The Bible in Basic English BBE
New International Version NIV
20 In the past Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, had been ruler over them; may the Lord be with him!
20
In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar was the official in charge of the gatekeepers, and the LORD was with him.
21 Zechariah, the son of Meshelemiah, was keeper of the door of the Tent of meeting.
21
Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
22 There were two hundred and twelve whose business it was to keep the doorway. These were listed by families in the country places where they were living, whom David and Samuel the seer put in their responsible positions.
22
Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the seer.
23 So they and their sons had the care of the doors of the house of the Lord, the house of the Tent, as watchers.
23
They and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the LORD—the house called the tent of meeting.
24 There were keepers of the doors on the four sides, to the east, west, north, and south.
24
The gatekeepers were on the four sides: east, west, north and south.
25 And their brothers, in the country places where they were living, were to come in every seven days to be with them from time to time.
25
Their fellow Levites in their villages had to come from time to time and share their duties for seven-day periods.
26 For the four chief door-keepers, who were Levites, had a special position, looking after the rooms and the store-houses of the house of God.
26
But the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God.
27 Their sleeping-rooms were round the house of God, for they had the care of it, and were responsible for opening it morning by morning.
27
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.
28 Certain of them had the care of the vessels used in worship, to keep an account of them when they came in and when they were taken out again.
28
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.
29 And some of them were responsible for the holy things and for the vessels of the holy place, and the meal and the wine and the oil and the perfume and the spices.
29
Others were assigned to take care of the furnishings and all the other articles of the sanctuary, as well as the special flour and wine, and the olive oil, incense and spices.
30 And some of the sons of the priests were responsible for crushing the spices.
30
But some of the priests took care of mixing the spices.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.