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The Groups of the Priests
24 These were the ·groups [divisions; orders] of Aaron’s sons: Aaron’s sons were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did [Lev. 10:1–2], and they had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as the priests. 3 David, with the help of Zadok, a descendant of Eleazar, and Ahimelech, ·a descendant of Ithamar, separated their [C Aaron’s] ·family groups [descendants] into two different groups according to their ·various duties [assigned responsibilities/offices]. 4 There were more ·leaders [chiefs] from Eleazar’s ·family [descendants] than from Ithamar’s—sixteen ·leaders [heads of their clans] from Eleazar’s ·family [descendants] and eight ·leaders [heads of their clans] from Ithamar’s ·family [descendants]. 5 Men were ·chosen [divided; allocated; organized] ·impartially [or similarly] from Eleazar’s and Ithamar’s ·families [descendants] by throwing lots. Some men ·from each family were chosen to be in charge [were officials] of the ·Holy Place [sanctuary], and some were ·chosen to serve as priests [officials of God].
6 Shemaiah son of Nethanel, ·from the tribe [son] of Levi, was the ·secretary [recorder; scribe]. He recorded the names of those descendants in ·front [the presence] of King David, the ·officers [officials; leaders], Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the leaders of the ·families [clans] of the priests and Levites. The work was divided by lots among the ·families [clans] of Eleazar and Ithamar. 7 The first ·one chosen was [lot fell to] Jehoiarib. The second was Jedaiah. 8 The third was Harim. The fourth was Seorim. 9 The fifth was Malkijah. The sixth was Mijamin. 10 The seventh was Hakkoz. The eighth was Abijah. 11 The ninth was Jeshua. The tenth was Shecaniah. 12 The eleventh was Eliashib. The twelfth was Jakim. 13 The thirteenth was Huppah. The fourteenth was Jeshebeab. 14 The fifteenth was Bilgah. The sixteenth was Immer. 15 The seventeenth was Hezir. The eighteenth was Happizzez. 16 The nineteenth was Pethahiah. The twentieth was Jehezkel. 17 The twenty-first was Jakin. The twenty-second was Gamul. 18 The twenty-third was Delaiah. The twenty-fourth was Maaziah.
19 These were ·the groups chosen to serve [or their appointed duties; L the order of their serving] in the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. They obeyed the ·rules [procedures; regulations] given them by Aaron, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded him.
The Other Levites
20 These are the names of the rest of Levi’s descendants:
Shubael was a descendant of Amram, and Jehdeiah was a descendant of Shubael.
21 Isshiah was the ·first [firstborn; chief] son of Rehabiah.
22 From the Izhar ·family group [clan], there was Shelomoth, and Jahath was a descendant of Shelomoth.
23 Hebron’s ·first son was [descendants included] Jeriah, Amariah was his second, Jahaziel was his third, and Jekameam was his fourth.
24 Uzziel’s ·son was [descendants included] Micah. Micah’s son was Shamir. 25 Micah’s brother was Isshiah, and Isshiah’s ·son was [descendants included] Zechariah.
26 Merari’s descendants were Mahli and Mushi. Merari’s son was Jaaziah. 27 Jaaziah ·son [descendant] of Merari had ·sons [descendants] named Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri. 28 Mahli’s ·son [descendant] was Eleazar, but Eleazar did not have any sons.
29 Kish’s ·son [descendant] was Jerahmeel.
30 Mushi’s ·sons were [descendants included] Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth.
These are the Levites, listed by their ·families [clans]. 31 They ·were chosen for special jobs by throwing [cast] lots in front of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, the leaders of the ·families [clans] of the priests, and the Levites. They did this just as their relatives, Aaron’s descendants, had done. The families of the oldest brother and the youngest brother were treated the same.
The Music Groups
25 David and the ·commanders [officers] of the army chose some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to ·preach [proclaim; prophesy] and play harps, lyres, and cymbals. Here is a list of the men who ·served in this way [performed/were assigned these services]:
2 Asaph’s sons who served were Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. King David ·chose [directed] Asaph to ·preach [proclaim; prophesy], and Asaph directed his sons.
