1 Chronicles 24:14

KJV

The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,

KJV (with Strong's)

The fifteenth {H2568}{H6240} to Bilgah {H1083}, the sixteenth {H8337}{H6240} to Immer {H564},

Complete Jewish Bible

the fifteenth for Bilgah, the sixteenth for Immer,

Berean Standard Bible

the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,

American Standard Version

the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Chronicles 24:14 meticulously records the assignment of the fifteenth and sixteenth priestly divisions to the families of Bilgah and Immer, respectively. This verse is an integral part of King David's divinely inspired and systematic organization of the Aaronic descendants into twenty-four courses. This comprehensive administrative blueprint was designed to ensure an orderly, continuous, and equitable system of worship and sacred service within the future Temple in Jerusalem, establishing a foundational structure for generations of priestly duties.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within 1 Chronicles 24, a chapter dedicated to the detailed organization of the Aaronic priesthood by King David. The preceding verses ([1 Chronicles 24:1-13](/1_chronicles/24-1-13 "1 Chronicles 24:1-13 - Priestly Divisions 1-14")) establish the framework for these divisions, listing the first fourteen courses. Following 1 Chronicles 24:14, the subsequent verses ([1 Chronicles 24:15-19](/1_chronicles/24-15-19 "1 Chronicles 24:15-19 - Priestly Divisions 17-24")) complete the enumeration of all twenty-four divisions. The entire chapter functions as a meticulous administrative record, emphasizing David's foresight in preparing for the Temple's operations. This detailed listing underscores the Chronicler's theological agenda, highlighting the importance of order, structure, and faithful adherence to divine commands in the worship life of Israel, thereby ensuring the continuity of sacred duties for centuries to come.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** King David, though divinely prohibited from building the Temple himself, was instrumental in its preparation, which included not only gathering vast resources but also organizing the human infrastructure for its service. The division of priests into twenty-four courses was a pragmatic necessity, given the large number of priestly families descended from Aaron, as evidenced by earlier census records (e.g., [1 Chronicles 23:3-5](/1_chronicles/23-3-5 "1 Chronicles 23:3-5 - David's Census of Levites")). The method of casting lots, explicitly mentioned in [1 Chronicles 24:5](/1_chronicles/24-5 "1 Chronicles 24:5 - Casting Lots for Priestly Divisions"), was a common and accepted practice in ancient Israel for discerning divine will and ensuring impartiality in significant administrative decisions. This system guaranteed that all eligible priestly families had their turn to serve in the Temple, promoting equity, preventing monopolization of duties, and ensuring the continuous performance of sacred rites.
* **Key Themes:** The meticulous organization of the priesthood, exemplified by the specific listing in 1 Chronicles 24:14, underscores several profound themes. Firstly, **Order and Structure** are paramount, reflecting a divine principle that worship and service to God should be conducted with intentionality and precision, not haphazardly. Secondly, the theme of **Divine Appointment and Sovereignty** is evident, as the use of lots signifies God's direct involvement in establishing these divisions, lending divine sanction to David's administrative efforts and ensuring impartiality. Thirdly, this passage highlights the crucial theme of **Preparation for God's Work**; David's actions demonstrate the importance of intentional planning and foresight in facilitating proper worship and service, not just for his generation but for future ones. Finally, the emphasis on **Generational Faithfulness and Continuity** ensures that the sacred duties would be maintained consistently through the various priestly families for the duration of the Temple's existence, underscoring the enduring nature of covenant service and the perpetual availability of access to God through established means.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Bilgah (Hebrew, _Bilgah_):** This name identifies the head of the fifteenth priestly division. Derived from the root meaning "desistance" or "cheerfulness," its primary significance in this context is its function as a precise identifier within a comprehensive administrative list. The inclusion of "Bilgah" underscores the meticulous nature of David's organization, ensuring that every designated priestly lineage had its specific place and turn in the divine service structure, preventing oversight and ensuring full participation.
* **Immer (Hebrew, _ʼImmêr_):** This name designates the head of the sixteenth priestly division. The root meaning "talkative" or "lamb" (though less certain in this context) is secondary to its role as a specific identifier. Like Bilgah, the importance of "Immer" is its precise role in the detailed enumeration of priestly courses. Its presence confirms the systematic and exhaustive nature of David's census and organizational efforts, ensuring that no family entitled to priestly service was overlooked in the grand scheme of Temple administration, thereby guaranteeing continuity and equity.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The fifteenth to Bilgah":** This clause precisely indicates the sequential order of the priestly divisions. "Bilgah" represents a specific family line among the descendants of Aaron, chosen by lot to serve as the fifteenth course. This highlights the systematic and equitable distribution of sacred duties, ensuring that each family had its designated turn in the Temple's service, thereby preventing any single lineage from dominating the sacred offices.
* **"the sixteenth to Immer":** Following the established pattern, this clause identifies the "Immer" family as the head of the sixteenth priestly division. The parallel structure emphasizes the methodical and comprehensive nature of David's organizational blueprint, underscoring the meticulous planning involved in preparing for the Temple's operations and ensuring the continuity of its service through a rotating roster of qualified priests.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device evident in 1 Chronicles 24:14 and the surrounding verses is **Enumeration**, which involves the systematic listing of items in a particular order. This entire chapter functions as an **Administrative Record**, meticulously detailing the twenty-four priestly divisions. The consistent, formulaic pattern of "the Xth to Y" (e.g., "The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer") throughout the list demonstrates pronounced **Repetition**. This repetition serves not merely to list, but to reinforce the systematic, exhaustive, and divinely sanctioned nature of David's organization. While seemingly dry, this detailed listing is imbued with theological significance by the Chronicler, emphasizing **Order**, **Preparation**, and **Divine Providence** in the worship life of Israel, portraying David as a faithful steward who meticulously prepared for the future spiritual well-being of the nation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Chronicles 24:14, as an integral part of the broader organization of the priesthood, profoundly highlights the biblical emphasis on order, structure, and divine appointment in worship and service. This detailed administrative record reflects God's character as a God of order, who desires His people to serve Him with intentionality, precision, and equity. This commitment to structured service ensured the continuity of sacred duties, preventing chaos and promoting faithfulness across generations. It underscores the principle that every part of God's people has a designated role and contributes to the overall functioning of the community in glorifying Him, demonstrating that even seemingly mundane administrative details are vital to God's grand design for His people's worship.

