![A model of the Tabernacle, built by Michael Osnis [Photo: Daniel Ventura / Wiki Commons]](https://theisraelbible.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Mishkan5_big-e1685265931405.jpg)
TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
I - Chapter 23
Translation and Transliteration of
Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:
- Commentary
- Buy E-book
- Buy the Israel Bible
1When David reached a ripe old age, he made his son Shlomo king over Yisrael.
v'-da-VEED za-KAYN v'-sa-VA ya-MEEM va-YAM-lekh et sh'-LO-mo b'-NO al yis-ra-AYL
אוְדָוִ֥יד זָקֵ֖ן וְשָׂבַ֣ע יָמִ֑ים וַיַּמְלֵ֛ךְ אֶת־שְׁלֹמֹ֥ה בְנ֖וֹ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
2Then David assembled all the officers of Yisrael and the Kohanim and the Leviim.
va-ye-e-SOF et-KOL sa-REI yis-ra-AYL v'-ha-ko-ha-NEEM v'-hal-vi-YEEM
בוַיֶּֽאֱסֹף֙ אֶת־כׇּל־שָׂרֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְהַלְוִיִּֽם׃
3The Leviim, from the age of thirty and upward, were counted; the head-count of their males was 38,000:
vai-yi-sa-FRU ha-l'-vee-YIM mi-BEN sh'-LO-sheem sha-NAH va-ma-o-LAH, va-Y'-hee mis-PA-ram l'-gul-g'-lo-TAM li-g'-va-REEM sh'-LO-sheem u-sh'-mo-NAH a-LEF
גוַיִּסָּֽפְרוּ֙ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם מִבֶּ֛ן שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וָמָ֑עְלָה וַיְהִ֨י מִסְפָּרָ֤ם לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָם֙ לִגְבָרִ֔ים שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים וּשְׁמוֹנָ֖ה אָֽלֶף׃
4of these there were 24,000 in charge of the work of the House of Hashem, 6,000 officers and magistrates,
me-E-leh l'-na-TZE-akh al m'-LE-khet beit a-do-NAI es-ri-YIM v'-ar-ba-AH a-LEF v'-shot-REEM v'-shof-TEEYM shay-SHET a-la-FEEM
דמֵאֵ֗לֶּה לְנַצֵּ֙חַ֙ עַל־מְלֶ֣אכֶת בֵּית־יְהֹוָ֔ה עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וְאַרְבָּעָ֖ה אָ֑לֶף וְשֹׁטְרִ֥ים וְשֹׁפְטִ֖ים שֵׁ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִֽים׃
54,000 gatekeepers, and 4,000 for praising Hashem “with instruments I devised for singing praises.”
v'-ar-BA-at a-la-FEEM sho-a-REEM v'-ar-BA-at a-la-FEEM me-hal-LE-LEEM la-do-NAI ba-KE-leem a-SHER a-see-TEE l'-ha-LEL. (Seh)
הוְאַרְבַּ֥עַת אֲלָפִ֖ים שֹׁעֲרִ֑ים וְאַרְבַּ֤עַת אֲלָפִים֙ מְהַֽלְלִ֣ים לַיהֹוָ֔ה בַּכֵּלִ֕ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתִי לְהַלֵּֽל׃
6David formed them into divisions: The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kehat, and Merari.
vai-ye-kha-L'-KEM da-VEED makh-l'-KOT, li-v'-NAY l'-VEE, l'-ge-r'-SHO, K'-HAT, u-m'-ra-REE
ווַיֶּחָלְקֵ֥ם דָּוִ֖יד מַחְלְק֑וֹת לִבְנֵ֣י לֵוִ֔י לְגֵרְשׁ֖וֹן קְהָ֥ת וּמְרָרִֽי׃
7The Gershonites: Ladan and Shim'i.
la-ge-r'-SHU-ni la-a-DAN v'-shim-I. (S)
זלַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֖י לַעְדָּ֥ן וְשִׁמְעִֽי׃
8The sons of Ladan: Yechiel the chief, Zetham, and Yoel—3.
