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.
The sons of Aaron were placed in divisions as follows. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, 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 died before their father did, and they had no sons. Only Eleazar and Ithamar carried on as 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.
With the help of Zadok, a descendant of Eleazar, and Ithamar, a descendant Ahimelech, David placed them in divisions according to their appointed duties.
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.
Because Eleazar's descendants had more leaders than those of Ithamar, they were divided like this: sixteen family leaders from the descendants of Eleazar, and eight from the descendants of Ithamar.
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).
They were divided by casting lots, without preference, for there were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God from both 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.
Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, was the secretary. He wrote down the names and assignments in the presence of the king, the officials, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the family leaders of the priests and Levites. One family from Eleazar and one from Ithamar were chosen in turn.
7 Jehoiarib was the first one whose name was selected [by casting lots/throwing marked stones]. Next Jedaiah was selected.
The first lot fell to Jehoiarib. The second to Jedaiah.
8 Next, Harim was selected. Next, Seorim was selected.
The third to Harim. The fourth to Seorim.
9 Next, Malkijah was selected. Next, Mijamin was selected.
The fifth to Malkijah. The sixth to Mijamin.
10 Next, Hakkoz was selected. Next, Abijah was selected.
The seventh to Hakkoz. The eighth to Abijah.
11 Next, Jeshua was selected. Next, Shecaniah was selected.
The ninth to Jeshua. The tenth to Shecaniah.
12 Next, Eliashib was selected. Next, Jakim was selected.
The eleventh to Eliashib. The twelfth to Jakim.
13 Next, Huppah was selected. Next, Jeshebeab was selected.
The thirteenth to Huppah. The fourteenth to Jeshebeab.
14 Next, Bilgah was selected. Next, Immer was selected.
The fifteenth to Bilgah. The sixteenth to Immer.
15 Next, Hezir was selected. Next, Happizzez was selected.
The seventeenth to Hezir. The eighteenth to Happizzez.
16 Next, Pethahiah was selected. Next, Jehezkel was selected.
The nineteenth to Pethahiah. The twentieth to Jehezkel.
17 Next, Jakin was selected. Next, Gamul was selected.
The twenty-first to Jakin. The twenty-second to Gamul.
18 Next, Delaiah was selected. Next, Maaziah was selected.
The twenty-third to Delaiah. The twenty-fourth to 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.
This was the order in which each group were to serve when they came into the house of the Lord, following the procedure defined for them by their forefather Aaron, as instructed by the Lord, the God of Israel.
20 [This is a list of some of] the other descendants of Levi: Amram was the ancestor of Shubael and Jehdeiah.
These were the rest of the sons of Levi: from the sons of Amram: Shubael; from the sons of Shubael: Jehdeiah.
21 Rehabiah was the ancestor of Isshiah, the oldest son in his family.
For Rehabiah, from his sons: Isshiah (first).
22 Izhar was the father of Shelomoth and the grandfather of Jahath.
From the Izharites: Shelomoth; from the sons of Shelomoth: Jahath.
23 [Kohath’s son] Hebron had four sons: Jeriah and his [younger] brothers Amariah, Jahaziel, and Jekameam.
The sons of Hebron: Jeriah (first), Amariah (second), Jahaziel (third), and Jekameam (fourth).
24 Uzziel was the father of Micah and the grandfather of Shamir.
The son of Uzziel: Micah; from the sons of Micah: Shamir.
25 Micah’s [younger] brother was the father of Zechariah.
The brother of Micah: Isshiah; from the sons of Isshiah: Zechariah.
26 The sons of Merari were Mahli, Mushi, and Jaaziah.
The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The son of Jaaziah: Beno.
27 Jaaziah had four sons: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.
The sons of Merari: from Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur and Ibri.
28 Mahli’s son Eleazar did not have any sons.
From Mahli: Eleazar, who did not have any sons.
29 From the descendants of [Mahli’s second son] there was Jerahmeel.
From Kish: the son 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.
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites, according to 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.
They also cast lots in the same way their relatives the descendants of Aaron did. They did this in the presence of King David, and of Zadok, Ahimelech, and the family leaders of the priests and of the Levites, the family leaders and their youngest brothers alike.
