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1 Chronicles 23 - 25

Solomon Made King over Israel

Now David became old and full of days, and he made his son Solomon king over Israel.
2 And he gathered together all the leaders of Israel with the priests and the Levites.

The Work of the Levites

3 And the Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward, and their number by census of men was 38,000.
4 Of these, 24,000 were to direct the work of the house of Yahweh; and 6,000 were officers and judges, 5 and 4,000 were gatekeepers, and 4,000 were praising Yahweh with the instruments which David made for giving praise. 6 And David divided them into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

The Sons of Gershon

7
Of the Gershonites were Ladan and Shimei.
8
The sons of Ladan were Jehiel the first and Zetham and Joel, three.
9
The sons of Shimei were Shelomoth and Haziel and Haran, three.
These were the heads of the fathers’ households of Ladan.
10
The sons of Shimei were Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah.
These four were the sons of Shimei.
11
Jahath was the first and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they became a father’s household, one unit.

The Sons of Kohath

12
The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.
13
The sons of Amram were Aaron and Moses. And Aaron was separated in order to sanctify him as most holy, he and his sons forever, to offer offerings up in smoke before Yahweh, to minister to Him and to bless in His name forever.
14
But as for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.
15
The sons of Moses were Gershom and Eliezer.
16
The son of Gershom was Shebuel the chief.
17
The son of Eliezer was Rehabiah the chief; and Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.
18
The son of Izhar was Shelomith the chief.
19
The sons of Hebron were Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth.
20
The sons of Uzziel were Micah the first and Isshiah the second.

The Sons of Merari

21
The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli were Eleazar and Kish.
22
And Eleazar died and had no sons, but daughters only, so their brothers, the sons of Kish, took them up as wives.
23
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

The Service of the Levites

24 These were the sons of Levi according to their fathers’ households, even the heads of the fathers’ households of those of them who were counted, in the number of names by their census, doing the work for the service of the house of Yahweh, from twenty years old and upward.
25 For David said, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, has given rest to His people, and He dwells in Jerusalem forever. 26 Also, the Levites will no longer need to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings for its service.” 27 For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward. 28 For their station is to be on hand for the sons of Aaron with the service of the house of Yahweh, in the courts and in the chambers and in the cleansing of all holy things, even the work of the service of the house of God, 29 and with the showbread, and the fine flour for a grain offering, and unleavened wafers, or what is made on the griddle, or what is well stirred, and all measures of volume and size. 30 And they are to stand every morning to thank and to praise Yahweh, and likewise at evening, 31 and to offer all burnt offerings to Yahweh, on the sabbaths, the new moons and the appointed times in the number set by the judgments concerning them, continually before Yahweh. 32 Thus they shall keep responsibility of the tent of meeting, and responsibility of the holy place, and responsibility of the sons of Aaron their relatives, for the service of the house of Yahweh.

Divisions of Levites

Now the divisions of the sons of Aaron were these: the sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests. 3 And David, with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their assignments for their service. 4 And more chief men were found from the sons of Eleazar than the sons of Ithamar, so they divided them thus: there were sixteen heads of fathers’ households of the sons of Eleazar and eight of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers’ households. 5 Thus they were divided by lot, the one as the other; for they were leaders for the sanctuary and leaders for God, both from the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar. 6 Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel the scribe, from the Levites, wrote them down in the presence of the king, the princes, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites; one father’s household taken for Eleazar and one taken for Ithamar. 7
Now the first lot came out for Jehoiarib,
the second for Jedaiah,
8
the third for Harim,
the fourth for Seorim,
9
the fifth for Malchijah,
the sixth for Mijamin,
10
the seventh for Hakkoz,
the eighth for Abijah,
11
the ninth for Jeshua,
the tenth for Shecaniah,
12
the eleventh for Eliashib,
the twelfth for Jakim,
13
the thirteenth for Huppah,
the fourteenth for Jeshebeab,
14
the fifteenth for Bilgah,
the sixteenth for Immer,
15
the seventeenth for Hezir,
the eighteenth for Happizzez,
16
the nineteenth for Pethahiah,
the twentieth for Jehezkel,
17
the twenty-first for Jachin,
the twenty-second for Gamul,
18
the twenty-third for Delaiah,
the twenty-fourth for Maaziah.
19 These were their assignments for their service when they came in to the house of Yahweh according to the legal judgment rendered to them by the hand of Aaron their father, just as Yahweh, the God of Israel, had commanded him. 20
Now for the rest of the sons of Levi:
of the sons of Amram, Shubael;
of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.
21
Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the first.
22
Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.
23
The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.
24
The sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir.
25
The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.
26
The sons of Merari, Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah, Beno.
27
The sons of Merari: by Jaaziah were Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.
28
By Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
29
By Kish: the sons of Kish, Jerahmeel.
30
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth.
These were the sons of the Levites according to their fathers’ households.
31 These also cast lots alongside their relatives the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites—the head of fathers’ households alongside those of his younger brother.

