CHAPTER 24

(1015 B.C.)

THE GROUPING OF THE PRIESTS: BY LOT INTO 24 COURSES

¹Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar (these were the four sons of Aaron).

²But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children (were stricken dead by the Lord for offering strange fire [Lev. 10:1-2]): therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the Priests office (from the two remaining sons, the order of Priests would derive their 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 (these two men were given the responsibility of these offices).

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 (these total 24; therefore, all the order of divisions of Priests would come from these original 24 sons, constituting 24 different orders).

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 (as stated, there were 24 courses, which had their origination in the 24 sons of Eleazar and Ithamar, who, incidentally, lived many years before).

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 (the first order of Priests, consisting actually of many Priests, would have been the Jehoiarib order or division; the second, third, and so forth, would have been after their own respective names given in these Passages; the 24 chief men, who went by their respective names given, were governors of the House of the Lord in their own turn, one week at a time; each Priest would serve from Sabbath to Sabbath; Zechariah [Lk 1:5], the father of John the Baptist, belonged to the 8th course, which is the course of Abijah [Vs. 10]; it is interesting to learn from Lk. 1:5 how the Divine Son of David, through all the changes of Israels history, watched over and maintained these courses of the Priests),

⁸The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,

⁹The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth of Mijamin,

¹⁰The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,

¹¹The ninth to Jeshuah, 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.

THE LEVITES ALSO DIVIDED BY LOT INTO 24 COURSES

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. (The words cast lots refer to the Urim and the Thummim. In fact, absolutely nothing about the Temple, its furnishings, fixtures, design, the order of the Priests, as well as the Levites, was left to chance. Everything was ordered, guided, and directed by the Holy Spirit.

Verses 20-31 give the order or courses of the Levites. They were 24 courses, as well. Whereas the Priests had to do with the Sacrifices [the Priests were also Levites], the balance of the Levites had to do with the worship, which concerned music and singing, along with maintenance of the Temple.)