b'-NAY la-a-DAN ha-ROSH ye-khee-AYL v'-ze-TAM v'-yo-EL sh'-lo-SHA (s)
חבְּנֵ֣י לַעְדָּ֗ן הָרֹ֧אשׁ יְחִיאֵ֛ל וְזֵתָ֥ם וְיוֹאֵ֖ל שְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃
9The sons of Shim'i: Shelomith, Haziel, and Haran—3. These were the chiefs of the clans of the Ladanites.
b'-NAY shi-mi (sh'-lo-MEET) [sh'-lo-MEET] va-kha-zi-AYL v'-ha-RAN sh'-lo-SHA, AY-leh ra-SHEI ha-a-VOHT l'-la-a-DAN. (SA)
טבְּנֵ֣י שִׁמְעִ֗י (שלמות) [שְׁלֹמִ֧ית] וַחֲזִיאֵ֛ל וְהָרָ֖ן שְׁלֹשָׁ֑ה אֵ֛לֶּה רָאשֵׁ֥י הָאָב֖וֹת לְלַעְדָּֽן׃
10And the sons of Shim'i: Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah; these were the sons of Shim'i—4.
u-v'-nay shim-AY ya-KHAT zi-NAH vi-YA-uSH u-v'-ri-AH, E-leh v'-nay shim-AY ar-ba-AH.
יוּבְנֵ֣י שִׁמְעִ֔י יַ֣חַת זִינָ֔א וִיע֖וּשׁ וּבְרִיעָ֑ה אֵ֥לֶּה בְנֵֽי־שִׁמְעִ֖י אַרְבָּעָֽה׃
11Jahath was the chief and Zizah the second, but Jeush and Beriah did not have many children, so they were enrolled together as a single clan.
vai-HI ya-KHAT ha-ROSH v'-zi-ZAH ha-SHE-ni, vi-YA-ush u-v'-ree-AH lo hir-BU va-NEEM, va-YI-h'-yu l'-VEET av l'-f'-ku-DAH e-KHAT.
יאוַיְהִי־יַ֣חַת הָרֹ֔אשׁ וְזִיזָ֖ה הַשֵּׁנִ֑י וִיע֤וּשׁ וּבְרִיעָה֙ לֹא־הִרְבּ֣וּ בָנִ֔ים וַיִּֽהְיוּ֙ לְבֵ֣ית אָ֔ב לִפְקֻדָּ֖ה אֶחָֽת׃
12The sons of Kehat: Amram, Izhar, Chevron, and Uzziel—4.
b'-NAY k'-HAT am-RAM yitz-HAR khev-RON v'-u-ZEE-el ar-ba-AH. (s)
יבבְּנֵ֣י קְהָ֗ת עַמְרָ֥ם יִצְהָ֛ר חֶבְר֥וֹן וְעֻזִּיאֵ֖ל אַרְבָּעָֽה׃
13The sons of Amram: Aharon and Moshe. Aharon was set apart, he and his sons, forever, to be consecrated as most holy, to make burnt offerings to Hashem and serve Him and pronounce blessings in His name forever.
b'-NAY a-m'-RAM a-ha-RON u-MO-sheh, va-yi-ba-DAYL a-ha-ROHN l'-ha-k'-dee-SHO kod-ESH kod-a-SHEEM, hu-u-va-NAV ad-o-LAM, l'-ha-k'-TEER l'-f'-NAY a-do-NAI l'-sha-RO-to u-l'-va-RAYKH b'-sh'-MO ad-o-LAM.
