1 Chronicles — Chapter 24
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1These were the divisions of the descendants of Aaron. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
2But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, and they had no sons; so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.
3With the help of Eleazar’s descendant Zadok and Ithamar’s descendant Ahimelech, David divided them according to the offices of their service.
4Since more leaders were found among Eleazar’s descendants than those of Ithamar, they were divided accordingly. There were sixteen heads of families from the descendants of Eleazar and eight from the descendants of Ithamar.
5Thus they were divided by lot, for there were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God among both Eleazar’s and Ithamar’s descendants.
6The scribe, Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded their names in the presence of the king and of the officers: Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the heads of families of the priests and the Levites—one family being taken from Eleazar, and then one from Ithamar.
7The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
8the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
9the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
10the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
11the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
12the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
13the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
14the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
15the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,
16the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,
17the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul,
18the twenty-third to Delaiah, and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
19This was their appointed order for service when they entered the house of the LORD, according to the regulations prescribed for them by their forefather Aaron, as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded him.
20Now these were the rest of the descendants of Levi: From the sons of Amram: Shubael; from the sons of Shubael: Jehdeiah.
21As for Rehabiah, from his sons: The first was Isshiah.
22From the Izharites: Shelomoth; from the sons of Shelomoth: Jahath.
23From the sons of Hebron: Jeriah was the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
24From the sons of Uzziel: Micah; from the sons of Micah: Shamir.
25The brother of Micah: Isshiah; from the sons of Isshiah: Zechariah.
26The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The son of Jaaziah: Beno.
27The descendants of Merari from Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.
28From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
29From Kish: Jerahmeel the son of Kish.
30And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites, according to their families.
31As their brothers the descendants of Aaron did, they also cast lots in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the families of the priests and Levites—the family heads and their younger brothers alike.
1Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
2But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office.
3And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service.
4And 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.
5Thus 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.
6And 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.
7Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
8The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
9The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
10The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
11The ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
12The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
13The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
14The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
15The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses,
16The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel,
17The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,
18The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.
19These 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.
20And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram; Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdeiah.
21Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah.
22Of the Izharites; Shelomoth: of the sons of Shelomoth; Jahath.
23And the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.
24Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah: of the sons of Michah; Shamir.
25The brother of Michah was Isshiah: of the sons of Isshiah; Zechariah.
26The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi: the sons of Jaaziah; Beno.
27The sons of Merari by Jaaziah; Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.
28Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons.
29Concerning Kish: the son of Kish was Jerahmeel.
30The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after the house of their fathers.
31These 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.
1And the courses of the sons of Aaron [were these]. The sons of Aaron: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
2But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest`s office.
3And David with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their ordering in their service.
4And 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.
5Thus 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.
6And 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.
7Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
8the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
9the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
10the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
11the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
12the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
13the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
14the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
15the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,
16the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,
17the one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,
18the three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.
19This 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.
20And of the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.
21Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the chief.
22Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.
23And the sons [of Hebron]: Jeriah [the chief], Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.
24The sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir.
25The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.
26The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah: Beno.
27The sons of Merari: of Jaaziah, Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.
28Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
29Of Kish; the sons of Kish: Jerahmeel.
30And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after their fathers` houses.
31These 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.
1The divisions of Aaron’s descendants were as follows:The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
2Nadab and Abihu died before their father did; they had no sons. Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.
3David, Zadok (a descendant of Eleazar), and Ahimelech (a descendant of Ithamar) divided them into groups to carry out their assigned responsibilities.
4The descendants of Eleazar had more leaders than the descendants of Ithamar, so they divided them up accordingly; the descendants of Eleazar had sixteen leaders, while the descendants of Ithamar had eight.
5They divided them by lots, for there were officials of the Holy Place and officials designated by God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar.
6The scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, wrote down their names before the king, the officials, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the leaders of the priestly and Levite families. One family was drawn by lot from Eleazar, and then the next from Ithamar.
7The first lot went to Jehoiarib,the second to Jedaiah,
8the third to Harim,the fourth to Seorim,
9the fifth to Malkijah,the sixth to Mijamin,
10the seventh to Hakkoz,the eighth to Abijah,
11the ninth to Jeshua,the tenth to Shecaniah,
12the eleventh to Eliashib,the twelfth to Jakim,
13the thirteenth to Huppah,the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
14the fifteenth to Bilgah,the sixteenth to Immer,
15the seventeenth to Hezir,the eighteenth to Happizzez,
16the nineteenth to Pethahiah,the twentieth to Jehezkel,
17the twenty-first to Jakin,the twenty-second to Gamul,
18the twenty-third to Delaiah,the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
19This was the order in which they carried out their assigned responsibilities when they entered the Lord’s temple, according to the regulations given them by their ancestor Aaron, just as the Lord God of Israel had instructed him.
20The rest of the Levites included: Shubael from the sons of Amram,Jehdeiah from the sons of Shubael,
21the firstborn Isshiah from Rehabiah and the sons of Rehabiah,
22Shelomoth from the Izharites,Jahath from the sons of Shelomoth.
