1 Chronicles 24

1 These are the groups of the descendants of Aaron [the first Supreme Priest]: Aaron’s four sons were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

Now the divisions into which the sons of Aaron were grouped were these: the sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father died, and they had no children. So their [younger] brothers Eleazar and Ithamar became the priests.

But Nadab and Abihu came to their end before their father, and had no children; so Eleazar and Ithamar did the work of priests.

3 Zadok, who was a descendant of Eleazar, and Ahimelech, who was a descendant of Ithamar, helped David to separate his descendants into two groups. Each group had certain duties.

And David, with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, made distribution of them into their positions for their work.

4 There were more leaders among the descendants of Eleazar than there were among the descendants of Ithamar. So they appointed 16 leaders from Eleazar’s descendants and eight leaders from Ithamar’s descendants.

And there were more chiefs among the sons of Eleazar than among the sons of Ithamar; and this is how they were grouped: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, all heads of families; and of the sons of Ithamar, heads of families, there were eight.

5 There were temple officials and priests, including descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar, to make sure that the work was divided fairly. So they decided what work each person would do by (casting lots/throwing marked stones).

So they were put into groups, by the Lord's decision, one with another; for there were rulers of the holy place and rulers of the house of God among the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar.

6 Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel, who was a descendant of Levi, wrote down the names [of the leaders of each group] while David and his officials were watching. Zadok, the [Supreme] Priest, and Ahimelech [his assistant], and the leaders of the families of the priests and of the families of the other descendants of Levi also watched.

And Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel the scribe, who was a Levite, put down their names in writing, the king being present with the rulers, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech, the son of Abiathar, and the heads of families of the priests and the Levites; one family being taken for Eleazar and then one for Ithamar, and so on.

7 Jehoiarib was the first one whose name was selected [by casting lots/throwing marked stones]. Next Jedaiah was selected.

Now the first name to come out was that of Jehoiarib; the second Jedaiah,

8 Next, Harim was selected. Next, Seorim was selected.

The third Harim, the fourth Seorim,

9 Next, Malkijah was selected. Next, Mijamin was selected.

The fifth Malchijah, the sixth Mijamin,

10 Next, Hakkoz was selected. Next, Abijah was selected.

The seventh Hakkoz, the eighth Abijah,

11 Next, Jeshua was selected. Next, Shecaniah was selected.

The ninth Jeshua, the tenth Shecaniah,

12 Next, Eliashib was selected. Next, Jakim was selected.

The eleventh Eliashib, the twelfth Jakim,

13 Next, Huppah was selected. Next, Jeshebeab was selected.

The thirteenth Huppah, the fourteenth Jeshebeab,

14 Next, Bilgah was selected. Next, Immer was selected.

The fifteenth Bilgah, the sixteenth Immer,

15 Next, Hezir was selected. Next, Happizzez was selected.

The seventeenth Hezir, the eighteenth Happizzez,

16 Next, Pethahiah was selected. Next, Jehezkel was selected.

The nineteenth Pethahiah, the twentieth Jehezkel,

17 Next, Jakin was selected. Next, Gamul was selected.

The twenty-first Jachin, the twenty-second Gamul,

18 Next, Delaiah was selected. Next, Maaziah was selected.

The twenty-third Delaiah, the twenty-fourth Maaziah.

19 Those were the men who were chosen to be the leaders of the groups that would serve in the temple, obeying the regulations that were set down by Aaron, regulations which Yahweh, the God to whom the Israeli people belonged, had given to him.

So they were put into their different groups, to take their places in the house of the Lord, in agreement with the rules made by Aaron their father, as the Lord, the God of Israel, had given him orders.

20 [This is a list of some of] the other descendants of Levi: Amram was the ancestor of Shubael and Jehdeiah.

And of the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.

21 Rehabiah was the ancestor of Isshiah, the oldest son in his family.

Of Rehabiah; of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the chief.

22 Izhar was the father of Shelomoth and the grandfather of Jahath.

Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.

23 [Kohath’s son] Hebron had four sons: Jeriah and his [younger] brothers Amariah, Jahaziel, and Jekameam.

And the sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.

24 Uzziel was the father of Micah and the grandfather of Shamir.

The sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir.

25 Micah’s [younger] brother was the father of Zechariah.

The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.

26 The sons of Merari were Mahli, Mushi, and Jaaziah.

The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah.

27 Jaaziah had four sons: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.

The sons of Merari: of Jaaziah, Shoham and Zaccur and Ibri.

28 Mahli’s son Eleazar did not have any sons.

Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.

29 From the descendants of [Mahli’s second son] there was Jerahmeel.

Of Kish: the sons of Kish, Jerahmeel.

30 The sons of Mushi were Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. Those were descendants of Levi who were listed according to the leaders of their families.

And the sons of Mushi: Mahli and Eder and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites by their families.

31 The jobs they would do were decided by (casting lots/throwing marked stones), like their fellow Israelis, the descendants of Aaron, did. They cast lots {The lots were cast} while King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the leaders of the families of the priests and the [other] descendants of Levi watched. They gave the same jobs to the families of each oldest brother and each youngest brother.

Selection was made of these in the same way as of their brothers the sons of Aaron, David the king being present, with Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites; the families of the chief in the same way as those of his younger brother.