1.
Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
divisions . . . Aaron. 1 Chronicles 2 4 is concerning the courses of the priests, as 1 Chronicles 2 3 is of the Levites. Compare 1 Chronicles 23:6 .
2.
But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Elezar and Ithamar executed the priest's office.
children = sons.
3.
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.
distributed = divided into courses, as in 1 Chronicles 23:6 .
4.
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.
chief men = strong men. Hebrew. geber. App-14 . Here denoting the heads of houses, or families.
5.
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.
divided by lot. See note on the Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:30 ).
God. Hebrew. Elohim. (with Art.) = the [true] God. App-4 .
and of. Some codices, with four early printed editions, Aramaean, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and from among".
6.
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 scribe = the secretary. Compare 1 Chronicles 27:32 . See note on 2 Samuel 8:17 .
Ahimelech. So that Abiathar had a son named Ahimelech, who assisted him, as Hophni and Phinehas assisted Eli.
7.
Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
lot came forth. See notes on Exodus 28:30 .
Jehoiarib. The twenty-four courses took, and kept, the names of these first heads (verses: 1 Chronicles 24:7-18 ). Each officiated a week (Sabbath to Sabbath), and Zacharias belonged to the eighth (Luke 1:5 ). Compare Nehemiah 12 . Solomon appointed the same courses, which were continued by Hezekiah and Josiah. Only four returned from the Captivity (Ezra 2:36-39 . Nehemiah 7:39-42 ; Nehemiah 12:1-21 ). Luke 1:5 shows that they must have been made complete.
8.
The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
9.
The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
10.
The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
11.
The ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
12.
The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
13.
The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
14.
The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
15.
The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses,
16.
The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel,
17.
The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,
18.
The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.
19.
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 orderings = the appointments: i.e. the order in which they fulfilled their service was all of Jehovah.
as = according as.
20.
And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram; Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdeiah.
the rest of the sons of Levi. Verses 20-30 give the names of the heads of the twenty-four courses of Levites enumerated in 1 Chronicles 23:6-23 .
21.
Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah.
22.
Of the Izharites; Shelomoth: of the sons of Shelomoth; Jahath.
23.
And the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.
Jeriah. Some codices, with eight early printed editions, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "and the sons of Jeriah", but the Ellipses are rightly supplied from Ch. 1 Chronicles 23:19 .
24.
Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah: of the sons of Michah; Shamir.
25.
The brother of Michah was Isshiah: of the sons of Isshiah; Zechariah.
26.
The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi: the sons of Jaaziah; Beno.
Beno = his son; Jaaziah being a third son of Merari.
27.
The sons of Merari by Jaaziah; Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.
28.
Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons.
29.
Concerning Kish: the son of Kish was Jerahmeel.
30.
The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after the house of their fathers.
31.
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.
cast lots. See notes on the Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:30 . Numbers 26:55 ).
over against = equally with.