3 Jeduthun’s sons who served were Gedaliah, ·Zeri [or Izri; v. 11], Jeshaiah, Shimei [C name not included in most manuscripts], Hashabiah, and Mattithiah. There were six of them, and Jeduthun directed them. He ·preached [proclaimed; prophesied] and used a harp to give thanks and praise to the Lord.
4 Heman’s sons who served were Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. 5 All these were sons of Heman, David’s ·seer [prophet]. God promised to ·make Heman strong, so Heman had [exalt/honor him with] many sons. God gave him fourteen sons and three daughters. 6 Heman directed all his sons in ·making music [singing] for the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord with cymbals, lyres, and harps; that was their way of serving in the ·Temple [L house] of God. King David ·was in charge of [directed; supervised] Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman. 7 These men and their relatives were trained and skilled in ·making music for [singing to] the Lord. There were two hundred eighty-eight ·of them [with these skills; experts]. 8 Everyone threw lots ·to choose the time his family was to serve at the Temple [for their duties]. The ·young [small] and the ·old [great], the teacher and the student, had to throw lots.
9 First, the lot fell to Joseph, from the ·family [clan] of Asaph [C the number twelve needs to be understood here, as in the following verses, to make the total come to the stated 288].
Second, twelve men were chosen from Gedaliah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].
10 Third, twelve men were chosen from Zaccur, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].
11 Fourth, twelve men were chosen from ·Izri [or Zeri; v. 3], his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].
12 Fifth, twelve men were chosen from Nethaniah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].
13 Sixth, twelve men were chosen from Bukkiah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].
14 Seventh, twelve men were chosen from ·Jesarelah [or Asarelah; 25:2], his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].
15 Eighth, twelve men were chosen from Jeshaiah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].
16 Ninth, twelve men were chosen from Mattaniah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].
17 Tenth, twelve men were chosen from Shimei, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].
18 Eleventh, twelve men were chosen from ·Azarel [or Uzziel; 25:4], his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].
19 Twelfth, twelve men were chosen from Hashabiah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].
20 Thirteenth, twelve men were chosen from Shubael, his sons and·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].
21 Fourteenth, twelve men were chosen from Mattithiah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].
22 Fifteenth, twelve men were chosen from Jerimoth, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].
23 Sixteenth, twelve men were chosen from Hananiah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].
24 Seventeenth, twelve men were chosen from Joshbekashah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].
25 Eighteenth, twelve men were chosen from Hanani, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].
26 Nineteenth, twelve men were chosen from Mallothi, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].
27 Twentieth, twelve men were chosen from Eliathah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].
28 Twenty-first, twelve men were chosen from Hothir, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].
29 Twenty-second, twelve men were chosen from Giddalti, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].
30 Twenty-third, twelve men were chosen from Mahazioth, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].
31 Twenty-fourth, twelve men were chosen from Romamti-Ezer, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].
The Gatekeepers
26 These are the ·groups [divisions; orders] of the gatekeepers. From the ·family [clan] of Korah, there was Meshelemiah son of Kore, who was from Asaph’s ·family [descendants]. 2 Meshelemiah had sons. Zechariah was his ·first son [firstborn], Jediael was second, Zebadiah was third, Jathniel was fourth, 3 Elam was fifth, Jehohanan was sixth, and Eliehoenai was seventh.
4 Obed-Edom had sons. Shemaiah was his ·first son [firstborn], Jehozabad was second, Joah was third, Sacar was fourth, Nethanel was fifth, 5 Ammiel was sixth, Issachar was seventh, and Peullethai was eighth. God indeed blessed Obed-Edom.
