The Returning Levites

[14] And of the Levites; Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari; [15] And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph; [16] And Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites. [17] And the porters were, Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren: Shallum was the chief; [18] Who hitherto waited in the king's gate eastward: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi. [19] And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their fathers, being over the host of the LORD, were keepers of the entry. [20] And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the LORD was with him. [21] And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. [22] All these which were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office. [23] So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the LORD, namely, the house of the tabernacle, by wards. [24] In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south. [25] And their brethren, which were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them. [26] For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God. [27] And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them. [28] And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale. [29] Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices. [30] And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices. [31] And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans. [32] And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the shewbread, to prepare it every sabbath. [33] And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night. [34] These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations; these dwelt at Jerusalem.

Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims.

The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy and four.

• Seven

And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams.

And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all an hundred thirty and nine.

And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.

• Covetousness

And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.

The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, seventy and four.