The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites by their families.

Serving beside him was his fellow Levite Asaph, son of Berechiah, son of Shimea,

Serving beside them were their fellow Levites, the descendants of Merari, led by Ethan, son of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch,

The rest of their fellow Levites were assigned to perform the remaining tasks at God's sanctuary.

So the Israelites gave to the Levites these cities and their pasturelands.

The first to resettle on their property and in their cities were some Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.

From the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah a descendant of Merari;

The four head gatekeepers, who were Levites, were assigned to guard the storerooms and treasuries in God's sanctuary.

Mattithiah, a Levite, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was in charge of baking the bread for offerings.

The musicians and Levite family leaders stayed in rooms at the sanctuary and were exempt from other duties, for day and night they had to carry out their assigned tasks.

These were the family leaders of the Levites, as listed in their genealogical records. They lived in Jerusalem.

David said to the whole Israelite assembly, "If you so desire and the Lord our God approves, let's spread the word to our brothers who remain in all the regions of Israel, and to the priests and Levites in their cities, so they may join us.

Then David said, "Only the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to serve before him perpetually.

David gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:

David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, along with the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.

He told them: "You are the leaders of the Levites' families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves and bring the ark of the Lord God of Israel up to the place I have prepared for it.

The priests and Levites consecrated themselves so they could bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel.

David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint some of their relatives as musicians; they were to play various instruments, including stringed instruments and cymbals, and to sing loudly and joyfully.

So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; one of his relatives, Asaph son of Berechiah; one of the descendants of Merari, Ethan son of Kushaiah;

Kenaniah, the leader of the Levites, was in charge of transport, for he was well-informed on this matter;

When God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the Lord's covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.

David was wrapped in a linen robe, as were all the Levites carrying the ark, the musicians, and Kenaniah the supervisor of transport and the musicians; David also wore a linen ephod.

He appointed some of the Levites to serve before the ark of the Lord, to offer prayers, songs of thanks, and hymns to the Lord God of Israel.

David assembled all the leaders of Israel, along with the priests and the Levites.

The Levites who were thirty years old and up were counted; there were 38,000 men.

The descendants of Moses the man of God were considered Levites.

So the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the items used in its service."

According to David's final instructions, the Levites twenty years old and up were counted.

The scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, wrote down their names before the king, the officials, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the leaders of the priestly and Levite families. One family was drawn by lot from Eleazar, and then the next from Ithamar.

The rest of the Levites included: Shubael from the sons of Amram, Jehdeiah from the sons of Shubael,

The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the Levites, listed by their families.

Just like their relatives, the descendants of Aaron, they also cast lots before King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, the leaders of families, the priests, and the Levites. The families of the oldest son cast lots along with the those of the youngest.

Each day there were six Levites posted on the east, four on the north, and four on the south. At the storehouses they were posted in pairs.

Their fellow Levites were in charge of the storehouses in God's temple and the storehouses containing consecrated items.

Hashabiah son of Kemuel led the Levites, Zadok led the descendants of Aaron,

He gave him the regulations for the divisions of priests and Levites, for all the assigned responsibilities within the Lord's temple, and for all the items used in the service of the Lord's temple.

Here are the divisions of the priests and Levites who will perform all the service of God's temple. All the willing and skilled men are ready to assist you in all the work and perform their service. The officials and all the people are ready to follow your instructions."