24:1ffThe Temple service was highly structured, but this did not hinder the Spirit of God. Rather, it provided an orderly context for worship. (Compare 1 Corinthians 14:40.) Sometimes we feel that planning and structure are unspirituat activities that may hinder spontaneity in worship. But order and structure can free us to respond to God. Order brings glory to God as we experience the joy, freedom, and calm that come when we have wisely planned in advance.
Life Application Study Bible1 ChroniclesChapter 24
1 Chronicles 24
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 655, 656
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241 Chronicles 24
Duties of the Priests
12 This is how Aaron’s descendants, the priests, were divided into groups for service. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and they had no sons. So only Eleazar and Ithamar were left to carry on as priests. 3With the help of Zadok, who was a descendant of Eleazar, and of Ahimelech, who was a descendant of Ithamar, David divided Aaron’s descendants into groups according to their various duties. 4Eleazar’s descendants were divided into sixteen groups and Ithamar’s into eight, for there were more family leaders among the descendants of Eleazar. 5All tasks were assigned to the various groups by means of sacred lots so that no preference would be shown, for there were many qualified officials serving God in the sanctuary from among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar. 6Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, acted as secretary and wrote down the names and assignments in the presence of the king, the officials, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the family leaders of the priests and Levites. The descendants of Eleazar and Ithamar took turns casting lots.
7The first lot fell to Jehoiarib.The second lot fell to Jedaiah.
8The third lot fell to Harim.The fourth lot fell to Seorim.
9The fifth lot fell to Malkijah.The sixth lot fell to Mijamin.
10The seventh lot fell to Hakkoz.The eighth lot fell to Abijah.
11The ninth lot fell to Jeshua.The tenth lot fell to Shecaniah.
12The eleventh lot fell to Eliashib.The twelfth lot fell to Jakim.
13The thirteenth lot fell to Huppah.The fourteenth lot fell to Jeshebeab.4 The fifteenth lot fell to Bilgah.The sixteenth lot fell to Immer.
15The seventeenth lot fell to Hezir.The eighteenth lot fell to Happizzez.
16The nineteenth lot fell to Pethahiah.The twentieth lot fell to Jehezkel.
17The twenty-first lot fell to Jakin.The twenty-second lot fell to Gamul.
18The twenty-third lot fell to Delaiah. The twenty-fourth lot fell to Maaziah. 19Each group carried out its appointed duties in the house of the LORD according to the procedures established by their ancestor Aaron in obedience to the commands of the LORD, the God of Israel. Family Leaders among the Levites
20These were the other family leaders descended from Levi:From the descendants of Amram, the leader was Shebuel.*From the descendants of Shebuel, the leader was Jehdeiah.
21From the descendants of Rehabiah, the leader was Isshiah.
22From the descendants of Izhar, the leader was Shelomith.*From the descendants of Shelomith, the leader was Jahath.
23From the descendants of Hebron, Jeriah was the leader,* Amariah was second, Jahazielwas third, and Jekameam was fourth.
24From the descendants of Uzziel, the leader was Micah.From the descendants of Micah, the leader was Shamir,
25along with Isshiah, thebrother of Micah.From the descendants of Isshiah, the leader was Zechariah.
26From the descendants of Merari, the leaders were Mahli and Mushi.From the descendants of Jaaziah, the leader was Beno.
27From the descendants of Merari through Jaaziah, the leaders were Beno, Shoham,Zaccur, and Ibri.
28From the descendants of Mahli, the leader was Eleazar, though he had no sons.
29From the descendants of Kish, the leader was Jerahmeel.
30From the descendants of Mushi, the leaders were Mahii, Eder, and Jerimoth.These were the descendants of Levi in their various families.
31Like the descendants of Aaron, they were assigned to their duties by means of sacred lots, without regard to age or rank. Lots were drawn in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the family leaders of the priests and the Levites.
Textual footnotes
- 24:20 Hebrew Shubael (also in 24:20b), a variant spelling of Shebuel; compare 23:16 and 26:24.
- 24:22 Hebrew
- 24:23 Hebrew From the descendants
Life Application Notes 4 notes
24:3This Ahimelech was the son of Abiathar and the grandson of another Ahimelech, one of the priests massacred by Saut (1 Samuel 22:11-18). Abiathar and Zadok were co-high priests under David: One was at Jerusalem where the Ark of God was kept, and one was at Gibeon serving at the Tabernacle. It appears from this verse and 18:16 that Ahimelech began to assume some of Abiathar’s duties as his father grew old.
24:4Eleazar’s descendants were divided into 16 groups (as opposed to Ithamar’s 8) for three reasons. (1) Eleazar had received the birthright since his two older brothers, Nadab and Abihu, had been killed (Leviticus 10). The birthright included a double portion of the father’s estate. (2) His descendants were greater in number than {thamar’s. (3) His descendants had greater leadership ability. These 24 groups gave order to the functioning of the house of the LORD.
24:7-18Each of these 24 groups of priests served two-week shifts each year at the house of the LORD. The rest of the time they served in their hometowns. This system was still in place in Jesus’ day (Luke 1:5-9). Zechariah was a member of the Abijah division. During his shift at the Temple, an angel appeared to him and predicted that he would have a son, John.
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