The Descendants of Levi
1 Levi was the father of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
2 Kohath was the father of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 3 Amram was the father of Aaron, Moses, and Miriam.
Aaron had four sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
4-14 Eleazar's descendants included Phinehas, Abishua, Bukki, Uzzi, Zerahiah, Meraioth, Amariah, Ahitub, Zadok, Ahimaaz, Azariah, Johanan, Azariah the priest who served in the temple built by King Solomon, Amariah, Ahitub, Zadok, Shallum, Hilkiah, Azariah, Seraiah, and Jehozadak. 15 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia took Jehozadak to Babylon as prisoner when the Lord let the people of Judah and Jerusalem be dragged from their land.
16 Levi's three sons had sons of their own. 17 Gershon was the father of Libni and Shimei. 18 Kohath was the father of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 19 Merari was the father of Mahli and Mushi. These descendants of Levi each became leaders of their own clans.
20-21 Gershon's descendants included Libni, Jahath, Zimmah, Joah, Iddo, Zerah, and Jeatherai.
22-24 Kohath's descendants included Amminadab, Korah, Assir, Elkanah, Ebiasaph, Assir, Tahath, Uriel, Uzziah, and Shaul.
25 Elkanah was the father of Amasai and Ahimoth. 26-27 Ahimoth's descendants included Elkanah, Zophai, Nahath, Eliab, Jeroham, and Elkanah.
28 Samuel was the father of Joel and Abijah, born in that order.
29-30 Merari's descendants included Mahli, Libni, Shimei, Uzzah, Shimea, Haggiah, and Asaiah.
The Temple Musicians
31 After King David had the sacred chest moved to Jerusalem, he appointed musicians from the Levi tribe to be in charge of the music at the place of worship. 32 These musicians served at the sacred tent and later at the Lord's temple that King Solomon built.
33-38 Here is a list of these musicians and their family lines:
Heman from the Kohathite clan was the director. His ancestors went all the way back to Jacob and included Joel, Samuel, Elkanah, Jeroham, Eliel, Toah, Zuph, Elkanah, Mahath, Amasai, Elkanah, Joel, Azariah, Zephaniah, Tahath, Assir, Ebiasaph, Korah, Izhar, Kohath, Levi.
39-43 Asaph was Heman's relative and served as his assistant. Asaph's ancestors included Berechiah, Shimea, Michael, Baaseiah, Malchijah, Ethni, Zerah, Adaiah, Ethan, Zimmah, Shimei, Jahath, Gershon, and Levi.
44-47 Ethan was also Heman's relative and served as his assistant. Ethan belonged to the Merari clan, and his ancestors included Kishi, Abdi, Malluch, Hashabiah, Amaziah, Hilkiah, Amzi, Bani, Shemer, Mahli, Mushi, Merari, and Levi.
48 The rest of the Levites were appointed to work at the sacred tent.
The Descendants of Aaron
49 Only Aaron and his descendants were allowed to offer sacrifices and incense on the two altars at the sacred tent. They were in charge of the most holy place and the ceremonies to forgive sins, just as God's servant Moses had commanded.
50-53 Aaron's descendants included his son Eleazar, Phinehas, Abishua, Bukki, Uzzi, Zerahiah, Meraioth, Amariah, Ahitub, Zadok, and Ahimaaz.
The Towns for the Levites
(Joshua 21.1-42)54 Aaron's descendants belonged to the Levite clan of Kohath, and they were the first group chosen to receive towns to live in. 55 They received the town of Hebron in the territory of Judah and the pastureland around it. 56 But the farmland and villages around Hebron were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh. 57-59 So Aaron's descendants received the following Safe Towns and the pastureland around them: Hebron, Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, Hilen, Debir, Ashan, and Beth-Shemesh. 60 From the Benjamin tribe they were given the towns of Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth and the pastureland around them. Thirteen towns were given to Aaron's descendants.
61 The rest of the Levite clan of Kohath received ten towns from West Manasseh.
62 The Levite clan of Gershon received thirteen towns from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and East Manasseh in Bashan.
63 The Levite clan of Merari received twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.
64 So the people of Israel gave the Levites towns to live in and the pastureland around them. 65 All the towns were chosen with the Lord's help, including those towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.
66 Some of the families of the Kohath clan received their towns from the tribe of Ephraim. 67-69 These families received the following Safe Towns and the pastureland around them: Shechem in the hill country, Gezer, Jokmeam, Beth-Horon, Aijalon, and Gath-Rimmon. 70 And from West Manasseh they received Aner and Bileam, together with their pastureland.
