1 Chronicles · Chapter 24

V. 1. Divisions-The several branches into which that family was divided.

Verses 1, 2. These are the divisions of the sons of Aaron — The several branches into which that family was divided. Therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office — Their brethren being dead, and leaving no issue, they and their sons were the only persons to whom the execution of that office could be committed according to the law.

V. 2. Therefore, &c.-Were the only persons to whom the execution of that office was committed.

Verse 2. Nadab and Abihu died before their father] That is, during his lifetime.

Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office.] These two served the office during the life of their father Aaron; after his death Eleazar succeeded in the high priesthood. And under Eli the high priest, the family of Ithamar re-entered into that office.

Verses 1, 2. These are the divisions of the sons of Aaron — The several branches into which that family was divided. Therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office — Their brethren being dead, and leaving no issue, they and their sons were the only persons to whom the execution of that office could be committed according to the law.

V. 3. Distributed-Allotting to each of them several times, wherein they should by turns have the government of holy ministrations.

Verse 3. And Ahimelech] Ahimelech is put here for Abiathar, who was high priest in the days of David. Abiathar had also the name of Ahimelech, as well as his father. See Calmet.

Verse 3. And David distributed them, &c. — To avoid all confusion, now that they were much increased, he distributed the priests, as he had done the Levites, into several courses, allotting to each of them the times wherein they should by turns have the government of holy ministrations.

Verse 4. Among the sons of Eleazar were sixteen chief men, &c. — He appointed, therefore, sixteen courses of the sons of Eleazar, under as many heads of their families, and half as many of the posterity of Ithamar.

V. 5. By lot-That the disposal thereof might be of the Lord, and so all contention be prevented, as no man could be charged with partiality, nor could any say, they had wrong done them. In like manner Matthias was chosen to the apostleship by lot with prayer. “And I know not, says Mr. Henry, but it might be still used in faith, in parallel cases, as an instituted ordinance.” Of God-Or rather, of the things of God, that is, of all persons ministering in the sanctuary, and of all holy ministrations done in it, and of all other matters of the Lord, as they are called by way of distinction from, the king’s matters, 2 Chronicles 19:11.

Verse 5. They divided by lot] This prevented jealousies: for, as all the families were equally noble, they had equal right to all ecclesiastical and civil distinctions.

Verse 5. Thus were they divided by lot — That the business being committed, in this way, to the Divine disposal, there might be no occasion for complaint, and so all contentions might be prevented, as no man could be charged with partiality, nor could any say they had wrong done them. Solomon says, the lot causes contention to cease. It is evident from the Scriptures, that it was a very ancient custom to refer matters of a doubtful nature to the decision of the lot; and, in particular, persons were often chosen in this way to sacred offices. But, as it is an appeal to God, it ought to be managed with a proper reverence and sincerity. Thus Matthias was chosen to the apostleship by lot with solemn prayer. “And I know not,” says Henry, “but it might still be used, in faith, in parallel cases, as an instituted ordinance.” One sort with another — Both the sons of Eleazar and those of Ithamar were thus chosen, who should wait together. Governors of the house of God — Hebrew, governors of God; that is, the judges, says Houbigant. The ministers of religion are expressed in the foregoing words, the governors of the sanctuary. It is very justly observed by Grotius, that governors of God never signify, in the sacred writings, those that minister to God, but governors in the commonwealth, chiefs, or judges. Were of the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar — These two families had obtained the chief functions, both in the temple and in the magistracy; which could not be distributed so well any way as by lot, without danger of envy among themselves.

Verse 5. They were divided by lot, into twenty four courses. David might perhaps have interfered, and promoted one of each course to be the overseer of the other priests; but he did more wisely in leaving it to the lot. So, according to Eusebius, all christian bishops in the early ages were chosen by the whole congregation, and by apostolical sanction. We find in Cicero, that the Athenians also divided their priests into courses.

V. 6. One, &c.-Or, the chief of one house of the fathers was taken (by lot) for Eleazar (out of his family) and that which was taken after it was taken for Ithamar, out of his family. So the first lot fell to Eleazar, and the second to Ithamar, the third to Eleazar, and the fourth to Ithamar, so successively, ‘till all the families of Ithamar had received their lots. And afterwards all the lots came forth to the rest of Eleazar’s families, which were double in number to those of Ithamar.

Verse 6. And Shemaiah] “Moses the great scribe, who is called Shemaiah, the son of Nethaneel, of the tribe of Levi, wrote them down.”-T. One principal household-for Eleazar] The family of Eleazar was the most illustrious of the sacerdotal families, because Eleazar was the first-born of Aaron, Ithamar’s family was the second in order and dignity; therefore one of the principal families of Eleazar was first taken, and then one of Ithamar’s, and thus alternately till the whole was finished.

