And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Parallel translations
- WEB David divided them into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
- BSB Then David divided the Levites into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
- NKJV Also David separated them into divisions among the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
- NASB David divided them into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
- NLT Then David divided the Levites into divisions named after the clans descended from the three sons of Levi—Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David organized the Levites into divisions according to Levi's three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. He structured service along established family lines.
Overview
Following the ancient genealogical structure of Levi's sons, David grouped the Levites into orderly divisions. This rootedness in family heritage gave continuity and clarity to temple service. The careful arrangement reflects God's design for ordered worship and the faithful passing of sacred duties from one generation to the next.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 2 Chr 8:14And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required: the porters also by their courses at every gate: for so had David the man of God commanded.
- 1 Chr 6:1The sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
- Ezra 6:18And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.
- 1 Chr 6:16The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
- 2 Chr 29:25And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets.
- 1 Chr 24:1Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
- 2 Chr 35:10So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king’s commandment.
- Num 26:57–58And these are they that were numbered of the Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites: of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites: of Merari, the family of the Merarites.
- 1 Chr 26:1Concerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
- 2 Chr 31:2And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.
- Exod 6:16–24And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari: and the years of the life of Levi were an hundred thirty and seven years.
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Christ at the center
The genealogies and the everlasting covenant with David trace the single thread of promise running through the generations straight to the Christ in whom the line reaches its goal.
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Original language
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