23The sons of Hebron: Jeriah, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
24The son of Uzziel: Micah;Shamir from the sons of Micah.
25The brother of Micah: Isshiah.Zechariah from the sons of Isshiah.
26The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi.The son of Jaaziah: Beno.
27The sons of Merari, from Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.
28From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
29From Kish: Jerahmeel.
30The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth.These were the Levites, listed by their families.
31Like their relatives, the descendants of Aaron, they also cast lots before King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, the leaders of families, the priests, and the Levites. The families of the oldest son cast lots along with those of the youngest.
1These were the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
2But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office.
3David with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their ordering in their service.
4There were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and they were divided like this: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of fathers’ houses; and of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers’ houses, eight.
5Thus were they divided impartially by drawing lots; for there were princes of the sanctuary, and princes of God, both of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.
6Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the scribe, who was of the Levites, wrote them in the presence of the king, the princes, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites; one fathers’ house being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.
7Now the first lot came out to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
8the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
9the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
10the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
11the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
12the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
13the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
14the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
15the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,
16the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,
17the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul,
18the twenty-third to Delaiah, and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
19This was their ordering in their service, to come into Yahweh’s house according to the ordinance given to them by Aaron their father, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, had commanded him.
20Of the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.
21Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the chief.
22Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.
23The sons of Hebron: Jeriah, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
24The sons of Uzziel: Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir.
25The brother of Micah: Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.
26The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The son of Jaaziah: Beno.
27The sons of Merari: of Jaaziah, Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.
28Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
29Of Kish, the son of Kish: Jerahmeel.
30The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after their fathers’ houses.
31These likewise cast lots even as their brothers the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites; the fathers’ households of the chief even as those of his younger brother.
Summary
Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu die without children before their father, leaving Eleazar and Ithamar to serve as priests (vv. 1-2). David, together with Zadok from Eleazar's line and Ahimelech from Ithamar's, organizes the priesthood into twenty-four courses for their appointed service; because more leading men are found among Eleazar's descendants, sixteen heads of families are drawn from his line and eight from Ithamar's, with the order determined by casting lots and recorded by Shemaiah the scribe (vv. 3-6). The twenty-four lots are then listed by name, beginning with Jehoiarib and Jedaiah and continuing through Harim, Malchijah, Abijah, Jeshua, Immer, and the rest, establishing the fixed rotation by which each family enters the house of the LORD to serve (vv. 7-19). The chapter closes with a further list of the remaining Levites - descendants of Kohath and Merari - who likewise cast lots for their duties in the presence of David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the priestly and Levitical families, just as their kinsmen the sons of Aaron had done (vv. 20-31).
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- Largely parallels 1-2 Samuel geographically. Jerusalem (Zion/City of David) is the theological and political center.
- Key sites: Hebron (David's first capital, 7 years), the threshing floor of Ornan/Araunah (future Temple site, ch.21).
- Chapters 1-9 (genealogies) contain tribal allotments but minimal narrative geography.
Places on this map
- JerusalemJerusalemA hill town about 2,500 feet up in the central spine of Judah, roughly 35 miles inland from the Mediterranean and 15 miles west of the Jordan. It sits on no trade route and has no river, which is why it mattered as a fortress and a sanctuary rather than as a market. Wikipedia
- HebronHebron, West BankThe highest town in the Judean hills at about 3,000 feet, 19 miles south of Jerusalem. Abraham bought a burial cave here, and David reigned from it for seven years before moving north, so it carries both the patriarchal and the royal claim to the land. Wikipedia
Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik notes that this system of 24 priestly courses meant each division served approximately two weeks per year (plus the three major festivals when all served). He emphasizes that the use of lots removed human politics from sacred service, and highlights the remarkable endurance of this system through the New Testament era, connecting it directly to Zechariah's service in Luke 1.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
- Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.
Videos
Articles
- GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of 1 Chronicles -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.
Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.
Reflection
- Order in Worship (vv.1-6) — David organizes the descendants of Aaron into twenty-four rotating divisions rather than leaving priestly service to chance or convenience. Is your approach to worship, personal or corporate, thoughtfully prepared, or left to whatever feels easiest in the moment?
- Qualification Comes From God (v.3) — David works with Zadok and Ahimelech to assign priestly roles by God's prescribed method rather than by self-appointment. Are you waiting on God's calling and the recognition of others for your ministry, or grasping for positions on your own?
- Impartiality Reflects God's Character (v.5) — The priestly divisions are assigned by lot so that no family can claim superiority over another. Where might politics, popularity, or privilege be shaping how ministry gets assigned in your own church or community instead of God's leading?
- Faithful Planning Outlasts You (v.10) — The eighth division, assigned to Abijah's family, endured so long that it is still functioning centuries later when Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, serves in it. What patterns are you establishing today that could still be bearing fruit generations from now?
- Every Family Matters (vv.20-31) — The chapter extends its careful organization beyond the prominent priestly line to every remaining Levitical family. Do you treat faithfulness in an obscure role as being just as valuable as faithfulness in a visible one?