Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 24:5

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Chronicles 24:5

They divided by lot - This prevented jealousies: for, as all the families were equally noble, they had equal right to all ecclesiastical and civil distinctions. 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 24:5

Translate, And they divided them by lots, these with those ; i.e. as there was no ground of choice between the two families, which differed only in number, and as the highest ecclesiastical places had been filled already by both of them, the impartiality of the "lot" was resorted to, for the settling of the order in which they would take the services now in question ( 1 Chronicles 25:8 ). The governors ; read rather, the princes. The distinction intended between "the holy princes," or... read more

Group of Brands