Number and Services of Musicians

Moreover, David and the commanders of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph and of Heman and of Jeduthun, who were to prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals; and the number of those who performed their service was:
2
Of the sons of Asaph:
Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah; the sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king.
3
Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun:
Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun with the harp, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising Yahweh.
4
Of Heman, the sons of Heman:
Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth.
5 All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer to exalt him according to the words of God. So God gave fourteen sons and three daughters to Heman. 6 All these were under the direction of their father to sing in the house of Yahweh, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the direction of the king. 7 And their number who were trained in singing to Yahweh, with their relatives, all who were skillful, was 288.

Responsibilities of the Musicians

8 They cast lots for their responsibilities, each alongside the other, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the pupil.
9
Now the first lot came out for Asaph to Joseph,
the second for Gedaliah, he with his relatives and sons were twelve;
10
the third to Zaccur, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
11
the fourth to Izri, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
12
the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
13
the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
14
the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
15
the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
16
the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
17
the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
18
the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
19
the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
20
for the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
21
for the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
22
for the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
23
for the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
24
for the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
25
for the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
26
for the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
27
for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
28
for the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
29
for the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
30
for the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
31
for the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his sons and his relatives, twelve.

Revelation 6

The Seven Seals

Then I looked when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come.”
2 Then I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sits on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out overcoming and to overcome. 3 And when He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come.” 4 And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sits on it, it was given to him to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him. 5 And when He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come.” Then I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sits on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard something like a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “One choinix of wheat for one denarius, and three choinix of barley for one denarius, and do not harm the oil and the wine.” 7 And when He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” 8 Then I looked, and behold, a pale horse; and he who sits on it had the name Death, and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth. 9 And when He opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the witness which they had maintained; 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Master, holy and true? Will You not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 And a white robe was given to each of them; and it was told to them that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow slaves and their brothers who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also. 12 Then I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. 14 And the sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 16 and they *said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

Ecclesiastes 9

Mankind Is in the Hand of God

For I have given all this to my heart and explain it that righteous men, wise men, and their service are in the hand of God. Man does not know whether it will be love or hatred; anything may be before him.
2 It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and for the unclean; for the man who offers a sacrifice and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the good man is, so is the sinner; as the swearer is, so is the one who is afraid to swear. 3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead. 4 For whoever is joined with all the living, there is confidence; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion. 5 For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Indeed their love, their hate, and their zeal have already perished, and they will never again have a portion in all that is done under the sun. 7 Go then, eat your bread in gladness and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works. 8 Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head. 9 See life with the woman whom you love all the days of your vain life, which He has given to you under the sun—all the days of your vanity; for this is your portion in life and in your labor in which you have labored under the sun.

Whatever Your Hand Finds to Do

10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no working or explaining or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.
11 I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the mighty, and neither is bread to the wise nor riches to the discerning nor favor to men who know; for time and misfortune overtake them all. 12 Moreover, man does not know his time: like fish seized in an evil net and birds seized in a trap, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them. 13 Also this I came to see as wisdom under the sun, and it was great to me. 14 There was a small city with few men in it, and a great king came to it, surrounded it, and built large siegeworks against it. 15 But there was found in it a poor wise man, and he provided a way of escape for the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. 16 So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heard. 17 The words of the wise heard in restfulness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.