1 Chronicles 24

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Twenty-Four Divisions of Priests

1 These were the divisions of the descendants of Aaron. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, and they had no sons; so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.
3 With the help of Eleazar’s descendant Zadok and Ithamar’s descendant Ahimelech, David divided them according to the offices of their service.
4 Since more leaders were found among Eleazar’s descendants than those of Ithamar, they were divided accordingly. There were sixteen heads of families from the descendants of Eleazar and eight from the descendants of Ithamar.
5 Thus they were divided by lot, for there were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God among both Eleazar’s and Ithamar’s descendants.
6 The scribe, Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded their names in the presence of the king and of the officers: Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the heads of families of the priests and the Levites—one family being taken from Eleazar, and then one from 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 Abijah,
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, and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
19 This was their appointed order for service when they entered the house of the LORD, according to the regulations prescribed for them by their forefather Aaron, as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded him.

The Rest of the Levites

20 Now these were the rest of the descendants of Levi: From the sons of Amram: Shubael; [a] from the sons of Shubael: Jehdeiah.
21 As for Rehabiah, from his sons: The first was Isshiah. [b]
22 From the Izharites: Shelomoth; [c] from the sons of Shelomoth: Jahath.
23 From the sons of Hebron: Jeriah was the first, [d] Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
24 From the sons of Uzziel: Micah; from the sons of Micah: Shamir.
25 The brother of Micah: Isshiah; from the sons of Isshiah: Zechariah.
26 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The son of Jaaziah: Beno.
27 The descendants of Merari from Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.
28 From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
29 From Kish: Jerahmeel the son of Kish.
30 And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. [e] These were the sons of the Levites, according to their families.
31 As their brothers the descendants of Aaron did, they also cast lots in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the families of the priests and Levites—the family heads and their younger brothers alike.

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.

Footnotes 5

  • [a]. Shubael (twice in this verse) is a variant of Shebuel; see 1 Chronicles 23:16 and 1 Chronicles 26:24.
  • [b]. Isshiah is a variant of Jeshaiah; see 1 Chronicles 26:25.
  • [c]. Shelomoth (twice in this verse) is a variant of Shelomith; see 1 Chronicles 23:18.
  • [d]. Hebrew From the sons: Jeriah; see 1 Chronicles 23:19.
  • [e]. Jerimoth is a variant of Jeremoth; see 1 Chronicles 23:23.

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

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