Tyndale Open Study Notes

Verse 1

24:1-19 The information about the priests’ duties includes only their organization into orders and the assignment of their responsibilities by casting lots. The Chronicler does not explain their duties because they had long been solidly established (see Exod 28:1-5; Lev 1–7; Num 6:22-27).

24:1-2 The organization of the priests into their divisions for service began with Aaron’s sons Eleazar and Ithamar; all of Israel’s priests were descended from these two men.

Verse 3

24:3-6 Zadok and Ahimelech were the leaders of the two families of priests during David’s time (see 6:8; 18:16; 2 Sam 8:17).

Verse 7

24:7-18 The twenty-four divisions established for the priests continued unchanged for many generations; the order of Abijah (24:10) is specifically mentioned in Luke 1:5, 8.

Verse 20

24:20-31 The other family leaders might refer to all those members of the tribe who were not priests yet who had already been documented (see 23:6-23), or it might refer to Levites not mentioned before. However, most of the families were already included in the previous list. Therefore, this list appears to be an independent, supplementary list that complements the previous register of Levites, perhaps bringing the earlier list up to date at a later time.

Verse 31

24:31 The Levites were organized according to the same principles as the priests (24:5-6).