1 Chronicles 24

Chapter context

What is happening in 1 Chronicles 24?

memoryworshipgenealogyDavid

1 Chronicles 24 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as temple and liturgical preparations. First Chronicles surveys Israel through genealogies and then retells David’s reign with special attention to worship, Levites, and preparations for the temple. Read this chapter with the wider themes of memory, worship, and genealogy in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.

¹ Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ² But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office. 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. 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. 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. 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. ⁷ Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, 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 Jeshuah, 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. ²⁰ And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram; Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdeiah. 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. 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. 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.

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Glossary

Abihu Person v. 1-2: Father of Him; i. e., “worshipper of God”, the second of the sons of Aaron ( Ex. 6:23 ; Num. 3:2 ; 26:60 ; 1 Chr. 6:3 ). Along with his three brothers he was consecrated to the priest’s office ( Ex. 28:1 ).
Eleazar Person v. 1-6, 28: God has helped. (1. ) The third son of Aaron ( Ex. 6:23 ). His wife, a daughter of Putiel, bore him Phinehas ( Ex. 6:25 ). After the death of Nadab and Abihu.
Ithamar Person v. 1-6: Palm isle, the fourth and youngest son of Aaron ( 1 Chr. 6:3 ). He was consecrated to the priesthood along with his brothers.
Ahimelech Person v. 3, 6, 31: Brother of the king, the son of Ahitub and father of Abiathar ( 1 Sam. 22:20-23 ). He descended from Eli in the line of Ithamar. In 1 Chr. 18:16 he is called Abimelech, and is probably the same as Ahiah ( 1 Sam. 14:3 , 18).
David Person v. 3, 31: Beloved, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen of Bethlehem. His father seems to have been a man in humble life. His mother’s name is not recorded. Some think she was the Nahash of 2 Sam. 17:25 .
Zadok Person v. 3, 6, 31: Righteous. (1. ) A son of Ahitub, of the line of Eleazer ( 2 Sam. 8:17 ; 1 Chr. 24:3 ), high priest in the time of David ( 2 Sam. 20:25 ) and Solomon ( 1 Kings 4:4 ).
Holy Place Place v. 5: Biblical room. Modern identification: Mount Moriah.
Abiathar Person v. 6: Father of abundance, or my father excels, the son of Ahimelech the high priest. He was the tenth high priest, and the fourth in descent from Eli.
Nethaneel Person v. 6: Given of God. (1. ) The son of Zuar, chief of the tribe of Issachar at the Exodus ( Num. 1:8 ; 2:5 ). (2. ) One of David’s brothers ( 1 Chr. 2:14 ).
Shemaiah Person v. 6: Whom Jehovah heard. (1. ) A prophet in the reign of Rehoboam ( 1 Kings 12:22-24 ). (2. ) Neh. 3:29 . (3. ) A Simeonite ( 1 Chr. 4:37 ). (4. ) A priest ( Neh. 12:42 ). (5. ) A Levite ( 1 Chr. 9:16 ). (6. ) 1 Chr. 9:14 ; Neh. 11:15 .
Jedaiah Person v. 7: (1. ) Invoker of Jehovah. The son of Shimri, a chief Simeonite ( 1 Chr. 4:37 ). (2. ) One of those who repaired the walls of Jerusalem after the return from Babylon ( Neh. 3:10 ). (3. ) Knowing Jehovah.
Jehoiarib Person v. 7: Jehovah defends, a priest at Jerusalem, head of one of the sacerdotal courses ( 1 Chr. 9:10 ; 24:7 ). His “course” went up from Babylon after the Exile ( Ezra 2:36-39 ; Neh. 7:39-42 ).
Abijah Person v. 10: Father (i. e., “possessor or worshipper”) of Jehovah. (1. ) 1 Chr. 7:8 . (2. ) 1 Chr. 2:24 . (3. ) The second son of Samuel ( 1 Sam. 8:2 ; 1 Chr. 6:28 ).
