English · KJV

1 Chronicles 24

Listen to this chapter
0:00 0:00

Organization of the Priestly Divisions 1–19

1
Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ​
2
But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office. ​
3
And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service. ​
4
And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers. ​
5
Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar. ​
6
And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar. ​
7
Now the first lot came forth 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 Aphses,
16
The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel,
17
The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,
18
The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.
19
These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him. ​

Divisions of the Remaining Levites 20–31

20
And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram; Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdeiah. ​
21
Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah.
22
Of the Izharites; Shelomoth: of the sons of Shelomoth; Jahath.
23
And the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.
24
Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah: of the sons of Michah; Shamir.
25
The brother of Michah was Isshiah: of the sons of Isshiah; Zechariah.
26
The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi: the sons of Jaaziah; Beno.
27
The sons of Merari by Jaaziah; Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.
28
Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons.
29
Concerning Kish: the son of Kish was Jerahmeel.
30
The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after the house of their fathers.
31
These likewise cast lots over against their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for 1 Chronicles 24

Verse 1

the divisions of the sons of Aaron — Machaloqeth, a division or course, from chalaq, to divide (the ‘distributed’ of v.3). David divides the priests as he had divided the Levites into courses (23:6). The four sons are named as in Ex 6:23.

Verse 2

died before their father — Nadab and Abihu were struck ‘before the LORD’ when they ‘offered strange fire’ (Lev 10:1–2; Num 3:4). Num 3:4 also says ‘they had no children’. Kahan, to serve as priest, is the verb of Eleazar and Ithamar, who ‘ministered in the priest’s office in the sight of Aaron their father’.

Verse 3

Zadok… Ahimelech — Zadok is of Eleazar’s line and Ahimelech of Ithamar’s, ‘the son of Abiathar’ (v.6; 2 Sam 8:17). Abiathar and Zadok are the two priests David calls together in 15:11. ‘Offices’ is pequddah, a charge or oversight.

Verse 4

sixteen… and eight — The sixteen and eight make the twenty-four courses of vv.7–18. The eighth lot fell to Abijah (v.10), and ‘Zacharias, of the course of Abia’ served in his turn ‘in the order of his course’ (Luke 1:5, 8), so the arrangement is still in use in the Gospels.

Verse 5

divided by lot — Goral, the lot, whose result belongs to the LORD: ‘The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD’ (Prov 16:33). Joshua had cast lots ‘before the LORD’ for the land (Josh 18:10). Both houses supplied ‘governors of the sanctuary’, so the lot kept the two lines side by side.

Verse 6

wrote them before the king — The record was made before all the leaders: king, princes, Zadok, Ahimelech and the chiefs of the fathers. Shemaiah, ‘one of the Levites’, is the scribe (saphar). ‘Taken’ (achaz) is to seize or hold: a household was held for Eleazar and one for Ithamar.

Verse 19

as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him — The service is ‘under Aaron their father’, so the order rests on what the LORD had commanded Aaron. 2 Chr 8:14 names the same arrangement ‘the order of David his father’, who as ‘the man of God’ appointed ‘the courses of the priests to their service’.

Verse 20

the rest of the sons of Levi — From here the Levites who were not priests are listed. Shubael, first under Amram, is the Shebuel of 23:16, a son of Gershom the son of Moses and later ‘ruler of the treasures’ (26:24). ‘Rest’ (yathar) is what is left over.

Verse 31

over against their brethren — Ummah, beside: the Levites cast lots beside the sons of Aaron, ‘the principal fathers over against their younger brethren’ (qatan, small), so rank gave no advantage. 25:8 says the same of the singers, ‘as well the small as the great’, and 26:13 of the gates.