972 - Levite duties, starting with the Gershonites

Levite duties, starting with the Gershonites

When David was an old man, he appointed his son, Solomon, to be king, over Israel. 

David summoned all the leaders, of Israel, …along with the priests and Levites. 

All the Levites, who were thirty years old, or older, were counted, and the total came, to 38,000. 

Then, David said, 

“From all the Levites, 24,000 …will supervise the work, at the Temple, of the Lord. 

Another 6,000 …will serve, as officials, and judges. 

Another 4,000 …will work, as gatekeepers, …and 4,000 …will praise the Lord, with the musical instruments, that I have made.”

Then, David divided the Levites, into divisions, named after the clans, that descended, from the three sons of Levi—Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 

The Gershonite, family units, were defined, by their lines, of descent, from Libni and Shimei, the sons, of Gershon. 

Three of the descendants, of Libni, were Jehiel (the family leader), Zetham, and Joel. 

These were the leaders, of the family, of Libni. 

Three, of the descendants, of Shimei, were Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran. 

Four other descendants, of Shimei, were Jahath, Ziza, Jeush, and Beriah. 

Jahath was the family leader, and Ziza was next. 

Jeush, and Beriah, were counted, as a single family, because neither had many sons. 

1 Chronicles 23:1–11 (NLT)

Praise be to God!