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 Elezar 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. |
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. |
24 The distribution of the priests, Ch1 24:1-19.
Of the Levites, Ch1 24:20-31.
24:1 Divisions - The several branches into which that family was divided.
24:2 Therefore, etc - Were the only persons to whom the execution of that office was committed.
24:3 Distributed - Allotting to each of them several times, wherein they should by turns have the government of holy ministrations.
24:5 By lot - That the disposal thereof might be of the Lord, and so all contention be prevented, as no man could be charged with partiality,nor could any say, they had wrong done them. In like manner Matthiaswas chosen to the apostleship by lot with prayer. And I know not, saysMr. Henry, but it might be still used in faith, in parallel cases, asan instituted ordinance. Of God - Or rather, of the things of God,that is, of all persons ministering in the sanctuary, and of all holyministrations done in it, and of all other matters of the Lord, asthey are called by way of distinction from, the king's matters,Ch2 19:11.
24:6 One, etc - Or, the chief of one house of the fathers was taken (by lot) for Eleazar (out of his family) and that which was takenafter it was taken for Ithamar, out of his family. So the first lotfell to Eleazar, and the second to Ithamar, the third to Eleazar,and the fourth to Ithamar, so successively, 'till all the families ofIthamar had received their lots. And afterwards all the lots came forthto the rest of Eleazar's families, which were double in number to thoseof Ithamar.
24:7 Came - Out of the vessel in which all the lots were put together, and out of which they were severally taken.
24:19 These, etc - In this order and method they were to come to perform the offices of the temple. To come - To come into the templeevery sabbath - day, and to continue there 'till the next sabbath, whenthey were relieved by others. Aaron - Under the direction of thehigh - priests, whom he calls Aaron, because he represented his personand executed his office, and their father, because of the authoritywhich by God's appointment he had over them.
24:31 Over against - Answerable for number and order to those of the priests, so that there should be a course of the Levites for eachcourse of the priests.