34 Bible Verses about Levites

Then came the Levites and Rehum the son of Bani. By his side was working Hashabiah, ruler of half the division of Keilah, for his division.

Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,

The chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua, the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers opposite them, to give blessing and praise as ordered by David, the man of God, watch against watch.

Conaniah and his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel, and Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad, the leaders of the Levites, gave the Levites five thousand sheep and goats and five hundred bulls as Passover sacrifices.

Why did you not eat the sin offering in a sacred place? It is very holy! Jehovah gave it to you in order to take away the sin of the community.

Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram and the bread that is in the basket, at the doorway of the tent of meeting.

Moses spoke to Aaron and his two remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar. He said: Take the grain offering that is left over from the food offered to Jehovah. Bake unleavened bread with it and eat it beside the altar. This is because this offering is very holy.

Any thing left is for Aaron and his sons to eat. It will be eaten as unleavened cakes in a holy place. They must eat it in the court of the Tent of Meeting.

Every male among the priests may eat it. It will be eaten in a holy place. It is very holy.

The total number of all the Levite males at least one month old was twenty-three thousand. They were not counted along with the other Israelites, because they were given no land of their own.

Levi does not have a portion or inheritance with his brothers. Jehovah is his inheritance; just as Jehovah your God spoke to him.

Rejoice (be filled with joy) before Jehovah your God, you and your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levite who is within your gates, since he has no portion or inheritance with you.

You and your sons and daughters, male and female slaves, and the Levites who live in your cities must eat these in the presence of Jehovah your God at the place he will choose. There in the presence of Jehovah your God enjoy everything for which you have worked. Remember to take care of the Levites as long as you live in your land.

Do not neglect the Levites who live in your towns. They have no property of their own. At the end of every third year bring the tithe of all your crops and store it in your towns. This food is for the Levites, since they own no property, and for the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your towns. They are to come and get all they need. Do this, and Jehovah your God will bless you in everything you do.

On the fourth day, the silver and the gold and the vessels were measured out by weight in the house of our God into the hands of Meremoth, the son of Uriah, the priest; and with him was Eleazar, the son of Phinehas; and with them were Jozabad, the son of Jeshua, and Obadiah, the son of Binnui, the Levites.

He gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them: Go to the cities of Judah, and collect money throughout Israel to repair the Temple of your God every year. Do it immediately! But the Levites did not do it immediately.

They came to the chief priest Hilkiah and gave him the money that had been brought into God's Temple. It was the money that the Levite doorkeepers had collected from the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim, from all who were left in Israel, from everyone in the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and from the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Those who had precious stones gave them to the Temple treasury, which was administered by Jehiel of the Levite clan of Gershon.

And everything dedicated by Samuel the seer and by Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner and Joab son of Zeruiah, and all the other dedicated things were in the care of Shelomith and his relatives.

The Levitical priests including the entire tribe of Levi will receive no land or property of their own like the rest of the Israelites. They will eat what has been sacrificed to Jehovah. These sacrifices will be what they receive. They are to own no land, as the other tribes do. Their inheritance is the privilege of being Jehovah's priests, as Jehovah told them. When cattle or sheep are sacrificed, the priests are to be given the shoulder, the jaw, and the stomach. read more.
They are to receive the first share of the grain, wine, olive oil, and wool. Jehovah chose from all your tribes the tribe of Levi to serve him and his sons as priests forever. Any Levite who wants to may come from any town in Israel to the one place of worship. He may serve there, as a priest of Jehovah his God, like the other Levites who are serving there. He is to receive the same amount of food as the other priests. He may keep everything his family sends him.

He gave no inheritance to the tribe of Levi. The sacrifices of Jehovah God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said to them.

Men were stationed over the houses where the contributions and the first fruits and the tenths were stored. They were to take into them the amounts, from the fields of every town. The law fixed this for the priests and the Levites: Judah was glad on account of the priests and the Levites who were in their places.

Instead, I will give the Levites what the Israelites contribute to Jehovah, one-tenth of the Israelites' income. This is why I said about them: They will own no property as the other Israelites do.

Speak to the Levites and say to them: 'You will take one-tenth of the Israelites' income that I am giving you as your property. When you do, you must contribute one-tenth of that income as your contribution to Jehovah. Your contribution will be considered to be grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress. You will also contribute one-tenth of your income to Jehovah out of all that you receive from the Israelites' income. You will give Jehovah's contribution to the priest Aaron. read more.
Out of all the gifts you receive, you must contribute the best and holiest parts to Jehovah.' Also tell them: 'When you contribute the best part, your contribution will be considered to be produce from the threshing floor or winepress. You and your households may eat it anywhere. This is because it is the wages you receive for your work at the tent of meeting. When you contribute the best part, you will not suffer the consequences of any sin. You will not be dishonoring the holy offerings given by the Israelites, and you will not die.'

Then the tent would be taken down. The clans of Gershon and Merari carried it.

He gave four wagons and eight oxen to the Merarites for the work they had to do under the direction of Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron.

Mahli and Mushi were the sons of Merari. Their families were named after them. These were the households of Levite families.

The clan of Merari was composed of the families of Mahli and Mushi. The total number of males one month old or older that were enrolled was six thousand two hundred. This clan was to camp on the north side of the Tent, with Zuriel son of Abihail as leader of the clan. read more.
It was the duty of the Merarites to be in charge of the framework of the inner tent, the crossbars, posts, sockets, and all the equipment. They took care of these things. They were responsible for the posts for the surrounding courtyard, the bases, pegs, and ropes.

These are their duties as they work at the tent of meeting: They will carry the framework for the inner tent, the crossbars, posts, and sockets, the posts for the surrounding courtyard, the bases, pegs, and ropes. They must take care of all this equipment. Tell each man by name the things he will carry. This is what the Merarite families will do as they work at the tent of meeting. Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of them.

He told the Levites, who instructed all Israel and performed ceremonies to make themselves holy to Jehovah: Put the Holy Ark in the Temple that Solomon, son of David and king of Israel, built. It should not be carried on your shoulders any longer. Serve Jehovah your God and his people Israel.

They will teach your ordinances to Jacob, and your Law to Israel. They will burn incense before you, and whole burnt offerings on your altar.

With them were the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, Tob Adonijah, and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. They taught in Judah. They had the Book of Torah (the Law) (Jehovah's Teachings) with them when they taught the people in all the cities of Judah.

Hezekiah spoke encouraging words to all the Levites who had the skills to serve Jehovah. They ate the festival meals for seven days, sacrificed fellowship offerings, and confessed their sins to Jehovah the God of their ancestors.

And Jeshua and Bani and Sherebiah and Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites made the law clear to the people: and the people kept in their places. They read from the book the Law of God making it clear (translating it), so that their minds were able to take it in. Nehemiah, who was the Tirshatha (Governor), and Ezra, the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were the teachers of the people, said to all the people: This day is holy to Jehovah your God. Let there be no sorrow or weeping. For all the people were weeping on hearing the words of the law. read more.
He said to them: Go away now, and take the fat for your food and the sweet for your drink, and send some to him for whom nothing is made ready. This day is holy to our Lord. Let there be no grief in your hearts. The joy of Jehovah is your strong place. So the Levites made all the people quiet, saying: Be quiet, for the day is holy; and do not give way to grief. All the people went away to take food and drink, and to send food to others, and to be glad, because the words that were said to them had been clearly communicated. The second day the heads of families of all the people and the priests and the Levites came together to Ezra the scribe, to give attention to the words of the law.

