1 Chronicles 24

1 Chronicles 24:1

Ch. 1 Chronicles 24:1-19. David’s Organization of the Priests by courses

1. Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron] R.V. And the courses of the sons of Aaron were these. the sons of Aaron] Son 6:3; Exodus 6:23.

1 Chronicles 24:2

2. Nadab and Abihu died] By fire from heaven as a punishment for sacrilege; Leviticus 10:1-2; Numbers 3:4.

1 Chronicles 24:3

3. David distributed them, both Zadok … and Ahimelech] R.V. David with Zadok … and Ahimelech … divided them. Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar] The colleague of Zadok in the priesthood is variously named in different passages:— Ch 24:3. Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar. Ch 24:6. Ahimelech the son of Abiathar. Ch 18:16. Abimelech the son of Abiathar. Probably the same person is meant throughout, the confusion springing from a false reading in 1 Samuel 8:17, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar for Abiathar the son of Ahimelech; see Kirkpatrick, in loco. according to their offices] R.V. according to their ordering, i.e. according to the arrangement which follows; cp. 1 Chronicles 24:19.

1 Chronicles 24:4

4. moe] Cp. 1 Chronicles 14:3, note. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers] R.V. of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of fathers’ houses. and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers] R.V. and of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers’ houses, eight.

1 Chronicles 24:5

5. one sort with another] i.e. sons of Eleazar with sons of Ithamar. the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God were of the sons, etc.] R.V. there were princes of the sanctuary, and prices of God, both of the sons etc. The princes of the sanctuary (Isaiah 43:28) are probably the same as the princes of God and as the chiefs of the priests (2 Chronicles 36:14). The Heb. expression in 2 Chronicles 35:8 is different (rulers of the house of God).

1 Chronicles 24:6

6. the scribe, one of the Levites] Particularly described in order to distinguish him from the king’s scribe (cp. 2 Chronicles 24:11). one principal household] R.V. one fathers’ house. one taken] R.V. one taken (without italics) by an easy emendation of the Hebrew. The alternate drawing here described could have lasted only for the first sixteen lots; in the last eight drawings the descendants of Eleazar must have drawn against each other only; cp. 1 Chronicles 24:4.

1 Chronicles 24:7

7. Jehoiarib] Lists of the priestly families occur also Nehemiah 10:2-8; Nehemiah 12:1-7; Nehemiah 12:12-21. Cp. Ryle (on Nehemiah 12:1] for a discussion of the names. For Jehoiarib see 1 Chronicles 9:10, note.

1 Chronicles 24:8

8. Harim] So Nehemiah 10:5; Nehemiah 12:15, but in Nehemiah 12:3, “Rehum.” The confusion of form is easy in Hebrew writing.

1 Chronicles 24:9

9. Mijamin] So Nehemiah 10:7; Nehemiah 12:5; but 1 Chronicles 12:17, “Miniamin.”

1 Chronicles 24:10

10. Hakkoz] Called “Koz” in Ezra 2:61; Nehemiah 3:4; Nehemiah 3:21 (R.V. “Hakkoz” in all three places). Abijah] So Nehemiah 10:7; Nehemiah 12:4; Nehemiah 12:17. Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, was of the course of Abiah (R.V. Abijah); Luke 1:5.

1 Chronicles 24:11

11. Jeshua] This is the Hebrew name expressed by Ἰ ?çóïῦ ?ò in Greek, and by “Jesus” in English. The highpriest under whom the Temple was built bore this name according to Ezra 3:2; Ezra 5:2. Shecaniah] So Nehemiah 12:3; but ib. Nehemiah 10:4, Nehemiah 12:14 “Shebaniah.” The confusion of B and C is very easy in Hebrew.

1 Chronicles 24:12

12. Eliashib] A priest of this name is mentioned Nehemiah 13:4-7.

1 Chronicles 24:14

14. Bilgah] “Bilgah” (Nehemiah 12:5) appears as a priest or priestly family in the time of the Return, and (under the form “Bilgai,” Nehemiah 10:8) in the time of Nehemiah. Immer] Cp. 1 Chronicles 9:12; Ezra 2:37; Jeremiah 20:1.

1 Chronicles 24:15

15. Aphses] R.V. Happizzez.

1 Chronicles 24:16

16. Jehezekel] R.V. Jehezkel, which is the correct form of “Ezekiel” the name of the priest-prophet of the Captivity. It is possible that the prophet belonged to this twentieth coarse and that the name here given to it is derived from him.

1 Chronicles 24:17

17. Jachin] Cp. 1 Chronicles 9:10 (= Nehemiah 11:10).

1 Chronicles 24:18

18. Maaziah] Nehemiah 10:8 (1 Chronicles 10:9, Heb.).

1 Chronicles 24:19

19. These were the orderings] R.V. This was the ordering. their manner, under Aaron] R.V. the ordinance given unto them by the hand of Aaron. the Lord God of Israel] R.V. the Lord the God of Israel.

1 Chronicles 24:20-31

20–31 (cp. 1 Chronicles 23:13-23). Families of the Levites These verses repeat the list of Levitic families given in 1 Chronicles 23:6-23 with the important omission of the whole of the Gershonites (1 Chronicles 23:6-11), but with some additions to the Kohathite and Merarite families.

1 Chronicles 24:21

21. Concerning Rehabiah] R.V. Of Rehabiah. He (like Shubael) was descended from Moses; 1 Chronicles 23:15-17.

1 Chronicles 24:22

22. Shelomoth] Called “Shelomith” in 1 Chronicles 23:18.

1 Chronicles 24:23

23. And the sons of Hebron] The text of this verse is mutilated, but it has been restored in A.V. (so also R.V.) from 1 Chronicles 23:19.

1 Chronicles 24:24

24. Michah] R.V. Micah (as 1 Chronicles 23:20).

1 Chronicles 24:25

25. Isshiah] This is the correct form; in 1 Chronicles 23:20 (A.V.) “Jesiah” is wrong.

1 Chronicles 24:26

26. The sons of Merari] In 1 Chronicles 23:21 only two families of Merari are mentioned, viz., Mahli and Mushi. Here however a third family “the sons of Jaaziah” is mentioned. Probably the fuller text is right. Beno] Translate “his son”; the word describes Jaaziah as son of Merari; cp. 1 Chronicles 24:27.

1 Chronicles 24:27

27. by Jaaziah; Beno and Shoham] Translate (with a slight emendation of the Heb. text): by Jaaziah his son: Shoham. Three families traced their descent from Merari through Jaaziah.

1 Chronicles 24:28

28. Eleazar] Cp. 1 Chronicles 23:22.

1 Chronicles 24:29

29. Concerning Kish] R.V. Of Kish.

1 Chronicles 24:30

30. Jerimoth] Spelt “Jeremoth” in 1 Chronicles 23:23. the house of their fathers] R.V. their fathers’ houses.

1 Chronicles 24:31

31. over against their brethren] R.V. even as their brethren. and Ahimelech] We expect and Abiathar; cp. 1 Chronicles 24:3; 1 Chronicles 15:11; 1 Chronicles 18:16; with the notes. the chief of the fathers] R.V. the heads of the fathers’ houses. even the principal … brethren] R.V. the fathers’ houses of the chief even as those of his younger brother.