241 And to the sons of Aaron 'are' their courses: sons of Aaron 'are' Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, 2 and Nadab dieth, and Abihu, in the presence of their father, and they had no sons, and Eleazar and Ithamar act as priests. 3 And David distributeth them, and Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their office in their service; 4 and there are found of the sons of Eleazar more for heads of the mighty men than of the sons of Ithamar; and they distribute them: Of the sons of Eleazar, heads for a house of fathers, sixteen; and of the sons of Ithamar, for a house of their fathers, eight. 5 And they distribute them, by lots, one with another, for princes of the sanctuary, and princes of God, have been of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar. 6 And Shemaiah son of Nethaneel the scribe, of the Levites, writeth them before the king and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and heads of the fathers, for priests and for Levites: one house of a father being taken possession of for Eleazar, and one being taken possession of for Ithamar. 7 And the first lot goeth out for Jehoiarib, for Jedaiah the second, 8 for Harim the third, for Seorim the fourth, 9 for Malchijah the fifth, for Mijamin the sixth, 10 for Hakkoz the seventh, for Abijah the eighth, 11 for Jeshuah the ninth, for Shecaniah the tenth, 12 for Eliashib the eleventh, for Jakim the twelfth, 13 for Huppah the thirteenth, for Jeshebeab the fourteenth, 14 for Bilgah the fifteenth, for Immer the sixteenth, 15 for Hezir the seventeenth, for Aphses the eighteenth, 16 for Pethahiah the nineteenth, for Jehezekel the twentieth, 17 for Jachin the one and twentieth, for Gamul the two and twentieth, 18 for Delaiah the three and twentieth, for Maaziah the four and twentieth. 19 These 'are' their appointments for their service, to come in to the house of Jehovah, according to their ordinance by the hand of Aaron their father, as Jehovah God of Israel, commanded them.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 24:1-19
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.