - and shall spread over it covering of badgers skin and put in the staves thereof. So shall Aaron and his sons make an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the utensils of the sanctuary, when the camp is to set forward, then after that, shall the sons of Kohath enter to bear it, but they must not put forth a touch unto that which, is holy, else should they die, these, shall be the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting.

Then spake Yahweh unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying: Do not let the tribe of the families of the Kohathites be cut off out of the midst of the Levites. This, therefore, do ye for them, so shall they live and not die when they approach the most holy place, - Aaron and his sons shall enter and set them man by man over his labour, and unto his burden; read more.
but they shall not enter to see, for a moment, that which is holy, else should they die. reckon up the sum of the sons of Gershon even of them also, - by their ancestral house by their families; from thirty years old and upwards even to fifty years, shalt thou number them, - All that may enter to take rank in the host, to do laborious work in the tent of meeting. This, shall be the labour of the families of the Gershonites, - in labouring and in bearing: they shall bear the curtains of the habitation and the tent of meeting, the covering thereof and the covering of badgers skin which is over above it, - and the screen, at the entrance of the tent of meeting; and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the entrance of the gate of the court which is near the habitation and near the altar round about, and their cords, and all their articles of service, and all that is to be done to them when they shall do their labour, At the bidding of Aaron and his sons, shall he all the labour of the sons of the Gershonites, to the extent of their every burden, and to the extent of all their labour, - so shall ye appoint unto them in charge their every burden. This, shall be the labour of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the tent of meeting, - and, the charge of them, shall be in the hand of Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest. As for the sons of Merari, - by their families by their ancestral house, shall ye number them; from thirty years old and upwards even to fifty years, shall ye number them, - all that enter into the host, to do laborious work in the tent of meeting, And, this, shall be their charge of the burdens, to the extent of all their labour in the ten of meeting, the boards of the habitation, and the bars thereof and he pillars thereof and the sockets thereof: and the pillars of the court round about and their sockets anti their pins and their cords, to the extent of all their articles, to the extent of all their labour, and by names, shall ye put under their care the articles of their charge of burdens. This, shall be the labour of the families of the sons of Merari, to the extent of all their labour in the tent of meeting, - in the hand of Ithamar, son of Aaron, the priest. Then did Moses and Aaron, and the princes of the assembly, number the sons of the Kohathites, by their families, and by their ancestral house; from thirty years old and upwards, even unto fifty years old, all that might enter the host, to labour in the tent of meeting; and they who were numbered of them, by their families, were found to be two thousand, seven hundred and fifty. These, were they who were num-bered of the families of the Kohathites, all that might labour in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron did number, at the bidding of Yahweh by the mediation of Moses. And they who were numbered of the sons of Gershon, - by their families, and by their ancestral house; from thirty years old and upwards, even to fifty years old, all that might enter the host, to labour in the tent of meeting,: yea they who were numbered of them, by heir families, by their ancestral house, - were found to be - two thousand, and six hundred, and thirty. These, are they who were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, all who might labour in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron did number, at the bidding of Yahweh. And they who were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, by their families by their ancestral house; from thirty years old and upwards, even unto fifty years old, - all that might enter the host to labour in the tent of meeting; yea they who were numbered of them, by their families, were found to be - three thousand and two hundred. These, are they who were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, - whom Moses and Aaron did number, at the bidding of Yahweh, by the mediation of Moses. All they who were numbered, whom Moses and Aaron and the princes of Israel did number, even the Levites, by their families and by their ancestral house; from thirty years old and upwards, even unto fifty years old, all that might enter, to toil in the work of labouring and in the work of bearing burdens, in the tent of meeting, yea, they who were numbered of them were found to be - eight thousand, and five hundred, and eighty. At the bidding of Yahweh, were they put in charge by the mediation of Moses, man by man, over his labour and over his burden, - yea, they who were put in charge by him, were they, whom Yahweh commanded Moses.

therefore have I given the Levites as a gift unto Aaron and unto his sons, out of the midst of the sons of Israel, to do the laborious work of the sons of Israel in the tent of meeting, and to put a propitiatory-covering over the sons of Israel, - so shall there be among the sons of Israel, no plague, by the coming nigh of the sons of Israel unto the sanctuary.

So shall they keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tent, - only, unto the vessels of the sanctuary, and unto the altar, shall they not come near, lest they die - both they, and ye. So shall they be joined unto thee, and shall keep the charge of the tent of meeting, as to all the laborious work of the tent, - but a stranger, shall not come near unto you. So shall ye keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar, - that there no more be wrath against the sons of Israel. read more.
I, therefore, lo! I have taken your brethren the Levites, out of the midst of the sons of Israel, - unto you, as a gift are they given, unto Yahweh, to do the laborious work of the tent of meeting.


Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons, were for the outward business over Israel, - as officers, and as judges.

And, even in Jerusalem, did Jehoshaphat station some of the Levites and the priests, and of the ancestral chiefs of Israel, to pronounce the just sentence of Yahweh, and to settle disputes, - when they returned to Jerusalem. And he laid charge upon them, saying, - Thus, shall ye act, in the fear of Yahweh, faithfully and with an undivided heart. Any dispute that shall come in unto you from among your brethren who are dwelling in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment and statutes and regulations, then shall ye warn them, that they may not become guilty against Yahweh, and so wrath come upon you and upon your brethren, - Thus, shall ye act, and not incur guilt. read more.
And lo! Amariah the chief priest, is over you as to every matter of Yahweh, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael the chief ruler for the house of Judah, as to every matter of the king, and, as officers, the Levites are before you, - Be strong and act, and Yahweh be with the good!

and shalt come in unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge who shall be in those days, - and shalt enquire and they shall declare unto thee, the sentence of judgment;

and Shabbethai and Jozabad, over the outside business of the house of God, of the chiefs of the Levites;

Of these - to preside over the work of the house of Yahweh, were twenty-four thousand, - and officers and judges, six thousand;


Now, in the second year of their coming in unto the house of God, to Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak and the rest of their brethren - the priests and the Levites, and all that were come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, and stationed the Levites, of twenty years old and upwards, to preside over the work of the house of Yahweh.

from thirty years old, and upwards, even unto fifty years, - every one that can enter into the host, to do service in the tent of meeting.

from thirty years old and upwards even to fifty years, shall ye number them, - all that enter into the host, to do laborious work in the tent of meeting,

from thirty years old and upwards, even unto fifty years old, all that might enter, to toil in the work of labouring and in the work of bearing burdens, in the tent of meeting,

And Yahweh spake unto Moses saying; This is what concerneth the Levites, - from twenty-five years old and upwards, shall they enter to take rank in the host, for doing the laborious work of the tent of meeting; but from the age of fifty years, shall they retire from taking rank in the labour, and shall do laborious work no more; read more.
yet shall they wait upon their brethren in the tent of meeting, by keeping charge, but laborious work, shall they not perform, - thus, shalt thou do unto the Levites, as touching their charges.

Now the Levites were numbered, from thirty years old and upwards, - and their number by their polls, of mature men, was thirty-eight thousand.

