1 Chronicles 24

1 These were the divisions [sections, groups, courses] of the descendants [sons, offspring, posterity] of Aaron [the first high priest, brother of Moses]. The sons [descendants, children, heirs] of Aaron were Nadab [generous, noble], Abihu [my father is he], Eleazar [God has helped], and Ithamar [coast of the palm tree, island of the palm tree]. word study 2 But Nadab [a generous giver] and Abihu [he is my father] died [passed away, came to their end] before their father [parent, ancestor] did, and they had no [lacking, without any] sons [male children, descendants]; so Eleazar [God has helped] and Ithamar [coast of the palm tree] served [ministered, executed the priest’s office] as priests [spiritual leaders, mediators]. word study 3 With the help [assistance, support] of Eleazar’s descendant [son, offspring] Zadok [a high priest, righteous one] and Ithamar’s descendant [son, offspring] Ahimelech [a priest, friend of David], David divided [separated, distributed] them according to [in accordance with, following] the offices [duties, responsibilities] of their service [ministry, work, worship]. word study 4 Since more leaders [chief men, great men] were found among Eleazar’s descendants [sons, family line] than those of Ithamar [a son of Aaron, a leader in the tribe of Levi], they were divided [smoothly, to make something slippery or deceitful] accordingly. There were sixteen heads [chiefs, princes] of families from the descendants of Eleazar and eight from the descendants of Ithamar [according to the house of their fathers, by their families]. word study 5 Thus they were divided [by casting lots, without preference] by lot, for there were officers [rulers, leaders] of the sanctuary [Holy Place, sacred area] and officers [princes, governors] of God [Elohim, the supreme God] among both Eleazar’s [God has helped] and Ithamar’s [coast of the palm tree] descendants. word study 6 The scribe [secretary, recorder], Shemaiah [heard by God] son of Nethanel [given of God], a Levite [descendant of Levi], recorded [wrote down, inscribed] their names in the presence [face, before] of the king [ruler, monarch] and of the officers [princes, leaders]: Zadok [righteous] the priest [one who serves God], Ahimelech [my brother is king] son of Abiathar [father of abundance], and the heads [chiefs, leaders] of families [houses, clans] of the priests [those who serve God] and the Levites [descendants of Levi]—one family [house, clan] being taken [grasped, possessed] from Eleazar [God has helped], and then one from Ithamar [coast of the palm tree]. word study 7 The first lot [allotted portion, pebble used for decision] fell [came out, was drawn] to Jehoiarib [Jehovah contends, a priestly leader], the second to Jedaiah [Jehovah has known, a priest], word study 8 the third to Harim [dedicated, a priest or family head], the fourth to Seorim [an Israelite priest, in charge of the 4th course of service], word study 9 the fifth to Malchijah [my king is Jehovah], the sixth to Mijamin [from the right hand], word study 10 the seventh to Hakkoz [an Israelite leader], the eighth to Abijah [a son of Aaron, meaning my father is Yahweh], word study 11 the ninth to Jeshua [a leader, a common name], the tenth to Shecaniah [dweller with God, a name meaning divine presence], word study 12 the eleventh to Eliashib [God restores], the twelfth to Jakim [He will raise], word study 13 the thirteenth to Huppah [a priest, descendant of Aaron], the fourteenth to Jeshebeab [dwelling of the father, a priestly name], word study 14 the fifteenth to Bilgah [an Israelite priest], the sixteenth to Immer [a priestly name, Immer the father of Zadok], word study 15 the seventeenth to Hezir [swine, a priestly name], the eighteenth to Happizzez [Pitstsets, a chief priest], word study 16 the nineteenth to Pethahiah [freed by Jehovah], the twentieth to Jehezkel [God strengthens, Ezekiel], word study 17 the twenty-first to Jachin [He will establish], the twenty-second to Gamul [leading the 22nd course], word study 18 the twenty-third to Delaiah [Jehovah has drawn], and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah [consolation of Jehovah]. word study 19 This was their appointed [divine, officially designated] order for [priestly, spiritual] service [ministry, worship] when they entered the house [temple, dwelling place] of the LORD [Yehovah, the God of Israel], according to the regulations [instructions, ordinances] prescribed for them by their forefather [father, ancestor] Aaron, as the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the God [Elohim, the supreme Deity] of Israel, had commanded [given orders, appointed] him. word study 20 Now these were the remaining [left, to remain] descendants [sons, offspring] of Levi: From the sons [descendants, family] of Amram [exalted people]: Shubael [Shebuel, a Levite]; from the sons [descendants, family] of Shubael: Jehdeiah [Jehovah is unity, a Levite]. word study 21 As for Rehabiah [son of Eliezer, grandson of Moses], from his sons [descendants, family lineage]: The first [chief, head] was Isshiah [Jehovah will lend, a Korhite warrior]. word study 22 From the Izharites [descendants of Izhar, a Levite]: Shelomoth [a Levite living during the wilderness]; from the sons [descendants, offspring] of Shelomoth: Jahath [a Levite, son of Shelomoth]. word study 23 From the sons [descendants, family] of Hebron: Jeriah [the chief, first in rank] was the first [primary, of highest position], Amariah [a priestly leader] the second, Jahaziel [beheld of God, one who sees God] the third, and Jekameam [let the people rise, a leader] the fourth [in a series, completing]. word study 24 From the sons [descendants, family line] of Uzziel [my strength is God]: Micah [who is like God]; from the sons [offspring, heirs] of Micah: Shamir [a place of thorns, a Levite]. word study 25 The brother [close relative or male sibling] of Micah [Micaiah, who is like God]: Isshiah [Jehovah will lend]; from the sons [descendants or offspring] of Isshiah: Zechariah [Jehovah remembers]. word study 26 The sons [descendants, offspring] of Merari [bitter, a Levite]: Mahli [sick, weak] and Mushi [son of Merari, a Levite]. The son [offspring, descendant] of Jaaziah [made bold by Jehovah]: Beno [son of Jaaziah]. word study 27 The descendants [sons, offspring] of Merari [a Levite, from the tribe of Levi] from Jaaziah [made bold by Jehovah]: Beno, Shoham [onyx, a precious stone], Zaccur [mindful, one who remembers], and Ibri [a Hebrew, from the tribe of Levi]. word study 28 From Mahli [an Israelite, son of Mushi]: Eleazar [God has helped], who had [existed with] no sons [descendants, male children]. word study 29 From Kish [the father of king Saul, an ancestor of Mordecai]: Jerahmeel [may God have pity, a son of Kish] the son [a descendant, a grandson] of Kish [a name meaning gift, or bow]. word study 30 And the sons [descendants, offspring] of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These [specific ones, these individuals] were the sons [descendants, family members] of the Levites [priestly tribe, descendants of Levi], according to [in relation to, based on] their families [households, ancestral lines]. word study 31 As their brothers [fellow descendants, relatives] the descendants of Aaron [the first high priest, brother of Moses] did, they also cast [threw, drew] lots [allotted portions, decisions by chance] in the presence [face, before] of King David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] and of Zadok [a high priest, supporter of King David], Ahimelech [a priest, friend of King David], and the heads [chiefs, leaders] of the families [father’s households, clans] of the priests [spiritual leaders, mediators] and Levites [descendants of Levi, assistants to priests]—the family heads [chief fathers, patriarchs] and their younger brothers [younger siblings, relatives] alike [equally, in the same way]. word study