As Jehovah had commanded Moses, the Levites were not registered along with the other Israelites.

The households from the tribe of Levi were not registered along with the other Israelites. Jehovah said to Moses: Do not register the tribe of Levi or include them in the census with the other Israelites.

Jehovah said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai: Count the Levites by households and families. Count every male who is at least one month old. Moses did what Jehovah said. He registered them as he had been commanded. read more.
Gershon, Kohath, and Merari were the sons of Levi. Libni and Shimei were the sons of Gershon. Their families were named after them. Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel were the sons of Kohath. Their families were named after them. Mahli and Mushi were the sons of Merari. Their families were named after them. These were the households of Levite families. To Gershon belonged the families descended from Libni and Shimei. These were the families descended from Gershon. The total number of all the males at least one month old was seven thousand five hundred. The families descended from Gershon put up their tents on the west side behind the tent of meeting. The leader of the Gershonite households was Eliasaph, son of Lael. The Gershonites were in charge of the inner tent, the outer tent and cover, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting, the curtains for the courtyard, the screen for the entrance to the courtyard that surrounds the inner tent and the altar, and the ropes. They took care of all these things. To Kohath belonged the families descended from Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. These were the families descended from Kohath. The number of all the males at least one month old was eight thousand six hundred. They were in charge of the holy place. The families descended from Kohath put up their tents on the south side of the tent of meeting. The leader of the Kohathite families and households was Elizaphan, son of Uzziel. They were in charge of the Ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the utensils used in the holy place, and the screen. They took care of all these things. The leader of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest. He was in charge of those who carried out the duties in the Holy Place. The clan of Merari was composed of the families of Mahli and Mushi. The total number of males one month old or older that were enrolled was six thousand two hundred. This clan was to camp on the north side of the Tent, with Zuriel son of Abihail as leader of the clan. It was the duty of the Merarites to be in charge of the framework of the inner tent, the crossbars, posts, sockets, and all the equipment. They took care of these things. They were responsible for the posts for the surrounding courtyard, the bases, pegs, and ropes. Moses, Aaron, and his sons put up their tents on the east side in front of the tent of meeting. They were in charge of the holy place on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who tried to do the Levites' duties had to be put to death. The grand total of Levites that Moses and Aaron counted at Jehovah's command, by families, every male who was at least one month old, was twenty-two thousand.

Take a census of the Levites who are descended from Kohath. List them by families and households. Register all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are qualified to work at the tent of meeting.

The families descended from Levi were listed as the family of Gershon, the family of Kohath, and the family of Merari. These were the families of Levi: the Libnite family, the Hebronite family, the Mahlite family, the Mushite family, and the Korahite family. Kohath was the ancestor of Amram. The name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, a descendant of Levi, who was born in Egypt. She gave birth to Amram's children: Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam. read more.
Aaron was the father of Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Nadab and Abihu died because they offered unauthorized fire in Jehovah's presence. The total number of all the Levite males at least one month old was twenty-three thousand. They were not counted along with the other Israelites, because they were given no land of their own.

Jehovah then set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the Ark of the covenant of Jehovah. They were to stand before Jehovah to serve and pronounce blessings in his name until this day.

David insisted that only the Levites carry God's Ark because Jehovah had chosen them to carry his Ark and to serve him from generation to generation.

The families descended from Levi were listed as the family of Gershon, the family of Kohath, and the family of Merari. These were the families of Levi: the Libnite family, the Hebronite family, the Mahlite family, the Mushite family, and the Korahite family. Kohath was the ancestor of Amram. The name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, a descendant of Levi, who was born in Egypt. She gave birth to Amram's children: Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam. read more.
Aaron was the father of Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Nadab and Abihu died because they offered unauthorized fire in Jehovah's presence. The total number of all the Levite males at least one month old was twenty-three thousand. They were not counted along with the other Israelites, because they were given no land of their own.

The households from the tribe of Levi were not registered along with the other Israelites. Jehovah said to Moses: Do not register the tribe of Levi or include them in the census with the other Israelites. read more.
Put the Levites in charge of the tent of God's words, including the equipment for the tent and everything else having to do with the tent. The Levites will carry the tent and all its equipment. They will take care of the tent and camp around it. When the tent is to be moved, the Levites will take it down. When we camp, they will set it up. Anyone else who comes near the tent will be put to death. The other Israelites will camp with each family in its own area under its own flag. The Levites will camp all around the tent of God's words. In this way Jehovah will not be angry with the congregation of Israel. So the Levites will be in charge of the tent of God's words. The Israelites did everything as Jehovah commanded Moses.

Bring the tribe of Levi, and have them stand in front of the priest Aaron to assist him. They will work for him and the whole community in front of the tent of meeting, doing what needs to be done for the inner tent. They will take care of all the furnishings in the tent of meeting and work for the Israelites, doing what needs to be done for the inner tent. read more.
Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. The Levites will be the only Israelites given to them. Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. Anyone else who tries to do the priests' duties must be put to death. Jehovah said to Moses: Out of all the Israelites, I have taken the Levites to be substitutes for every firstborn male offspring among them. The Levites are mine, because every firstborn is mine. The day I killed every firstborn male in Egypt, I set apart as holy every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They will be mine. I am Jehovah. Jehovah said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai: Count the Levites by households and families. Count every male who is at least one month old. Moses did what Jehovah said. He registered them as he had been commanded.

Put the Levites in charge of the tent of God's words, including the equipment for the tent and everything else having to do with the tent. The Levites will carry the tent and all its equipment. They will take care of the tent and camp around it. When the tent is to be moved, the Levites will take it down. When we camp, they will set it up. Anyone else who comes near the tent will be put to death. The other Israelites will camp with each family in its own area under its own flag. read more.
The Levites will camp all around the tent of God's words. In this way Jehovah will not be angry with the congregation of Israel. So the Levites will be in charge of the tent of God's words.

Bring the tribe of Levi, and have them stand in front of the priest Aaron to assist him. They will work for him and the whole community in front of the tent of meeting, doing what needs to be done for the inner tent. They will take care of all the furnishings in the tent of meeting and work for the Israelites, doing what needs to be done for the inner tent. read more.
Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. The Levites will be the only Israelites given to them.

To Gershon belonged the families descended from Libni and Shimei. These were the families descended from Gershon. The total number of all the males at least one month old was seven thousand five hundred. The families descended from Gershon put up their tents on the west side behind the tent of meeting. read more.
The leader of the Gershonite households was Eliasaph, son of Lael. The Gershonites were in charge of the inner tent, the outer tent and cover, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting, the curtains for the courtyard, the screen for the entrance to the courtyard that surrounds the inner tent and the altar, and the ropes. They took care of all these things. To Kohath belonged the families descended from Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. These were the families descended from Kohath. The number of all the males at least one month old was eight thousand six hundred. They were in charge of the holy place. The families descended from Kohath put up their tents on the south side of the tent of meeting. The leader of the Kohathite families and households was Elizaphan, son of Uzziel. They were in charge of the Ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the utensils used in the holy place, and the screen. They took care of all these things. The leader of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest. He was in charge of those who carried out the duties in the Holy Place. The clan of Merari was composed of the families of Mahli and Mushi. The total number of males one month old or older that were enrolled was six thousand two hundred. This clan was to camp on the north side of the Tent, with Zuriel son of Abihail as leader of the clan. It was the duty of the Merarites to be in charge of the framework of the inner tent, the crossbars, posts, sockets, and all the equipment. They took care of these things. They were responsible for the posts for the surrounding courtyard, the bases, pegs, and ropes.

Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron: Take a census of the Levites who are descended from Kohath. List them by families and households. Register all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are qualified to work at the tent of meeting. read more.
This is the work the Kohathites will do in the tent of meeting: They will take care of the most holy things. When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons will go in and take down the canopy that hangs over the Ark containing the words of God's Covenant. First they will cover the Ark with the canopy. Over this they will put a covering of fine leather. On top of that they will spread a cloth made entirely of violet material. Then they will put the poles in place. They will spread a violet cloth over the table of the presence and put on it the plates, dishes, bowls, and pitchers for the wine offerings. The bread that is always in Jehovah's presence will also be on it. They will spread a bright red cloth over everything on the table. They will then cover all this with fine leather. Then they will put the poles in place. They will use a violet cloth to cover the lamp stand, as well as the lamps, snuffers, trays, and all the containers for the olive oil used in the lamps. Then they will put the lamp stand and all its utensils under a covering of fine leather and put them on a frame to carry them. They will spread a violet cloth over the gold altar and cover the cloth with fine leather. Then they will put the poles in place. They will take all the articles that are used in the holy place and put them in a violet cloth. Then they will cover that with fine leather, and put them on a frame to carry them. After they take the ashes away, they will spread a purple cloth over the altar. They will put all the accessories used at the altar on it. These are the trays, forks, shovels, and bowls-all the altar's accessories. They will spread a covering of fine leather (sealskin) over all this. Then they will put the poles in place. When Aaron and his sons finished covering the holy things and the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites will come to carry all the holy articles. They must never touch the holy things, or they will die. The Kohathites will carry all the things from the tent of meeting.

Jehovah continued to speak to Moses and Aaron: Do not let the Kohathite families from Levi's tribe be destroyed. This is what you must do so that they will not die when they come near the most holy things: Aaron and his sons will go into the holy place and tell each man what he will do and what he will carry. read more.
However the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die. Jehovah said to Moses: Take a census of the Gershonites. List them by households and families. Register all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are qualified to serve at the tent of meeting. This is what the Gershonite families will do and what they will carry: They will carry the sheets that are part of the inner tent and the tent of meeting. They will also carry the inner cover for the tent of meeting, the outer cover of fine leather that goes over it, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting, the curtains for the courtyard around the tent and the altar, the screen for the entrance to the courtyard, the ropes, and all the equipment used to set up the curtains. The Gershonites will do everything that needs to be done with these things. All their work, whatever they carry and all their duties, will be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons. You are in charge of telling them everything they are to carry. This is the work of the Gershonite families in the tent of meeting. Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of them. Register the Merarites by families and households. Register all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are qualified to serve at the tent of meeting. These are their duties as they work at the tent of meeting: They will carry the framework for the inner tent, the crossbars, posts, and sockets, the posts for the surrounding courtyard, the bases, pegs, and ropes. They must take care of all this equipment. Tell each man by name the things he will carry. This is what the Merarite families will do as they work at the tent of meeting. Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of them. Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the congregation registered the Kohathites by their families and households. They registered all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who were qualified to work at the tent of meeting. The total of those who were registered was two thousand seven hundred and fifty. They were listed by families. This was the total of all those in the Kohathite families who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron did as Jehovah commanded Moses and registered the Kohathites. The Gershonites were registered by families and households. All the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who were qualified to serve at the tent of meeting were registered. The total of those registered was two thousand six hundred and seventy. They were listed by families and households. This was the total of all those in the Gershonite families who worked at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron did as Jehovah commanded Moses and registered the Gershonites. The Merarites were registered by families and households. All the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who were qualified to serve at the tent of meeting were registered. The total of all those who were registered was three thousand two hundred. They were listed by families. This was the total of those registered in the Merarite families. Moses and Aaron did as Jehovah commanded Moses and registered the Merarites. All the numbered men of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted, by their families and by their fathers' households, were the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who were qualified to do the work of serving and who carried the tent of meeting. They counted eight thousand five hundred and fifty. At Jehovah's command through Moses each man was registered and told what to do and what to carry. So they were registered as Jehovah commanded Moses.

From the Izharites: Kenaniah and his sons were assigned duties away from the temple, as officials and judges over Israel.

Jehoshaphat also appointed some Levites, some priests, and some of the family leaders to serve as judges in Jerusalem. He told them: Faithfully serve Jehovah! Warn your relatives living in other cities about every case they bring to you, even if the case involves bloodshed or commandments, rules, or regulations derived from the law. Then your relatives will not become guilty in front of Jehovah. Otherwise, he will become angry with you and your relatives. Do this and you will not be guilty of anything. read more.
The chief priest Amariah will be in charge of you in every matter involving Jehovah. Zebadiah, who is the son of Ishmael and the leader of the tribe of Judah, will be in charge of every matter involving the king. The Levites will serve as officers of the court. Be strong and do your job. May Jehovah be with those who do right.

Approach the Levitical priest or the judge who is in office in those days. Inquire of them and they will declare to you the verdict in the case.

And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who were responsible for the outside business of the house of God;

David said: Of these, twenty-four thousand are to supervise the work of Jehovah's Temple and six thousand are to be officials and judges.

The second year and third month of their coming to the house of God in Jerusalem Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, took charge of the construction. Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come from the land where they were prisoners to Jerusalem: and the Levites, of twenty years or older, were responsible for overseeing the work of the house of Jehovah.

Register all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are qualified to work at the tent of meeting.

Register all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are qualified to serve at the tent of meeting.

were the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who were qualified to do the work of serving and who carried the tent of meeting.

Jehovah said to Moses: From the age of twenty-five each Levite shall perform his duties in the tent of my presence, They must retire from active service when they are fifty years old. read more.
They may assist the other Levites in their duties at the tent of meeting. But they may not do any regular work. This is how you will handle the Levites' duties.

The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy-four. The music-makers: the children of Asaph, a hundred and twenty-eight. The children of the door-keepers: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, a hundred and thirty-nine. read more.
The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon, The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub, The children of Hagab, the children of Shamlai, the children of Hanan, The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah, The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam, The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai, The children of Asnah, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephisim, The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah, The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Hassophereth, the children of Peruda, The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the children of Ami. All the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred and ninety-two. And these were the people who went up from Telmelah, Telharsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer. But having no knowledge of their fathers' families or offspring, it was not certain that they were Israelites. The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred and fifty-two. Of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who was married to one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and took their name. They made search for their record among the lists of families. Their names were nowhere to be found. So they were looked on as unclean and no longer priests. The Tirshatha (Governor) said they were not to have the most holy things for their food, till a priest came to give decision by Urim and Thummim.

