Duties of The Priests
March 24, 2020
Commentary
1. David assigns the Priests their Duties. (vv. 1-19)
Aaron’s descendants were divided into work groups (v. 1). Aaron had four sons but two died (Nadab and Abihu) (v. 2). That is why Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests. David divided these descendants into groups according to their abilities (v. 3). Eleazar’s descendants were divided into 16 groups, and Ithamar’s were divided into eight groups (v. 4). However, both families included temple officials and priests (v. 5). The duties and leaders were written down and the witnesses were David and his officials (v. 6). Each group of priests went by the name of their family leader (vv. 7-18). These men were assigned their duties at the temple (v. 19).
2. The rest of the Levites are assigned their duties. (vv. 20-31)
A complete list of the descendants of Levi are given (vv. 20-30). Each one was assigned his duties in the same way that their relatives the priests had been assigned their duties (v. 31).
Application
Just as the Priests and the Levites had their special duties to perform in their days of temple worship, it is my duty to carry out God’s plan for my life to share Christ with anyone I can with compassion, power, and boldness.
1 Chronicles 24:1– 31 (NET)
1 The divisions of Aaron’s descendants were as follows: The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
2 Nadab and Abihu died before their father did; they had no sons. Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.
3 David, Zadok (a descendant of Eleazar), and Ahimelech (a descendant of Ithamar) divided them into groups to carry out their assigned responsibilities. 4 The descendants of Eleazar had more leaders than the descendants of Ithamar, so they divided them up accordingly; the descendants of Eleazar had sixteen leaders, while the descendants of Ithamar had eight. 5 They divided them by lots, for there were officials of the Holy Place and officials designated by God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar. 6 The scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, wrote down their names before the king, the officials, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the leaders of the priestly and Levite families. One family was drawn by lot from Eleazar, and then the next from Ithamar.
7 The first lot went to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
8 the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
9 the fifth to Malkijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
10 the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
11 the ninth to Jeshua, 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 Happizzez,
16 the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,
17 the twenty-first to Jakin, the twenty-second to Gamul,
18 the twenty-third to Delaiah, the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
19 This was the order in which they carried out their assigned responsibilities when they entered the Lord’s temple, according to the regulations given them by their ancestor Aaron, just as the Lord God of Israel had instructed him.
20 The rest of the Levites included: Shubael from the sons of Amram, Jehdeiah from the sons of Shubael,
21 the firstborn Isshiah from Rehabiah and the sons of Rehabiah,
22 Shelomoth from the Izharites, Jahath from the sons of Shelomoth.
23 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
24 The son of Uzziel: Micah; Shamir from the sons of Micah.
25 The brother of Micah: Isshiah. Zechariah from the sons of Isshiah.
26 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The son of Jaaziah: Beno.
27 The sons of Merari, from Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.
28 From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
29 From Kish: Jerahmeel.
30 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the Levites, listed by their families.
31 Like their relatives, the descendants of Aaron, they also cast lots before King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, the leaders of families, the priests, and the Levites. The families of the oldest son cast lots along with those of the youngest.