2-5 At the same time he brought together all the leaders of Israel, the priests, and the Levites. The Levites thirty years and older were counted; the total was thirty-eight thousand. David sorted them into work groups: “Twenty-four thousand are in charge of administering worship in the sanctuary; six thousand are officials and judges; four thousand are security guards; and four thousand are to serve in the orchestra, praising God with instruments that I have provided for praise.”

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

7-11 The Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei. The three sons of Ladan: Jehiel, Zetham, and Joel. The three sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, all heads of the families of Ladan. The four sons of Shimei: Jahath, Ziza, Jeush, and Beriah. Jahath came first, followed by Ziza. Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons so they were counted as one family with one task.

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Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise the Lord with the musical instruments(A) I have provided for that purpose.”(B)

David separated(C) the Levites into divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi:(D) Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

Gershonites

Belonging to the Gershonites:(E)

Ladan and Shimei.

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