71 The Gershonite clan received two towns from the tribe of East Manasseh: Golan in Bashan and Ashtaroth, including the pastureland around them. 72-73 The Gershonites also received four towns from the tribe of Issachar: Kedesh, Daberath, Ramoth, and Anem, including the pastureland around them. 74-75 The Gershonites received four towns from the tribe of Asher: Mashal, Abdon, Hukok, and Rehob, including the pastureland around them. 76 Finally, the Gershonites received three towns from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, and Kiriathaim, including the pastureland around them.
77 The rest of the Merari clan received the towns of Rimmono and Tabor and their pastureland from the tribe of Zebulun. 78-79 They also received four towns east of the Jordan River from the tribe of Reuben: Bezer in the flatlands, Jahzah, Kedemoth, and Mephaath, including the pastures around them. 80-81 And from the tribe of Gad the Merarites received the towns of Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim, Heshbon, and Jazer, including the pastureland around them.
Ndongoloso ye misha ye bapirisiti
1 Levi wakabe ana bakololo bali batatu. Ibo bakabe bali bo Geshoni na Kohati na Merari. 2 Bakololo ba Kohati bakabe bali bo Amuramu na Izhari na Heburoni na Uziele. 3 Bana ba Amuramu bakabe bali bo Aroni na Mushe na Miriamu. Bana ba Aroni bakabe bali bo Nadabi na Abihu na Eleazari na Ithamari. 4 Eleazari wakabe ali tate ba Finihasi, Finihasi ali tate ba Abishuwa, 5 Abishuwa ali tate ba Bhuki, Bhuki ali tate ba Uzi, 6 Uzi ali tate ba Zeraya, Zeraya ali tate ba Meraoti, 7 Meraoti ali tate ba Amariya, Amariya ali tate ba Ahitubu, 8 Ahitubu ali tate ba Zadoki, Zadoki ali tate ba Ahimazi, 9 Ahimazi ali tate ba Azariya, Azariya ali tate ba Johanani, 10 Johanani ali tate ba Azariya (ndiye wakabe eshinga ali mpirisiti mu Ng'umba ye Ndzimu yakabakwa ndi Solomoni ku Jerusalema). 11 Azariya wakabe ali tate ba Amariya, Amariya ali tate ba Ahitubu, 12 Ahitubu ali tate ba Zadoki, Zadoki ali tate ba Shalumu, 13 Shalumu ali tate ba Hilikiya, Hilikiya ali tate ba Azariya, 14 Azariya ali tate ba Seraya, Seraya ali tate ba Jehozadaki. 15 Jehozadaki iye wakatapiwa ndi Nebukadineza tjibaka Yahwe tjabakathama kuti Juda ne Jerusalema dzitapiwe.
Zwimwe zwizekugwana zwa Levi
16 Levi wakabe ana bakololo bali batatu. Ibo bakabe bali bo Geshoni na Kohati na Merari. 17 Awa ndiwo mazina e bakololo ba Geshoni: Libini na Shimeyi. 18 Bakololo ba Kohati bakabe bali bo Amuramu na Izhari na Heburoni na Uziele. 19 Bakololo ba Merari ndi Mahili na Mushi. Idzedzi njudzi dze Balevi nge kulongoloka kwa botate babo. 20 Ludzi gwa Geshoni gwakabe guna nkololo uwe Libini, Libini kazwala Jehati, Jehati kazwala Zima, 21 Zima kazwala Jowa, Jowa kazwala Ido, Ido kazwala Zera, Zera kazwala Jeatherayi. 22 Zwizekugwana zwa Kohati zwakabe zwili bo Aminadabu, Aminadabu kazwala Kora, Kora kazwala Asiri, 23 Asiri kazwala Elikana, Elikana kazwala Ebiasafu, Ebiasafu kazwala Asiri, 24 Asiri kazwala Tahati, Tahati kazwala Urieli, Urieli kazwala Uziya, Uziya kazwala Shaulo. 25 Zwizekugwana zwa Elikana zwakabe zwili bo Amasayi na Ahimoti, 26 Ahimoti kazwala Elikana, Elikana kazwala Zofayi, Zofayi kazwala Nahati, 27 Nahati kazwala Eliabu, Eliabu kazwala Jerohamu, Jerohamu kazwala Elikana, Elikana kazwala Samuele. 28 Bakololo ba Samuele bakabe bali bo Jowele ali mbano na Abija ali thobeledzi iye. 29 Zwizekugwana zwa Merari bakabe bali bo Mahili, Mahili kazwala Libini, Libini kazwala Shimeyi, Shimeyi kazwala Uza, 30 Uza kazwala Shimeya, Shimeya kazwala Hagiya, Hagiya kazwala Asaya.
