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Atomic Bible
1 Chronicles

Chapter 24

Twenty-Four Divisions of Priests and The Rest of the Levites

David organizes Aaron's descendants into ordered priestly divisions, with the lines of Eleazar and Ithamar assigned by lot and recorded before the king and priestly leaders. The chapter then names the remaining Levite families and shows them likewise arranged by lot for service.

After the broader ordering of temple officers in the surrounding chapters, this chapter narrows to the priestly and Levitical families themselves. It gives the administrative structure that will support the worship life David is preparing for the house of the LORD.

2 sections·402 words·~2 min read


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1 Chronicles 24

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vv. 1-19

Twenty-Four Divisions of Priests

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T1hese 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, 8the third to Harim, 9the fifth to Malchijah, 10the seventh to Hakkoz, 11the ninth to Jeshua, 12the eleventh to Eliashib, 13the thirteenth to Huppah, 14the fifteenth to Bilgah, 15the seventeenth to Hezir, 16the nineteenth to Pethahiah, 17the twenty-first to Jachin, 18the twenty-third to Delaiah,

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.

vv. 20-31

The Rest of the Levites

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N20ow these were the rest of the descendants of Levi: 21As for Rehabiah, from his sons: The first was Isshiah. 22From the Izharites: Shelomoth; 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; 25The brother of Micah: Isshiah; 26The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. 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.

31These were the sons of the Levites, according to their families. As 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.