Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Levites » Functions of » Had charge of the temple
They spent the night in the vicinity of God's temple, because they had guard duty and were in charge of opening it every morning. Some of them were in charge of the utensils used in worship. They would count them when they brought them in and when they took them out. Others were put in charge of the furnishings and all the utensils of the sanctuary, as well as the fine flour, wine, oil, incense, and spices.
Then he gathered all the leaders of Israel, the priests, and the Levites. The Levites 30 years old and above were counted; the total number of men was 38,000 by headcount. "Of these," [David said], "24,000 are to be in charge of the work on the Lord's temple, 6,000 are to be officers and judges read more.
4,000 are to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 are to praise the Lord with the instruments that I have made for worship." Then David divided them into divisions according to Levi's sons: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. The Gershomites: Ladan and Shimei. Ladan's sons: Jehiel was the first, then Zetham, and Joel-three. Shimei's sons: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran-three. Those were the heads of the families of Ladan. Shimei's sons: Jahath, Zizah, Jeush, and Beriah. Those were Shimei's sons-four. Jahath was the first and Zizah was the second; however, Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they became an ancestral house [and received] a single assignment. Kohath's sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel-four. Amram's sons: Aaron and Moses. Aaron, along with his descendants, was set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense in the presence of the Lord, to minister to Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name forever. As for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi. Moses' sons: Gershom and Eliezer. Gershom's sons: Shebuel first. Eliezer's sons were Rehabiah, first; Eliezer did not have any other sons, but Rehabiah's sons were very numerous. Izhar's sons: Shelomith was first. Hebron's sons: Jeriah was first, Amariah second, Jahaziel third, and Jekameam fourth. Uzziel's sons: Micah was first, and Isshiah second. Merari's sons: Mahli and Mushi. Mahli's sons: Eleazar and Kish. Eleazar died having no sons, only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them. Mushi's sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth-three. These were the sons of Levi by their ancestral houses-the heads of families, according to their registration by name in the headcount-20 years old or more, who worked in the service of the Lord's temple. For David said, "The Lord God of Israel has given rest to His people, and He has come to stay in Jerusalem forever. Also, the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the equipment for its service"- for according to the last words of David, the Levites 20 years old or more were to be counted- "but their duty will be to assist the sons of Aaron with the service of the Lord's temple, being responsible for the courts and the chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of God's temple- as well as the rows [of the bread of the Presence], the fine flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the baking, the mixing, and all measurements of volume and length. They are also to stand every morning to give thanks and praise to the Lord, and likewise in the evening. Whenever burnt offerings are offered to the Lord on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed festivals, they are to do so regularly in the Lord's presence according to the number prescribed for them. They are to carry out their responsibilities to the tent of meeting, to the holy place, and to their relatives, the sons of Aaron, in the service of the Lord's temple."
4,000 are to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 are to praise the Lord with the instruments that I have made for worship." Then David divided them into divisions according to Levi's sons: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. The Gershomites: Ladan and Shimei. Ladan's sons: Jehiel was the first, then Zetham, and Joel-three. Shimei's sons: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran-three. Those were the heads of the families of Ladan. Shimei's sons: Jahath, Zizah, Jeush, and Beriah. Those were Shimei's sons-four. Jahath was the first and Zizah was the second; however, Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they became an ancestral house [and received] a single assignment. Kohath's sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel-four. Amram's sons: Aaron and Moses. Aaron, along with his descendants, was set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense in the presence of the Lord, to minister to Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name forever. As for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi. Moses' sons: Gershom and Eliezer. Gershom's sons: Shebuel first. Eliezer's sons were Rehabiah, first; Eliezer did not have any other sons, but Rehabiah's sons were very numerous. Izhar's sons: Shelomith was first. Hebron's sons: Jeriah was first, Amariah second, Jahaziel third, and Jekameam fourth. Uzziel's sons: Micah was first, and Isshiah second. Merari's sons: Mahli and Mushi. Mahli's sons: Eleazar and Kish. Eleazar died having no sons, only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them. Mushi's sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth-three. These were the sons of Levi by their ancestral houses-the heads of families, according to their registration by name in the headcount-20 years old or more, who worked in the service of the Lord's temple. For David said, "The Lord God of Israel has given rest to His people, and He has come to stay in Jerusalem forever. Also, the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the equipment for its service"- for according to the last words of David, the Levites 20 years old or more were to be counted- "but their duty will be to assist the sons of Aaron with the service of the Lord's temple, being responsible for the courts and the chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of God's temple- as well as the rows [of the bread of the Presence], the fine flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the baking, the mixing, and all measurements of volume and length. They are also to stand every morning to give thanks and praise to the Lord, and likewise in the evening. Whenever burnt offerings are offered to the Lord on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed festivals, they are to do so regularly in the Lord's presence according to the number prescribed for them. They are to carry out their responsibilities to the tent of meeting, to the holy place, and to their relatives, the sons of Aaron, in the service of the Lord's temple."