Some of the children of Israel went with some of the priests and Levites and the music-makers and the doorkeepers and the Nethinim, to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

Then I sent for Eliezer and Ariel and Shemaiah and Elnathan Jarib and Elnathan and Nathan and Zechariah and Meshullam, all responsible men; and for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were wise men. I sent them to Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and gave them orders what to say to Iddo and his brothers the Nethinim at the place Casiphia, so that they might come back to us with men to do the work of the house of our God. With the help of our God they got for us Ish-sechel, one of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah with his sons and brothers, eighteen; read more.
And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty; Of the Nethinim, to whom David and the captains had given the work of helping the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim, all of them specially named.

The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of the children of Hodevah, seventy-four. The music-makers: the children of Asaph, a hundred and forty-eight. The gate-keepers: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, a hundred and thirty-eight. read more.
The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, The children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon, The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Salmai, The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephushesim, The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah, The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida, The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the children of Amon. All the Nethinim and the children of Solomon's servants were three hundred and ninety-two. All these were the people who went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but because they had no knowledge of their fathers' families or offspring, it was not certain if they were Israelites: The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred and forty-two. And of the priests: the children of Hobaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who was married to one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and took their name. They searched for their record among the lists of families, but their names were nowhere to be seen, so they were looked on as unclean and no longer priests. And the Tirshatha (governor) said that they were not to have the most holy things for their food, till a priest came to give decision by the Urim and Thummim. The number of all the people together was forty-two thousand, three hundred and sixty. As well as their men-servants and their women-servants, of whom there were seven thousand, three hundred and thirty-seven. They had two hundred and forty-five men and women to make music. They had seven hundred and thirty-six horses, two hundred and forty-five transport beasts. They also had four hundred and thirty-five camels, six thousand, seven hundred and twenty asses. Some of the heads of families gave money for the work. The Tirshatha gave to the store a thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, and five hundred and thirty priests' robes. Some of the heads of families gave to the store for the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand, two hundred pounds of silver. That which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand pounds of silver, and sixty-seven priests' robes. The priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, some of the people and the Nethinim, and all Israel, were living in their towns. When the seventh months arrived, the sons of Israel were then in their cities.

Jehovah said to Aaron: You, your sons, and your family will be responsible for any sins against the holy place. You and your sons will also be responsible for any sins you commit when you work as priests.

Then ordain them, because they and their descendants will have a long lasting priesthood.

Jehovah continued: Bring your brother Aaron and his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar to you from all the Israelites. They will serve me as priests.

Moses, Aaron, and his sons put up their tents on the east side in front of the tent of meeting. They were in charge of the holy place on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who tried to do the Levites' duties had to be put to death.

The next day Moses went into the tent. He found that Aaron's staff for the tribe of Levi had not only begun to grow, but it had also blossomed and produced ripe almonds.

You will know I sent this commandment to you! This way my covenant with Levi will continue, said Jehovah of Hosts. My covenant was with him [Levi]. It was of life and peace. I gave them to him that he might reverence me. He respected me and stood in awe of my name.

Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said: Who is on Jehovah's side? Come to me. All the sons of Levi came to him. He said to them, Jehovah, the God of Israel says: 'Each man put his sword by his side. Go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp. Kill each one his brother, and each one his neighbor, and each one his kindred.' The sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. About three thousand men died that day.

Who said of his father and mother: 'I have not seen them; and he did not acknowledge his brothers, nor did he regard his own sons. They observed your word and kept your covenant.' They will teach your ordinances to Jacob, and your Law to Israel. They will burn incense before you, and whole burnt offerings on your altar.

They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key for opening it each morning. Some of them were in charge of the articles used in the temple service; they counted them when they were brought in and when they were taken out. Others were assigned to take care of the furnishings and all the other articles of the sanctuary, as well as the flour and wine, and the oil, incense and spices.

He also gathered all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and Levites. The Levites thirty years old or older were counted, and the total number of men was thirty-eight thousand. David said: Of these, twenty-four thousand are to supervise the work of Jehovah's Temple and six thousand are to be officials and judges. read more.
Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise Jehovah with musical instruments I have provided for that purpose. David divided the Levites into groups corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Belonging to the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei. The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the first, Zetham and Joel, three in all. The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel and Haran, three in all. These were the heads of the families of Ladan. The sons of Shimei: Jahath, Ziza, Jeush and Beriah. These were the sons of Shimei, four in all. Jahath was the first and Ziza the second, but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons so they were counted as one family with one assignment. The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel, four in all. The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart, he and his descendants from generation to generation, to consecrate the most holy things, to offer sacrifices before Jehovah, to minister before him and to pronounce blessings in his name as long as they live. The sons of Moses the man of God were counted as part of the tribe of Levi. The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer. The descendants of Gershom: Shubael was the first. The descendants of Eliezer: Rehabiah was the first. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous. The sons of Izhar: Shelomith was the first. 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 without having sons: he had only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them. The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth, three in all. These were the descendants of Levi by their families, the heads of families as they were registered under their names and counted individually, that is, the workers twenty years old or more who served in the Temple of Jehovah. For David had said: Since Jehovah, the God of Israel, has granted rest to his people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem from generation to generation, the Levites no longer need to carry the Tabernacle or any of the articles used in its service. According to the last instructions of David, the Levites were counted from those twenty years old or more. The duty of the Levites was to help Aaron's descendants in the service of the Temple of Jehovah: to be in charge of the courtyards, the side rooms, the purification of all sacred things and the performance of other duties at the House of God. They were in charge of the bread set out on the table, the flour for the grain offerings, the unleavened wafers, the baking and the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size. They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise Jehovah. They were to do the same in the evening and whenever burnt offerings were presented to Jehovah on Sabbaths and at New Moon festivals and at appointed feasts. They were to serve before Jehovah regularly in the proper number and in the way prescribed for them. So the Levites carried out their responsibilities for the Tent of Meeting, for the Holy Place and, under their brothers the descendants of Aaron, for the service of the Temple of Jehovah.

I put on one side twelve of the chiefs of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers with them, I gave to them by weight the silver and the gold and the vessels, all the offering for the house of our God that the king and his wise men and his captains and all Israel there present had given: Measuring into their hands six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels, a hundred talents' weight, and a hundred talents of gold, read more.
And twenty gold basins, of a thousand darics, and two vessels of the best bright brass, equal in value to gold. I said to them: You are holy to Jehovah and the vessels are holy. The silver and the gold are an offering freely given to Jehovah, the God of your fathers. Take care of them and keep them, till you put them on the scales before the chiefs of the priests and the Levites and the chiefs of the families of Israel, in Jerusalem, in the rooms of the house of Jehovah. So the priests and the Levites took the weight of silver and gold and the vessels, to take them to Jerusalem into the house of our God. Then we went away from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us. He gave us salvation from our enemies and those who were waiting to attack us on the way. We went to Jerusalem and were there for three days. On the fourth day, the silver and the gold and the vessels were measured out by weight in the house of our God into the hands of Meremoth, the son of Uriah, the priest; and with him was Eleazar, the son of Phinehas; and with them were Jozabad, the son of Jeshua, and Obadiah, the son of Binnui, the Levites. All was handed over by number and by weight: and the weight was put on record at that time.

He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. He will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will offer to Jehovah offerings in righteousness.

and that there will always be priests from the tribe of Levi to serve me and to offer burnt offerings, grain offerings, and sacrifices.'

