According to the goodhandof our Godupon us they broughtus a manof insightof the sonsof Mahli,the sonof Levi,the sonof Israel,namely Sherebiah,and his sonsand brothers,18men;
The sonsof Levi[were] Gershon,Kohathand Merari.
The sonsof Merari[were] Mahliand Mushi.And theseare the familiesof the Levitesaccording to their fathers'[households].
Eleazarbecamethe fatherof Phinehas,[and] Phinehasbecamethe fatherof Abishua,
Then Hezekiahspokeencouraginglyto allthe Leviteswho showedgoodinsight[in the things] of the LORD.So they atefor the appointedsevendays,sacrificingpeaceofferingsand givingthanksto the LORDGodof their fathers.
and has extendedlovingkindnessto me beforethe kingand his counselorsand before allthe king'smightyprinces.Thus I was strengthenedaccording to the handof the LORDmy Godupon me, and I gatheredleadingmenfrom Israelto goup with me.
ThisEzrawentup from Babylon,and he was a scribeskilledin the lawof Moses,whichthe LORDGodof Israelhad given;and the kinggrantedhim allhe requestedbecause the handof the LORDhis God[was] upon him.
For on the firstof the firstmonthhe beganto goup from Babylon;and on the firstof the fifthmonthhe cameto Jerusalem,because the goodhandof his God[was] upon him.
So I sentfor Eliezer,Ariel,Shemaiah,Elnathan,Jarib,Elnathan,Nathan,Zechariahand Meshullam,leadingmen,and for Joiariband Elnathan,teachers.
and Hashabiahand Jeshaiahof the sonsof Merari,with his brothersand their sons,20men;
For I was ashamedto requestfrom the kingtroopsand horsemento protectus from the enemyon the way,becausewe had saidto the king,"The handof our Godis favorablydisposedto allthose who seekHim, but His powerand His angerare againstallthose who forsakeHim."
Then I setaparttwelveof the leadingpriests,Sherebiah,Hashabiah,and with them tenof their brothers;
Zaccur,Sherebiah,Shebaniah,
The headsof the Levites[were] Hashabiah,Sherebiahand Jeshuathe sonof Kadmiel,with their brothersoppositethem, to praise[and] givethanks,as prescribedby Davidthe manof God,divisioncorrespondingto division.
and a letterto Asaphthe keeperof the king'sforest,that he may giveme timberto makebeamsfor the gatesof the fortresswhichis by the temple,for the wallof the cityand for the houseto whichI will go."And the kinggranted[them] to me because the goodhandof my God[was] on me.
Also Jeshua,Bani,Sherebiah,Jamin,Akkub,Shabbethai,Hodiah,Maaseiah,Kelita,Azariah,Jozabad,Hanan,Pelaiah,the Levites,explainedthe lawto the peoplewhile the people[remained] in their place.
By wisdoma houseis built,And by understandingit is established;
In allyour waysacknowledgeHim, And He will makeyour pathsstraight.
"Then I will giveyou shepherdsafter My own heart,who will feedyou on knowledgeand understanding.
As for everymatterof wisdomand understandingabout whichthe kingconsultedthem, he foundthem tentimesbetterthanallthe magicians[and] conjurerswho[were] in allhis realm.
and the sonsof Merariby their families:Mahliand Mushi.Theseare the familiesof the Levitesaccording to their fathers'households.
Brethren,do not be childrenin your thinking;yetin evilbe infants,but in your thinkingbe mature.