Balidzi mu Ng'umba ye Ndzimu
31 Aba ndibo bakabigwa ndi Dafite kuti babe ibo bakabhata kuna zwe zwilidzo mu Ng'umba ya Yahwe shule Bhokisi le Tjidumano latjidzikama ko. 32 Bakabe beshinga lidza njimbo mbeli kwe bugalo gwe Ndzimu iko mbeli kwe nshasha we bushanganilo kudzina Solomoni abaka Ng'umba ya Yahwe mu Jerusalema. Bakabe belidza kuyendidzana ne sekwa bakabe balayiwa. 33 Aba ndibo balume bakabe beshinga nenge bakololo babo:
Kudwa mu ludzi gwa Kohati bakabe bali bo Hemani, nyambi ye mba ne nkololo wa Jowele, Jowele ali nkololo wa Samuele, 34 Samuele ali nkololo wa Elikana, Elikana ali nkololo wa Jerohamu, Jerohamu ali nkololo wa Elieli, Elieli ali nkololo wa Towa, 35 Towa ali nkololo wa Zufu, Zufu ali nkololo wa Elikana, Elikana ali nkololo wa Mahati, Mahati ali nkololo wa Amasayi, 36 Amasayi ali nkololo wa Elikana, Elikana nkololo wa Jowele, Jowele ali nkololo wa Azariya, Azariya ali nkololo wa Zefaniya, 37 Zefaniya ali nkololo wa Tahati, Tahati ali nkololo wa Asiri, Asiri ali nkololo wa Ebiasafu, Ebiasafu ali nkololo wa Kora, 38 Kora ali nkololo wa Izhari, Izhari ali nkololo wa Kohati, Kohati ali nkololo wa Levi, Levi ali nkololo wa Iziraela. 39 Asafa wakabe ali mbhatshi wa Hemani ibo ludzi gwabo gwabe guli sahwoku: Asafa nkololo wa Bherekiya, Bherekiya ali nkololo wa Shimeya, 40 Shimeya ali nkololo wa Mikaele, Mikaele ali nkololo wa Bhaseya, Bhaseya ali nkololo wa Malikija, 41 Malikija ali nkololo wa Etini, Etini ali nkololo wa Zera, Zera ali nkololo wa Adaya, 42 Adaya ali nkololo wa Ethani, Ethani ali nkololo wa Zima, Zima ali nkololo wa Shimeyi, 43 Shimeyi ali nkololo wa Jahati, Jahati ali nkololo Geshoni, Geshoni ali nkololo wa Levi. 44 Kudwa mu bashingi nabo kwakabe kuli ludzi gwa Merari bakabe bali babhatshi bakabe bali bo: Ethani nkololo wa Kishi, Kishi ali nkololo wa Abidi, Abidi ali nkololo wa Maluki, 45 Maluki ali nkololo wa Hashabiya, Hashabiya ali nkololo wa Amaziya, Amaziya ali nkololo wa Hilikiya, 46 Hilikiya ali nkololo wa Amuzi, Amuzi ali nkololo wa Bani, Bani ali nkololo wa Shemeri, 47 Shemeri ali nkololo wa Mahili, Mahili ali nkololo wa Mushi, Mushi ali nkololo wa Marari, Marari ali nkololo wa Levi. 48 Hama dzabo dze Balevi bakapiwa mishingo yose ye bugalo gwe Ndzimu gwe Ng'umba ye Ndzimu.
Zwizekugwana zwa Aroni
49 Koga Aroni ne zwizekugwana zwizwe ndibo bakabe bezhisa zwibhayilo mu tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo zwinopisiwa ne mu tjibeso tjinopisigwa motsha beshinga mishingo yose ye Bugalo gwakayengemala kupindisa kakale bethama gadzanyo na Yahwe sekwakaleba Mushe nlanda we Ndzimu. 50 Aba ndibo bakololo ba Aroni, Eleazari, Eleazari nkololo uwe wakabe ali Finihasi, Finihasi nkololo uwe ali Abishuwa, 51 Abishuwa nkololo uwe ali Bhuki, Bhuki nkololo uwe ali Uzi, Uzi nkololo uwe ali Zeraya, 52 Zeraya nkololo uwe ali Meraoti, Meraoti nkololo uwe ali Amariya, Amariya nkololo uwe ali Ahitubu, 53 Ahitubu nkololo uwe ali Zadoki, Zadoki nkololo uwe ali Ahimazi.
