1 Chronicles 24:2

2 But Nadav and Avihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore El`azar and Itamar executed the Kohen's office.

1 Chronicles 24:2 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 24:2

But Nadab and Abihu died before their father
While he was living, see ( Leviticus 10:1 Leviticus 10:2 )

and had no children, therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the
priests' office:
otherwise, as Jarchi observes, had their brethren left children, they would have come into the office before them.

1 Chronicles 24:2 In-Context

1 The courses of the sons of Aharon [were these]. The sons of Aharon: Nadav and Avihu, El`azar and Itamar.

2 But Nadav and Avihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore El`azar and Itamar executed the Kohen's office.

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.