These, were the sons of Levi by their ancestral house, the ancestral chiefs of them who were counted in the number of their names, by their polls, doing the work, for the service of the house of Yahweh, - from twenty years old, and upwards.

For, by the last words of David, the same, were the number of the sons of Levi, - from twenty years old, and upwards.


The Levites, The sons of Jeshua, and Kadmiel of the sons of Hodaviah, seventy-four. The singers, The sons of Asaph, a hundred and twenty-eight. The sons of the door-keepers, The sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, - in all, a hundred and thirty-nine. read more.
The Nethinim, The sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth; the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon; the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub; the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shamlai, the sons of Hanan; the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah; the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam; the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai; the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephisim; the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur; the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha; the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah; the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha. The Sons of the Servants of Solomon. The sons of Sotai, the sons of Hasso-phereth, the sons of Peruda; the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel; the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of Ami. All the Nethinim, and the Sons of the Servants of Solomon, were three hundred and ninety-two. And, these, were they who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, Immer; but they could not tell their ancestral house, nor their seed, whether, of Israel, they were: the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, - six hundred and fifty-two. And, of the sons of the priests, the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, - the sons of Barzillai, who took of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name. These, sought their writing wherein they were registered, but they were not found, - so they were desecrated out of the priesthood; and the governor told them, that they must not eat of the most holy things, - until there should stand up a priest, with Lights and Perfections.

So then there came up some of the sons of Israel, and some of the priests and the Levites and the singers and the doorkeepers and the Nethinim, unto Jerusalem, - in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

So I sent for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men, - also for Joiarib and for Elnathan, teachers. And I sent them forth unto Iddo the chief, at the place Casiphia, - and I put into their mouth words, to speak unto Iddo and his brethren the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, to bring unto us attendants for the house of our God. So they brought unto us, according to the good hand of our God upon us, a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, son of Levi, son of Israel, - and Sherebiah, and his sons and his brethren, eighteen; read more.
and Hashabiah, and, with him, Jeshaiah, of the sons of Merari, - his brethren and their sons, twenty; and, of the Nethinim whom David and the rulers had given for the service of the Levites, Nethinim, two hundred and twenty, - all of them, expressed by name.

The Levites, The sons of Joshua, of Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodevah, seventy-four; The singers, The sons of Asaph, a hundred, and forty-eight; The doorkeepers, The sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, a hundred, and thirty-eight; read more.
the sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon; the sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Salmai; the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar; the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda; the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah; the sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephushesim; the sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha; The Sons of the Servants of Solomon, The sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida; the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel; the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of Amen. All the Nethinim, and the Sons of the Servants of Solomon, were three hundred, and ninety-two. And, these, are they who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, - but they could not tell their ancestral house, nor their seed, whether, of Israel, they were: the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, - six hundred and forty-two, And, of the priests, the sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, - the sons of Barzillai, who had taken of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name. These, sought their writing wherein they were registered, but it was not found, - so they were desecrated out of the priesthood; and the governor told them, they must not eat of the most holy things, - until there should stand up a priest, with Lights and Perfections. All the gathered host together, was forty-two thousand, three hundred, and sixty; besides, their men-servants and maid-servants, were these, seven thousand, three hundred, and thirty-seven, - and, to them, pertained, singing-men and singing-women, two hundred, and forty-five: their horses, were seven hundred, and thirty-six, - their mules, two hundred, and forty-five; camels, four hundred, and thirty-five, - asses, six thousand, seven hundred, and twenty. And, a portion of the ancestral chiefs, gave unto the work, - the governor, gave unto the treasury, of gold, a thousand darics, tossing bowls, fifty, tunics for priests, five hundred, and thirty; and, some of the ancestral chiefs, gave unto the treasury of the work, of gold, twenty thousand darics, - and, of silver, two thousand and two hundred manehs; and, that which the rest of the people gave, was, of gold, twenty thousand darics, and, of silver, two thousand manehs, - and, tunics for priests, sixty-seven. So the priests and the Levites and the door-keepers and the singers and some of the people, and the Nethinim and all Israel, took up their abode in their cities. And, when the seventh month arrived, the sons of Israel were in their cities.


And Yahweh said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and the house of thy father with thee, shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary, - and, thou, and thy sons with thee, shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.

and thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and twist round for them caps, so shall they have priesthood by a statute age-abiding, - so shalt thou install, Aaron and his sons.

Thou thyself, therefore bring near unto thee - Aaron thy brother and his sons with him out of the midst of the sons of Israel, that they may minister as priests unto me, - Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar sons of Aaron.

But, they who were to encamp before the habitation eastwards before the tent of meeting, towards sunrise, were Moses and Aaron and his sons. to keep the charge of the sanctuary, as the charge of the sons of Israel and, the stranger that came near, was to be put to death.

And it came to pass, on the morrow, that Moses entered into the tent of the testimony; and lo! the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi, had budded, - yea it had brought forth buds and bloomed blossoms, and borne ripe almonds.

Speak unto he sans of Israel and take of them one staff each for an ancestral house of all their princes, by their ancestral houses, twelve staves, - each man's name, shalt thou write upon his staff; and, Aaron's name, shalt thou write upon the staff of Levi, - for, one staff, shall there be for the head of their ancestral house. Then shalt thou lay them up in the tent of meeting, - before the testimony, where I meet with you.


So shall ye know that I sent unto you this charge, - as being my covenant with Levi, saith Yahweh of hosts. My covenant, was with him, Life and Well-being, so I gave them to him - I as One to be revered - and he did revere me, - and, before my Name, dismayed, was he.

So Moses took his stand in the gate of the camp, and said - Who is for Yahweh? -- To me! Then gathered unto him all the sons of Levi, And he said to them - Thus, saith Yahweh, God of Israel, Put ye every man his sword upon his thigh, - pass through and return from gate to gate in the camp, and slay ye every man his brother and every man his friend and every man his neighbour. So the sons of Levi did, according to the word of Moses, - and there fell from among the people on that day, about three thousand men.

Who saith of his father and of his mother, I behold them not, And, his own brethren, regardeth he not, And, his own sons, observeth he not, - Because they watch thy speech, That, thy covenant, they may preserve,; May teach thy regulations unto Jacob, And thy law unto Israel, - May put incense in thy nostrils, And a whole-offering upon thine altar.


