1 Chronicles 23:2-12

2 At the same time he brought together all the leaders of Israel, the priests, and the Levites.

3 The Levites thirty years and older were counted; the total was 38,000.

4 David sorted them into work groups: "24,000 are in charge of administering worship in the sanctuary; 6,000 are officials and judges

5 4,000 are security guards; and 4,000 are to serve in the orchestra, praising God with instruments that I have provided for praise."

6 David then divided the Levites into groupings named after the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

7 The Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.

8 The three sons of Ladan: Jehiel, Zetham, and Joel.

9 The three sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, all heads of the families of Ladan.

10 The four sons of Shimei: Jahath, Ziza, Jeush, and Beriah.

11 Jahath came first, followed by Ziza. Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons so they were counted as one family with one task.

12 The four sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

1 Chronicles 23:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 23

In this chapter David makes Solomon king, 1Ch 23:1, calls together the princes, priests, and Levites, numbers the latter, and assigns them their proper work, 1Ch 23:2-5, divides them into three classes, 1Ch 23:6-23, when the number of them was taken from twenty years of age, and upwards; the reasons of which are given, partly from the rest the land enjoyed, and partly from the several branches of their work and office in the temple, 1Ch 23:24-32.