But the Levites, who went far from me when Israel went astray, who went astray from me after their idols, will bear the punishment for their iniquity. They will be ministers in my sanctuary and having oversight at the gates of the house. They will slaughter the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they will stand before them to minister to them. I have sworn against them because they ministered to them before their idols and became a stumbling block of iniquity to the house of Israel,' declares the Lord Jehovah. 'They will bear the punishment for their iniquity.' read more.
They will not serve as a priest to me, nor come near to any of my holy things, to the things that are most holy. They will bear their shame for their abominations that they have committed. Even so I will appoint them to keep charge of the house, of all its service and of all that will be done in it.'

Out of all the Israelites, I have taken the Levites to be substitutes for every firstborn male offspring among them. The Levites are mine,

They will be the only Israelites given to me. I have taken them to be mine as substitutes for every firstborn male offspring of the Israelites. When I killed all the first-born in Egypt, I consecrated as my own the oldest son of each Israelite family and the first-born of every animal. I am now taking the Levites instead of all the first-born of the Israelites.

I chose the other Levites from among the Israelites to help you. They are a gift given to Jehovah to do the necessary work at the tent of meeting.

I am Jehovah. Take the Levites for me to be substitutes for all firstborn Israelites. Also take the animals of the Levites to be substitutes for all firstborn animals of the Israelites. Moses registered all the firstborn Israelites as Jehovah commanded him. The total of all the firstborn males at least one month old was twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy three. They were listed by name. read more.
Jehovah said to Moses: Take the Levites to be substitutes for all the firstborn Israelites and the animals of the Levites to be substitutes for their animals. The Levites will be mine. I am Jehovah.

In this way you will separate the Levites from the other Israelites. The Levites will be mine.

The households from the tribe of Levi were not registered along with the other Israelites. Jehovah said to Moses: Do not register the tribe of Levi or include them in the census with the other Israelites. read more.
Put the Levites in charge of the tent of God's words, including the equipment for the tent and everything else having to do with the tent. The Levites will carry the tent and all its equipment. They will take care of the tent and camp around it. When the tent is to be moved, the Levites will take it down. When we camp, they will set it up. Anyone else who comes near the tent will be put to death. The other Israelites will camp with each family in its own area under its own flag. The Levites will camp all around the tent of God's words. In this way Jehovah will not be angry with the congregation of Israel. So the Levites will be in charge of the tent of God's words. The Israelites did everything as Jehovah commanded Moses.

From the tribe of Levi, there were four thousand six hundred troops.

Then the tent would be taken down. The clans of Gershon and Merari carried it.

Libni and Shimei were the sons of Gershon. Their families were named after them. Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel were the sons of Kohath. Their families were named after them. Mahli and Mushi were the sons of Merari. Their families were named after them. These were the households of Levite families. read more.
To Gershon belonged the families descended from Libni and Shimei. These were the families descended from Gershon. The total number of all the males at least one month old was seven thousand five hundred. The families descended from Gershon put up their tents on the west side behind the tent of meeting. The leader of the Gershonite households was Eliasaph, son of Lael. The Gershonites were in charge of the inner tent, the outer tent and cover, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting, the curtains for the courtyard, the screen for the entrance to the courtyard that surrounds the inner tent and the altar, and the ropes. They took care of all these things.

Register all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are qualified to serve at the tent of meeting. This is what the Gershonite families will do and what they will carry: They will carry the sheets that are part of the inner tent and the tent of meeting. They will also carry the inner cover for the tent of meeting, the outer cover of fine leather that goes over it, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting, read more.
the curtains for the courtyard around the tent and the altar, the screen for the entrance to the courtyard, the ropes, and all the equipment used to set up the curtains. The Gershonites will do everything that needs to be done with these things.

Put the Levites in charge of the tent of God's words, including the equipment for the tent and everything else having to do with the tent. The Levites will carry the tent and all its equipment. They will take care of the tent and camp around it. When the tent is to be moved, the Levites will take it down. When we camp, they will set it up. Anyone else who comes near the tent will be put to death. The other Israelites will camp with each family in its own area under its own flag. read more.
The Levites will camp all around the tent of God's words. In this way Jehovah will not be angry with the congregation of Israel. So the Levites will be in charge of the tent of God's words.

When the tent of meeting is moved, the Levites will stay in the middle of the groups. The tribes will move out in the same order as they are in the camp, everyone in place under his own flag (staff) (scepter).

The families descended from Gershon put up their tents on the west side behind the tent of meeting. The leader of the Gershonite households was Eliasaph, son of Lael. The Gershonites were in charge of the inner tent, the outer tent and cover, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting, read more.
the curtains for the courtyard, the screen for the entrance to the courtyard that surrounds the inner tent and the altar, and the ropes. They took care of all these things. To Kohath belonged the families descended from Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. These were the families descended from Kohath. The number of all the males at least one month old was eight thousand six hundred. They were in charge of the holy place. The families descended from Kohath put up their tents on the south side of the tent of meeting. The leader of the Kohathite families and households was Elizaphan, son of Uzziel. They were in charge of the Ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the utensils used in the holy place, and the screen. They took care of all these things. The leader of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest. He was in charge of those who carried out the duties in the Holy Place. The clan of Merari was composed of the families of Mahli and Mushi. The total number of males one month old or older that were enrolled was six thousand two hundred. This clan was to camp on the north side of the Tent, with Zuriel son of Abihail as leader of the clan.

Instead, I will give the Levites what the Israelites contribute to Jehovah, one-tenth of the Israelites' income. This is why I said about them: They will own no property as the other Israelites do.

Tell the Israelites to give the Levites some cities from their own property. They must also give the Levites the pastureland around those cities. The Levites will have cities to live in and pastureland for their cattle, the flocks they own, and any other animals they have. The land around the cities that you give the Levites will extend fifteen hundred feet from the city wall. read more.
Outside the city measure off three thousand feet on the east side, three thousand feet on the south side, three thousand feet on the west side, and three thousand feet on the north side, with the city in the center. This will be their pastureland around the city. Six of the cities you give the Levites will be cities of refuge. You must allow murderers to escape to these cities. In addition, you must also give the Levites forty-two other cities. You will give a total of forty-eight cities with pastureland to the Levites. The cities you give the Levites from the property of the other Israelites must be given based on the amount of land each tribe owns. Take more cities from larger tribes and fewer from smaller tribes.

Jehovah then set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the Ark of the covenant of Jehovah. They were to stand before Jehovah to serve and pronounce blessings in his name until this day.

David insisted that only the Levites carry God's Ark because Jehovah had chosen them to carry his Ark and to serve him from generation to generation.

Because God helped the Levites who carried the Ark of the Jehovah's Covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. David was dressed in a fine linen robe, as were all the Levites who carried the Ark, the Levites who were singers, and Chenaniah, the leader of the musicians' prophetic songs. David also wore a linen ephod.

This is what you must do so that they will not die when they come near the most holy things: Aaron and his sons will go into the holy place and tell each man what he will do and what he will carry. However the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.

Those who were musicians, heads of Levite families, stayed in the rooms of the temple and were exempt from other duties because they were responsible for the work day and night.

They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key for opening it each morning.

Outside the gateways to the inner courtyard were the rooms for the singers in the inner courtyards. One room was at the side of the north gateway. It faced south. The other room was at the side of the south gateway. It faced north.

The king spoke to Abiathar the priest: Go to your fields at Anathoth. You deserve death. But I will not put you to death now, because you carried the Ark of Jehovah God before David my father. You were with him in all his troubles.

