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Matthew Henry

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 24:3

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 24:4

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Chronicles 24:3

And Ahimelech - Ahimelech is put here for Abiathar, who was high priest in the days of David. Abiathar had also the name of Ahimelech, as well as his father. See Calmet. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 24:3

The Hebrew of this verse reads , And David divided them, and Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimalech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices ( לַכְסֻדָּתָם ), in their service ( בַּעְבֹדָתָם ). And the evident purport of it is that the three, David, Zadok, and Ahimelech, conjointly made the arrangements. This is virtually repeated in 1 Chronicles 24:6 , 1 Chronicles 24:31 (see also 1 Chronicles 25:1 for an analogous case). For the "Ahimelech" of this verse and ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 24:4

The simpler translation of this verse might run thus: And there were found (of) sons of Eleazar, more for chief men, than (of) sons of Ithamar, and they divided them—to sons of Eleazar, sixteen chiefs of fathers' houses; and to sons of Ithamar, eight. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Chronicles 24:3

Zadok and Ahimelech (rather Abiathar, see 1 Chronicles 24:6) assisted David in drawing up the priestly courses, as the “captains of the host” assisted him in making the divisions of the singers 1 Chronicles 25:1. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Chronicles 24:3

1 Chronicles 24:3. And David distributed them, &c. To avoid all confusion, now that they were much increased, he distributed the priests, as he had done the Levites, into several courses, allotting to each of them the times wherein they should by turns have the government of holy ministrations. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Chronicles 24:4

1 Chronicles 24:4. Among the sons of Eleazar were sixteen chief men, &c. He appointed, therefore, sixteen courses of the sons of Eleazar, under as many heads of their families, and half as many of the posterity of Ithamar. read more

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