5. four thousand will be guards at the temple, and four thousand will praise the Lord by playing the musical instruments I have given them.”
6. David then divided the Levites into three groups according to the clans of Levi's sons, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
7. Gershon had two sons: Ladan and Shimei.
8. Ladan was the father of Jehiel, Zetham, and Joel.
9. They were all family leaders among their father's descendants. Shimei was the father of Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran.
10-11. Later, Shimei had four more sons, in the following order: Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. But Jeush and Beriah didn't have many children, so their descendants were counted as one family.
12. Kohath had four sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
13. Amram was the father of Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were chosen to be in charge of all the sacred things. They served the Lord by offering sacrifices to him and by blessing the people in his name.
14-15. Moses, the man of God, was the father of Gershom and Eliezer, and their descendants were considered Levites.
16. Gershom's eldest son was Shebuel.
17. Rehabiah, who was Eliezer's only son, had many children.
18. The second son born to Kohath was Izhar, and his eldest son was Shelomith.
19. Hebron, the third son of Kohath, was the father of Jeriah, Amariah, Jahaziel, and Jekameam.
20. Kohath's youngest son, Uzziel, was the father of Micah and Isshiah.
21. Merari had two sons: Mahli and Mushi. Mahli was the father of Eleazar and Kish.
22. Eleazar had no sons, only daughters, and they married their uncle's sons.