241 The divisions of the sons of Aaron were these. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abi'hu, Elea'zar, and Ith'amar. 2 But Nadab and Abi'hu died before their father, and had no children, so Elea'zar and Ith'amar became the priests. 3 With the help of Zadok of the sons of Elea'zar, and Ahim'elech of the sons of Ith'amar, David organized them according to the appointed duties in their service. 4 Since more chief men were found among the sons of Elea'zar than among the sons of Ith'amar, they organized them under sixteen heads of fathers' houses of the sons of Elea'zar, and eight of the sons of Ith'amar. 5 They organized them by lot, all alike, for there were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God among both the sons of Elea'zar and the sons of Ith'amar. 6 And the scribe Shemai'ah the son of Nethan'el, a Levite, recorded them in the presence of the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahim'elech the son of Abi'athar, and the heads of the fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites; one father's house being chosen for Elea'zar and one chosen for Ith'amar. 7 The first lot fell to Jehoi'arib, the second to Jedai'ah, 8 the third to Harim, the fourth to Se-o'rim, 9 the fifth to Malchi'jah, the sixth to Mij'amin, 10 the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abi'jah, 11 the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecani'ah, 12 the eleventh to Eli'ashib, the twelfth to Jakim, 13 the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jesheb'e-ab, 14 the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, 15 the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Hap'pizzez, 16 the nineteenth to Pethahi'ah, the twentieth to Jehez'kel, 17 the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul, 18 the twenty-third to Delai'ah, the twenty-fourth to Ma-azi'ah. 19 These had as their appointed duty in their service to come into the house of the Lord according to the procedure established for them by Aaron their father, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him.
20 And of the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shu'ba-el; of the sons of Shu'ba-el, Jehde'iah.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 24:1-20
Chapter Contents
The divisions of the priests and Levites.
When every one has, knows, and keeps his place and work, the more there are the better. In the mystical body of Christ, every member has its use, for the good of the whole. Christ is High Priest over the house of God, to whom all believers, being made priests, are to be in subjection. In Christ, no difference is made between bond and free, elder and younger. The younger brethren, if faithful and sincere, shall be no less acceptable to Christ than the fathers. May we all be children of the Lord, fitted to sing his praises for ever in his temple above.