1 Chronicles 24

The Divisions of the Priests

1 The divisions of the descendants of Aaron were as follows: Aaron's sons were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and they had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.
3 Together with Zadok from the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech from the sons of Ithamar, David divided them according to the assigned duties of their service.
4 Since more leaders were found among Eleazar's descendants than Ithamar's, they were divided [accordingly]: 16 heads of ancestral houses were from Eleazar's descendants, and eight [heads] of ancestral houses were from Ithamar's.
5 They were divided impartially by lot, for there were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God among both Eleazar's and Ithamar's descendants.
6 The secretary, Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded them in the presence of the king and the officers, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the heads of families of the priests and the Levites. One ancestral house was taken for Eleazar, and then one 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 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 These had their assigned duties for service when they entered the Lord's temple, according to their regulations, which they received from their ancestor Aaron, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him.

The Rest of the Levites

20 As for the rest of Levi's sons: from Amram's sons: Shubael; from Shubael's sons: Jehdeiah.
21 From Rehabiah: from Rehabiah's sons: Isshiah was the first.
22 From the Izharites: Shelomoth; from Shelomoth's sons: Jahath.
23 Hebron's[a] sons: Jeriah [the first], Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
24 [From] Uzziel's sons: Micah; from Micah's sons: Shamir.
25 Micah's brother: Isshiah; from Isshiah's sons: Zechariah.
26 Merari's sons: Mahli and Mushi, [and from] his sons, Jaaziah his son.[b]
27 Merari's sons, by his son Jaaziah:[c] Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.
28 From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
29 From Kish, [from] Kish's sons: Jerahmeel.
30 Mushi's sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. Those were the sons of the Levites according to their ancestral houses.
31 They also cast lots the same way as their relatives, the sons of Aaron did in the presence of King David, 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 3

  • [a]. Some Hb mss, some LXX mss; MT omits Hebron's; 1 Ch 23:19
  • [b]. Or Mushi; Jaaziah's sons: Beno.
  • [c]. Or sons, Jaaziah: Beno,

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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