[1] These were the groups of Aaron’s sons: Aaron’s sons were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
[2] But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did. And Nadab and Abihu had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as the priests.
[3] David separated the family groups of Eleazar and Ithamar into two different groups. David did that so those groups could do the duties of work they were given to do. David did this with the help of Zadok and Ahimelech. Zadok was a descendant of Eleazar, and Ahimelech was a descendant of Ithamar.
[4] There were more leaders from Eleazar’s family than from Ithamar’s. There were 16 leaders from Eleazar’s family and there were eight leaders from Ithamar’s family.
[5] Men were chosen from each family. They were chosen by throwing lots. Some of the men were chosen to be in charge of the Holy Place. And other men were chosen to serve as priests. All of these men were from the families of Eleazar and Ithamar.
[6] Shemaiah was the secretary. He was Nethanel’s son. Shemaiah was from the family group of Levi. Shemaiah wrote the names of those descendants. He wrote those names in front of King David and these leaders: Zadok the priest, Ahimelech, and the leaders from the families of the priests and of the Levites. Ahimelech was Abiathar’s son. Each time they threw the lots a man was chosen, and Shemaiah wrote down that man’s name. So they divided the work among the men from families of Eleazar and Ithamar.
[7] The first group was Jehoiarib’s group. The second group was Jedaiah’s group.
[8] The third group was Harim’s group. The fourth group was Seorim’s group.
[9] The fifth group was Malkijah’s group. The sixth group was Mijamin’s group.
[10] The seventh group was Hakkoz’s group. The eighth group was Abijah’s group.
[11] The ninth group was Jeshua’s group. The tenth group was Shecaniah’s group.
[12] The eleventh group was Eliashib’s group. The twelfth group was Jakim’s group.
[13] The thirteenth group was Huppah’s group. The fourteenth group was Jeshebeab’s group.
[14] The fifteenth group was Bilgah’s group. The sixteenth group was Immer’s group.
[15] The seventeenth group was Hezir’s group. The eighteenth group was Happizzez’s group.
[16] The nineteenth group was Pethahiah’s group. The twentieth group was Jehezkel’s group.
[17] The twenty-first group was Jakin’s group. The twenty-second group was Gamul’s group.
[18] The twenty-third group was Delaiah’s group. The twenty-fourth group was Maaziah’s group.
[19] These were the groups chosen to serve in the Lord’s temple. They obeyed Aaron’s rules for serving in the temple. The Lord God of Israel had given those rules to Aaron.
[20] These are the names of the rest of Levi’s descendants: From Amram’s descendants: Shubael. From Shubael’s descendants: Jehdeiah.
[21] From Rehabiah: Isshiah. (Isshiah was the oldest son.)
[22] From Izhar family group: Shelomoth. From Shelomoth’s family: Jahath.
[23] Hebron’s oldest son was Jeriah. Amariah was Hebron’s second son. Jahaziel was his third son, and Jekameam was his fourth son.
[24] Uzziel’s son was Micah. Micah’s son was Shamir.
[25] Isshiah was Micah’s brother. Isshiah’s son was Zechariah.
[26] Merari’s descendants were Mahli, Mushi, and Jaaziah his son.
[27] Jaaziah son of Merari had sons named Shoham and Zaccur.
[28] Mahli’s son was Eleazar. But Eleazar did not have sons.
[29] Kish’s son was Jerahmeel.
[30] Mushi’s sons were Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. Those are the leaders of Levite families. They are listed by their families.
[31] They ˻were chosen for special jobs˼. They threw lots like their relatives, the priests. The priests were Aaron’s descendants. They threw lots in front of David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the leaders of the priests’ and Levite families. The older families and the younger families were treated the same when their jobs were chosen.