And, round about the house of God, used they to lodge, - for, upon them, was the charge, and they were over the setting open, morning by morning. And, some from among them, were over the utensils of the service, - for, by number, used they to bring them in, and, by number, used they to take them forth. And, some from among them, were appointed over the utensils, yea over all the vessels of the holy place, - and over the fine meal, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.

and gathered together all the rulers of Israel, with the priests, and the Levites. Now the Levites were numbered, from thirty years old and upwards, - and their number by their polls, of mature men, was thirty-eight thousand. Of these - to preside over the work of the house of Yahweh, were twenty-four thousand, - and officers and judges, six thousand; read more.
and four thousand, were doorkeepers, - and, four thousand, were offerers of praise unto Yahweh, with instruments, which said David I made for offering praise. And David divided them into courses, - pertaining to the sons of Levi, to Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Of the Gershonites, Ladan and Shimei. The sons of Ladan, the chief Jehiel, and Zetham and Joel, three. The sons of Shimei, Shelomoth and Haziel and Haran, three, - these, were the ancestral chiefs of Ladan. And, the sons of Shimei, Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah, - these, were the sons of Shimei, four. And Jahath was chief, and Zizah the second, - but, Jeush and Beriah, had not many sons, so they became an ancestral house, by one reckoning. The sons of Kohath, Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four. The sons of Amram, Aaron and Moses, - and Aaron was separated, to hallow the holy of holies, he and his sons, unto times age-abiding, to make a perfume before Yahweh, to be in attendance upon him, and to bless in his name, unto times age-abiding; and, as for Moses, the man of God, his sons, were called unto the tribe of Levi. The sons of Moses, were Gershom, and Eliezer. the sons of Gershom, were Shebuel the chief; and the sons of Eliezer were Rehabiah the chief, - and Eliezer had no other sons, but, the sons of Rehabiah, were very many. The sons of Izhar, Shelomith the chief. The sons of Hebron, Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jehaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. The sons of Uzziel, Micah the chief, and Isshiah the second. The sons of Merari, were Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli, were Eleazar and Kish. But Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters only, - and so the sons of Kish their brethren took them. The sons of Mushi, were Mahli and Eder and Jeremoth, three. These, were the sons of Levi by their ancestral house, the ancestral chiefs of them who were counted in the number of their names, by their polls, doing the work, for the service of the house of Yahweh, - from twenty years old, and upwards. For, said David, Yahweh the God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, - and hath taken up his habitation in Jerusalem, unto times age-abiding; moreover also, as for the Levites, they have no need to bear the habitation, nor any of its vessels in the laborious work thereof. For, by the last words of David, the same, were the number of the sons of Levi, - from twenty years old, and upwards. For, their duty, was - to be in attendance upon the sons of Aaron, in the laborious work of the house of Yahweh, over the courts, and over the chambers, and over the purifying of everything holy, - and doing the laborious work, of the house of God; and for the bread set in array, and for the fine meal for the meal-offering, and for the unleavened cakes, even for that which is baked in a pan, for the moistened food, - even of every measure, and size; and to stand, morning by morning, to give thanks and offer praise unto Yahweh, - and, likewise, at even; and for all the offering of ascending-sacrifices unto Yahweh, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the set feasts, - by number, according to the manner prescribed for them continually, before Yahweh; - and they shall keep the charge of the tent of meeting, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron, their brethren, - in the laborious work of the house of Yahweh.

Then I separated, from among the rulers of the priests, twelve, - even Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and, with them, from among their brethren, ten; and weighed unto them, the silver and the gold, and the utensils, - the heave-offering for the house of our God, which the king and his counselors and his rulers and all Israel who were present, had offered: I even weighed unto their hand, of silver, six hundred and fifty talents, and, of utensils of silver, a hundred talents, - of gold, a hundred talents; read more.
and, bowls of gold, twenty, of a thousand drams, - and, utensils of fine bright bronze, two, precious as gold. Then said I unto them, Ye, are hallowed unto Yahweh, and, the utensils, are hallowed, - and, the silver and the gold, are a freewill offering, unto Yahweh, God of your fathers: Watch and guard, until ye weigh them before the rulers of the priests and the Levites and the ancestral rulers of Israel, in Jerusalem, - in the chambers of the house of Yahweh. So the priests and the Levites accepted the weight of the silver and the gold, and the utensils, - to bring to Jerusalem, unto the house of our God. Then brake we up from the river of Ahava, on the twelfth of the first month, to journey unto Jerusalem, - and, the hand of our God, was upon us, and he delivered us from the grasp of the enemy and of the lier in wait, by the way. So we came to Jerusalem, - and we rested there, three days. And, on the fourth day, was weighed - the silver and the gold and the utensils, in the house of our God, unto the hand of Meremoth son of Uriah, the priest, and, with him, was Eleazar son of Phinehas, - and, with them, were Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui, Levites: by the number and by the weight of the whole, - and all the weight, was written down, at that time.


Therefore will he sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and will purify the sons of Levi, and will smelt them, as gold and as silver; so shall they belong to Yahweh, offering a gift in righteousness.

Nor to the priests the Levites, shall there be wanting - A man, before me, To offer an ascending-sacrifice, or To make a perfume with a gift, or To offer a peace- offering, all the days!

But as for the Levites. Who went far from me, when Israel went astray. Who went astray from me, after their manufactured gods, Therefore shall they bear their iniquity, Yet shall they remain in my sanctuary As attendants in charge at the gates of the house, - And attending upon the house, - They shall slay the ascending-offering, and the sacrifice of the people, And they, shall stand before them to wait upon them. Because they used to wait upon them before their manufactured gods, and became to the house of Israel a stumbling-block of iniquity, For this cause have I lifted up my hand concerning them Declareth My Lord Yahweh, and they shall bear their iniquity; read more.
So then they shall not come near unto me To minister as priests unto me, Nor come near unto any of my holy things, As regardeth things most holy, - But they shall bear their rebuke, and their abominations which they have committed; Yet will I make them keepers of the charge of the house, - As to all the labour thereof, and As to all which shall be done therein.


I, therefore, lo! I have taken the Levites out of the midst of the sons of Israel, instead of every firstborn that a mother beareth, from among the sons of Israel, - so shall the Levites be mine;

For, given, given, they are unto me, out of the midst of the sons of Israel, - instead of every firstborn that a mother beareth from among the sons of Israel, have I taken them unto me. For mine, is every firstborn among the sons of Israel, among men and among beasts, - on the day when I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt, did I hallow them unto me. Therefore have I taken the Levites, - instead of every firstborn among the sons of Israel;

I, therefore, lo! I have taken your brethren the Levites, out of the midst of the sons of Israel, - unto you, as a gift are they given, unto Yahweh, to do the laborious work of the tent of meeting.

then shalt thou take the Levites for me, me Yahweh, instead of every firstborn among the sons of Ishmael, - also the cattle of the Levites, instead of every firstling among the cattle of the sons of Israel. So then Moses numbered, as Yahweh commanded him, - every firstborn among the sons of Israel. And it was so - that all the firstborn of the males in the counting of names from one month old and upwards of such as were numbered of them, - were two-and-twenty thousand, two hundred and seventy-three. read more.
Then spake Yahweh unto Moses, saying: - Take the Levites, instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites, instead of their cattle, - so shall the Levites belong unto me, me Yahweh;

thus shalt thou separate the Levites out of the midst of the sons of Israel, - thus shall the Levites become mine.