I selected 12 of the leading priests, along with Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and 10 of their brothers. I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the articles-the contribution for the house of our God that the king, his counselors, his leaders, and all the Israelites who were present had offered. I weighed out to them 24 tons of silver, silver articles weighing 7,500 pounds, 7,500 pounds of gold, read more.
20 gold bowls worth 1,000 gold coins, and two articles of fine gleaming bronze, as valuable as gold. Then I said to them, "You are holy to the Lord, and the articles are holy. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the Lord God of your fathers. Guard [them] carefully until you weigh [them] out in the chambers of the Lord's house before the leading priests, Levites, and heads of the Israelite families in Jerusalem." So the priests and Levites took charge of the silver, the gold, and the articles that had been weighed out, to bring [them] to the house of our God in Jerusalem. We set out from the Ahava River on the twelfth [day] of the first month to go to Jerusalem. We were strengthened by our God, and He protected us from the power of the enemy and from ambush along the way. So we arrived at Jerusalem and rested there for three days. On the fourth day the silver, the gold, and the articles were weighed out in the house of our God into the care of Meremoth the priest, son of Uriah. Eleazar son of Phinehas was with him. The Levites Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui were also with them. Everything was [verified] by number and weight, and the total weight was recorded at that time.
20 gold bowls worth 1,000 gold coins, and two articles of fine gleaming bronze, as valuable as gold. Then I said to them, "You are holy to the Lord, and the articles are holy. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the Lord God of your fathers. Guard [them] carefully until you weigh [them] out in the chambers of the Lord's house before the leading priests, Levites, and heads of the Israelite families in Jerusalem." So the priests and Levites took charge of the silver, the gold, and the articles that had been weighed out, to bring [them] to the house of our God in Jerusalem. We set out from the Ahava River on the twelfth [day] of the first month to go to Jerusalem. We were strengthened by our God, and He protected us from the power of the enemy and from ambush along the way. So we arrived at Jerusalem and rested there for three days. On the fourth day the silver, the gold, and the articles were weighed out in the house of our God into the care of Meremoth the priest, son of Uriah. Eleazar son of Phinehas was with him. The Levites Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui were also with them. Everything was [verified] by number and weight, and the total weight was recorded at that time.
Levites » Were overseers in building and the repairs of the temple
Then he gathered all the leaders of Israel, the priests, and the Levites. The Levites 30 years old and above were counted; the total number of men was 38,000 by headcount. "Of these," [David said], "24,000 are to be in charge of the work on the Lord's temple, 6,000 are to be officers and judges
In the second month of the second year after they arrived at God's house in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers, including the priests, the Levites, and all who had returned to Jerusalem from the captivity, began [to build]. They appointed the Levites who were 20 years old or more to supervise the work on the Lord's house. Jeshua with his sons and brothers, Kadmiel with his sons, and the sons of Judah and of Henadad, with their sons and brothers, the Levites, joined together to supervise those working on the house of God.
the Levites » David » Numbered them first from thirty years old
Then he gathered all the leaders of Israel, the priests, and the Levites. The Levites 30 years old and above were counted; the total number of men was 38,000 by headcount.