Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron ,.... Into the classes or courses following: the sons of Aaron; Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar ; 1 Chronicles 6:3 , these were the immediate sons of Aaron; but the division or distribution of them into classes are of their posterity in the times of David, who descended from the two latter. read more
But Nadab and Abihu died before their father ,.... While he was living, see Leviticus 10:1 . and had no children, therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priests' office : otherwise, as Jarchi observes, had their brethren left children, they would have come into the office before them. read more
And David distributed them ,.... The posterities of Eleazar and Ithamar into certain classes or courses: both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar ; these were the two principal men of the respective families, the one was high priest, and the other "sagan" or deputy; or they both officiated as high priests alternately, until the one was removed in Solomon's time, and the other established alone. And now their brethren the priests, who were under each of... read more
And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar ,.... Or heads of men, heads of their fathers' houses and families: 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 ; in all twenty four, and into so many classes or courses did David divide them; Jarchi says at first when the tabernacle was at Shiloh, there... read more
Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another ,.... Which course should serve first, and which next, and so on; and who should be the chief to each course; which course was to serve a week, and then go out; and this method was taken to prevent envy, strife, and contention about precedence: for the governors of the sanctuary ; or of the holy things, or who presided in things ecclesiastical: and governors of the house of God : or rather "governors of God", appointed by him... read more
And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe ,.... The Targum is, Moses the chief scribe, so called: one of the Levites wrote them : the lots, and the names upon them, put into the urn, and as they came out, which was first, second, &c.; and this was done 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 ; and in this public manner, before such great personages, and in the... read more
Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib ,.... And the other twenty three to the following persons in order: Jedaiah, Harim, Seorim, Malchijah, Mijamin, Hakkoz, Abijah, Jeshua, Shecaniah, Eliashib, Jakim, Huppah, Jeshebeab, Bilgah, Immer, Hezir, Aphses, Pethahiah, Jehezekel, Jachin, Gamul, Delaiah, and Maaziah ; of all which courses we know little more than their names, though they continued in some form or other both under the first and second temple, to the destruction of it; the Jews... read more
These were the orderings of them ,.... Their classes or courses into which they were divided: in their service to come into the house of the Lord ; to perform their service in the temple, according to their turns, and in course as fixed by lot; one class or course served one week, and then went out, and another came in, each consisting of 1000 men, see 1 Chronicles 23:4 . according to their manner ; law, right, custom, here prescribed for them: under Aaron their father; that is,... read more
Nadab and Abihu died before their father - That is, during his lifetime. Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest ' s office - These two served the office during the life of their father Aaron; after his death Eleazar succeeded in the high priesthood. And under Eli the high priest, the family of Ithamar re-entered into that office. read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 24:1-19
The particular account of these establishments is of little use to us now; but, when Ezra published it, it was of great use to direct their church affairs after their return from captivity into the old channel again. The title of this record we have 1 Chron. 24:1?These are the divisions of the sons of Aaron, not by which they divided one from another, or were at variance one with another (it is a pity there should ever be any such divisions among the sons of Israel, but especially among the... read more