He is to receive the same amount of food as the other priests. He may keep everything his family sends him.

He also gathered all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and Levites. The Levites thirty years old or older were counted, and the total number of men was thirty-eight thousand. David said: Of these, twenty-four thousand are to supervise the work of Jehovah's Temple and six thousand are to be officials and judges.

The second year and third month of their coming to the house of God in Jerusalem Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, took charge of the construction. Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come from the land where they were prisoners to Jerusalem: and the Levites, of twenty years or older, were responsible for overseeing the work of the house of Jehovah. Then Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel with his sons, the sons of Hodaviah, together took up the work of overseeing the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad with their sons and their brothers, the Levites.

So the Levites started to work. From Kohath's descendants were Mahath, son of Amasai, and Joel, son of Azariah. From Merari's descendants were Kish, son of Abdi, and Azariah, son of Jehallelel. From Gershon's descendants were Joah, son of Zimmah, and Eden, son of Joah. From Elizaphan's descendants were Shimri and Jeiel. From Asaph's descendants were Zechariah and Mattaniah. From Heman's descendants were Jehiel and Shimei. From Jeduthun's descendants were Shemaiah and Uzziel. read more.
These men gathered their relatives and performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy. They obeyed the king's order from Jehovah's word and entered the Temple to make it clean. The priests entered Jehovah's temple to make it clean. They carried into the courtyard every unclean thing that they found in Jehovah's Temple. Then the Levites took the unclean items outside the city to the Kidron Brook. They started on the first day of the first month. On the eighth day they went into Jehovah's entrance hall. For eight days they performed the ceremonies to make Jehovah's Temple holy. They finished on the sixteenth day of the first month. Then they went to King Hezekiah. They said: We have made Jehovah's entire temple clean. This includes the altar for burnt offerings, all its utensils, the table for the rows of bread and all its utensils, and all the utensils King Ahaz refused to use during his reign when he was unfaithful. We have restored them and made them holy. They are in front of Jehovah's altar. Early in the morning Hezekiah assembled the leaders of the city and went to Jehovah's Temple. They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as an offering for sin for the kingdom, the holy place, and Judah. Hezekiah told the priests, Aaron's descendants, to sacrifice the animals on Jehovah's altar. So they slaughtered the bulls. The priests sprinkled the blood on the altar. Then they slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar. After that, they slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar. Then they brought the male goats for the offering for sin in front of the king and the assembly, who laid their hands on them. The priests killed the goats and poured their blood on the altar as a sacrifice to take away the sin of all the people. The king commanded that burnt offerings and sin offerings be made for all Israel. The king followed the instructions Jehovah gave to King David through Gad, the king's prophet, and through the prophet Nathan. He stationed Levites in the Temple, with harps and cymbals, and instruments like those that King David used. The priests also stood there with trumpets. Hezekiah gave the order for the burnt offering to be presented. The offering began and the people sang praise to Jehovah. The musicians began to play the trumpets and all the other instruments. Everyone there joined in worship. The singing and the rest of the music continued until all the sacrifices were burned. King Hezekiah and all the people knelt down and worshiped God. The king and the leaders of the nation told the Levites to sing to Jehovah the songs of praise that were written by David and by Asaph the prophet. So everyone sang with great joy as they knelt and worshiped God. Hezekiah said to the people: Now that you are ritually clean, bring sacrifices as offerings of thanksgiving to Jehovah. They obeyed, and some of them also voluntarily brought animals to be sacrificed as burnt offerings. They brought seventy bulls, one hundred sheep, and two hundred lambs as burnt offerings for Jehovah. They also brought six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep as sacrifices for the people to eat. Since there were not enough priests to kill all these animals, the Levites helped them until the work was finished. By then more priests had made themselves ritually clean. The Levites were more faithful in keeping ritually clean than the priests were. In addition to offering the sacrifices that were burned whole, the priests were responsible for burning the fat that was offered from the sacrifices the people ate, and for pouring out the wine that was presented with the burnt offerings. Thus worship in the Temple began again. King Hezekiah and the people were happy. For God helped them to do all this so quickly.

Josiah celebrated the Passover to Jehovah in Jerusalem. The Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month. Josiah appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them to serve in Jehovah's Temple. He told the Levites, who instructed all Israel and performed ceremonies to make themselves holy to Jehovah: Put the Holy Ark in the Temple that Solomon, son of David and king of Israel, built. It should not be carried on your shoulders any longer. Serve Jehovah your God and his people Israel. read more.
Get yourselves ready with the family groups of your divisions, which are listed in the records of King David of Israel and the records of his son Solomon. Divide yourselves into groups. Then spread out throughout the Temple so that each family of worshipers will be able to get help from one of you. When the people bring you their Passover lamb, you must slaughter it and prepare it to be sacrificed to Jehovah. Make sure the people celebrate according to the instructions Jehovah gave Moses. Do not do anything to become unclean and unacceptable. Josiah donated thirty thousand sheep and goats, and three thousand bulls from his own flocks and herds for the people to offer as sacrifices. Josiah's officials also voluntarily gave some of their animals to the people, the priests, and the Levites as sacrifices. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, who were the officials in charge of the Temple, gave the priests twenty-six hundred sheep and lambs and three hundred bulls to sacrifice during the Passover celebration. Conaniah and his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel, and Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad, the leaders of the Levites, gave the Levites five thousand sheep and goats and five hundred bulls as Passover sacrifices. Thus the service was prepared. The priests took their positions with the Levites according to their divisions, as the king had ordered. They slaughtered the Passover lambs. The priests sprinkled the blood with their hands while the Levites skinned the lambs. They set aside the burnt offerings to give them to the people according to their family divisions. The people could then present them to Jehovah as is written in the Book of Moses. The Levites did the same with the bulls. The Levites roasted the Passover sacrifices over the fire, according to the regulations. They boiled the sacred offerings in pots, kettles, and pans, and quickly distributed the meat to the people. After this was done, the Levites provided meat for themselves and for the priests descended from Aaron. Since the priests were kept busy until night, burning the animals that were burned whole and the fat of the sacrifices. The following musicians of the Levite clan of Asaph were in the places assigned to them by King David's instructions: Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, the king's prophet. The guards at the Temple gates did not need to leave their posts, because the other Levites prepared the Passover for them. Everything was done that day as King Josiah commanded for the worship of Jehovah. This included the keeping of the Passover Festival, and the offering of burnt offerings on the altar. All the people of Israel who were present celebrated the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. The Passover had not been celebrated like this since the days of the prophet Samuel. None of the former kings had ever celebrated a Passover like this one celebrated by King Josiah, the priests, the Levites, and the people of Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem

The priests and Levites in every region of Israel aligned with Rehoboam. The priests abandoned their land and property and went to Judah and Jerusalem because Jeroboam and his descendants rejected them as Jehovah's priests. As an alternative, Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the illegal worship sites and the goat and calf statues he had made as idols. read more.
People from every tribe of Israel who were determined to seek Jehovah the true God of Israel followed the Levitical priests to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Jehovah God of their ancestors. So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah by supporting Rehoboam, son of Solomon, for three years. During those three years they lived the way David and Solomon had lived.