יגבְּנֵ֥י עַמְרָ֖ם אַהֲרֹ֣ן וּמֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיִּבָּדֵ֣ל אַהֲרֹ֡ן לְֽהַקְדִּישׁוֹ֩ קֹ֨דֶשׁ קׇדָשִׁ֤ים הֽוּא־וּבָנָיו֙ עַד־עוֹלָ֔ם לְהַקְטִיר֩ לִפְנֵ֨י יְהֹוָ֧ה לְשָׁרְת֛וֹ וּלְבָרֵ֥ךְ בִּשְׁמ֖וֹ עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃
14As for Moshe, the man of Hashem, his sons were named after the tribe of Levi.
u-MO-sheh ish ha-e-lo-HEEM ba-NAV yi-ka-RE-u al she-VET ha-LE-vee. (S)
ידוּמֹשֶׁ֖ה אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים בָּנָ֕יו יִקָּרְא֖וּ עַל־שֵׁ֥בֶט הַלֵּוִֽי׃
15The sons of Moshe: Gershom and Eliezer.
b'-NAY mo-SHEH GER-shom ve-e-li-EZER
טובְּנֵ֣י מֹשֶׁ֔ה גֵּרְשׁ֖וֹם וֶאֱלִיעֶֽזֶר׃
16The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief.
b'-NAY ger-SHOM she-vu-EL ha-ROSH
טזבְּנֵ֥י גֵרְשׁ֖וֹם שְׁבוּאֵ֥ל הָרֹֽאשׁ׃
17And the sons of Eliezer were: Rehabiah the chief. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous.
vai-YI-hu v'-nay e-li-EZER re-KHAV-yah ha-ROSH, v'-LO ha-YAH le-e-li-EZER ba-NEEM a-KHE-reem, u-v'-nay re-KHAV-yah ra-VU le-ma-o-LAH. {SE}
יזוַיִּהְי֥וּ בְנֵֽי־אֱלִיעֶ֖זֶר רְחַבְיָ֣ה הָרֹ֑אשׁ וְלֹא־הָיָ֤ה לֶֽאֱלִיעֶ֙זֶר֙ בָּנִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וּבְנֵ֥י רְחַבְיָ֖ה רָב֥וּ לְמָֽעְלָה׃
18The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief.
b'-NAY yitz-HAR sh'-lo-MEET ha-ROSH
יחבְּנֵ֥י יִצְהָ֖ר שְׁלֹמִ֥ית הָרֹֽאשׁ׃
19The sons of Chevron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Yachaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
b'-NAY khev-RON, y'-ri-YA-hu ha-ROSH, a-ma-rya ha-SHE-ni, ya-kha-zi-EL ha-sh'-LI-shi, vi-ka-ma-AM ha-r'-vi-i
יטבְּנֵ֖י חֶבְר֑וֹן יְרִיָּ֤הוּ הָרֹאשׁ֙ אֲמַרְיָ֣ה הַשֵּׁנִ֔י יַֽחֲזִיאֵל֙ הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י וִֽיקַמְעָ֖ם הָרְבִיעִֽי׃
20The sons of Uzziel: Micha the chief and Isshiah the second.
b'-nay u-ZEE-el mi-KHA ha-ROSH v'-yi-shi-YAH ha-SHE-ni
כבְּנֵ֖י עֻזִּיאֵ֑ל מִיכָ֣ה הָרֹ֔אשׁ וְיִשִּׁיָּ֖ה הַשֵּׁנִֽי׃
21The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Elazar and Keesh.
b'-NAY m'-ra-REE ma-KHE-lee u-mu-SHEE, b'-NAY ma-KHE-lee el-a-za-RA v'-KISH
כאבְּנֵ֤י מְרָרִי֙ מַחְלִ֣י וּמוּשִׁ֔י בְּנֵ֥י מַחְלִ֖י אֶלְעָזָ֥ר וְקִֽישׁ׃
22Elazar died having no sons but only daughters; the sons of Keesh, their kinsmen, married them.
vai-YAMOT el-a-zaR v'-lo ha-YU lo ba-NEEM, ki im ba-NOt, vai-yi-SA-um b'-nay-KISH a-KHE-hem
כבוַיָּ֙מׇת֙ אֶלְעָזָ֔ר וְלֹא־הָ֥יוּ ל֛וֹ בָּנִ֖ים כִּ֣י אִם־בָּנ֑וֹת וַיִּשָּׂא֥וּם בְּנֵי־קִ֖ישׁ אֲחֵיהֶֽם׃
23The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth—3.
b'-NAY mu-SHI ma-KHE-LEE v'-E-der vi-RE-mot sh'-LO-sha
כגבְּנֵ֣י מוּשִׁ֗י מַחְלִ֥י וְעֵ֛דֶר וִירֵמ֖וֹת שְׁלוֹשָֽׁה׃
24These are the sons of Levi by clans, with their clan chiefs as they were enrolled, with a list of their names by heads, who did the work of the service of the House of Hashem from the age of twenty and upward.