But the Levites by the tribe of their fathers were not numbered in their midst. For Yahweh spake unto Moses saying: Only the tribe of Levi, shalt thou no number, nor the sum of them, shalt thou reckon up, in the midst of the sons of Israel. read more.
But do, thou thyself, put the Levites in charge over the habitation of the testimony, and over all the furniture thereof and over all that pertaineth thereto, they, shall bear the habitation, and all the furniture thereof, and they, shall attend thereupon; and, round about the habitation, shall they encamp. And, when the habitation is to set forward, the Levites shall take it down, and when the habitation is to be pitched, the Levites, shall set it up, but the stranger that draweth near, shall be put to death. So then the sons of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man, near his own camp, and, every man, near his own standard, by their hosts; but the Levites, shall pitch their tents round about the habitation of the testimony, that there be no wrath upon the assembly of the sons of Israel, - so shall the Levites keep the watch of the habitation of the testimony. Thus did the sons of Israel, - according to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so, did they.

Of the sons of Levi, four thousand, and six hundred.


Then was taken down the habitation, - and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward bearing the habitation.

And these, the names of the sons of Gershon by their families, - Libni and Shimei. And, the sons of Kohath, by their families Amram, and Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. And the sons of Merari by their families, Mahli and Mushi. These, are they - the families of the Levites by their ancestral houses. read more.
To, Gershon, belonged the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites, - these, are they - the families of the Gershonites. They who were numbered of them in the counting of every male, from one month old, and upwards, - they who were num-bered of them, were seven thousand and five hundred. the families of the Gershonites, to the rear of the habitation, were to encamp, westward. And, the prince of the ancestral house of the Gershonites, was Eliasaph son of Lael. And, the charge, of the sons of Gershon, was over the tent of meeting, the habitation, and the tent, - the covering thereof, and the screen for the entrance of the tent of meeting; and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the entrance of the court which was near the habitation and near the altar, round about, - and the cords thereof, as to all the laborious work thereof.

from thirty years old and upwards even to fifty years, shalt thou number them, - All that may enter to take rank in the host, to do laborious work in the tent of meeting. This, shall be the labour of the families of the Gershonites, - in labouring and in bearing: they shall bear the curtains of the habitation and the tent of meeting, the covering thereof and the covering of badgers skin which is over above it, - and the screen, at the entrance of the tent of meeting; read more.
and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the entrance of the gate of the court which is near the habitation and near the altar round about, and their cords, and all their articles of service, and all that is to be done to them when they shall do their labour,


But do, thou thyself, put the Levites in charge over the habitation of the testimony, and over all the furniture thereof and over all that pertaineth thereto, they, shall bear the habitation, and all the furniture thereof, and they, shall attend thereupon; and, round about the habitation, shall they encamp. And, when the habitation is to set forward, the Levites shall take it down, and when the habitation is to be pitched, the Levites, shall set it up, but the stranger that draweth near, shall be put to death. So then the sons of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man, near his own camp, and, every man, near his own standard, by their hosts; read more.
but the Levites, shall pitch their tents round about the habitation of the testimony, that there be no wrath upon the assembly of the sons of Israel, - so shall the Levites keep the watch of the habitation of the testimony.

Then shall set forward the tent of meeting - the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camps, - as they encamp, so, shall they set forward, every man at the side thereof by their standards.

the families of the Gershonites, to the rear of the habitation, were to encamp, westward. And, the prince of the ancestral house of the Gershonites, was Eliasaph son of Lael. And, the charge, of the sons of Gershon, was over the tent of meeting, the habitation, and the tent, - the covering thereof, and the screen for the entrance of the tent of meeting; read more.
and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the entrance of the court which was near the habitation and near the altar, round about, - and the cords thereof, as to all the laborious work thereof. And to Kohath, belonged the family of the Amramites and the family of the Izharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites, - these, are they - the families of the Kohathites. In, the counting of every male, from one month old and upwards, there were eight thousand and six hundred, to keep the charge of the sanctuary. The, families of the sons of Kohath, were to encamp, - on the side of the habitation, south-ward. And the prince of the ancestral house of the families of the Kohathites, was Elizaphan, son of Uzziel. And their charge, was - the ark and the table and the lampstand and the altars, and the utensils of the sanctuary wherewith they were to minister, - and the screen, as to all the laborious work thereof. And the prince of the princes of the Levites, was Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, - to have the oversight of them that were to keep the charge of the sanctuary. To Merari, belonged the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites, - these, are they - the families of Merari. And they who were numbered of them in the counting of every male, from one month old and upwards, were six thousand, and two hundred. And the prince of the ancestral house of the families of Merari, was Zuriel son of Abihail, - on the side of the habitation, were they to encamp northward.


Because the tenth of the sons of Israel which they shall offer up unto Yahweh as a heave-offering, have I given unto the Levites as an inheritance, - for this cause, said I regarding them, In the midst of the sons of Israel, shall they take no inheritance.

Command the sons of Israel, that they give unto the Levites - out of the inheritance which they possess - cities to dwell in, - pasture land also unto the cities, round about them, shall ye give unto the Levites. So shall the cities be theirs, to dwell in, - and their pasture lands, shall, ye for their cattle and for their goods and for all their beasts. And, the pasture lands of the cities which ye shall give unto the Levite, shall be, - from the wail of the city, and outwards, a thousand cubits round about read more.
So ye shall measure - on the outside of the city - the eastward quarter two thousand by the cubit, and the south quarter two thousand by the cubit, and the west quarter two thousand by the cubit and the north quarter two thousand by the cubit, with, the city, in the midst. This, shall be unto them the pasture lands of the cities, And, among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall be the six cities of refuge, which ye shall give that the manslayer may flee thither, - and besides them, ye shall give, forty-two cities, All the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall be forty-eight cities, - them, and their pasture lands, And as touching the cities which ye shall give out of the possession of the sons of Israel from the many, shall ye take many, and from the few, shall ye take few, - each, according to his inheritance, which they shall inherit, shall We of his cities unto the Levites.


At that time, did Yahweh separate the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, - to stand before Yahweh to wait upon him and to bless in his name (until this day).

Then, said David, None must carry the ark of God, save the Levites, - for, of them, did Yahweh make choice, to bear the ark of Yahweh, and to attend it, unto times age-abiding.

And so it was that, when God helped the Levites, who were bearing the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, they sacrificed seven bullocks and seven rams. Now, David, was wrapped about with a robe of byssus, with all the Levites who were bearing the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the leader of the service rendered by the singers, - but, upon David, was an ephod of white linen.


This, therefore, do ye for them, so shall they live and not die when they approach the most holy place, - Aaron and his sons shall enter and set them man by man over his labour, and unto his burden; but they shall not enter to see, for a moment, that which is holy, else should they die.


These, also were the singers, ancestral chiefs of the Levites, in the chambers, free, - for, by day and by night, was there a charge upon them, in the business.

And, round about the house of God, used they to lodge, - for, upon them, was the charge, and they were over the setting open, morning by morning.

And on the outside of the inner gate, were the chambers of the singers in the inner court which was at the side of the north gate, and their front was toward the south, - one, at the side of the south gate, fronting, toward the north.


Also, unto Abiathar the priest, said the king - To Anathoth, get thee unto thine own fields, for, death-doomed, thou art, - but, this day, will I not put thee to death, because thou didst bear the ark of My Lord, Yahweh, before David my father, and because thou wast afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.

