1 Chronicles 24

Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

1Here are the groups of the men who came from Aaron. Aaron's sons were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

2But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office.

2Nadab and Abihu died before their father did. They had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar did the priests' work.

3And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service.

3Zadok came from Eleazar's family. Ahimelech came from Ithamar's family. They helped King David sort the priests into groups by their jobs.

4And 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.

4Eleazar's family had more leaders than Ithamar's family. So the groups were made to match. Eleazar's family had sixteen leaders. Ithamar's family had eight leaders.

5Thus 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.

5They were split into groups by drawing lots, fairly for all. Both families had men who led the work at God's house.

NoteDrawing lots was like picking names out of a jar. People did this so no one could say the choice was unfair.

6And 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.

6Shemaiah was a writer. He was the son of Nethaneel, and he was a Levite. He wrote down all the names. The king watched, and so did the leaders. Zadok the priest watched. So did Ahimelech, the son of Abiathar. The family heads of the priests and Levites watched too. One family was picked from Eleazar, then one from Ithamar, back and forth.

NoteIn the King James Bible, "princes" here means leaders and officials, not the sons of a king.

7Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,

7The first turn went to Jehoiarib. The second went to Jedaiah.

8The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,

8The third went to Harim. The fourth went to Seorim.

9The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,

9The fifth went to Malchijah. The sixth went to Mijamin.

10The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,

10The seventh went to Hakkoz. The eighth went to Abijah.

11The ninth to Jeshuah, the tenth to Shecaniah,

11The ninth went to Jeshua. The tenth went to Shecaniah.

12The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,

12The eleventh went to Eliashib. The twelfth went to Jakim.

13The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,

13The thirteenth went to Huppah. The fourteenth went to Jeshebeab.

14The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,

14The fifteenth went to Bilgah. The sixteenth went to Immer.

15The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses,

15The seventeenth went to Hezir. The eighteenth went to Aphses.

16The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel,

16The nineteenth went to Pethahiah. The twentieth went to Jehezekel.

17The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,

17The twenty-first went to Jachin. The twenty-second went to Gamul.

18The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.

18The twenty-third went to Delaiah. The twenty-fourth went to Maaziah.

19These 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.

19This was the order they followed when they came to work at the LORD's house. They did it the way Aaron, their forefather, had taught them. The LORD, the God of Israel, had told Aaron how it should be done.

20And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram; Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdeiah.

20Here are the other men from the family of Levi. From Amram's sons came Shubael. From Shubael's sons came Jehdeiah.

21Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah.

21As for Rehabiah, his oldest son was Isshiah.

22Of the Izharites; Shelomoth: of the sons of Shelomoth; Jahath.

22From the family of Izhar came Shelomoth. From Shelomoth's sons came Jahath.

23And the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.

23Hebron's sons were Jeriah the oldest, then Amariah, then Jahaziel, then Jekameam.

24Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah: of the sons of Michah; Shamir.

24From Uzziel's sons came Micah. From Micah's sons came Shamir.

25The brother of Michah was Isshiah: of the sons of Isshiah; Zechariah.

25Micah's brother was Isshiah. From Isshiah's sons came Zechariah.

26The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi: the sons of Jaaziah; Beno.

26Merari's sons were Mahli and Mushi. Jaaziah's son was Beno.

27The sons of Merari by Jaaziah; Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.

27Merari also had these sons through Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.

28Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons.

28Mahli's son was Eleazar. Eleazar had no sons.

29Concerning Kish: the son of Kish was Jerahmeel.

29As for Kish, his son was Jerahmeel.

30The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after the house of their fathers.

30Mushi's sons were Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the Levite men, listed by their families.

31These 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.

31They drew lots too, just like their relatives from Aaron's family. King David watched them do it. Zadok and Ahimelech watched. So did the family heads of the priests and Levites. Older brothers and younger brothers were treated the same way.