1 Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. (ch. 24 is concerning the courses of the priests, as ch. 23 is of the Levites. Cp. 23:6.) The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no sons: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office.
3 And David them into courses, 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 strong men (here denoting the heads of houses, or families) 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 strong 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, (see Ex. 28:30. Num. 26:55. The Urim and Thummim) one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, (hā-'Elohim, the [true] God) were of the sons of Eleazar, and from among the sons of Ithamar.
6 And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the secretary, (cp. 27:32. See 2 Sam. 8:17) one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, (so that Abiathar had a son named Ahimelech, who assisted him, as Hophni and Phinehas assisted Eli) and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken (i.e. by lot) for Ithamar.
7 Now the first lot came forth (see Ex. 28:30) to Jehoiarib, (the 24 courses took, and kept, the names of these first heads. Each officiated a week [Sabbath to Sabbath], and Zacharias belonged to the 8th [Luke 1:6]. Cp. Neh. 12. Solomon appointed the same courses, which were continued by Hezekiah and Josiah. Only 4 returned from the Captivity [Ezra 2:36-39. Neh. 7:39-42; 12:1-21] Luke 1 shows that they must have been made complete) 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 appointments (i.e. the order in which they fulfilled their service was all of Yahaveh) of them in their service to come into the house of the Lord, (Yahaveh) according to their manner, under Aaron their father, according as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him.
20 And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: (vv. 20-30 give gives the names of the heads of the 24 courses of Levites ennumerated in 23:6-23) Of the sons of Amram; Shubael: (cp. 23:16) 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; his son. (Jaaziah being a 3rd son of Merari. "Ben" [15:18] prob. an abbreviation.)
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 (cp. vv. 6,7) 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 equally with their younger brethren.