AY-leh v'-nay LAY-vee l'-vayt a-vo-TAY-hem ra-SHAY ha-a-VOt li-f'-ku-DAY-hem b'-mis-PAHR sh'-MOHT l'-gul-g'-lo-TAM o-SAY ha-m'-la-KHAH la-a-vo-DAHT bayt a-do-NAI mi-BEN es-ree-YIM sha-NAH va-ma-a-LAH
כדאֵ֣לֶּה בְנֵֽי־לֵוִי֩ לְבֵ֨ית אֲבוֹתֵיהֶ֜ם רָאשֵׁ֧י הָאָב֣וֹת לִפְקוּדֵיהֶ֗ם בְּמִסְפַּ֤ר שֵׁמוֹת֙ לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָ֔ם עֹשֵׂה֙ הַמְּלָאכָ֔ה לַעֲבֹדַ֖ת בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה מִבֶּ֛ן עֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וָמָֽעְלָה׃
25For David said, “God of Yisrael has given rest to His people and made His dwelling in Yerushalayim forever.
KI a-MAR da-VID he-NI-akh a-do-NAI e-lo-HEI yis-ra-AYL l'-a-MO va-yish-KON bi-ru-sha-LA-im ad l'-o-LAM
כהכִּ֚י אָמַ֣ר דָּוִ֔יד הֵנִ֛יחַ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְעַמּ֑וֹ וַיִּשְׁכֹּ֥ן בִּירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם עַד־לְעוֹלָֽם׃
26Therefore the Leviim need not carry the Mishkan and all its various service vessels.”
v'-GAM lal-vi-YIM ayn la-SAYT et ha-mish-KAN v'-et kol kay-LAV la-a-vo-da-TO
כווְגַ֖ם לַלְוִיִּ֑ם אֵין־לָשֵׂ֧את אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֛ן וְאֶת־כׇּל־כֵּלָ֖יו לַעֲבֹדָתֽוֹ׃
23:26 Therefore the Leviim need not carry the Mishkan
In anticipation of the construction of the Beit Hamikdash in Yerushalayim, David counts the Leviim and assigns them a new role. Now that the house of God will find its permanent resting place in Yerushalayim, the job of carrying the Mishkan and the holy vessels, which had been assigned to the Leviim in the desert, is no longer relevant. They are therefore assigned other tasks; they are to assist the priests in the Temple service, serve as the gatekeepers for the Temple, and sing daily praises to the Lord. However, each Levi is to serve in the Beit Hamikdash for only one week out of every twenty-four (see chapter 25). The rest of their time, the members of the tribe of Levi have another highly significant job. They are to become the spiritual leaders of the Children of Israel by serving as officers, judges and teachers. As Moshe had blessed the tribe of Levi before his death, “They shall teach Your laws to Yaakov And Your instructions to Yisrael” (Deuteronomy 33:10). It is for this reason that they are not given their own portion in the Land of Israel, but instead are scattered among all the other tribes (see Joshua chapter 21). In this way, they are able to have an impact on the entire nation, providing the spiritual guidance essential for the Children of Israel to accurately represent God to the rest of the world.
27Among the last acts of David was the counting of the Leviim from the age of twenty and upward.
ki v'-di-v'-RAY da-VEED ha-a-kha-ro-NEEM, HAY-ma mi-SPAR b'-NAY l'-VEE, mi-BEN es-ree-YIM sha-NAH u-l'-ma-o-LAH.