You drove out Jehovah's priests! You evicted the descendants of Aaron and the Levites. In their place you appointed priests in the same way that other nations do. Anybody who comes along with a bull or seven sheep can get himself consecrated as a priest of those so-called gods of yours. We still serve Jehovah our God! We have not abandoned him. Priests descended from Aaron perform their duties, and Levites assist them. Every morning and every evening they offer him incense and animal sacrifices burned whole. They present the offerings of bread on a table that is ritually clean, and every evening they light the lamps on the gold lamp stand. We do what Jehovah has commanded! But you have abandoned him!

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse. Test me, said Jehovah of Hosts, and see if I will open the windows of heaven and pour out showers of blessing upon you until there is no more want.

I saw that the Levites had not been given what was needed for their support. So the Levites and the music-makers, who did the work, had gone away, everyone to his field. Then I made protests to the chiefs, and said: Why has the house of God been given up? I got them together and put them in their places. All Judah came with the tenth part of the grain and wine and oil and put it into the storehouses. read more.
I made controllers over the storehouses, Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and with them was Hanan, the son of Zaccur the son of Mattaniah. They were taken to be honest men and their business was the distribution of these things to their brothers.

The two groups that go off duty on the Sabbath are to stand guard at the Temple to protect the king. You are to guard King Jehoash with drawn swords and stay with him wherever he goes. Anyone who comes near you is to be killed. The officers obeyed Jehoiada's instructions and brought their men to him, those going off duty on the Sabbath and those going on duty. read more.
He gave the officers the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and had been kept in the Temple. He stationed the men with drawn swords all around the front of the Temple, to protect the king.

The Levites should surround the king. Each man should have his weapon in his hand. Kill anyone who tries to come into the Temple. Stay with the king wherever he goes.

After these things were done, the captains came to me and said: The people of Israel and the priests and Levites have not kept themselves separate from the people of the lands. They have taken part in the disgusting ways of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. They have taken their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons. They have mingled the holy race with peoples around them. In fact the leaders and officials were first to do this evil.

And of the Levites, Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah that is Kelita, Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. Of the music-makers, Eliashib; and of the doorkeepers, Shallum and Telem and Uri.

To Kohath belonged the families descended from Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. These were the families descended from Kohath. The number of all the males at least one month old was eight thousand six hundred. They were in charge of the holy place. The families descended from Kohath put up their tents on the south side of the tent of meeting. read more.
The leader of the Kohathite families and households was Elizaphan, son of Uzziel. They were in charge of the Ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the utensils used in the holy place, and the screen. They took care of all these things. The leader of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest. He was in charge of those who carried out the duties in the Holy Place.

Take a census of the Levites who are descended from Kohath. List them by families and households. Register all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are qualified to work at the tent of meeting. This is the work the Kohathites will do in the tent of meeting: They will take care of the most holy things. read more.
When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons will go in and take down the canopy that hangs over the Ark containing the words of God's Covenant. First they will cover the Ark with the canopy. Over this they will put a covering of fine leather. On top of that they will spread a cloth made entirely of violet material. Then they will put the poles in place. They will spread a violet cloth over the table of the presence and put on it the plates, dishes, bowls, and pitchers for the wine offerings. The bread that is always in Jehovah's presence will also be on it. They will spread a bright red cloth over everything on the table. They will then cover all this with fine leather. Then they will put the poles in place. They will use a violet cloth to cover the lamp stand, as well as the lamps, snuffers, trays, and all the containers for the olive oil used in the lamps. Then they will put the lamp stand and all its utensils under a covering of fine leather and put them on a frame to carry them. They will spread a violet cloth over the gold altar and cover the cloth with fine leather. Then they will put the poles in place. They will take all the articles that are used in the holy place and put them in a violet cloth. Then they will cover that with fine leather, and put them on a frame to carry them. After they take the ashes away, they will spread a purple cloth over the altar. They will put all the accessories used at the altar on it. These are the trays, forks, shovels, and bowls-all the altar's accessories. They will spread a covering of fine leather (sealskin) over all this. Then they will put the poles in place. When Aaron and his sons finished covering the holy things and the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites will come to carry all the holy articles. They must never touch the holy things, or they will die. The Kohathites will carry all the things from the tent of meeting.

All Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on both sides of the Ark before the priests. The Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; Half of the people stood on Mount Gerizim. And half of them stood on Mount Ebal. As Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.

When you cross the Jordan, these will stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.

I chose the other Levites from among the Israelites to help you. They are a gift given to Jehovah to do the necessary work at the tent of meeting.

I assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons, as a gift from the Israelites. They are to work in the tent for the people of Israel and to protect the Israelites from the disaster that would strike them if they came too near the Holy Place.

Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. The Levites will be the only Israelites given to them.

The leader of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest. He was in charge of those who carried out the duties in the Holy Place.

In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar was in charge of the gatekeepers, and Jehovah was with him.

To Kohath belonged the families descended from Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. These were the families descended from Kohath.

Do not let the Kohathite families from Levi's tribe be destroyed. This is what you must do so that they will not die when they come near the most holy things: Aaron and his sons will go into the holy place and tell each man what he will do and what he will carry. However the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.

From the sons of Israel's half, you shall take one drawn out of every fifty of the persons, of the cattle, of the donkeys and of the sheep, from all the animals, and give them to the Levites who keep charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah.

And from the Israelites half, which Moses separated from the men who had gone to war. The congregation's half was three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep, and thirty-six thousand cattle, read more.
and thirty thousand five hundred donkeys, and the human beings were sixteen thousand. Moses took one drawn out of every fifty, both of man and of animals from the Israelite's half. He gave them to the Levites, who kept charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah, just as Jehovah commanded Moses.

I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of kindness and of supplication. They will look to the one whom they pierced; and they will mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son. There will be a bitter lamentation for him, like one who grieves for his first-born. That day will be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the Valley of Megiddon (Megiddo). And the land will mourn, every family by itself; the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves, the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves. read more.
The family of the house of Levi will mourn by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by themselves, and their wives by themselves;

Alongside the land belonging to the priests will be the land belonging to the Levites. It will be forty-three thousand seven hundred and fifty feet long and seventeen thousand five hundred feet wide. They must not sell any of it or trade any of it. They must not let others have the best part of the land, because the land is Jehovah's and it is holy.

The duty of the Levites was to help Aaron's descendants in the service of the Temple of Jehovah: to be in charge of the courtyards, the side rooms, the purification of all sacred things and the performance of other duties at the House of God. They were in charge of the bread set out on the table, the flour for the grain offerings, the unleavened wafers, the baking and the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size.

They were appointed to distribute them to males who were at least three years old. The way they were enrolled in the genealogical records did not matter. The six men who served under Kore were to distribute the offerings to everyone who went to Jehovah's Temple to perform the daily service that each division was responsible for. They were to distribute offerings to the priests who were enrolled by families and to the Levites who were at least twenty years old. Distribution was based on the way they served in their divisions. The priests and Levites were enrolled with their wives, sons, daughters, and other people who depended on them in the community. The priests and Levites had to be faithful in keeping themselves holy for the holy work.

the priests and the Levites made themselves clean together. They were all clean when they put the Passover lamb to death for all those who had come back, and for their brothers the priests and for themselves. The children of Israel, who had come back, and all those who were joined to them, after separating themselves from the evil ways of the people of the land to become the servants of Jehovah, the God of Israel, ate together.

