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1 Chronicles 24

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Organization of the Priestly Divisions 1–19

1
And the courses of the sons of Aaron were these. 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 with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their ordering 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: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of fathers’ houses; and of the sons of Ithamar, 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 Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar. ​
6
And Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the scribe, who was of the Levites, wrote them in the presence of the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the priests and of the Levites; one fathers’ house 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 Happizzez,
16
the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,
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
This was the ordering of them in their service, to come into the house of Jehovah according to the ordinance given unto them by Aaron their father, as Jehovah, the God of Israel, had commanded him. ​

Divisions of the Remaining Levites 20–31

20
And of 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 chief.
22
Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.
23
And the sonsof Hebron: Jeriahthe chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.
24
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: of Jaaziah, Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.
28
Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
29
Of Kish; the sons of Kish: Jerahmeel.
30
And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after their fathers’ houses.
31
These likewise cast lots even as their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the priests and of the Levites; the fathers’ houses of the chief even as those of his younger brother. ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · 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.