1 Chronicles 24 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
The end of David's reign, around 970 BC, describing a rota still in use through the Persian and Roman periods
Location
Jerusalem, before the king, the priests, and the heads of the priestly families
Audience
Second-temple Jews whose priests served on exactly this rotating schedule, which shaped the rhythm of the year
Situation
The priests descended from Aaron are sorted by lot into twenty-four divisions, sixteen from Eleazar's line and eight from Ithamar's, each taking a turn of temple duty. A parallel list assigns the remaining Levite families.
Key Background
Aaron's two older sons died without heirs, so the entire priesthood ran through the younger two, Eleazar and Ithamar, which is why the count is uneven. Casting lots was the standard method for distributing offices and land in Israel because it removed favoritism and left the outcome with God rather than with the family that shouted loudest. This twenty-four-course rota survived a thousand years: the New Testament opens with Zechariah serving in the division of Abijah, the eighth course named in this chapter, which shows how directly the Chronicler's lists governed real life.
These were the of Aaron's descendants: Aaron's sons were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
But Nadab and Abihu their did, and they had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.
David, along with from Eleazar's line and Ahimelek from Ithamar's line, organized them into divisions for their
Since more leaders were found among Eleazar's descendants than among Ithamar's, they were divided accordingly: sixteen of from Eleazar's line and eight from Ithamar's.
They divided them by both groups alike, because among Eleazar's descendants and Ithamar's there were the for and of
Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite recorded them in the presence of the king, the officials, Zadok the priest, Ahimelek son of Abiathar, and the heads of the priestly and Levite families — one family being drawn from Eleazar's line, then one from Ithamar's.
The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
the fifth to Malkijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to
the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shekaniah,
the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,
the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,
the twenty-first to Jakin, the twenty-second to Gamul,
the twenty-third to Delaiah, the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
This was the order for their duties when they entered the of following the regulations given to them through their ancestor Aaron, just as the God of Israel, had commanded him.
As for the rest of the from Amram's descendants, Shubael; from Shubael's descendants, Jehdeiah.
From Rehabiah: the first of Rehabiah's descendants was Isshiah.
From the Izharites: Shelomoth; from Shelomoth's descendants, Jahath.
From Hebron's descendants: Jeriah was the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
From Uzziel's descendants: Micah; from Micah's descendants, Shamir.
Micah's brother was Isshiah; from Isshiah's descendants, Zechariah.
The descendants of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. The descendants of his son Jaaziah:
The descendants of Merari through Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zakkur, and Ibri.
From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
From Kish: the descendants of Kish were through Jerahmeel.
The descendants of Mushi were Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the Levites listed by their families.
They also just as their relatives the descendants of Aaron had done, in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelek, and the heads of the priestly and Levite families. The of each was the same as