7 The Gershonim included Laedan and Shimei. 8 Laedan’s three sons were: Yehiel (the oldest), Zetam, and Yoel (Joel). 9 Shimei’s[fn] three sons were: Shelomot, Haziel, and Haran. (They were leaders of Laedan’s clans.) 10 Shimei’s four sons were: Yahat, Zina,[fn] Ye’ush, and Beriah. 11 (Yahat was the head, and Zizah was second. Ye’ush and Beriah were grouped together as one family unit because they didn’t have many descendants.)

12 Kohat’s four sons were: Amram, Yitshar, Hevron, and Uziel. 13 Amram’s sons were Aharon (Aaron) and Mosheh (Moses). Aharon and his future male descendants were permanently appointed to consecrate the most sacred things, to burn incense, to minister to Yahweh, and to bless his name.[ref] 14 Mosheh was known as a man who served God, and his descendants were included with the other Levites. 15 Mosheh’s sons were Gereshom and Eliezer. 16 Gereshom’s eldest son was Shevuel. 17 Eliezer’s only son was Rehavyah, but Rehavyah went on to have many sons.

18 Yitshar’s eldest son was Shelomot. 19 Hevron’s sons from oldest to youngest were: Yeriyah, Amaryah, Yahaziel, and Yekameam. 20 Uziel’s sons were Mikah and Yishiyah.

21 Merari’s sons were Mahli and Mushi, and Mahli’s sons were Eleazar and Kish. 22 Eleazar died without having any sons, so his brother Kish’s sons married his daughters (to continue the family name). 23 Mushi had three sons: Mahli, Eder, and Yerimot.

24 Those were Levi’s descendants by their clans and their appointments, who did the work of serving in Yahweh’s residence once they reached twenty years old, 25 because David had said, “Yisrael’s (Israel’s) god Yahweh has given peace to his people, and he’ll now live forever in Yerushalem (Jerusalem), 26 so the Levites won’t need to carry the sacred tent anymore, along with all its equipment.”[ref] 27 So one of David’s final instructions had been to count the Levite men who were twenty years old and over, 28 because their work was to assist Aharon’s (Aaron’s) descendants in their work in Yahweh’s residence.[ref] They were in charge of the courtyards and siderooms, in charge of the purification ceremonies, and did other work at God’s residence. 29 They were also in charge of the sacred bread, as well as the fine flour for the offering, the wafers of bread without raising agent, the baking pans, and all the measuring and mixing of ingredients.

30 Every morning and every evening the Levites stood and praised Yahweh. 31 They would also do that on the rest days, and at the new moon celebrations and during the other religious festivals. There were regulations about how many of them must always be on duty serving Yahweh. 32 They were also in charge of the sacred tent and the holy place, and assisting the priests (their relatives, Aharon’s descendants) in their service at Yahweh’s residence.