Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Levites » Custodians and administrators of the tithes and other offerings
On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the utensils were weighed out in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them were the Levites—Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui.
He gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah and collect money from all Israel to repair the house of your God from year to year; and see that you do it quickly.” But the Levites did not act quickly.
When they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that had been brought into the house of God, which the Levites, who guarded the doors, had collected from Manasseh and Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel, and from all Judah and Benjamin, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord, in the care of Jehiel the Gershonite.
Also all that Samuel the seer had dedicated, and Saul the son of Kish, Abner the son of Ner and Joab the son of Zeruiah, everyone who had dedicated anything, this was in the care of Shelomoth and his relatives.
But these Levites, the four chief gatekeepers, were in charge of the chambers and treasuries of the house of God. They lodged round about God's house, for the duty [of watching] was theirs, as well as the opening of the house every morning. Some of them had charge of the serving utensils, being required to count them when they brought them in or took them out. read more.
Some of them also were appointed over the furniture and over all the sacred utensils, as well as over the fine flour, wine, oil, frankincense, and spices.
Some of them also were appointed over the furniture and over all the sacred utensils, as well as over the fine flour, wine, oil, frankincense, and spices.
It came about that whenever the Levites brought the chest to the king’s official, and whenever they saw that there was a large amount of money, the king’s secretary and the chief priest’s representative would come and empty the chest, and take it, and return it to its place. They did this day after day and collected a large amount of money.
Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare chambers [for storage] in the house of the Lord, and they prepared them And brought in the offerings, tithes, and dedicated things faithfully. Conaniah the Levite was in charge of them, and Shimei his brother came next. And Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers directed by Conaniah and Shimei his brother, at the appointment of King Hezekiah and Azariah the chief officer of the house of God. read more.
Kore son of Imnah the Levite, keeper of the East Gate, was over the freewill offerings to God, to apportion the contributions of the Lord and the most holy things. Under him were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the priests' cities, in their office of trust faithfully to give to their brethren by divisions, to great and small alike, Except those [Levites] registered as males from three years old and upward -- "who were consecrated to the temple service [in Jerusalem, for their daily portion] as the duty of every day required, for their service according to their offices by their divisions. The registration of the priests was according to their fathers' houses; that of the Levites from twenty years old and upward was according to their offices by their divisions; Also there was the registration of all their little ones, their wives, and their older sons and daughters through all the congregation. For in their office of trust they cleansed themselves and set themselves apart in holiness. Also for the sons of Aaron the priests, who were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities or in every city, there were men who were mentioned by name to give portions to all the males among the priests and to all who were registered among the Levites.
Kore son of Imnah the Levite, keeper of the East Gate, was over the freewill offerings to God, to apportion the contributions of the Lord and the most holy things. Under him were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the priests' cities, in their office of trust faithfully to give to their brethren by divisions, to great and small alike, Except those [Levites] registered as males from three years old and upward -- "who were consecrated to the temple service [in Jerusalem, for their daily portion] as the duty of every day required, for their service according to their offices by their divisions. The registration of the priests was according to their fathers' houses; that of the Levites from twenty years old and upward was according to their offices by their divisions; Also there was the registration of all their little ones, their wives, and their older sons and daughters through all the congregation. For in their office of trust they cleansed themselves and set themselves apart in holiness. Also for the sons of Aaron the priests, who were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities or in every city, there were men who were mentioned by name to give portions to all the males among the priests and to all who were registered among the Levites.
Guard and keep them until you weigh them before the chief priests and Levites and heads of the fathers' houses of Israel in Jerusalem in the chambers of the house of the Lord. So the priests and the Levites received the weight of the silver, the gold, and the vessels to bring them to Jerusalem into the house of our God.
On that day men were appointed over the chambers for the stores, the contributions, the first fruits, and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions required by the law for the priests and the Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who served.
Levites » Functions of » Had charge of the temple
They lodged round about God's house, for the duty [of watching] was theirs, as well as the opening of the house every morning. Some of them had charge of the serving utensils, being required to count them when they brought them in or took them out. Some of them also were appointed over the furniture and over all the sacred utensils, as well as over the fine flour, wine, oil, frankincense, and spices.
David assembled all the leaders of Israel, with the priests and Levites. The Levites thirty years old and upward numbered, man by man, 38,000, Of whom 24,000 were to oversee the work of the house of the Lord and 6,000 were to be officers and judges. read more.
