Divisions of the Levites

24 Now the divisions of the [a]descendants of Aaron were these: (A)the sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. (B)But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no [b]sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests. David, with (C)Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their offices [c]for their ministry. Since more chief men were found from the [d]descendants of Eleazar than the [e]descendants of Ithamar, they divided them this way: there were sixteen heads of fathers’ households of the [f]descendants of Eleazar, and eight of the [g]descendants of Ithamar according to their fathers’ households. (D)So they were divided by lot, the one as the other; for they were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God, both from the [h]descendants of Eleazar and the [i]descendants of Ithamar. Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel the scribe, from the Levites, recorded them in the presence of the king, the leaders, Zadok the priest, (E)Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and the Levites; one father’s household taken for Eleazar and one taken for Ithamar.

Now the first lot came out for Jehoiarib, the second for Jedaiah, the third for Harim, the fourth for Seorim, the fifth for Malchijah, the sixth for Mijamin, 10 the seventh for Hakkoz, the eighth for (F)Abijah, 11 the ninth for Jeshua, the tenth for Shecaniah, 12 the eleventh for Eliashib, the twelfth for Jakim, 13 the thirteenth for Huppah, the fourteenth for Jeshebeab, 14 the fifteenth for Bilgah, the sixteenth for Immer, 15 the seventeenth for Hezir, the eighteenth for Happizzez, 16 the nineteenth for Pethahiah, the twentieth for Jehezkel, 17 the twenty-first for Jachin, the twenty-second for Gamul, 18 the twenty-third for Delaiah, and the twenty-fourth for Maaziah. 19 (G)These were their offices for their ministry when they entered the house of the Lord according to the ordinance given to them through their father Aaron, just as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him.

20 Now for the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, [j]Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah. 21 Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah, the first. 22 Of the Izharites, [k]Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath. 23 The sons (H)of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth. 24 Of the sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir. 25 The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah. 26 The sons of Merari, Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah, Beno. 27 The sons of Merari: by Jaaziah were Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri. 28 By Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons. 29 By Kish: the sons of Kish, Jerahmeel. 30 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites according to their fathers’ households. 31 (I)These also cast lots just as their relatives, the sons of Aaron did in the presence of David the king, (J)Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites—the head of fathers’ households as well as those of his younger brother.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 24:1 Lit sons
  2. 1 Chronicles 24:2 Or children
  3. 1 Chronicles 24:3 Lit in their service
  4. 1 Chronicles 24:4 Lit sons
  5. 1 Chronicles 24:4 Lit sons
  6. 1 Chronicles 24:4 Lit sons
  7. 1 Chronicles 24:4 Lit sons
  8. 1 Chronicles 24:5 Lit sons
  9. 1 Chronicles 24:5 Lit sons
  10. 1 Chronicles 24:20 In 23:16, Shebuel
  11. 1 Chronicles 24:22 In 23:18, Shelomith

24 Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,

The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,

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.

24 1-2 The priests (the descendants of Aaron) were placed into two divisions named after Aaron’s sons, Eleazar and Ithamar.

Nadab and Abihu were also sons of Aaron, but they died before their father did and had no children; so only Eleazar and Ithamar were left to carry on. David consulted with Zadok, who represented the Eleazar clan, and with Ahimelech, who represented the Ithamar clan; then he divided Aaron’s descendants into many groups to serve at various times. Eleazar’s descendants were divided into sixteen groups and Ithamar’s into eight (for there was more leadership ability among the descendants of Eleazar).

All tasks were assigned to the various groups by coin-toss[a] so that there would be no preference, for there were many famous men and high officials of the Temple in each division. Shemaiah, a Levite and the son of Nethanel, acted as recording secretary and wrote down the names and assignments in the presence of the king and of these leaders: Zadok the priest, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the priests and Levites. Two groups from the division of Eleazar and one from the division of Ithamar were assigned to each task.

7-18 The work was assigned (by coin-toss) in this order:

First, the group led by Jehoiarib;

Second, the group led by Jedaiah;

Third, the group led by Harim;

Fourth, the group led by Seorim;

Fifth, the group led by Malchijah;

Sixth, the group led by Mijamin;

Seventh, the group led by Hakkoz;

Eighth, the group led by Ahijah;

Ninth, the group led by Jeshua;

Tenth, the group led by Shecaniah;

Eleventh, the group led by Eliashib;

Twelfth, the group led by Jakim;

Thirteenth, the group led by Huppah;

Fourteenth, the group led by Jeshebeab;

Fifteenth, the group led by Bilgah;

Sixteenth, the group led by Immer;

Seventeenth, the group led by Hezir;

Eighteenth, the group led by Happizzez;

Nineteenth, the group led by Pethahiah;

Twentieth, the group led by Jehezkel;

Twenty-first, the group led by Jachin;

Twenty-second, the group led by Gamul;

Twenty-third, the group led by Delaiah;

Twenty-fourth, the group led by Maaziah.

19 Each group carried out the Temple duties as originally assigned by God through their ancestor Aaron.

20 These were the other descendants of Levi: Amram; his descendant Shubael; and Shubael’s descendant Jehdeiah; 21 the Rehabiah group, led by his oldest son Isshiah; 22 the Izhar group, consisting of Shelamoth and his descendant Jahath. 23 The Hebron group: Jeriah, Hebron’s oldest son; Amariah, his second son; Jahaziel, his third son; Jekameam, his fourth son.

24-25 The Uzziel group was led by his son Micah and his grandsons Shamir and Isshiah, and by Isshiah’s son Zechariah.

26-27 The Merari group was led by his sons: Mahli and Mushi. (Jaaziah’s group, led by his son Beno, included his brothers Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.) 28 Mahli’s descendants were Eleazar, who had no sons, 29 and Kish, among whose sons was Jerahmeel. 30 The sons of Mushi were Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth.

These were the descendants of Levi in their various clans. 31 Like the descendants of Aaron, they were assigned to their duties by coin-toss without distinction as to age or rank. It was done in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the leaders of the priests and the Levites.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 24:5 by coin-toss, literally, “by lot.”