Portion for portion, shall they eat, - apart from his possessions upon his patrimony.


and gathered together all the rulers of Israel, with the priests, and the Levites. Now the Levites were numbered, from thirty years old and upwards, - and their number by their polls, of mature men, was thirty-eight thousand. Of these - to preside over the work of the house of Yahweh, were twenty-four thousand, - and officers and judges, six thousand;

Now, in the second year of their coming in unto the house of God, to Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak and the rest of their brethren - the priests and the Levites, and all that were come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, and stationed the Levites, of twenty years old and upwards, to preside over the work of the house of Yahweh. So they took their station - even Jeshua, his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, sons of Judah, as one man to preside over the doer of the work in the house of God, the sons of Henadad, their sons and their brethren, the Levites.


Then arose the Levites - Mahath son of Amasai, and Joel son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites, and, of the sons of Merari, Kish son of Abdi, and Azariah son of Jehallelel, - and, of the Gershonites, Joah son of Zimmah, and Eden son of Joah; and, of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeiel, - and, of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah, and Mattaniah; and, of the sons of Heman, Jehiel and Shimei, - and, of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah, and Uzziel; read more.
and they gathered together their brethren, who hallowed themselves, and came in according to the command of the king, in the things of Yahweh, - to purify the house of Yahweh. So the priests entered into the inner part of the house of Yahweh, to make purification, and they brought out every unclean thing which they found in the temple of Yahweh, into the court of the house of Yahweh, - where the Levites received it, to carry it forth to the Kidron ravine outside. And they began, on the first of the first month, to hallow, - and, on the eighth day of the month, they came to the porch of Yahweh, so they hallowed the house of Yahweh in eight days, - and, on the sixteenth day of the first month, they finished. Then came they in unto Hezekiah the king, and said, We have purified all the house of Yahweh, - the altar of ascending-sacrifice, and all the utensils thereof, and the table for setting in array, and all the utensils thereof. And, all the utensils which King Ahaz in his reign rejected when he acted unfaithfully, have we made ready and hallowed, - and, there they are, before the altar of Yahweh. So Hezekiah the king rose up early, and gathered together the rulers of the city, - and went up to the house of Yahweh. And they brought in seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven young sheep, and seven he-goats for bearing sin, for the kingdom and for the sanctuary and for Judah, - and he bade the sons of Aaron, the priests, cause them to ascend upon the altar of Yahweh. So they slaughtered the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and dashed it against the altar, - and they slaughtered the rams, and dashed the blood against the altar, and slaughtered the young sheep, and dashed the blood against the altar. And they brought near the he-goats for bearing sin, before the king, and the convocation, - and they leaned their hands upon them; and the priests slaughtered them, and sin-cleansed, with their blood, the altar, to put a propitiatory-covering over all Israel,-because, for all Israel, did the king appoint the ascending-sacrifice and the offering for bearing sin. And he caused the Levites to stand in the house of Yahweh, with cymbals and with harps and with lyres, by the commandment of David, and of Gad the seer of the king, and of Nathan the prophet, - for, by the hand of Yahweh, came the commandment by the hand of his prophets. So the Levites took their stand, with the instruments of David, and the priests, with the trumpets. And Hezekiah gave word, to cause the ascending-sacrifice to go up on the altar, - and, when the ascending-sacrifice began, the singing unto Yahweh began, and the trumpets, even under the direction of the instruments of David, king of Israel. And, all the convocation, were bowing themselves in prostration, and, the song, was resounding and the trumpets were blowing,-the whole, until the completing of the ascending-sacrifice. And, when the offering was complete, the king knelt down and all who were present with him, and bowed themselves in prostration. And Hezekiah the king and the rulers gave word to the Levites, to offer praise unto Yahweh, in the words of David, and of Asaph the seer, - so they offered praise right joyfully, and bent their heads and bowed themselves in prostration. Then responded Hezekiah and said - Now, have ye consecrated yourselves unto Yahweh. Draw near, and bring in sacrifices and thank-offerings unto the house of Yahweh,-So the convocation brought sacrifices and thank-offerings, and, everyone of a willing heart, brought ascending-sacrifices. And it came to pass that, the number of ascending-sacrifices which the convocation brought, was - seventy bullocks, and a hundred rams, and two hundred young sheep, - as an ascending-sacrifice unto Yahweh, all these. But, the hallowed beasts, were six hundred bullocks, and three thousand sheep. Only, the priests, were too few, and were unable to flay all the ascending-sacrifices, - so their brethren the Levites strengthened them, until the work was complete and until the priests had hallowed themselves, for, the Levites, were more upright in heart to hallow themselves, than the priests. Moreover also, the ascending-sacrifices, were in abundance, with the fat portions of the peace-offerings, and with the drink-offerings to every ascending-sacrifice,-thus was established the service of the house of Yahweh. And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, because God had established it for the people, - for, suddenly, had the thing come about.

And Josiah kept, in Jerusalem, a passover unto Yahweh, - and they slaughtered the passover, on the fourteenth of the first month. And he set the priests over their charges, - and encouraged them unto the service of the house of Yahweh; and said to the Levites who gave instruction to all Israel as to the things which were hallowed unto Yahweh, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon son of David king of Israel did build, it is not yours as a burden on the shoulder, - Now, serve ye Yahweh your God, and his people Israel; read more.
and prepare yourselves by your ancestral houses, according to your courses, - by the writing of David king of Israel, and by what hath been written by Solomon his son; and stand ye in the holy place, by the divisions of the ancestral house, for your brethren, the sons of the people, and the partitioning of an ancestral house, for the Levites. So slaughter ye the passover, - and hallow yourselves, and prepare for your brethren, that they may do according to the word of Yahweh, by the hand of Moses. And Josiah presented to the sons of the people - of flocks, young sheep and the young of the goats, the whole for the passover offerings, for all present, to the number of thirty thousand, and, of bullocks, three thousand, - these, out of the substance of the king. And, his rulers, willingly, to the people and to the priests and to the Levites, presented, - Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, chief rulers of the house of God, unto the priests, did give, for passover offerings, two thousand and six hundred, and, of bullocks, three hundred; and, Conaniah, and Shemaiah and Nethanel his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, rulers of the Levites, presented to the Levites, for passover offerings, five thousand, and, of bullocks, five hundred. Thus was the service prepared, - and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the commandment of the king. So they slaughtered the passover, and the priests dashed the blood received at their hand, and the Levites were flaying the offerings . Then they removed the ascending-sacrifice, that they might give them - by the divisions of each ancestral house - unto the sons of the people, to offer unto Yahweh, as it is written in the Book of Moses, - and, in like manner, with the bullocks. And they cooked the passover with fire, according to the regulation, - but, the hallowed things, cooked they in cauldrons and in pots and in bowls, and then took quickly, unto all the sons of the people. And, afterwards, prepared they for themselves and for the priests, because, the priests, the sons of Aaron, had been engaged in offering up the ascending-sacrifice and the fat pieces, until night, - the Levites, therefore prepared for themselves, and for the priests, the sons of Aaron. the singers also, the sons of Asaph, were in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the seer of the king, and, the doorkeepers, were at the several doors, - there was no need for them to remove from their service, for, their brethren the Levites, prepared for them. Thus was all the service of Yahweh prepared on that day; to keep the passover, and to offer up the ascending-sacrifice, upon the altar of Yahweh, - according to the commandment of King Josiah. So the sons of Israel who were present kept the passover at that time, - and the festival of unleavened cakes, seven days. And there had not been kept, a passover like it, in Israel, since the days of Samuel the prophet, - yea, none of the kings of Israel, had kept such a passover as was kept by Josiah and the priests and the Levites and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.


