1So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.
2¶ And 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:23.4 set…: or, oversee 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.23.6 courses: Heb. divisions
7¶ Of the Gershonites were, Laadan, and Shimei.23.7 Laadan: or, Libni 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.23.10 Zina: or, Zizah 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.23.11 had…: Heb. did not multiply sons
12¶ The 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.23.16 Shebuel: also called, Shubael 17And the sons of Eliezer were, Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had none other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.23.17 the chief: or, the first23.17 very many: Heb. highly multiplied 18Of the sons of Izhar; Shelomith the chief.23.18 Shelomith: also called, Shelomoth 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.
21¶ The 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.23.22 brethren: or, kinsmen 23The sons of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.
24¶ These 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:23.25 that…: or, and he dwelleth in Jerusalem, etc 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:23.27 numbered: Heb. number 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;23.28 their…: Heb. their station was at the hand of the sons of Aaron 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;23.29 pan: or, flat plate 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.
Jamaa Za Walawi Na Utendaji Wao
123:1 1Fal 1:30-33; 1Nya 28:5; 29:28; 29:22-25Daudi alipokuwa mzee aliyeshiba siku, akamfanya Solomoni mwanawe kuwa mfalme juu ya Israeli.
2Pia akawakusanya pamoja viongozi wote wa Israeli, pamoja na makuhani na Walawi. 323:3 Hes 8:24; 4:3-49Walawi waliokuwa na umri wa miaka thelathini au zaidi walihesabiwa, nayo hesabu ya wanaume ilikuwa 38,000. 423:4 Ezr 3:8; 2Nya 19:8; Kum 16:18; Eze 44:24; Kum 16:18; 1Nya 26:29Daudi akasema, “Miongoni mwa hawa, 24,000 watasimamia kazi ya Hekalu la Bwana na 6,000 watakuwa maafisa na waamuzi, 523:5 1Nya 15:16; Za 92:3; Neh 12:45; Amo 6:5; 2Nya 29:25-26na 4,000 watakuwa mabawabu, na wengine 4,000 watamsifu Bwana kwa ala za uimbaji nilizotoa kwa ajili ya kusudi hilo.”
623:6 2Nya 23:18; 29:25; 8:14; Kut 6:16; Hes 26:57; 2Nya 35:10; 31:2; Ezr 6:18Daudi akawagawa Walawi katika makundi kufuatana na wana wa Lawi: Gershoni, Kohathi na Merari.
Wagershoni
7Wana wa Wagershoni walikuwa wawili:
Ladani na Shimei.
8Wana wa Ladani walikuwa watatu:
Yehieli wa kwanza, Zethamu na Yoeli.
9Wana wa Shimei walikuwa watatu:
Shelomothi,23:9 Yaani Shelomithi; maana yake ni Mpenda amani. Hazieli na Harani.
Hawa watatu walikuwa viongozi wa jamaa za Ladani.
10Nao wana wa Shimei walikuwa wanne:
Yahathi, Zina,23:10 Tafsiri zingine zinamwita Ziza. Yeushi na Beria.
11Yahathi alikuwa wa kwanza na Ziza wa pili, lakini Yeushi na Beria hawakuwa na wana wengi; kwa hiyo walihesabiwa kama jamaa moja, wakapewa wajibu kwa pamoja.
Wakohathi
1223:12 Mwa 46:11; Kut 6:18-20; 1Nya 6:2Wana wa Kohathi walikuwa wanne:
Amramu, Ishari, Hebroni na Uzieli.
1323:13 Kut 30:7-10; 28:1; Kum 21:5; Hes 6:23; 16:40; Ebr 5:4; Hes 16:40; 1Sam 2:28Wana wa Amramu walikuwa:
Aroni na Mose.
Aroni waliwekwa wakfu, yeye na wazao wake milele, wawe wakiweka wakfu vitu ambavyo ni vitakatifu mno, kutoa dhabihu mbele za Bwana, kuhudumu mbele zake na kutamka baraka katika Jina la Bwana milele. 1423:14 Kum 33:1Wana wa Mose mtu wa Mungu walihesabiwa kama sehemu ya kabila la Lawi.
