The Division of Aaron's Descendants
Study note
Aaron had four sons, but two of them -- Nadab and Abihu -- died after offering unauthorized fire before the Lord and had no children. So the priesthood continued through Aaron's other two sons, Eleazar and Ithamar. David worked with Zadok (from Eleazar's line) and Ahimelech (from Ithamar's line) to divide the priests into service groups. Eleazar's family was larger, providing 16 group leaders compared to 8 from Ithamar's family. The 24 groups were assigned by casting lots, a method believed to show God's will, ensuring fairness.
1 Aaron's sons were divided into work groups. His four sons were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
2 Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar carried on as priests. But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office.
3 With help from Zadok (from Eleazar's line) and Ahimelech (from Ithamar's line), David divided these priests into groups based on their duties. 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 There were more leaders among Eleazar's descendants than among Ithamar's. So they were divided this way: sixteen family heads from Eleazar's line and eight from Ithamar's line. 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 The groups were determined by drawing lots. Both families provided leaders who served at the sanctuary and represented God. 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 Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite scribe, wrote down the assignments. The king, the officials, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the family leaders of the priests and Levites all watched. Families from Eleazar and Ithamar took turns, one at a time. 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.
The 24 Priestly Divisions
Study note
The 24 priestly divisions were assigned by lot. Each group would serve at the temple for a set period, then rotate out. This system continued for centuries. The eighth division, the division of Abijah, is especially notable because the priest Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, belonged to this division many centuries later. This organized rotation meant the temple always had trained priests available for worship services.
7 The first lot went to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
8 the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
9 the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin, The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
10 the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
11 the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah, The ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
12 the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim, The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
13 the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab, The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
14 the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
15 the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses, The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses,
16 the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel, The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel,
17 the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul, The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,
18 the twenty-third to Delaiah, and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah. The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.
19 This was the order for their turns in the Lord's temple. They followed the rules their father Aaron had set. The Lord, Israel's God, had told him what to do. 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.
The Remaining Levite Families
Study note
This section lists the rest of the Levite families who were not priests but served in other important roles at the temple. These families also cast lots for their assignments, just like the priestly families. The youngest families were treated the same as the oldest, showing that all were equal in God's service. This was done in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the priestly and Levite families.
20 Here are the remaining Levite families: From Amram's line came Shubael, and from Shubael's line came Jehdeiah. And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram; Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdeiah.
21 From Rehabiah's line, Isshiah was listed first. Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah.
22 From the Izharites came Shelomoth, and from Shelomoth came Jahath. Of the Izharites; Shelomoth: of the sons of Shelomoth; Jahath.
23 Hebron's sons were Jeriah (the first), Amariah (the second), Jahaziel (the third), and Jekameam (the fourth). And the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.
24 From Uzziel came Micah, and from Micah came Shamir. Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah: of the sons of Michah; Shamir.
25 Micah's brother was Isshiah. From Isshiah came Zechariah. The brother of Michah was Isshiah: of the sons of Isshiah; Zechariah.
26 Merari's sons were Mahli and Mushi. Jaaziah's son was Beno. The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi: the sons of Jaaziah; Beno.
27 Merari's line through Jaaziah included Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri. The sons of Merari by Jaaziah; Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.
28 Mahli's son was Eleazar, but Eleazar had no sons. Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons.
29 From Kish came his son Jerahmeel. Concerning Kish: the son of Kish was Jerahmeel.
30 Mushi's sons were Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were all Levite descendants, listed by their families. The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after the house of their fathers.
31 Like their relatives -- the priests descended from Aaron -- these Levites also drew lots to determine their assignments. They did this in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of priestly and Levite families. Senior families and junior families were treated exactly the same. 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.