The Levites always have the right to buy back their property in the cities they own. If any Levite buys back a house, in the jubilee the purchased house in the city will be released. This is because the houses in the Levite cities are their property among the Israelites. But a field that belongs to their cities must not be sold, because it is their property from generation to generation.

The families of the Levite clan of Kohath were the first to be assigned cities. The families who were descended from Aaron the priest were assigned thirteen cities from the territories of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. The rest of the clan of Kohath was assigned ten cities from the territories of Ephraim, Dan, and West Manasseh. The clan of Gershon was assigned thirteen cities from the territories of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and East Manasseh in Bashan. read more.
The families of the clan of Merari were assigned twelve cities from the territories of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. By drawing lots, the people of Israel assigned these cities and their pasturelands to the Levites, as Jehovah commanded through Moses. These are the names of the cities from the territories of Judah and Simeon. These were given to the descendants of Aaron who were of the clan of Kohath and who were descended from Levi. Their assignment was the first to be made. They were given the city of Arba. Arba was Anak's father. Arba is now called Hebron. It is in the hill country of Judah, along with the pastureland surrounding it. The fields that were in the city and its towns had already been given to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession. In addition to Hebron, one of the cities of refuge, the following cities were assigned to the descendants of Aaron the priest: Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, Holon, Debir, Ain, Juttah, and Beth Shemesh, with their pasturelands: nine cities from the tribes of Judah and Simeon. From the territory of Benjamin they were given four cities: Gibeon, Geba, Anathoth, and Almon, with their pasturelands. Thirteen cities in all, with pasturelands, were given to the priests, the descendants of Aaron. The other families of the Levite clan of Kohath were assigned some cities from the territory of Ephraim. They were given four cities: Shechem and its pasture lands in the hill country of Ephraim, one of the cities of refuge, Gezer, Kibzaim, and Beth Horon, with their pasturelands. From the territory of Dan they were given four cities: Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Aijalon, and Gathrimmon, with pasturelands. From the territory of West Manasseh they were given two cities: Taanach and Gathrimmon, with pasturelands. These families of the clan of Kohath received ten cities in all, with pasturelands. Another group of Levites, the clan of Gershon, received from the territory of East Manasseh two cities: Golan in Bashan, one of the cities of refuge, and Beeshterah, with pasturelands. From the territory of Issachar they received four cities: Kishion, Daberath, Jarmuth, and Engannim, with pasturelands. From the territory of Asher they received four cities: Mishal, Abdon, Helkath, and Rehob, with pasturelands. From the territory of Naphtali they received three cities: Kedesh in Galilee, with pasture lands, one of the cities of refuge, Hammoth-Dor, and Kartan, with pasturelands. The families of the clan of Gershon received a total of thirteen cities with pasturelands. The rest of the Levites, the clan of Merari, received from the territory of Zebulun four cities: Jokneam, Kartah, Dimnah, and Nahalal, with pasturelands. From the territory of Reuben they received four cities: Bezer, Jahaz, Kedemoth, and Mephaath, with pasturelands. From the tribe of Gad they received four cities: Ramoth in Gilead, with pasturelands, one of the cities of refuge, Mahanaim, Heshbon, and Jazer, with pasturelands. The clan of Merari was assigned a total of twelve cities.

Men were stationed over the houses where the contributions and the first fruits and the tenths were stored. They were to take into them the amounts, from the fields of every town. The law fixed this for the priests and the Levites: Judah was glad on account of the priests and the Levites who were in their places.

All Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave what the music-makers and the gatekeepers deeded day by day. They made the offerings holy for the Levites; and the Levites did the same for the sons of Aaron.

And the Levites: by name, Jeshua, the son of Azaniah, Binnui, of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel, And their brothers, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, read more.
Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Bani, Beninu. The chiefs 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 gate keepers, the music-makers, the Nethinim, and all those who made themselves separate from the peoples of the lands, to keep the Law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone who had knowledge and wisdom;

Register all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are qualified to work at the tent of meeting.

were the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who were qualified to do the work of serving and who carried the tent of meeting.

They were in charge of the bread set out on the table, the flour for the grain offerings, the unleavened wafers, the baking and the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size.

Separate the Levites from the rest of the Israelites. Make them clean. This is what you must do to make them clean: Sprinkle them with water to take away their sins. Make them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes. Then they will be clean. They must take a young bull and the grain offering of flour mixed with olive oil that is offered with it. You must take a second young bull as an offering for sin. read more.
Bring the Levites to the front of the tent of meeting. Assemble the whole congregation of Israel. Then bring the Levites into Jehovah's presence, and the Israelites will place their hands on them. Aaron will present the Levites to Jehovah as an offering from the Israelites. Then they will be ready to do Jehovah's work. The Levites will place their hands on the heads of the young bulls. Sacrifice one of them as an offering for sin and the other one as a burnt offering to Jehovah. These sacrifices will pay compensation for wrongdoing and make peace with Jehovah for the Levites. Make the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons, and present them as an offering to Jehovah. In this way you will separate the Levites from the other Israelites. The Levites will be mine. Once you have made them clean and presented them as an offering, the Levites may come and do their work at the tent of meeting. They will be the only Israelites given to me. I have taken them to be mine as substitutes for every firstborn male offspring of the Israelites. When I killed all the first-born in Egypt, I consecrated as my own the oldest son of each Israelite family and the first-born of every animal. I am now taking the Levites instead of all the first-born of the Israelites. I assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons, as a gift from the Israelites. They are to work in the tent for the people of Israel and to protect the Israelites from the disaster that would strike them if they came too near the Holy Place. Moses, Aaron, and all the people of Israel dedicated the Levites, as Jehovah commanded Moses. So the Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes. Aaron dedicated them as a special gift to Jehovah. He also performed the ritual of purification for them.

David appointed some Levites to serve in front of Jehovah's Ark by offering prayers, thanks, and praise to Jehovah the God of Israel.

From Beth-gilgal and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the music-makers made villages for themselves round about Jerusalem.

Gershon, Kohath, and Merari were the sons of Levi.

This is the work of the Gershonite families in the tent of meeting. Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of them.

This is what the Merarite families will do as they work at the tent of meeting. Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of them.

Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.

Since there were not enough priests to kill all these animals, the Levites helped them until the work was finished. By then more priests had made themselves ritually clean. The Levites were more faithful in keeping ritually clean than the priests were.

You have been in the right in everything that happened to us. You have been true to us, but we have done evil!

All the Levites who were musicians: Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, their sons, and their relatives were dressed in fine linen and stood east of the altar with cymbals, harps, and lyres. With the musicians were one hundred and twenty priests blowing trumpets. When the priests left the holy place, the trumpeters and singers praised and thanked Jehovah in unison. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other musical instruments, they sang in praise to Jehovah: He is good; his mercy (lovingkindness) endures forever. Then Jehovah's Temple was filled with a cloud.

All the Levites who were musicians: Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, their sons, and their relatives were dressed in fine linen and stood east of the altar with cymbals, harps, and lyres. With the musicians were one hundred and twenty priests blowing trumpets. When the priests left the holy place, the trumpeters and singers praised and thanked Jehovah in unison. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other musical instruments, they sang in praise to Jehovah: He is good; his mercy (lovingkindness) endures forever. Then Jehovah's Temple was filled with a cloud.