1523:15 Kut 18:4; 2:22Wana wa Mose walikuwa:
Gershomu na Eliezeri.
1623:16 1Nya 26:24-28Wazao wa Gershomu:
Shebueli alikuwa wa kwanza.
17Wazao wa Eliezeri:
Rehabia alikuwa wa kwanza.
Eliezeri alikuwa na mwana mmoja tu, lakini wana wa Rehabia walikuwa wengi sana.
18Wana wa Ishari:
Shelomithi alikuwa wa kwanza.
1923:19 1Nya 24:23; 26:31Wana wa Hebroni walikuwa:
Yeria alikuwa wa kwanza, wa pili Amaria, wa tatu Yahazieli, na wa nne Yekameamu.
20Wana wa Uzieli walikuwa:
Mika wa kwanza na Ishia wa pili.
Wamerari
2123:21 1Nya 6:19; 24:26Wana wa Merari walikuwa:
Mahli na Mushi.
Wana wa Mahli walikuwa:
Eleazari na Kishi.
2223:22 Hes 36:6Eleazari akafa bila ya kuwa na wana: alikuwa na binti tu. Binamu zao, wana wa Kishi, wakawaoa.
2323:23 1Nya 24:30Wana wa Mushi:
Mahli, Ederi na Yeremothi; wote walikuwa watatu.
2423:24 Hes 4:3; 10:17-21Hawa walikuwa wazao wa Lawi kwa jamaa zao. Wakuu wa jamaa kama walivyoandikwa kwa majina yao na kuhesabiwa kila mmoja, yaani, wenye uwezo wa kufanya kazi kuanzia miaka ishirini au zaidi, waliohudumu katika Hekalu la Bwana. 25Kwa maana Daudi alikuwa amesema, “Kwa vile Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli amewapa watu wake raha na amekuja kuishi Yerusalemu milele, 26Walawi hawahitaji tena kubeba Maskani wala chombo chochote cha utumishi wake.” 27Kulingana na maagizo ya mwisho ya Daudi, Walawi waliohesabiwa ni wale wa kuanzia umri wa miaka ishirini au zaidi.
2823:28 Neh 13:9; Mal 3:3Wajibu wa Walawi ulikuwa kuwasaidia wazao wa Aroni kuhudumu katika Hekalu la Bwana: Kuwa wasimamizi wa nyua, vyumba vya pembeni, kutakasa vyombo vitakatifu na utendaji mwingine wowote katika nyumba ya Mungu. 2923:29 Kut 25:30; Law 2:4-7; 6:20-23; 19:35-36; 1Nya 9:29-32Walikuwa wasimamizi wa mikate iliyowekwa mezani, unga kwa ajili ya sadaka za nafaka, mikate isiyotiwa chachu, uokaji na uchanganyaji, pamoja na vipimo vyote vya wingi na ukubwa. 3023:30 1Nya 9:33; Ufu 5:8-14; 2Nya 31:2; 1Nya 6:31-33; Za 135:1-3; Ufu 14:3Pia ulikuwa wajibu wao kila asubuhi kumshukuru na kumsifu Bwana. Iliwapasa pia kufanya hivyo jioni 3123:31 2Fal 4:23; Law 23:4; Kol 2:16; Hes 10:10; Za 81:3; Isa 1:13-14na wakati wowote sadaka za kuteketezwa zilipotolewa kwa Bwana siku za Sabato na kwenye sikukuu za Mwezi Mwandamo na katika sikukuu nyingine zilizoamriwa. Iliwapasa kuhudumu mbele za Bwana mara kwa mara kwa idadi maalum na kwa namna waliyokuwa wamepewa maelekezo.
3223:32 Hes 1:53; 1Nya 6:48; Hes 3:6-8; 2Nya 31:2; Eze 44:14Hivyo Walawi wakafanya wajibu wao katika Hema la Kukutania, katika Mahali Patakatifu chini ya uongozi wa ndugu zao wazao wa Aroni, kwa ajili ya utumishi katika Hekalu la Bwana.