Magalo e Balevi
54 Iyawa ndiwo magalo abo ne sekwa bakabe bazwithubukanya nge migathu yabo: Zwizekugwana zwa Aroni zwe ludzi gwa Kohati. Ibo bakapiwa kutanga ngoti hakata dzakatendeka ibo kutanga. 55 Bakapiwa Heburoni mu shango ye Juda ne mafulo ayo aka ipoteleka, 56 koga minda ye nzi nkulu ne mizana yawo yakabe ili pasi kwe nzi nkulu yakapiwa Khalebu nkololo wa Jefune. 57 Ndizo zwizekugwana zwa Aroni zwakapiwa Heburoni nzi we dizhilo, ne Libina ne Jatiri ne Eshitemoa 58 ne Hileni ne Dibiri 59 ne Ashani ne Bhetishemeshi ne mafulilo e mizi iyeyo. 60 Kudwa mu ludzi gwa Bhenjamini ibo bakapiwa Geba ne Alemeti ne Anatoti kose ne mafulilo e mizi iyeyo. Mizi yose yakakobanyiwa ludzi gwe Kohati yakabe ili gumi lina mitatu (13) yose yose.
61 Bamwe bose be ludzi gwa Kohati bakakobegwa mizi ili gumi mu mizi ye gwamu le ludzi gwa Manase. 62 Zwizekugwana zwa Geshoni, kuyenda nge ludzi zwakakobegwa mizi ili gumi ina ili mitatu (13) kudwa mu ludzi gwa Isakari na Asheri na Nafutali ne mu ludzi gwa Manase guku Bhashani. 63 Zwizekugwana zwa Merari kuyenda nge ludzi zwakakobegwa mizi ili gumi lina mibili (12) kudwa mu ludzi gwa Rubheni negwa Gadi negwa Zebuluni. 64 Bathu be Iziraela bakakobela Balevi mizi iyeyi ne mafulilo ayo. 65 Mu ludzi gwa Juda negwa Simiyoni negwa Bhenjamini bakakobegwa ngoposa hakata. 66 Bamwe be misha ye bakololo ba Kohati bakapiwa mizi kudwa mu ludzi gwa Ifureimi. 67 Mu shango ye matombo ye Ifureimi bakapiwa Shekemu nzi nkulu we matizhilo ne Gezeri 68 ne Jokimeamu ne Bhetihoroni 69 ne Aijaloni ne Gatirimoni kose ne mafulilo e mizi iyeyi. 70 Kudwa mu gwamu le ludzi gwa Manase bakabe bapiwa nzi we Aneri ne mafulilo awo ne Bileyamu ne mafulilo awo kose ikoku kwakapiwa bose be misha ye Bakohati. 71 Be ludzi gwa Geshomu ibo bakapiwa mu gwamu le ludzi gwa Manase sahwoku: Bakapiwa nzi we Golani mu Bhashani ne Ashitaroti kose ne mafulilo e mizi iyeyo. 72 Kudwa mu ludzi gwa Isakari bakapiwa mizi ye Kedeshi ne Daberati, 73 ne Ramoti ne Anemu kose ne mafulilo e mizi iyeyo. 74 Kudwa mu ludzi gwa Asheri bakapiwa mizi ye Mashali ne Abedoni, 75 Hukoku ne Rehobu kose ne mafulilo e mizi iyeyi. 76 Kudwa mu ludzi gwa Nafutali bakapiwa mizi ye Kedeshi mu Galili ne Hamoni ne Kiriyathayimu kose ne mafulilo e mizi iyeyo. 77 Bathu be Merari bakapiwa mizi ye Jokineamu ne Karita ne Rimono ne Tabori kose ne mafulilo e mizi iyeyi kudwa mu ludzi gwa Zebuluni. 78 Kudwa mu ludzi gwa Rubheni seli kwe Jorodani ku Bhezhuba kwe Jerikho bakapiwa nzi we Bhezera umu tjilambanyika ne nzi we Jahaza, 79 newe Kedemoti ne Mefaati kose ne mafulilo e mizi iyeyi. 80 Kudwa mu ludzi gwa Gadi bakapiwa mizi ye Ramoti mu Giliyadi ne Mahanayimi, 81 ne Heshibhoni ne Jazeri kose ne mafulilo e mizi iyeyo.