1So when David was old and full of days , he made Solomon his son king over Israel . 2And he gathered together all the princes of Israel , with the priests and the Levites . 3Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward : and their number by their polls , man by man , was thirty and eight thousand . 4Of which , twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the LORD ; and six thousand were officers and judges : 5Moreover four thousand were porters ; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made , said David , to praise therewith . 6And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi , namely , Gershon , Kohath , and Merari .
The Duties of the Levites
7Of the Gershonites were , Laadan , and Shimei . 8The sons of Laadan ; the chief was Jehiel , and Zetham , and Joel , three . 9The sons of Shimei ; Shelomith , and Haziel , and Haran , three . These were the chief of the fathers of Laadan . 10And the sons of Shimei were , Jahath , Zina , and Jeush , and Beriah . These four were the sons of Shimei . 11And Jahath was the chief , and Zizah the second : but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons ; therefore they were in one reckoning , according to their father’s house . 12The sons of Kohath ; Amram , Izhar , Hebron , and Uzziel , four . 13The sons of Amram ; Aaron and Moses : and Aaron was separated , that he should sanctify the most holy things , he and his sons for ever , to burn incense before the LORD , to minister unto him, and to bless in his name for ever . 14Now concerning Moses the man of God , his sons were named of the tribe of Levi . 15The sons of Moses were , Gershom , and Eliezer . 16Of the sons of Gershom , Shebuel was the chief . 17And the sons of Eliezer were , Rehabiah the chief . And Eliezer had none other sons ; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many . 18Of the sons of Izhar ; Shelomith the chief . 19Of the sons of Hebron ; Jeriah the first , Amariah the second , Jahaziel the third , and Jekameam the fourth . 20Of the sons of Uzziel ; Michah the first , and Jesiah the second . 21The sons of Merari ; Mahli , and Mushi . The sons of Mahli ; Eleazar , and Kish . 22And Eleazar died , and had no sons , but daughters : and their brethren the sons of Kish took them. 23The sons of Mushi ; Mahli , and Eder , and Jeremoth , three .
The Age Requirement for Service
24These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers ; even the chief of the fathers , as they were counted by number of names by their polls , that did the work for the service of the house of the LORD , from the age of twenty years and upward . 25For David said , The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people , that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever : 26And also unto the Levites ; they shall no more carry the tabernacle , nor any vessels of it for the service thereof. 27For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above : 28Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD , in the courts , and in the chambers , and in the purifying of all holy things , and the work of the service of the house of God ; 29Both for the shewbread , and for the fine flour for meat offering , and for the unleavened cakes , and for that which is baked in the pan , and for that which is fried , and for all manner of measure and size ; 30And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD , and likewise at even ; 31And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths , in the new moons , and on the set feasts , by number , according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD : 32And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation , and the charge of the holy place , and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren , in the service of the house of the LORD .