« | 1 Chronicles 24 | » |
1 These were the family groups of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
2 Nadab and Abihu died before their father died. They had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar became the religious leaders.
3 With the help of Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, David divided them by their given duties.
4 More leaders were found from the sons of Eleazar than the sons of Ithamar. So they were divided in this way. There were sixteen heads of families of the sons of Eleazar. And there were eight heads of families of the sons of Ithamar.
5 They were divided by drawing names, all alike. For there were leaders of the holy place and leaders of God, from both the sons of Eleazar and Ithamar.
6 The writer Shemaiah, the Levite son of Nethanel, wrote down their names. He wrote them in front of the king, the princes, Zadok the religious leader, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the families of the religious leaders and of the Levites. One family was taken for Eleazar, and one for Ithamar.
7 The first name drawn was Jehoiarib, the second Jedaiah,
8 the third Harim, the fourth Seorim,
9 the fifth Malchijah, the sixth Mijamin.
10 The seventh name was Hakkoz, the eighth Abijah,
11 the ninth Jeshua, the tenth Shecaniah,
12 the eleventh Eliashib, the twelfth Jakim.
13 The thirteenth name was Huppah, the fourteenth Jeshebeab,
14 the fifteenth Bilgah, the sixteenth Immer.
15 The seventeenth name was Hezir, the eighteenth Happizzez,
16 the nineteenth Pethahiah, the twentieth Jehezkel.
17 The twentyfirst name was Jachin, the twentysecond Gamul,
18 the twenty-third Delaiah, and the twenty-fourth Maaziah.
19 This was the way they were to come on duty to work in the Lord's house. It was a rule given to them through their father Aaron, just as the Lord God of Israel had told him.
20 The rest of the sons of Levi were Shubael of the sons of Amram, Jehdeiah of the sons of Shubael,
21 and Isshiah was the first of the sons of Rehabiah.
22 There was Shelomoth of the Izharites, and Jahath of the sons of Shelomoth.
23 Of the sons of Hebron, there were Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
24 There was Micah of the sons of Uzziel, and Shamir of the sons of Micah.
25 The brother of Micah was Isshiah. There was Zechariah of the sons of Isshiah.
26 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. Jaaziah's son was Beno.
27 The sons of Merari by Jaaziah were Beno, Shoham, Zaccur and Ibri.
28 His son by Mahli was Eleazar, who had no sons.
29 His son by Kish was Jerahmeel.
30 And the sons of Mushi were Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites by their families.
31 The head of each family and his younger brother drew names just as their brothers the sons of Aaron did. They drew them in front of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the families of the religious leaders and of the Levites.
The New Life Version (NLV)
The New Life Version (NLV) is a unique English translation of the Bible designed to be exceptionally easy to read and understand. First published in 1969, the NLV was created by Gleason Ledyard, a missionary and linguist, to make the Scriptures accessible to people who have limited English proficiency or are new to the language. Ledyard’s aim was to provide a Bible that even those with minimal education could read and comprehend, thus opening the door for a wider audience to engage with the biblical texts.
A defining characteristic of the New Life Version is its use of a limited vocabulary of about 850 basic English words, along with some necessary theological terms. This restricted vocabulary ensures that the language remains simple and straightforward, making the text accessible to young readers, new Christians, and those for whom English is a second language. The translators also avoided idiomatic expressions and complex sentence structures, further enhancing clarity and understanding. This makes the NLV a particularly valuable resource for educational and missionary work.
The NLV also emphasizes faithfulness to the original texts, despite its simplified language. The translation aims to maintain the integrity and message of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. By carefully choosing words that accurately convey the meaning of the original texts while ensuring simplicity, the NLV provides a balance between accessibility and fidelity. Additionally, the NLV includes explanatory footnotes and cross-references that help readers understand the context and deeper meanings of the passages, making it a useful tool for both personal study and group teaching.
However, the New Life Version is not without its critics. Some scholars and traditionalists argue that the limited vocabulary and simplified language can lead to a loss of nuance and depth found in the original texts. They suggest that the NLV’s focus on simplicity may sometimes oversimplify complex theological concepts. Despite these criticisms, the New Life Version remains a valuable translation for its intended audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps a wide range of readers engage with the Scriptures and grow in their faith.