Verse 6. Shemaiah, the scribe, wrote them before the king — Their names were written and put into an urn, out of which the lots were to be drawn: which, that there might be no suspicion of fraud, were drawn before the king, the princes, the high-priest and his assistant, and before the several families of priests and Levites. One principal household being taken for Eleazar, &c. — That is, one of the principal families of Eleazar was first taken, and then one of Ithamar’s, and thus alternately, till all the families of Ithamar had received their lot. And afterward all the lots came forth to the rest of Eleazar’s families, which were double in number to those of Ithamar.

V. 7. Came-Out of the vessel in which all the lots were put together, and out of which they were severally taken.

Ver. 10. Abijah, or Abia, of whose line John the Baptist descended.

V. 19. These, &c.-In this order and method they were to come to perform the offices of the temple. To come-To come into the temple every sabbath-day, and to continue there ‘till the next sabbath, when they were relieved by others. Aaron-Under the direction of the high-priests, whom he calls Aaron, because he represented his person and executed his office, and their father, because of the authority which by God’s appointment he had over them.

Verse 19. Under Aaron their father] That is, they followed the order and plans laid down by Aaron during his lifetime.

Verse 19. These were the orderings of them — In this order and method they were to come to perform the offices of the temple. To come into the house — To come into the temple every sabbath day, and to continue there till the next sabbath, when they were relieved by others. Under Aaron — Under the direction of the high-priest, whom he calls Aaron, because he represented Aaron’s person, and executed his office; and their father — Because of the authority which, by God’s appointment, he had over them.

Verse 20. The rest of the sons of Levi — Either such as were only Levites, and not priests, or such as were not named or numbered before, in this or the former chapter. The sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah — Who being, as it seems, an eminent person, or having a very numerous family, was not reckoned with or under his father’s family, but was accounted as a distinct head of another family.

20. The rest of the sons of Levi — That is, those besides the priests just enumerated. These were connected more especially with the service in the temple, and were immediate assistants to the priests. A comparison of this list with that in 1 Chronicles 23:7-23, will show a number of differences. Of the Gershonites none are here named, and among the Kohathites and Merarites several names appear which are not found in chap. 23. The difference between the two lists seems to lie chiefly in this, that the former tabulates all the chief Levitical fathers, the latter only such as had some special relation to the priests in the temple service. The latter list has also some additional names, probably of “younger brethren,” (verse 31,) of the Levitical houses, selected by lot to represent, like the priests, twenty-four courses. They may be tabulated as follows:

Kohathites.

Jehdelah.

Ishiah.

Shelomoth.

Jahath.

Jeriah.

Amariah.

Jahaziel.

Jekameam.

Michah.

Shamir.

Ishiah

Zechariah.

Merarites.

Mahil.

Mushi.

Jaaziah.

Shoham.

Zaccur.

Ibri.

Eleazar.

Kish.

Jerahmeel.

Mabil.

Eder.

Jerimoth.

Verse 26. The sons of Merari] It is remarkable that not a word is here spoken of the family of Gershom.

26. The sons of Jaaziah — This Jaaziah is not to be regarded as a third son of Merari, of the same generation with Mahli and Mushi, but probably a younger descendant, selected by lot to complete the list of twenty-four principal assistants of the priests. The word Beno in this verse and the next is not a proper name, but simply the Hebrew for his son, and should have been so translated.

V. 31. Over against-Answerable for number and order to those of the priests, so that there should be a course of the Levites for each course of the priests.

Verse 31. These likewise cast lots] The Levites were divided into twenty-four orders; and these were appointed by lot to serve under the twenty-four orders of the priests: the first order of Levities under the first order of priests, and so on. The meaning is not very clear: “both elder and younger,” says Bishop Patrick, “had their places by lot, not by seniority of houses. They who were of greater dignity drew lots against those who were of less; and were to take their courses according to the lot they drew.” This may have been the case; but we are very little interested in the subject.

I CHRONICLES

Verse 31. These likewise cast lots — There was the like solemnity used in their distribution as there was in that of the priests, by casting lots; whereby they knew what Levites should wait in every course with the sons of Aaron. Even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren — These words are somewhat obscure, but the meaning, says Bishop Patrick, is, that both elder and younger had their places by lot, not by seniority of houses: they who were of greater dignity drew lots against those who were of less: and they were to take their courses as they fell either to the elder or the younger family.

31. The principal fathers over against their younger brethren — These courses were decided by lot, so that in the present classification the older houses had no advantage over the younger. Hence the differences between this list and that of chapter 23.