1 Chronicles 23:21-32

Living Bible

²¹ The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli were Eleazar and Kish. ²² Eleazar died without any sons, and his daughters were married to their cousins, the sons of Kish. ²³ Mushi’s sons were Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth.

²⁴ In the census, all the men of Levi who were twenty years old or older were classified under the names of these clans and subclans; and they were all assigned to the ministry at the Temple. ²⁵ For David said, “The Lord God of Israel has given us peace, and he will always live in Jerusalem. ²⁶ Now the Levites will no longer need to carry the Tabernacle and its instruments from place to place.”

²⁷ (This census of the tribe of Levi was one of the last things David did before his death.) ²⁸ The work of the Levites was to assist the priests—the descendants of Aaron—in the sacrifices at the Temple; they also did the custodial work and helped perform the ceremonies of purification. ²⁹ They provided the Bread of the Presence, the flour for the grain offerings, and the wafers made without yeast (either fried or mixed with olive oil); they also checked all the weights and measures. ³⁰ Each morning and evening they stood before the Lord to sing thanks and praise to him. ³¹ They assisted in the special sacrifices of burnt offerings, the Sabbath sacrifices, the new moon celebrations, and at all the festivals. There were always as many Levites present as were required for the occasion. ³² And they took care of the Tabernacle and the Temple and assisted the priests in whatever way they were needed.