And, the priests and Levites that were in all Israel, took their stand with him, out of all their boundaries. For the Levites left their pasture lands, and their possessions, and came to Judah, and to Jerusalem, - for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, from ministering as priests unto Yahweh; and appointed for himself priests for the high places, and for the demons - and for the calves which he had made. read more.
And, after them - out of all the tribes of Israel, such as were setting their heart to seek Yahweh God of Israel, came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto Yahweh, God of their fathers. So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and emboldened Rehoboam son of Solomon, for three years, - for they walked in the way of David and Solomon, for three years.

Have ye not driven out the priests of Yahweh, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, - and made for yourselves priests like the peoples of the countries? Whosoever cometh to install himself with a young bullock, and seven rams, then becometh he a priest unto the, no-gods. But, as for us, Yahweh, is our God, and we have not forsaken him, - and, the priests who are waiting upon Yahweh, are sons of Aaron, with Levites in the work; and they are making a perfume unto Yahweh, with ascending-sacrifices morning by morning, and evening by evening and an incense of sweet spices, and are putting in order bread upon the pure table, and the lampstand of gold with the lamps thereof, for lighting up evening by evening, for, observant, are we of the charge of Yahweh our God, - whereas, ye, have forsaken him.


Bring ye all the tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, Yea, I pray you, put me to the proof hereby, saith Yahweh of hosts, whether I will not open to you the sluices of the heavens, and pour out for you blessing, until there be no room.

Then came I to know, that, the portions of the Levites, had not been given them , - so that the Levites and the singers, who had been doing the work, had fled every one to his field. Therefore contended I with the deputies, and said, Wherefore is the house of God, forsaken? So I gathered them together, and set them in their place. Then, all Judah, brought in the tithe of corn, and new wine, and oil, unto the treasuries; read more.
and I made treasurers over the treasuries - Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah from among the Levites, and, next unto them, Hanan son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, - for faithful were they accounted, and it was laid upon them to distribute unto their brethren.


And, two parts of you, are all that are going out on the sabbath, - so shall ye keep the watch of the house of Yahweh, as touching the king. Thus shall ye encompass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand, and, he that cometh within the ranks, let him be slain, - so be ye with the king, when he cometh out and when he goeth in. And the captains of hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded, and they took every man his men who were coming in on the sabbath, with them who were going out on the sabbath, - and came unto Jehoiada the priest. read more.
And the priest gave unto the captains of hundreds the spears and the shields which belonged to King David, - which were in the house of Yahweh. And the runners stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the right corner of the house, as far as the left corner of the house, by the altar and the house, - near the king, round about.

So shall the Levites encompass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand, and, he that entereth into the house, shall be put to death. Thus be ye with the king, when he cometh in and when he goeth out.


Now, when these things were ended, the rulers drew near unto me, saying, The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not kept themselves separate from the peoples of the lands, - in view of their abominations-even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites; for they have taken of their daughters, for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed have intermingled themselves among the peoples of the lands, - and, the hand of the rulers and the deputies, hath, in this unfaithfulness, been, foremost.

And, of the Levites, Jozabad and Shimei, and Kelaiah, the same, is Kelita, Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. And, of the singers, Eliashib. And, of the doorkeepers, Shallum and Telem and Uri.


And to Kohath, belonged the family of the Amramites and the family of the Izharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites, - these, are they - the families of the Kohathites. In, the counting of every male, from one month old and upwards, there were eight thousand and six hundred, to keep the charge of the sanctuary. The, families of the sons of Kohath, were to encamp, - on the side of the habitation, south-ward. read more.
And the prince of the ancestral house of the families of the Kohathites, was Elizaphan, son of Uzziel. And their charge, was - the ark and the table and the lampstand and the altars, and the utensils of the sanctuary wherewith they were to minister, - and the screen, as to all the laborious work thereof. And the prince of the princes of the Levites, was Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, - to have the oversight of them that were to keep the charge of the sanctuary.

Reckon up the sum of the sons of Kohath, out of the midst of the sons of Levi, - by their families by their ancestral house: from thirty years old, and upwards, even unto fifty years, - every one that can enter into the host, to do service in the tent of meeting. This, shall be the labour of the sons of Kohath, in the tent of meeting, - the most holy things, read more.
So then Aaron and his sons shall enter when the camp is to set forward, and take down the screening veil, - and enwrap therein the ark of the testimony; and put thereon a covering of badgers skin, and spread a complete wrapper of blue over above, - and put in the staves thereof. And over the Presence-table, shall they spread a wrapper of blue and put thereon the dishes and the pans and the bowls and the libation cups, the perpetual bread also, thereupon, shall remain; and they shall spread over them a wrapper of crimson, and cover the same with a covering of badgers skin, - and shall put in the staves thereof. Then shall they take a wrapper of blue, and cover the light-giving lampstand, and the lamps thereof, and the snuffers thereof and the snuff-trays thereof, - and all the oil-vessels, thereof, wherewith they minister thereunto; and shall put the same and all the vessels thereof, within a covering of, badger's skin, - and shall put it upon a frame. And upon the altar of gold, shall they spread a wrapper of blue, and shall cover the same in a covering of badgers skin, - and shall put in the staves thereof, And they shall take all the utensils of attendance wherewith they attend in the sanctuary, and put them within a wrapper of blue, and cover the same in a covering of badgers skin, - and put them on a frame. Then shall they remove the fat-ashes from the altar, - and spread over it a wrapper of purple; and put thereupon all the utensils thereof wherewith they minister thereupon - the fire-pans, the flesh-hooks - and the shovels and the tossing-bowls, all the utensils of the altar, - and shall spread over it covering of badgers skin and put in the staves thereof. So shall Aaron and his sons make an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the utensils of the sanctuary, when the camp is to set forward, then after that, shall the sons of Kohath enter to bear it, but they must not put forth a touch unto that which, is holy, else should they die, these, shall be the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting.


And, all Israel, and their elders and officers, and their judges, were standing on this side and on that side of the ark, before the priests the Levites, who were bearing the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, as well the sojourner as the home-born, half of them over against Mount Gerizim, and half of them over against Mount Ebal, - as Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded to bless the sons of Israel, first of all.

These, shall stand to bless the people upon Mount Gerizim, when ye have passed over the Jordan, - Simeon and Levi and Judah, and Issachar and Joseph and Benjamin;


I, therefore, lo! I have taken your brethren the Levites, out of the midst of the sons of Israel, - unto you, as a gift are they given, unto Yahweh, to do the laborious work of the tent of meeting.

therefore have I given the Levites as a gift unto Aaron and unto his sons, out of the midst of the sons of Israel, to do the laborious work of the sons of Israel in the tent of meeting, and to put a propitiatory-covering over the sons of Israel, - so shall there be among the sons of Israel, no plague, by the coming nigh of the sons of Israel unto the sanctuary.

