1 Chronicles 24:5

5 Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for there were princes of the sanctuary, and princes of God, both of the sons of El`azar, and of the sons of Itamar.

1 Chronicles 24:5 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 24:5

Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another
Which course should serve first, and which next, and so on; and who should be the chief to each course; which course was to serve a week, and then go out; and this method was taken to prevent envy, strife, and contention about precedence:

for the governors of the sanctuary;
or of the holy things, or who presided in things ecclesiastical:

and governors of the house of God:
or rather "governors of God", appointed by him judges in civil things:

were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar:
there were, of both families, some employed both in sacred and civil things, and who presided in each.

1 Chronicles 24:5 In-Context

3 David with Tzadok of the sons of El`azar, and Achimelekh of the sons of Itamar, divided them according to their ordering in their service.

4 There were more chief men found of the sons of El`azar than of the sons of Itamar; and [thus] were they divided: of the sons of El`azar there were sixteen, heads of fathers' houses; and of the sons of Itamar, according to their fathers' houses, eight.

5 Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for there were princes of the sanctuary, and princes of God, both of the sons of El`azar, and of the sons of Itamar.

6 Shemayah the son of Netan'el the Sofer, who was of the Levites, wrote them in the presence of the king, and the princes, and Tzadok the Kohen, and Achimelekh the son of Avyatar, and the heads of the fathers' [houses] of the Kohanim and of the Levites; one fathers' house being taken for El`azar, and one taken for Itamar.

7 Now the first lot came forth to Yehoiariv, the second to Yedayah,