Divisions of the Levites

24 Now the divisions of the [a]descendants of Aaron were these: (A)the sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. (B)But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no [b]sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests. David, with (C)Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their offices [c]for their ministry. Since more chief men were found from the [d]descendants of Eleazar than the [e]descendants of Ithamar, they divided them this way: there were sixteen heads of fathers’ households of the [f]descendants of Eleazar, and eight of the [g]descendants of Ithamar according to their fathers’ households. (D)So they were divided by lot, the one as the other; for they were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God, both from the [h]descendants of Eleazar and the [i]descendants of Ithamar. Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel the scribe, from the Levites, recorded them in the presence of the king, the leaders, Zadok the priest, (E)Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and the Levites; one father’s household taken for Eleazar and one taken for Ithamar.

Now the first lot came out for Jehoiarib, the second for Jedaiah, the third for Harim, the fourth for Seorim, the fifth for Malchijah, the sixth for Mijamin, 10 the seventh for Hakkoz, the eighth for (F)Abijah, 11 the ninth for Jeshua, the tenth for Shecaniah, 12 the eleventh for Eliashib, the twelfth for Jakim, 13 the thirteenth for Huppah, the fourteenth for Jeshebeab, 14 the fifteenth for Bilgah, the sixteenth for Immer, 15 the seventeenth for Hezir, the eighteenth for Happizzez, 16 the nineteenth for Pethahiah, the twentieth for Jehezkel, 17 the twenty-first for Jachin, the twenty-second for Gamul, 18 the twenty-third for Delaiah, and the twenty-fourth for Maaziah. 19 (G)These were their offices for their ministry when they entered the house of the Lord according to the ordinance given to them through their father Aaron, just as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him.

20 Now for the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, [j]Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah. 21 Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah, the first. 22 Of the Izharites, [k]Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath. 23 The sons (H)of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth. 24 Of the sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir. 25 The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah. 26 The sons of Merari, Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah, Beno. 27 The sons of Merari: by Jaaziah were Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri. 28 By Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons. 29 By Kish: the sons of Kish, Jerahmeel. 30 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites according to their fathers’ households. 31 (I)These also cast lots just as their relatives, the sons of Aaron did in the presence of David the king, (J)Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites—the head of fathers’ households as well as those of his younger brother.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 24:1 Lit sons
  2. 1 Chronicles 24:2 Or children
  3. 1 Chronicles 24:3 Lit in their service
  4. 1 Chronicles 24:4 Lit sons
  5. 1 Chronicles 24:4 Lit sons
  6. 1 Chronicles 24:4 Lit sons
  7. 1 Chronicles 24:4 Lit sons
  8. 1 Chronicles 24:5 Lit sons
  9. 1 Chronicles 24:5 Lit sons
  10. 1 Chronicles 24:20 In 23:16, Shebuel
  11. 1 Chronicles 24:22 In 23:18, Shelomith

The Work Assigned to the Priests

24 These are the groups to which the descendants of Aaron belong. Aaron had four sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. (A)Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, and left no descendants, so their brothers Eleazar and Ithamar became priests. King David organized the descendants of Aaron into groups according to their duties. He was assisted in this by Zadok, a descendant of Eleazar, and by Ahimelech, a descendant of Ithamar. The descendants of Eleazar were organized into sixteen groups, while the descendants of Ithamar were organized into eight; this was done because there were more male heads of families among the descendants of Eleazar. Since there were Temple officials and spiritual leaders among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar, assignments were made by drawing lots. The descendants of Eleazar and of Ithamar took turns drawing lots. Then they were registered by Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite secretary. The king, his officials, the priest Zadok, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the heads of the priestly families and of the Levite families, were all witnesses.

7-18 This is the order in which the twenty-four family groups were given their assignments: 1) Jehoiarib; 2) Jedaiah; 3) Harim; 4) Seorim; 5) Malchijah; 6) Mijamin; 7) Hakkoz; 8) Abijah; 9) Jeshua; 10) Shecaniah; 11) Eliashib; 12) Jakim; 13) Huppah; 14) Jeshebeab; 15) Bilgah; 16) Immer; 17) Hezir; 18) Happizzez; 19) Pethahiah; 20) Jehezkel; 21) Jachin; 22) Gamul; 23) Delaiah; 24) Maaziah.

19 These men were registered according to their assignments for going to the Temple and performing the duties established by their ancestor Aaron in obedience to the commands of the Lord God of Israel.

The List of the Levites

20 These are other heads of families descended from Levi:

Jehdeiah, a descendant of Amram through Shebuel;

21 Isshiah, a descendant of Rehabiah;

22 Jahath, a descendant of Izhar through Shelomith;

23 Jeriah, Amariah, Jehaziel, and Jekameam, sons of Hebron, in order of age;

24 Shamir, a descendant of Uzziel through Micah;

25 Zechariah, a descendant of Uzziel through Isshiah, Micah's brother;

26 Mahli, Mushi, and Jaaziah, descendants of Merari. 27 Jaaziah had three sons: Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri. 28-29 Mahli had two sons, Eleazar and Kish. Eleazar had no sons, but Kish had one son, Jerahmeel. 30 Mushi had three sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth.

These are the families of the Levites.

31 The head of each family and one of his younger brothers drew lots for their assignments, just as their relatives, the priests descended from Aaron, had done. King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites were witnesses.