1The divisions of the sons of Aaron by lot into four and twenty orders. 20The remainder of the Kohathites, 26and the Merarites, divided by lot.
1NOWathese are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
a Leviticus 10.
2But Nadabb and Abihu died 1before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office.
b Lev. 10:2; Num. 3:4; 26:61.
1 That is, in the presence of their father; or, in the life-time of their father. See Gen. 11:28.
3And David distributed them, both 2Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and 3Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, 4according to their offices in their service.
2 Compare herewith verses 6, 31, where it is said that they were listed or written down, and that the lots were cast before the face of David, and of Zadok and of Ahimelech, etc.
3 This annotation is the same as that of #2 annotation.
4 Or, according to their supervision, or order.
4And there were 5more chief men found 6of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were 7they 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 Namely, as many more, as follows later.
6 That is, of the descendants. So in the sequel.
7 Namely, those who were mentioned in verse 3.
5Thus were 8they divided by 9lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and 10governors of the house of God, were of the 11sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.
8 Namely, those who were mentioned in verse 3.
9 That is, as for the order or distinction among them, they left that to God, Who rules and disposes the lot.
10 That is, who were appointed by God over all them who ministered in the sanctuary.
11 That is, posterity.
6And 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 12being taken for Eleazar, 13and one taken for Ithamar.
12 Namely, by lot.
13 Hebr. and taken, taken for Ithamar; which some understand thus, that double or twofold was taken for Ithamar; others, that, what was previously taken for him, did still remain taken for him.
7Now the first lot 14came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
14 The lot was drawn out of pails or some other vessel.
8The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
9The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
10The seventh to 15Hakkoz, the eighth to 16Abijah,
15 Or, Koz.
16 Of this order or course of Abijah, and of his posterity was Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, Luke 1:5.
11The ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
12The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
13The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
14The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
15The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to 17Aphses,
17 Other, Pizzes.
16The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel,
17The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,
18The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.
19These were the orderings of them in their service 18to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, 19under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded 20him.
18 Namely, on the Sabbath, and they continued there all the week long, until the next Sabbath, and that was so continued among them by turns. See 2 Kings 11:5; 1 Chron. 9:25.
19 That is, such as the same law was kept and observed by Aaron, according to God’s ordinance, as follows. Other, under the hand of Aaron; that is, under the direction of Aaron, namely, of one of Aaron’s posterity, who executed the high priest’s office, and therein succeeded Aaron.
20 Namely, Aaron.
20 ¶ 21And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram; 22Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdeiah.
21 In 1 Chronicles 23 the Gershonites were described; here are described the Kohathites and the Merarites, who were the two other families of the Levites.
22 He is called in 1 Chron. 23:16 Shebuel; he was the grandchild of Moses, or sons’ son, and also of the posterity of Amram.
21Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah.
22Of the Izharites; Shelomoth: of the sons of Shelomoth; Jahath.
2323And the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.
23 This verse is here thus supplied from 1 Chron. 23:19; 26:31.
24Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah: of the sons of Michah; Shamir.
25The brother of Michah was Isshiah: of the sons of Isshiah; Zechariah.
26The 24sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi: 25the sons of Jaaziah; Beno.
24 From here on he appoints the rest of the sons of Levi, who were of the house of Merari.
25 Other, and the son of Jaaziah, his (namely, from Merari) son.
27¶The sons of Merari by Jaaziah; Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.
28Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons.
29Concerning Kish: the son of Kish was Jerahmeel.
30The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after the house of their fathers.
3126These likewise cast lots 27over 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 28the principal fathers over against their younger brethren.
26 The meaning of these words is that there were as many companies and courses of these Levites as there were courses of priests, in order that every course of priests had their own company or course of Levites to minister unto them in the execution of their priestly office. And as there were 24 courses of priests, thus there were likewise 24 of these Levites, whereof the greatest part are mentioned in this chapter, and the rest in the previous chapter 1 Chron. 23:8, 9 and 10.
27 Or, besides, similar to.
28 That is, for the least brethren as well as the chief among the fathers. Other, Aboth, the head, holding it to be a proper name.