1 Chronicles 24

1 Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

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

2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office.

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

3 And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service.

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.

4 And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; 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.

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.

5 Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.

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).

6 And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, recorded them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the heads of the father’s houses of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.

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.

7 Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,

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

8 The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,

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

9 The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,

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

10 The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,

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

11 The ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,

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

12 The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,

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

13 The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,

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

14 The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,

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

15 The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses,

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

16 The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel,

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

17 The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,

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

18 The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.

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

19 These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their custom, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.

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.

20 And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram; Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdeiah.

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

21 Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah.

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

22 Of the Izharites; Shelomoth: of the sons of Shelomoth; Jahath.

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

23 And the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.

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

24 Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah: of the sons of Michah; Shamir.

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

25 The brother of Michah was Isshiah: of the sons of Isshiah; Zechariah.

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

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

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

27 The sons of Merari by Jaaziah; Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.

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

28 Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons.

Mahli’s son Eleazar did not have any sons.

29 Concerning Kish: the son of Kish was Jerahmeel.

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

30 The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after the house of their fathers.

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

31 These likewise cast lots even as their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the heads of the father’s houses of the priests and Levites, even the principal fathers even as their younger brethren.

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.