1 Chronicles
Summary
The sons of Aaron are organised into twenty-four divisions to ensure the continuous and orderly service of the house of the LORD. David, along with the high priests Zadok and Ahimelech, assigns their duties by lot to prevent any partiality between the families of Eleazar and Ithamar. This sacred rotation establishes a pattern of ministry that would last for centuries, while the remaining Levites are similarly organised to support the priestly work in the Temple.
Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children; therefore Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.
Then David distributed them, with 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 among the sons of Eleazar than among the sons of Ithamar; and so they were divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen heads of their father’s houses, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to their father’s houses.
Thus they were divided by lot, one alongside another; for the officials of the sanctuary and the officials of the house of God were from the sons of Eleazar and from the sons of Ithamar.
And Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the scribe, one of the Levites, recorded them before the king, the princes, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the heads of the father’s houses of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.
Now the first lot came out to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
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 Jehezekel,
the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul,
the twenty-third to Delaiah, the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
This was their schedule for their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their procedure, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.
And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.
Concerning Rehabiah, of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah.
Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.
And the sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
Of the sons of Uzziel, Michah; of the sons of Michah, Shamir.
The brother of Michah was Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.
The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah; Beno.
The sons of Merari by Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.
Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons.
Concerning Kish, the son of Kish was Jerahmeel.
The sons also of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites according to the house of their fathers.
These also cast lots alongside their brothers the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the father’s houses of the priests and Levites, the heads of the principal families casting lots alongside their younger brothers.