Shecaniah Person v. 11: One intimate with Jehovah. (1. ) A priest to whom the tenth lot came forth when David divided the priests ( 1 Chr. 24:11 ).
Eliashib Person v. 12: Whom God will restore. (1. ) A priest, head of one of the courses of the priests of the time of David ( 1 Chr. 24:12 ). (2. ) A high priest in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah ( Neh. 12:22 , 23).
Jakim Person v. 12: Establisher. (1. ) Chief of the twelfth priestly order ( 1 Chr. 24:12 ). (2. ) A Benjamite ( 1 Chr. 8:19 ). (3. ) Margin in Matt. 1:11 means Jehoiakim.
Bilgah Person v. 14: Cheerful. (1. ) The head of the fifteenth sacerdotal course for the temple service ( 1 Chr. 24:14 ). (2. ) A priest who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel ( Neh. 12:5 , 18).
Pethahiah Person v. 16: Loosed of the Lord. (1. ) The chief of one of the priestly courses (the nineteenth) in the time of David ( 1 Chr. 24:16 ). (2. ) A Levite ( Ezra 10:23 ). (3. ) Neh. 9:5 .
Jachin Person v. 17: Firm. (1. ) The fourth son of Simeon ( Gen. 46:10 ), called also Jarib ( 1 Chr. 4:24 ). (2. ) The head of one of the courses (the twenty-first) of priests ( 1 Chr. 24:17 ).
Delaiah Person v. 18: Freed by Jehovah. (1. ) The head of the twenty-third division of the priestly order ( 1 Chr. 24:18 ). (2. ) A son of Shemaiah, and one of the courtiers to whom Jeremiah’s first roll of prophecy was read ( Jer. 36:12 ).
Amram Person v. 20: Kindred of the High; i. e., “friend of Jehovah. ” (1. ) The son of Kohath, the son of Levi. He married Jochebed, “his father’s sister,” and was the father of Aaron, Miriam, and Moses ( Ex. 6:18 , 20; Num. 3:19 ).
Levi Person v. 20: Adhesion. (1. ) The third son of Jacob by Leah. The origin of the name is found in Leah’s words ( Gen. 29:34 ).
Rehabiah Person v. 21: Enlargement of the Lord, the son of Eliezer, and grandson of Moses ( 1 Chr. 23:17 ; 24:21 ).
Jahath Person v. 22: Union. (1. ) A son of Shimei, and grandson of Gershom ( 1 Chr. 23:10 ). (2. ) One of the sons of Shelomoth, of the family of Kohath ( 1 Chr. 24:22 ).
Amariah Person v. 23: Said by Jehovah. (1. ) One of the descendants of Aaron by Eleazar ( 1 Chr. 6:7 , 52). He was probably the last of the high priests of Eleazar’s line prior to the transfer of that office to Eli, of the line of Ithamar.
Jahaziel Person v. 23: Beheld by God. (1. ) The third son of Hebron ( 1 Chr. 23:19 ). (2. ) A Benjamite chief who joined David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:4 ). (3. ) A priest who accompanied the removal of the ark to Jerusalem ( 1 Chr. 16:6 ).
Zechariah Person v. 25: Jehovah is renowned or remembered. (1. ) A prophet of Judah, the eleventh of the twelve minor prophets. Like Ezekiel, he was of priestly extraction. He describes himself (1:1) as.
Merari Person v. 26-27: Sad; bitter, the youngest son of Levi, born before the descent of Jacob into Egypt, and one of the seventy who accompanied him thither ( Gen. 46:11 ; Ex. 6:16 ).
Zaccur Person v. 27: Mindful. (1. ) Father of Shammua, who was one of the spies sent out by Moses ( Num. 13:4 ). (2. ) A Merarite Levite ( 1 Chr. 24:27 ).
Jerahmeel Person v. 29: Loving God. (1. ) The son of Hezron, the brother of Caleb ( 1 Chr. 2:9 , 25, 26, etc. ). (2. ) The son of Kish, a Levite ( 1 Chr. 24:29 ). (3. ) Son of Hammelech ( Jer. 36:26 ).
Kish Person v. 29: A bow. (1. ) A Levite of the family of Merari ( 1 Chr. 23:21 ; 24:29 ). (2. ) A Benjamite of Jerusalem ( 1 Chr. 8:30 ; 9:36 ). (3. ) A Levite in the time of Hezekiah ( 2 Chr. 29:12 ).
Jerimoth Person v. 30: Heights. (1. ) One of the sons of Bela ( 1 Chr. 7:7 ). (2. ) 1 Chr. 24:30 , a Merarite Levite. (3. ) A Benjamite slinger who joined David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:5 ). (4. ) A Levitical musician under Heman his father.