And, said David, 4,000 shall be gatekeepers and 4,000 are to praise the Lord with the instruments which I made for praise. And David organized them in sections according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Of the Gershonites: Ladan (Libni) and Shimei. The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, Zetham, and Joel -- "three in all. The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran -- "three in all. These were the heads of the fathers' houses of Ladan. And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina (Zizah), Jeush, and Beriah. Of these four sons of Shimei, Jahath was chief and Zizah the second, but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons [not enough for a father's house or clan]; so they were counted together as one father's house. The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel -- "four in all. The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart to sanctify him as most holy and to consecrate the most holy things, that he and his sons forever might burn incense before the Lord, minister to Him, and bless in His name [and the character which that name denotes] forever. But the sons of Moses the man of God were named among the tribe of Levi. The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer. The son of Gershom: Shebuel the chief. The son of Eliezer: Rehabiah the chief. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah's sons were very many. The sons of Izhar: Shelomith was the chief. The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. The sons of Uzziel: Micah the first and Isshiah the second. The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. Eleazar died and had no sons, but daughters only, and their kinsmen, sons of Kish, took them as wives. The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth -- "three in all. These were the Levites by their fathers' houses, the heads of the fathers' houses of those registered, according to the number of names of the individuals who were the servants of the house of the Lord, from twenty years old and upward. For David said, The Lord, the God of Israel has given peace and rest to His people, and He dwells in Jerusalem forever. So the Levites no more have need to carry the tabernacle and all its vessels for its service. For by the last words and acts of David, these were the number of the Levites from twenty years old and above. But their duty should be to wait on [the priests] the sons of Aaron in the service of the house of the Lord, caring for the courts, the chambers, the cleansing of all holy things, and any work of the service of God's house, For the showbread also, and for the fine flour for a cereal offering, whether of unleavened wafers or of what is baked on the griddle or soaked [in oil], and for all measuring of amount and size [as the Law of Moses required]. They are also to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at evening, And to assist in offering all burnt sacrifices to the Lord on Sabbaths, New Moon festivals, and set feast days by number according to the ordinance concerning them, continually before the Lord. So they shall keep charge of the Tent of Meeting and the Holy Place and shall attend to the sons of Aaron their kinsmen, for the service of the house of the Lord.
And, said David, 4,000 shall be gatekeepers and 4,000 are to praise the Lord with the instruments which I made for praise. And David organized them in sections according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Of the Gershonites: Ladan (Libni) and Shimei. The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, Zetham, and Joel -- "three in all. The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran -- "three in all. These were the heads of the fathers' houses of Ladan. And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina (Zizah), Jeush, and Beriah. Of these four sons of Shimei, Jahath was chief and Zizah the second, but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons [not enough for a father's house or clan]; so they were counted together as one father's house. The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel -- "four in all. The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart to sanctify him as most holy and to consecrate the most holy things, that he and his sons forever might burn incense before the Lord, minister to Him, and bless in His name [and the character which that name denotes] forever. But the sons of Moses the man of God were named among the tribe of Levi. The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer. The son of Gershom: Shebuel the chief. The son of Eliezer: Rehabiah the chief. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah's sons were very many. The sons of Izhar: Shelomith was the chief. The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. The sons of Uzziel: Micah the first and Isshiah the second. The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. Eleazar died and had no sons, but daughters only, and their kinsmen, sons of Kish, took them as wives. The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth -- "three in all. These were the Levites by their fathers' houses, the heads of the fathers' houses of those registered, according to the number of names of the individuals who were the servants of the house of the Lord, from twenty years old and upward. For David said, The Lord, the God of Israel has given peace and rest to His people, and He dwells in Jerusalem forever. So the Levites no more have need to carry the tabernacle and all its vessels for its service. For by the last words and acts of David, these were the number of the Levites from twenty years old and above. But their duty should be to wait on [the priests] the sons of Aaron in the service of the house of the Lord, caring for the courts, the chambers, the cleansing of all holy things, and any work of the service of God's house, For the showbread also, and for the fine flour for a cereal offering, whether of unleavened wafers or of what is baked on the griddle or soaked [in oil], and for all measuring of amount and size [as the Law of Moses required]. They are also to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at evening, And to assist in offering all burnt sacrifices to the Lord on Sabbaths, New Moon festivals, and set feast days by number according to the ordinance concerning them, continually before the Lord. So they shall keep charge of the Tent of Meeting and the Holy Place and shall attend to the sons of Aaron their kinsmen, for the service of the house of the Lord.
Then I set apart twelve leading priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their kinsmen, And weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the vessels, the offering for the house of our God which the king, his counselors, his lords, and all Israel there present had offered. I weighed into their hands 650 talents of silver, and silver vessels valued at 100 talents, and 100 talents of gold; read more.