Thus shalt thou give the Levites unto Aaron and unto his sons, - given, given, they are unto him, from among the sons of Israel;


And the prince of the princes of the Levites, was Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, - to have the oversight of them that were to keep the charge of the sanctuary.

And, Phinehas son of Eleazar, was, chief ruler, over them aforetime, Yahweh, being with him.


And to Kohath, belonged the family of the Amramites and the family of the Izharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites, - these, are they - the families of the Kohathites.

Do not let the tribe of the families of the Kohathites be cut off out of the midst of the Levites. This, therefore, do ye for them, so shall they live and not die when they approach the most holy place, - Aaron and his sons shall enter and set them man by man over his labour, and unto his burden; but they shall not enter to see, for a moment, that which is holy, else should they die.


And out of the half allotted to the sons of Israel, shalt thou take one allotted portion out of fifty of the human beings, of the herd, of the asses and of the flock of all b the cattle, - and shalt give them unto the Levites, who keep the charge of the habitation of Yahweh.

And, of the half, allotted unto the sons of Israel, - which Moses halved away from the men who had gone out in the host, the half allotted unto the assembly, was - of the flock, three hundred and thirty-seven thousand, and five hundred; and, of the herd, six and thirty thousand; read more.
and, of asses, thirty thousand and five hundred; and, human persons, sixteen thousand. So then Moses took - out of the half belonging to the sons of Israel the allotted portion one out of fifty, of the human beings and of the beasts, - and gave them unto the Levites, the keepers of the charge of the habitation of Yahweh, As Yahweh commanded Moses.


But I will pour out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitant of Jerusalem, the spirit of favour, and of supplications, and they will look unto me, whom they have pierced, - and will wail over him, as one waileth over an only son, and will make bitter outcry over him, as one maketh bitter outcry over a firstborn. In that day, will the wailing, be great, in Jerusalem, as the wailing of Hadadrimmon, in the valley of Megiddon; So shall the land, wail, family by family, apart, - the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart, the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; read more.
The family of the house of Levi, apart, and their wives apart, the family of Shimei, apart, - and their wives apart:


the Levites boundary answering to the boundary of the priests, five and twenty thousand in length and in breadth, ten thousand, - all the length five and twenty thousand, and the breadth twenty thousand. And they shall not sell thereof, nor shall one exchange or alienate the first-fruits of the land, - for it is holy unto Yahweh.


For, their duty, was - to be in attendance upon the sons of Aaron, in the laborious work of the house of Yahweh, over the courts, and over the chambers, and over the purifying of everything holy, - and doing the laborious work, of the house of God; and for the bread set in array, and for the fine meal for the meal-offering, and for the unleavened cakes, even for that which is baked in a pan, for the moistened food, - even of every measure, and size;


besides registering them by males, from three years old and upward, unto every one that entered into the house of Yahweh, in the need of a day upon its day, - by their service, in their watches, according to their courses: both the registering of the priests, by their ancestral houses, and the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, - in their watches, in their courses; even to the registering of all their little ones, their wives and their sons and their daughters, unto all the convocation, - for, in their trust, they hallowed themselves in holiness;


for the priests and the Levites, had purified themselves, as one man, all of them, were pure, - so they slaughtered the passover for all the Sons of the Exile, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves. Therefore the sons of Israel who had returned from the Exile and all who had separated themselves from the impurity of the nations of the land unto them, did eat, - to seek Yahweh, God of Israel;


And as for the cities of the Levites, the houses of the cities of their possession, an age-abiding right of redemption, shall pertain unto the Levites. And, if one of the Levites should not redeem, then shall the sale of the house and the city of his possession go out in the jubilee; for, the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession, in the midst of the sons of Israel. But the field of the pasture-land of their cities, shall not be sold, - for an age-abiding possession, it is unto them.


And, when the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites, then had the sons of Aaron the priest, from among the Levites - out of the tribe of Judah and out of the tribe of the Simeonites and out of the tribe of Benjamin - by lot, thirteen cities. And, the sons of Kohath that remained, had - out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim and out of the tribe of Dan and out of the half tribe of Manasseh - by lot, ten cities. And, the sons of Gershon, had - out of families of the tribe of Issachar and out of the tribe of Asher and out of the tribe of Naphtali and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan - by lot, thirteen cities. read more.
The sons of Merari, by their families, had - out of the tribe of Reuben and out of the tribe of Gad and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities. So the sons of Israel gave unto the Levites these cities, with their pasture lands, - as Yahweh commanded, by the hand of Moses, by lot. Thus then they gave - out of the tribe of the sons of Judah and out of the tribe of the sons of Simeon - these cities which are mentioned by name. And the sons of Aaron, from among the sons of Kohath, from among the sons of Levi, had them, - because, theirs, was the first lot; yea there was given unto them, the city of Arba, the father of Anak, the same, is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, - with the pasture land thereof, round about it; whereas, the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they unto Caleb son of Jephunneh, as his possession. But, unto the sons of Aaron the priest, gave they the city of refuge for the manslayer, even Hebron, with the pasture lands thereof, - Libnah also, with her pasture lands; and Jattir with her pasture land, and Eshtemoa with her pasture land; and Holon, with her pasture land, and Debir, with her pasture land; and Ain, with her pasture land, and Juttah, with her pasture land, Beth-shemesh, with her pasture land, - nine cities, out of these two tribes. And, out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon, with her pasture land, - Geba, with her pasture land; Anathoth, with her pasture land, and Almon, with her pasture land, - four cities. All the cities of the sons of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities, with their pasture lands. And, as for the families of the sons of Kohath, the Levites, which remained of the sons of Kohath, the cities of their lot were out of the tribe of Ephraim. So they gave unto them a city of refuge for the manslayer, even Shechem with her pasture land, in the hill country of Ephraim, - also Gezer, with her pasture land; and Kibzaim, with her pasture land, and Beth-horon, with her pasture land, - four cities. And, out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke, with her pasture land, - Gibbethon, with her pasture land; Aijalon, with her pasture land, Gath-rimmon, with her pasture land, - four cities. And, out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Taanach, with her pasture land, and Gath-rimmon, with her pasture land, - two cities. All the cities, were ten, with their pasture lands: for the families of the sons of Kohath which remained. And, the sons of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, had, out of the half tribe of Manasseh, a city of refuge for the manslayer, even Golan in Bashan, with her pasture land, and Be-eshterah, with her pasture land, - two cities. And, out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishion, with her pasture land, - Daberath, with her pasture land; Jarmuth, with her pasture land, En-gannim, with her pasture land, - four cities. And, out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal, with her pasture land, Abdon, with her pasture land; Helkath, with her pasture land, and Rehob, with her pasture land, - four cities. And, out of the tribe of Naphtali, a city of refuge for the manslayer - even Kedesh in Galilee, with her pasture land, and Hammoth-dor, with her pasture land, and Kartan, with her pasture land, - three cities. All, the cities of the Gershonites, by their families, were thirteen cities, with their pasture lands. And, unto the families of the sons of Merari, the Levites that remained, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam, with her pasture land, - Kartah, with her pasture land; Dimnah, with her pasture land, Nahalal, with her pasture land, - four cities. And, out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer, with her pasture land, - and Jahaz, with her pasture land; Kedemoth, with her pasture land and Mephaath, with her pasture land, - four cities. And, out of the tribe of Gad, a city of refuge for the manslayer - even Ramoth in Gilead, with her pasture land, - and Mahanaim, with her pasture land; Heshbon, with her pasture land, Jazer, with her pasture land, - in all, four cities. All the cities for the sons of Merari, by their families, who remained of the families of the Levites, yea their lot was, twelve, cities.