כזכִּ֣י בְדִבְרֵ֤י דָוִיד֙ הָאַ֣חֲרוֹנִ֔ים הֵ֖מָּה מִסְפַּ֣ר בְּנֵֽי־לֵוִ֑י מִבֶּ֛ן עֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וּלְמָֽעְלָה׃
28For their appointment was alongside the Aaronites for the service of the House of Hashem, to look after the courts and the chambers, and the purity of all the holy things, and the performance of the service of the House of Hashem,
ki ma-a-MA-dem l'-YAD b'-NAY a-ha-RON la-a-vo-DAT bayt a-do-NAI al ha-kha-tze-ROT v'-al ha-l'-sha-KHOT v'-al to-HO-rat l'-KOL-ko-DAYSH u-ma-a-SEH a-vo-DAT bayt ha-e-lo-HEEM
כחכִּ֣י מַעֲמָדָ֞ם לְיַד־בְּנֵ֣י אַהֲרֹ֗ן לַֽעֲבֹדַת֙ בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֔ה עַל־הַֽחֲצֵרוֹת֙ וְעַל־הַלְּשָׁכ֔וֹת וְעַֽל־טׇהֳרַ֖ת לְכׇל־קֹ֑דֶשׁ וּמַֽעֲשֵׂ֔ה עֲבֹדַ֖ת בֵּ֥ית הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃
29and the rows of bread, and the fine flour for the meal offering, and the unleavened wafers, and the cakes made on the griddle and soaked, and every measure of capacity and length;
u-l'-LE-khem ha-ma-a-RE-khet u-l'-so-LET l'-min-KHAH v'-lir-ki-KEI ha-ma-TSOT u-la-ma-kha-VAT v'-la-mur-BA-khet u-l'-kol-m'-su-RAH u-mi-DAH
כטוּלְלֶ֨חֶם הַֽמַּעֲרֶ֜כֶת וּלְסֹ֤לֶת לְמִנְחָה֙ וְלִרְקִיקֵ֣י הַמַּצּ֔וֹת וְלַֽמַּחֲבַ֖ת וְלַמֻּרְבָּ֑כֶת וּלְכׇל־מְשׂוּרָ֖ה וּמִדָּֽה׃
30and to be present every morning to praise and extol Hashem, and at evening too,
v'-la-a-MOD ba-BO-ker ba-BO-ker l'-ho-DOT u-l'-ha-LEL la-do-NAI v'-khen la-a-REV
לוְלַֽעֲמֹד֙ בַּבֹּ֣קֶר בַּבֹּ֔קֶר לְהֹד֥וֹת וּלְהַלֵּ֖ל לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה וְכֵ֖ן לָעָֽרֶב׃
31and whenever offerings were made to Hashem, according to the quantities prescribed for them, on Shabbatot, new moons and holidays, regularly, before Hashem;
u-l'-KOL ha-a-LOT o-LOT la-a-do-NAI la-sha-BA-tot le-kho-da-SHEEM v'-la-mo-a-DEEM b'-mis-PAHR k'-mish-PAHT a-LE-hem ta-MEED lif-NEI a-do-NAI
לאוּלְכֹ֨ל הַעֲל֤וֹת עֹלוֹת֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה לַשַּׁ֨בָּת֔וֹת לֶחֳדָשִׁ֖ים וְלַמֹּעֲדִ֑ים בְּמִסְפָּ֨ר כְּמִשְׁפָּ֧ט עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם תָּמִ֖יד לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃
32and so to keep watch over the Tent of Meeting, over the holy things, and over the Aaronites their kinsmen, for the service of the House of Hashem.
v'-sha-M'-RU et-mish-ME-ret ohel-mo-ED v'-ET mish-ME-ret ha-ko-DASH u-mish-ME-ret b'-NAY a-ha-RON a-KHE-hem la-a-vo-DAT bayt a-do-NAI.
לבוְשָׁמְר֞וּ אֶת־מִשְׁמֶ֣רֶת אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵ֗ד וְאֵת֙ מִשְׁמֶ֣רֶת הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ וּמִשְׁמֶ֕רֶת בְּנֵ֥י אַהֲרֹ֖ן אֲחֵיהֶ֑ם לַעֲבֹדַ֖ת בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃
