1Ch 24:1 Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
the sons of Aaron; Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar - these were the immediate sons of Aaron; but the division or distribution of them into classes are of their posterity in the times of David, who descended from the two latter. These are the arrangements of the priests for the performance of the service in the sanctuary; the priestly families descended from Aaron's sons Eleazar and Ithamar being divided into twenty-four classes, the order of whose service was settled by lot.
1Ch 24:2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office.
Nadab and Abihu died before their father - That is, during his lifetime.
Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office - These two served the office during the life of their father Aaron; after his death Eleazar succeeded in the high priesthood. And under Eli the high priest, the family of Ithamar re-entered into that office.
1Ch 24:3 And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service.
Ahimelech - Ahimelech is put here for Abiathar, who was high priest in the days of David. Abiathar had also the name of Ahimelech, as well as his father.
Zadok and Ahimelech - these were the two principal men of the respective families, the one was high priest, and the other "sagan" or deputy; or they both officiated as high priests alternately, until the one was removed in Solomon's time, and the other established alone. And now their brethren the priests, who were under each of these, are the persons David divided into classes:
Distributed - Allotting to each of them several times, wherein they should by turns have the government of holy ministrations.
1Ch 24:4 And there were more chief men 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 chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers.
1Ch 24:5 Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.
One sort with another - Both houses had furnished functionaries of the highest class, and therefore no preference was now given to either over the other.
They divided by lot - That the disposal thereof might be of the Lord, and so all contention be prevented, as no man could be charged with partiality, nor could any say, they had wrong done them. This prevented jealousies: for, as all the families were equally noble, they had equal right to all ecclesiastical and civil distinctions.
for the governors of the sanctuary - or of the holy things, or who presided in things ecclesiastical:
governors of the house of God - or rather "governors of God", appointed by him judges in civil things:
1Ch 24:6 And 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 being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.
Wrote them before the king - wrote down their names as the lots were drawn forth. The lot determined also the order of the priests’ service. That of the Levites was afterwards distributed by the same arrangement.
before the king, and the princes - The lot was cast in a deliberate and solemn manner in presence of the king, the princes, the two high priests, and the chiefs of the priestly and Levitical families. In this public manner, before such great personages, and in the presence of those that were interested in the affair, that it might appear plainly no fraudulent methods were taken.
1Ch 24:7 Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib - And the other twenty three in the order listed. Of all listed, we know little more than their names0
1Ch 24:8 The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
1Ch 24:9 The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
1Ch 24:10 The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
Abijah - As Luke mentions the course of Abijah, it is evident that these courses of the priests, established by David, no doubt under Divine direction, were continued, with some alterations, till the days of Christ. These records must therefore have been very useful after the Babylonian captivity. Luke 1:5 In the days of Herod, the king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah. And his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
1Ch 24:11 The ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
1Ch 24:12 The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
1Ch 24:13 The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
1Ch 24:14 The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
1Ch 24:15 The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses,
1Ch 24:16 The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel,
1Ch 24:17 The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,
1Ch 24:18 The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.
1Ch 24:19 These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.
These were the orderings - this was the numerical order fixed for their ministerial attendance in the house of the Lord.
under Aaron their father - that is, him who was high priest for the time being; who bore this name because his successor and representative, under whose inspection, direction, and authority, all the rest of the priests were, and whom they were to obey in all things:
under Aaron their father - Under the direction of the high priests, whom he calls Aaron, because he represented his person and executed his office, and their father, because of the authority which by God's appointment he had over them.
1Ch 24:20 And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram; Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdeiah.
The classes of the Levites - a catalogue of these classes of Levites, which performed the service in the house of as assistants to the priests are the Levites still remaining after the enumeration of the priests. This passage treats only of the classes of the Levites who were employed about the worship.
1Ch 24:21 Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah.
Of the father's-house Rehabiah - connected with Eliezer the second son of Moses (1Ch_23:16); of the sons of this Rehabiah, Isshiah was the head.
1Ch 24:22 Of the Izharites; Shelomoth: of the sons of Shelomoth; Jahath.
1Ch 24:23 And the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.
1Ch 24:24 Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah: of the sons of Michah; Shamir.
1Ch 24:25 The brother of Michah was Isshiah: of the sons of Isshiah; Zechariah.
1Ch 24:26 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi: the sons of Jaaziah; Beno.
The sons of Jaaziah, Beno - Beno is not really a name. It is the Hebrew for “his son,” and is to be attached to Jaaziah. Translate 1Ch_24:27, “and the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son (were) Shoham and Zaccur, and Ibri.” The meaning of the whole passage 1Ch_24:26-30 seems to be that there were three branches of the Merarites the Beni-Mahli, the Beni-Mushi, and the Beni-Jaaziah.
The sons of Merari - It is remarkable that not a word is here spoken of the family of Gershom.
1Ch 24:27 The sons of Merari by Jaaziah; Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.
1Ch 24:28 Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons.
1Ch 24:29 Concerning Kish: the son of Kish was Jerahmeel.
1Ch 24:30 The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after the house of their fathers.
1Ch 24:31 These likewise cast lots 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 over against their younger brethren.
even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren - the sense is, either that the one stood over against the other, to be distributed by lot, the one as well as the other; or they were chosen by lot, let it fall as it would, without any regard to age or dignity, to the seniority or largeness of houses and families; but as they were chosen, be they younger or elder, richer or poorer, their families more or less numerous and ancient, so they took their places.
