1 Chronicles 24

Divisions of Levites

1 Now the divisions of the descendants of Aaron were these: ¹the sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

2 ²But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.

3 David, with ³Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their offices for their ministry.

4 Since more chief men were found from the descendants of Eleazar than the descendants of Ithamar, they divided them thus: there were sixteen * heads of fathers' households of the descendants of Eleazar and eight of the descendants of Ithamar, according to their fathers' households.

5 ⁴Thus they were divided by lot, the one as the other; for they were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God, both from the descendants of Eleazar and the descendants of Ithamar.

6 Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel the scribe, from the Levites, recorded them in the presence of the king, the princes, Zadok the priest, ⁵Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers' households of the priests and of the Levites; one father's household taken for Eleazar and one taken for Ithamar.

7 Now the first lot came out for Jehoiarib, the second for Jedaiah,

8 the third for Harim, the fourth for Seorim,

9 the fifth for Malchijah, the sixth for Mijamin,

10 the seventh for Hakkoz, the eighth for ⁶Abijah,

11 the ninth for Jeshua, the tenth for Shecaniah,

12 the eleventh * for Eliashib, the twelfth * for Jakim,

13 the thirteenth * for Huppah, the fourteenth * for Jeshebeab,

14 the fifteenth * for Bilgah, the sixteenth * for Immer,

15 the seventeenth * for Hezir, the eighteenth * for Happizzez,

16 the nineteenth * for Pethahiah, the twentieth for Jehezkel,

17 the twenty-first * for Jachin, the twenty-second * for Gamul,

18 the twenty-third * for Delaiah, the twenty-fourth * for Maaziah.

19 ⁷These were their offices for their ministry when they came in to the house of the LORD according to the ordinance given to them through Aaron their father, just as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.

20 Now for the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.

21 Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the first.

22 Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.

23 The sons ⁸of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.

24 Of the sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir.

25 The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.

26 The sons of Merari, Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah, Beno.

27 The sons of Merari: by Jaaziah were Beno, Shoham, Zaccur and Ibri.

28 By Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.

29 By Kish: the sons of Kish, Jerahmeel.

30 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites according to their fathers' households.

31 ⁹These also cast lots just as their relatives the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, ¹⁰Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers' households of the priests and of the Levites -the head of fathers' households as well as those of his younger brother.

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

• 1. Exodus 6:23
• 2. Leviticus 10:2
• 3. 1 Chronicles 6:8
• 4. 1 Chronicles 24:31
• 5. 1 Chronicles 18:16
• 6. Nehemiah 12:4; Luke 1:5
• 7. 1 Chronicles 9:25
• 8. 1 Chronicles 23:19
• 9. 1 Chronicles 24:5, 6
• 10. 1 Chronicles 24:6

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "sons"
• [b]. Or "children"
• [c]. Lit "in their service"
• [d]. Lit "sons"
• [e]. Lit "sons"
• [f]. Lit "sons"
• [g]. Lit "sons"
• [h]. Lit "sons"
• [i]. Lit "sons"
• [j]. In 23:16, "Shebuel"
• [k]. In 23:18, "Shelomith"
• [l]. Lit "brothers"

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.