1 Chronicles 24

1Ch 24:1-19.

DIVISION OF THE

SONS OF

AARON INTO

FOUR AND

TWENTY

ORDERS.

1. Now these are the divisions of the sons of

Aaron--(See on

1Ch 23:6).

2. Nadab and Abihu died before their father--that is, not in his

presence, but during his lifetime (see

Nu 3:4; 26:61).

therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office--In

consequence of the death of his two oldest sons without issue, the

descendants of Aaron were comprised in the families of Eleazar and

Ithamar. Both of these sons discharged the priestly functions as

assistants to their father. Eleazar succeeded him, and in his line the

high priesthood continued until it was transferred to the family of

Ithamar, in the person of Eli.

3. Zadok . . . and Ahimelech of the sons of

Ithamar--This statement, taken in connection with

1Ch 24:6,

is not a little perplexing, since

(2Sa 15:24, 35; 20:25)

Abiathar is mentioned as the person conjoined in David's time with

Zadok, in the collegiate exercise of the high priesthood. Some think

that the words have been transposed, reading Abiathar, the son of

Ahimelech. But there is no ground for regarding the text as faulty. The

high priests of the line of Ithamar were the following: Ahiah or

Ahimelech, his son Abiathar, his son Ahimelech. We frequently find the

grandfather and grandson called by the same name (see list of high

priests of the line of Eleazar,

1Ch 6:30-41).

Hence the author of the Chronicles was acquainted with Ahimelech, son

of Abiathar, who, for some reason, discharged the duties of high priest

in David's reign, and during the lifetime of his father (for Abiathar

was living in the time of Solomon,

1Ki 2:27)

[KEIL].

4. there were more chief men found--The Hebrew may be translated,

"There were more men as to heads of the sons of Eleazar." It is true,

in point of fact, that by the census the number of individuals

belonging to the family of Eleazar was found greater than in that of

Ithamar. And this, of necessity, led to there being more fathers'

houses, and consequently more chiefs or presidents in the former.

5. Thus were they divided by lot--This method of allocation was adopted

manifestly to remove all cause of jealousy as to precedence and the

right of performing particular duties.

6. one principal household--The marginal reading is preferable,

"one house of the father." 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. The heads of

families belonging to Eleazar and Ithamar were alternately brought

forward to draw, and the name of each individual, as called, registered

the inequality of the number, there being sixteen fathers' houses of

Eleazar, and only eight of Ithamar, it was arranged that every house of

Ithamar should be followed by two of Eleazar, or, what is the same

thing, that every two houses of Eleazar should be followed by one of

Ithamar. If, then, we suppose a commencement to have been made by

Eleazar, the order would be as follows: one and two, Eleazar; three,

Ithamar; four and five, Eleazar; six, Ithamar; seven and eight,

Eleazar; nine, Ithamar; and so forth [BERTHEAU].

The lot determined also the order of the priests' service. That of the

Levites was afterwards distributed by the same arrangement

(1Ch 24:31).