1 Chronicles 24

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David Organizes the Priests

1 The divisions of the sons of Aaron were these. The sons of 1Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
2 2But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children, so Eleazar and Ithamar became the priests.
3 With the help of 3Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, David organized them according to the appointed duties in their service.
4 Since more chief men were found among the sons of Eleazar than among the sons of Ithamar, they organized them under sixteen heads of fathers' houses of the sons of Eleazar, and eight of the sons of Ithamar.
5 They divided them 4by lot, all alike, for there were sacred officers and officers of God among both the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar.
6 And the scribe Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded them in the presence of the king and the princes and Zadok the priest and 5Ahimelech the son of Abiathar and the heads of the fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites, one father's house being chosen for Eleazar and one chosen for Ithamar.
7 The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
8 the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
9 the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
10 the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to 6Abijah,
11 the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
12 the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
13 the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
14 the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
15 the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,
16 the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,
17 the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul,
18 the twenty-third to Delaiah, the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
19 These had as their appointed duty in their service 7to come into the house of the LORD according to the procedure established for them by Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.
20 And of the rest of the sons of Levi: 8of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.
21 9Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the chief.
22 Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.
23 10The sons of Hebron:[a] Jeriah the chief,[b] Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.
24 11The sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir.
25 The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.
26 12The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Jaaziah: Beno.[c]
27 The sons of Merari: of Jaaziah, Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.
28 Of Mahli: Eleazar, 13who had no sons.
29 Of Kish, the sons of Kish: Jerahmeel.
30 14The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites according to their fathers' houses.
31 These also, the head of each father's house and his younger brother alike, 15cast lots, just as their brothers the sons of Aaron, in the presence of King David, 16Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites.

1 Chronicles 24 Commentary

Chapter 24

The divisions of the priests and Levites.

- When every one has, knows, and keeps his place and work, the more there are the better. In the mystical body of Christ, every member has its use, for the good of the whole. Christ is High Priest over the house of God, to whom all believers, being made priests, are to be in subjection. In Christ, no difference is made between bond and free, elder and younger. The younger brethren, if faithful and sincere, shall be no less acceptable to Christ than the fathers. May we all be children of the Lord, fitted to sing his praises for ever in his temple above.

Cross References 16

  • 1. Leviticus 10:1, 6; Numbers 26:60
  • 2. Leviticus 10:2; Numbers 26:61
  • 3. ver. 31; 2 Samuel 8:17
  • 4. ver. 31
  • 5. 2 Samuel 8:17; [1 Chronicles 18:16; 1 Samuel 22:20; 1 Samuel 23:6]
  • 6. Luke 1:5
  • 7. 1 Chronicles 9:25
  • 8. 1 Chronicles 23:13
  • 9. 1 Chronicles 23:17
  • 10. 1 Chronicles 23:19
  • 11. 1 Chronicles 23:20
  • 12. 1 Chronicles 23:21
  • 13. 1 Chronicles 23:22
  • 14. 1 Chronicles 23:23
  • 15. ver. 5; 1 Chronicles 25:8; 1 Chronicles 26:13, 14; Nehemiah 11:1
  • 16. ver. 6

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Compare 23:19; Hebrew lacks Hebron
  • [b]. Compare 23:19; Hebrew lacks the chief
  • [c]. Or his son; also verse 27

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 24

This chapter relates the distribution David made of the priests into twenty four classes or courses, and which were observed by lot, and each course had an head or principal man over it, 1Ch 24:1-19 and of a like distribution of the Levites into the same number of courses, to attend the priests in theirs, 1Ch 24:20-31.

1 Chronicles 24 Commentaries

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.