I Chronicles 24: Order in the House of God
Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
The ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses,
The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel,
The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,
The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.
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.
And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram; Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdeiah.
Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah.
Of the Izharites; Shelomoth: of the sons of Shelomoth; Jahath.
And the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.
Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah: of the sons of Michah; Shamir.
The brother of Michah was Isshiah: of the sons of Isshiah; Zechariah.
The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi: the sons of Jaaziah; Beno.
The sons of Merari by Jaaziah; Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.
Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons.
Concerning Kish: the son of Kish was Jerahmeel.
The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after the house of their fathers.
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.
I Chronicles 24 details the organization of the priests, the descendants of Aaron, into divisions for temple service. This meticulous record, including extensive lists of names (I Chronicles 24:1-31), served a crucial purpose for the Levites and priests who returned from exile. It allowed them to understand their place and role in the established order of temple worship. This wasn't a haphazard arrangement; it was a carefully planned system overseen by a secretary who meticulously recorded the divisions in the presence of the king and other leaders (I Chronicles 24:6). The chronicler's emphasis underscores the gravity and importance of service in the Lord's temple.
The chapter begins by reminding us of the lineage of Aaron through his sons. However, it also includes a sobering note about Nadab and Abihu, who "died before their father" (I Chronicles 24:2). This wasn’t a casual mention; it was a stark reminder of the consequences of irreverence. Leviticus 10:1 recounts how they "presented unauthorized fire before the LORD," a transgression that demonstrated a lack of proper regard for God's holiness and glory (Leviticus 10:3). Moses made it clear that they had not taken God seriously. Their story serves as a powerful warning: treating God with anything less than the utmost reverence carries significant consequences. Nadab and Abihu's sin resulted in them having no sons to continue their priestly line (I Chronicles 24:2).
The meticulous division of the priests into families, each with assigned duties, was essential for the continual, round-the-clock worship of the Lord within the temple (I Chronicles 24:19). This organized system ensured that there were sufficient priests available to maintain the ongoing cycle of worship and sacrifices, demonstrating the commitment to honoring God with consistent and dedicated service. The emphasis on order highlights the importance of structure and planning in our service to God, reflecting His own character as a God of order.
Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
The ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses,
The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel,
The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,
The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.
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.
And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram; Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdeiah.
Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah.
Of the Izharites; Shelomoth: of the sons of Shelomoth; Jahath.
And the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.
Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah: of the sons of Michah; Shamir.
The brother of Michah was Isshiah: of the sons of Isshiah; Zechariah.
The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi: the sons of Jaaziah; Beno.
The sons of Merari by Jaaziah; Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.
Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons.
Concerning Kish: the son of Kish was Jerahmeel.
The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after the house of their fathers.
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.
I Chronicles 24 details the organization of the priests, the descendants of Aaron, into divisions for temple service. This meticulous record, including extensive lists of names (I Chronicles 24:1-31), served a crucial purpose for the Levites and priests who returned from exile. It allowed them to understand their place and role in the established order of temple worship. This wasn't a haphazard arrangement; it was a carefully planned system overseen by a secretary who meticulously recorded the divisions in the presence of the king and other leaders (I Chronicles 24:6). The chronicler's emphasis underscores the gravity and importance of service in the Lord's temple.
The chapter begins by reminding us of the lineage of Aaron through his sons. However, it also includes a sobering note about Nadab and Abihu, who "died before their father" (I Chronicles 24:2). This wasn’t a casual mention; it was a stark reminder of the consequences of irreverence. Leviticus 10:1 recounts how they "presented unauthorized fire before the LORD," a transgression that demonstrated a lack of proper regard for God's holiness and glory (Leviticus 10:3). Moses made it clear that they had not taken God seriously. Their story serves as a powerful warning: treating God with anything less than the utmost reverence carries significant consequences. Nadab and Abihu's sin resulted in them having no sons to continue their priestly line (I Chronicles 24:2).
The meticulous division of the priests into families, each with assigned duties, was essential for the continual, round-the-clock worship of the Lord within the temple (I Chronicles 24:19). This organized system ensured that there were sufficient priests available to maintain the ongoing cycle of worship and sacrifices, demonstrating the commitment to honoring God with consistent and dedicated service. The emphasis on order highlights the importance of structure and planning in our service to God, reflecting His own character as a God of order.