* [Exodus 29:9](/exodus/29-9 "Exodus 29:9 - Perpetual Priesthood")
* [1 Corinthians 14:33](/1_corinthians/14-33 "1 Corinthians 14:33 - God of Order")
* [Romans 12:4-5](/romans/12-4-5 "Romans 12:4-5 - Many Members, One Body")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The seemingly mundane listing of priestly divisions in 1 Chronicles 24:14 offers profound implications for contemporary believers. It serves as a powerful reminder that God values order, intentionality, and faithfulness in all aspects of our service to Him. Just as King David meticulously planned for the Temple's continuous service, we are called to approach our spiritual lives, our family responsibilities, and our community involvement with purpose, discipline, and a commitment to excellence. Every member of the body of Christ, much like each priestly course, has a unique and valuable role to play, contributing to the effective functioning and spiritual health of the whole. This verse encourages us to embrace our specific callings, no matter how seemingly small or administrative, with diligence and a recognition that our service, when done in order and with a heart for God, contributes significantly to the larger work of God's kingdom and brings Him glory. It prompts us to prayerfully consider how we can better organize our lives and ministries to serve God more effectively, consistently, and with greater impact for His purposes.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the emphasis on order and meticulous planning in the Old Testament priesthood inform our understanding of worship and service in the church today?**
* **In what areas of your personal life or ministry could greater intentionality, organization, and a sense of divine appointment lead to more effective service for God?**
* **How does recognizing your specific gifts and role within the body of Christ, however seemingly "small," contribute to the overall health and mission of the church?**

### FAQ
**Why does the Bible include such detailed lists of names and divisions?**

Answer: The inclusion of detailed lists like the priestly divisions in 1 Chronicles 24, including the specific mention in [1 Chronicles 24:14](/1_chronicles/24-14 "1 Chronicles 24:14 - Priestly Divisions of Bilgah and Immer"), serves several important purposes. First, it underscores the historical accuracy and meticulous nature of the biblical record, demonstrating that these were real people and real administrative structures, grounding the narrative in tangible reality. Second, it highlights the importance of order and organization in God's work, showcasing David's divinely inspired foresight in preparing for the Temple's continuous and equitable service. Third, these lists emphasize the principle of accountability and the fair distribution of responsibilities among the numerous priestly families, ensuring that sacred duties were not monopolized. Finally, such detailed records often serve a profound theological purpose, demonstrating God's faithfulness in maintaining His covenant people and providing for their worship, as seen in the careful preservation of the priestly lineage, which was crucial for Temple service (e.g., [Ezra 2:61-63](/ezra/2-61-63 "Ezra 2:61-63 - Priests Excluded from Priesthood")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While 1 Chronicles 24:14 meticulously details the Old Covenant system of priestly service, with its rotating courses and administrative precision, it ultimately points to the superior, eternal, and all-sufficient priesthood of Jesus Christ. The meticulous organization of the Aaronic priests, with their assigned shifts and duties, foreshadowed the perfect order and singular efficacy of Christ's high priestly ministry. Unlike the Levitical priests who served in shifts and offered repeated, imperfect sacrifices that could never truly take away sin (as noted in [Hebrews 10:11](/hebrews/10-11 "Hebrews 10:11 - Repetitive Sacrifices")), Jesus, as our great High Priest, offered Himself once for all time, a perfect and complete sacrifice that secured eternal redemption for all who believe ([Hebrews 9:12](/hebrews/9-12 "Hebrews 9:12 - Christ's Sacrifice Once for All")). His perfect sacrifice and continuous intercession (see [Hebrews 7:25](/hebrews/7-25 "Hebrews 7:25 - Christ's Eternal Intercession")) fulfill and supersede the Old Testament priestly system, establishing a new covenant where all believers are made a "royal priesthood" and a "holy nation" ([1 Peter 2:9](/1_peter/2-9 "1 Peter 2:9 - A Royal Priesthood")), called to offer spiritual sacrifices of praise and service through Him ([Hebrews 13:15-16](/hebrews/13-15-16 "Hebrews 13:15-16 - Sacrifices of Praise and Good Deeds")). Thus, the detailed administrative blueprint of David, ensuring orderly access to God in the Old Covenant, points forward to the ultimate, perfectly ordered, and eternally effective work of Christ, who grants direct and perpetual access to God's presence.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ezra 10:20

And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah.

Nehemiah 7:40

The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.

Ezra 2:37

The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.