6 Obed-Edom’s son Shemaiah also had sons. They ·were leaders in [ruled over] their father’s ·family [L house] because they were ·capable men [highly respected; L mighty men of valor]. 7 Shemaiah’s sons were Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad, whose ·brothers [relatives] Elihu and Semakiah were ·skilled workers [or valiant men; or also respected]. 8 All these were Obed-Edom’s descendants. They and their sons and ·relatives [brothers; grandsons] were capable men and ·strong [well-qualified] workers. Obed-Edom had sixty-two ·descendants [relatives] in all.
9 Meshelemiah had sons and ·relatives [brothers] who were ·skilled workers [capable/respected men]. In all, there were eighteen.
10 From the Merari ·family [clan], Hosah had sons. Shimri, although not the oldest son, was chosen by his father to be in charge. 11 Hilkiah was his second son, Tabaliah was third, and Zechariah was fourth. In all, Hosah had thirteen sons and ·relatives [brothers].
The Example of Abraham
4 So what can we say that Abraham, ·the father of our people [L our forefather according to the flesh; Gen. 12—25], ·learned about faith [discovered in this regard; L has found]? 2 If Abraham was ·made right [justified; declared righteous] by ·the things he did [L the works of the law], he had a reason to ·brag [boast]. ·But this is not God’s view [or …but he could not boast before God], 3 because the Scripture says, “Abraham believed God, and ·God accepted Abraham’s faith, and that faith made him right with God [L it was credited/counted to him for righteousness; Gen. 15:6].”
4 When people work, their ·pay [wage] is not ·given [credited; counted] as ·a gift [grace], but as something ·earned [due to them]. 5 ·But people cannot do any work that will make them right with God. So they must trust in him [L But for the one who does not work, but trusts in God], who ·makes even evil people right in his sight [justifies/makes righteous the ungodly]. Then God ·accepts their faith, and that makes them right with him [L credits/counts their faith for righteousness]. 6 David said the same thing. He said that people are ·truly blessed [happy; spiritually fulfilled] when God, ·without paying attention to their deeds [apart from works], ·makes people right with himself [L credits/counts righteousness to them].
7 “·Blessed [Happy; Spiritually fulfilled] are they
whose ·sins [lawless deeds] are forgiven,
whose ·wrongs [sins] are ·pardoned [covered; blotted out].
8 ·Blessed [Happy; Spiritually fulfilled] is the person
whom the Lord does not ·consider guilty [L count sin against; Ps. 32:1–2].”
9 Is this ·blessing [happiness; spiritual fulfillment] only for those who are circumcised or also for those who are not circumcised? We have already said that ·God accepted Abraham’s faith and that faith made him right with God [L faith was credited/counted to Abraham for righteousness; v. 3]. 10 So how did this happen? Did God accept Abraham before or after he was circumcised? It was not after, but before his circumcision. 11 Abraham ·was circumcised [L received the sign of circumcision; Gen. 17:9–14] ·to show that he was right with God [L as a seal/guarantee of the righteousness he had] through faith before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the father of all those who believe but are not circumcised, so that ·they too may be accepted as being right with God [righteousness may be credited/counted to them also]. 12 And Abraham is also the father of those who have been circumcised and who ·live following [L walk in the footsteps of] the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
A Prayer for God to Be Near
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
13 How long will you forget me, Lord? Forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I ·worry [or bear pain; L hold counsels]
and ·feel sad [hold sorrow] in my heart all day?
How long will my enemy ·win [rise up] over me?
3 Lord, look at me.
Answer me, my God;
·tell me [L light up my eyes], or I will ·die [L sleep the sleep of death].
4 Otherwise my enemy will say, “I have ·won [finished him off]!”
·Those against me [My foes] will rejoice that I’ve been ·defeated [shaken; moved].
5 I ·trust [have confidence] in your ·love [loyalty; covenant love].
My heart ·is happy [rejoices] because ·you saved me [of your victory/salvation].
6 I sing to the Lord
because he has ·taken care of [been good to] me.
15 Lazy people ·sleep a lot [L fall into a deep sleep],
and idle people will go hungry.
16 Those who ·obey [guard] the commands ·protect [guard] themselves,
but those who ·are careless [L despise their way] will die.
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