1 Chronicles 24: The priests in twenty-four divisions, and the rest of the Levites
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What happens?
The sons of Aaron are Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar; Nadab and Abihu died before their father without sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests. David, with Zadok and Ahimelech, divides the priests by lot into twenty-four fathers' houses, sixteen from Eleazar and eight from Ithamar, and the scribe Shemaiah writes them down before the king, the leaders and the priests. The twenty-four lots are then named in order, from Jehoiarib to Maaziah, and the verses after them list the heads of the other Levite families, who cast lots in the same way.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter. No one else speaks in it. Verse 19 says that Aaron's order was as Yahweh, the God of Israel, had commanded him; that is the narrator's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1These were the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
In plain English: The sons of Aaron had their divisions. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
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2But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children; therefore Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.
In plain English: But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.
Good to know: says Nadab and Abihu "died before Yahweh when they offered strange fire before Yahweh in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children". tells how they offered "strange fire before Yahweh, which he had not commanded them".
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3David, with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their ordering in their service.
In plain English: David, with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them by their appointed order (literally: their visitation; this Bible: their ordering) in their service.
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4There were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and they were divided like this: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of fathers’ houses; and of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers’ houses, eight.
In plain English: More chief men were found among the sons of Eleazar than among the sons of Ithamar. They divided them like this: the sons of Eleazar had sixteen heads of fathers' houses, and the sons of Ithamar, by their fathers' houses, eight.
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5Thus they were divided impartially by drawing lots; for there were princes of the sanctuary and princes of God, both of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.
In plain English: They divided them by lots, these with these (this Bible: impartially), for there were officials of the holy place (literally: officials of holiness) and officials of God among both the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar.
The Hebrew words: "Lots" is goral, which the dictionary gives as "properly, a pebble, i.e. a lot (small stones being used for that purpose)". "Impartially" is word for word "these with these"; this Bible adds the sense of fairness. The text says only that officials of the holy place and officials of God were found among both families.
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6Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the scribe, who was of the Levites, wrote them in the presence of the king, the princes, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites; one fathers’ house being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.
In plain English: Shemaiah the son of Nethanel, the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them down before the king, the officials (this Bible: princes), Zadok the priest, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites. One fathers' house was taken for Eleazar, and one was taken for Ithamar (see the note).
The Hebrew word: The Hebrew says achaz, "taken", once for Eleazar and twice for Ithamar. The dictionary gives the word as "to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession)". This Bible reads it as one house taken for each. The text does not explain the repeat.
Good to know: "Ahimelech the son of Abiathar" is also in ; has "Abimelech the son of Abiathar"; and says "Abiathar" is one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. The text does not explain how these fit together.
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7Now the first lot came out to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
In plain English: The first lot came out for Jehoiarib, the second for Jedaiah,
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8the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
In plain English: the third for Harim, the fourth for Seorim,
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9the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
In plain English: the fifth for Malchijah, the sixth for Mijamin,
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10the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
In plain English: the seventh for Hakkoz, the eighth for Abijah,
Good to know: says Zacharias was "of the priestly division of Abijah".
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11the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
In plain English: the ninth for Jeshua, the tenth for Shecaniah,
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12the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
In plain English: the eleventh for Eliashib, the twelfth for Jakim,
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13the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
In plain English: the thirteenth for Huppah, the fourteenth for Jeshebeab,
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14the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
In plain English: the fifteenth for Bilgah, the sixteenth for Immer,
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15the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,
In plain English: the seventeenth for Hezir, the eighteenth for Happizzez,
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16the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,
In plain English: the nineteenth for Pethahiah, the twentieth for Jehezkel,
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17the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul,
In plain English: the twenty-first for Jachin, the twenty-second for Gamul,
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18the twenty-third to Delaiah, and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
In plain English: the twenty-third for Delaiah, the twenty-fourth for Maaziah.
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19This was their ordering in their service, to come into Yahweh’s house according to the ordinance given to them by Aaron their father, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, had commanded him.
In plain English: This was their order of service, to come into Yahweh's house according to the ordinance given them by Aaron their father, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, had commanded him.
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20Of the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.
In plain English: Of the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.
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21Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the chief.
In plain English: Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the chief.
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22Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.
In plain English: Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.
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23The sons of Hebron: Jeriah, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
In plain English: The sons of Hebron (this Bible adds Hebron; see the note): Jeriah, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth.
Good to know: The Hebrew does not say Hebron here. It begins "and the sons" and then lists Jeriah, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth. This Bible puts in "of Hebron". The same four names, in the same order, are under Hebron in .
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24The sons of Uzziel: Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir.
In plain English: The sons of Uzziel: Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir.
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25The brother of Micah: Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.
In plain English: The brother of Micah: Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.
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26The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The son of Jaaziah: Beno.
In plain English: The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Jaaziah: Beno (or: his son; see the note).
The Hebrew word: "Beno" is spelled like the Hebrew for "his son". The dictionary gives ben, "son", as "a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense". This Bible takes it as a name in both verses 26 and 27, and says "The son of Jaaziah" in verse 26 where the Hebrew has "sons".
What changes: Read as a name, Beno is one of the sons of Jaaziah. Read as "his son", verse 26 would say "the sons of Jaaziah, his son", and verse 27 would say "the sons of Merari: of Jaaziah his son, and Shoham, Zaccur and Ibri". The text does not say which.
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27The sons of Merari by Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.
In plain English: The sons of Merari by Jaaziah: Beno (or: his son), Shoham, Zaccur and Ibri.
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28Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
In plain English: Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
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29Of Kish, the son of Kish: Jerahmeel.
In plain English: Of Kish, the sons of Kish (this Bible: the son of Kish): Jerahmeel.
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30The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after their fathers’ houses.
In plain English: The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites by their fathers' houses.
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31These likewise cast lots even as their brothers the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites, the fathers’ households of the chief even as those of his younger brother.
In plain English: These also cast lots, like their relatives (literally: brothers) the sons of Aaron, before David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech and the heads of the fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites: the fathers' houses of the chief the same as those of his younger brother (literally: his brother, the small one).
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