Also 20 basins of gold worth 1,000 darics, and two vessels of fine bright bronze, precious as gold. And I said to them, You are holy to the Lord, the vessels are holy also, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the Lord, the God of your fathers. Guard and keep them until you weigh them before the chief priests and Levites and heads of the fathers' houses of Israel in Jerusalem in the chambers of the house of the Lord. So the priests and the Levites received the weight of the silver, the gold, and the vessels to bring them to Jerusalem into the house of our God. We left the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem; and the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the enemy and those who lay in wait by the way. And we came to Jerusalem, and [had been] there three days. On the fourth day, the silver, the gold, and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God into the hands of Meremoth the priest, son of Uriah, and with him was Eleazar son of Phinehas, and with them were Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui -- "the Levites. Every piece was counted and weighed, and all the weight was recorded at once.
Also 20 basins of gold worth 1,000 darics, and two vessels of fine bright bronze, precious as gold. And I said to them, You are holy to the Lord, the vessels are holy also, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the Lord, the God of your fathers. Guard and keep them until you weigh them before the chief priests and Levites and heads of the fathers' houses of Israel in Jerusalem in the chambers of the house of the Lord. So the priests and the Levites received the weight of the silver, the gold, and the vessels to bring them to Jerusalem into the house of our God. We left the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem; and the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the enemy and those who lay in wait by the way. And we came to Jerusalem, and [had been] there three days. On the fourth day, the silver, the gold, and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God into the hands of Meremoth the priest, son of Uriah, and with him was Eleazar son of Phinehas, and with them were Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui -- "the Levites. Every piece was counted and weighed, and all the weight was recorded at once.
the Levites » Services of » Keeping sacred instruments and vessels
They shall also take care of all the furnishings and utensils of the Tent of Meeting, and [attend to] the duties of the Israelites, doing the service of the tabernacle.
Some of them had charge of the serving utensils, being required to count them when they brought them in or took them out. Some of them also were appointed over the furniture and over all the sacred utensils, as well as over the fine flour, wine, oil, frankincense, and spices.
Porters » Guards at the city gates, the doors of the king's palace, and doors of the temple
The singers, the sons of Asaph, were also in their places in accordance with the command of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer; and the gatekeepers at each gate did not need to leave their service, because their kinsmen the Levites prepared for them.
The gatekeepers were: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their kinsmen, Shallum being the chief Who hitherto was assigned to the king's east side gate. They were the gatekeepers of the camp of the Levites. Shallum son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his kinsmen of his father's house, the Korahites, were in charge of the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the Tent, as their fathers had been in charge of the camp of the Lord, keepers of the entrance. read more.
Phinehas son of Eleazar was ruler over them in times past, and the Lord was with him. Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. All these chosen to be keepers at the thresholds were 212. These were enrolled by their genealogies in their villages [around Jerusalem], these men [whose grandfathers] David and Samuel the seer had established to their office of trust. So they and their sons had oversight of the gates of the Lord's house, that is, the house of the tabernacle, by wards. The gatekeepers were stationed on the four sides [of the house of the Lord] -- "on the east, west, north, and south. Their brethren in their villages were to come in every seven days to be with them. But these Levites, the four chief gatekeepers, were in charge of the chambers and treasuries of the house of God. They lodged round about God's house, for the duty [of watching] was theirs, as well as the opening of the house every morning. Some of them had charge of the serving utensils, being required to count them when they brought them in or took them out. Some of them also were appointed over the furniture and over all the sacred utensils, as well as over the fine flour, wine, oil, frankincense, and spices. Other sons of the priests prepared the ointment of spices. Mattithiah, one of the Levites, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, was responsible for the things baked in pans. Of their Kohathite kinsmen, some were to prepare the showbread every Sabbath.
Phinehas son of Eleazar was ruler over them in times past, and the Lord was with him. Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. All these chosen to be keepers at the thresholds were 212. These were enrolled by their genealogies in their villages [around Jerusalem], these men [whose grandfathers] David and Samuel the seer had established to their office of trust. So they and their sons had oversight of the gates of the Lord's house, that is, the house of the tabernacle, by wards. The gatekeepers were stationed on the four sides [of the house of the Lord] -- "on the east, west, north, and south. Their brethren in their villages were to come in every seven days to be with them. But these Levites, the four chief gatekeepers, were in charge of the chambers and treasuries of the house of God. They lodged round about God's house, for the duty [of watching] was theirs, as well as the opening of the house every morning. Some of them had charge of the serving utensils, being required to count them when they brought them in or took them out. Some of them also were appointed over the furniture and over all the sacred utensils, as well as over the fine flour, wine, oil, frankincense, and spices. Other sons of the priests prepared the ointment of spices. Mattithiah, one of the Levites, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, was responsible for the things baked in pans. Of their Kohathite kinsmen, some were to prepare the showbread every Sabbath.
They were also in charge of the burden bearers [who carried heavy loads], and supervised all the workmen in any kind of service; and some of the Levites were scribes and officials and gatekeepers.