And there were sot in charge, on that day, certain men, over the chambers for the treasures, for the heave-offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, out of the fields of the cities, the portions appointed by the law, for the priests, and for the Levites, - for, the joy of Judah, was over the priests and over the Levites, who were remaining.

Now, all Israel - in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, used to give the portions of the singers and the doorkeepers, the need of a day upon its day, - and they hallowed them unto the Levites, and, the Levites, hallowed them unto the sons of Aaron.


And, the Levites, - Jeshua, son of Azaniah, Binnui, of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel; and, their brethren, - Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan; Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah; read more.
Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah; Hodiah, Bani, Beninu. The heads of the people, - Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani; Bunni, Azgad, Bebai; Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin; Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur; Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai; Hariph, Anathoth, Nobai; Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir; Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua; Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah; Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub; Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek; Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah; and Ahiah, Hanan, Anan; Malluch, Harim, Baanah. And, the rest of the people - the priests, the Levites, the doorkeepers, the singers, the Nethinim, and all who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, - every one having knowledge and understanding,


from thirty years old, and upwards, even unto fifty years, - every one that can enter into the host, to do service in the tent of meeting.

from thirty years old and upwards, even unto fifty years old, all that might enter, to toil in the work of labouring and in the work of bearing burdens, in the tent of meeting,


and for the bread set in array, and for the fine meal for the meal-offering, and for the unleavened cakes, even for that which is baked in a pan, for the moistened food, - even of every measure, and size;


Take the Levites, out of the midst of the sons of Israel, - and thou shalt purify them. And, thus, shalt thou do unto them, to purify them, sprinkle upon them sin-cleansing water, - then shall they, cause a razor to pass over all their flesh, and shall wash their clothes and so make themselves pure. Then shall they take a choice young bullock, with the meal-offering thereof even fine meal overflowed with oil, - and a second choice young bullock, shalt thou take. as a sin-bearer. read more.
Then shalt thou bring the Levites near, before the tent of meeting, - and shalt call together all the assembly of the sons of Israel; and shalt bring the Levites near before Yahweh, - and the sons of Israel shall lean their hands upon the Levites; and Aaron shall offer the Levites as a wave-offering before Yahweh, from among the sons of Israel, - so shall they be for performing the laborious work of Yahweh. And, the Levites, shall lean their hands upon the head of the bullocks; then make thou of the one a sin-bearer and of the other an ascending-sacrifice unto Yahweh, to put a propitiatory-covering over the Levites. Thus shalt thou cause the Levites to stand before Aaron and before his sons, - thus shalt thou offer them as a wave-offering unto Yahweh; thus shalt thou separate the Levites out of the midst of the sons of Israel, - thus shall the Levites become mine. And after that, shall the Levites enter to do the labour of the tent of meeting, - so shalt thou purify them, and offer them as a wave-offering, For, given, given, they are unto me, out of the midst of the sons of Israel, - instead of every firstborn that a mother beareth from among the sons of Israel, have I taken them unto me. For mine, is every firstborn among the sons of Israel, among men and among beasts, - on the day when I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt, did I hallow them unto me. Therefore have I taken the Levites, - instead of every firstborn among the sons of Israel; therefore have I given the Levites as a gift unto Aaron and unto his sons, out of the midst of the sons of Israel, to do the laborious work of the sons of Israel in the tent of meeting, and to put a propitiatory-covering over the sons of Israel, - so shall there be among the sons of Israel, no plague, by the coming nigh of the sons of Israel unto the sanctuary. And Moses and Aaron and all the assembly of the sons of Israel did thus unto the Levites, - according to all that Yahweh commanded Moses as touching the Levites, so, did the sons of Israel unto them. And the Levites accepted the cleansing from sin and washed their clothes, and Aaron offered them as a wave-offering before Yahweh, - and Aaron put a propitiatory-covering over them to make them pure.


And he placed before the ark of Yahweh certain of the Levites, as attendants, - and to celebrate, and to give thanks and render praise, unto Yahweh, God of Israel;


also out of Beth-gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba, and Azmaveth, - for, villages, had the singers builded for themselves, round about Jerusalem.


And these were the sons of Levi, by their names, - Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.


This, shall be the labour of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the tent of meeting, - and, the charge of them, shall be in the hand of Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest.


This, shall be the labour of the families of the sons of Merari, to the extent of all their labour in the tent of meeting, - in the hand of Ithamar, son of Aaron, the priest.



Of the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand, of the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand, of the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand,


Only, the priests, were too few, and were unable to flay all the ascending-sacrifices, - so their brethren the Levites strengthened them, until the work was complete and until the priests had hallowed themselves, for, the Levites, were more upright in heart to hallow themselves, than the priests.


But, thou, art righteous, as to all that hath fallen upon us, - for, faithfulness, hast thou wrought, whereas, we, have been lawless;


and, the Levites who were the singers, even all of them pertaining to Asaph, to Heman, to Jeduthun, and to their sons and to their brethren, arrayed in white linen, with cymbals and with harps and lyres, stood eastward of the altar, - and, with them, priests to the number of a hundred-and-twenty, blowing with trumpets, then came it to pass, when the trumpeters and the singers were, as one, to make one sound to be heard in offering praise and giving thanks unto Yahweh - yea when they did lift on high the voice, with the trumpets and with the cymbals and with the instruments of song, yea in offering praise unto Yahweh - For he is good, For, age-abiding, is his lovingkindness, that, the house, was filled with the cloud of the glory of Yahweh;


and, the Levites who were the singers, even all of them pertaining to Asaph, to Heman, to Jeduthun, and to their sons and to their brethren, arrayed in white linen, with cymbals and with harps and lyres, stood eastward of the altar, - and, with them, priests to the number of a hundred-and-twenty, blowing with trumpets, then came it to pass, when the trumpeters and the singers were, as one, to make one sound to be heard in offering praise and giving thanks unto Yahweh - yea when they did lift on high the voice, with the trumpets and with the cymbals and with the instruments of song, yea in offering praise unto Yahweh - For he is good, For, age-abiding, is his lovingkindness, that, the house, was filled with the cloud of the glory of Yahweh;


References

Hastings

American

Fausets

Morish

Smith

Watsons