1 Chronicles 24:1-31
The Groups of Priests
The priests in the family line of Aaron were separated into groups. The groups were separated according to the sons of Aaron.
The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did. They didn’t have any sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as the priests. With the help of Zadok and Ahimelek, David separated the priests into groups. Each group served in its appointed order and time. Zadok belonged to the family line of Eleazar. Ahimelek belonged to the family line of Ithamar. More leaders were found among Eleazar’s family line than among Ithamar’s. So the priests were separated into their groups based on that fact. There were 16 family leaders from Eleazar’s line. There were eight family leaders from Ithamar’s line. The priests were separated into their groups by casting lots. That was the fair way to do it. The priests were officials of the temple and officials of God. They came from the family lines of Eleazar and Ithamar.
Shemaiah was a Levite. He was the son of Nethanel. Shemaiah was the writer who recorded the names of the priests. He wrote them down in front of the king and the officials. The officials included Zadok the priest and Ahimelek. Ahimelek was the son of Abiathar. The officials also included the leaders of the families of the priests and the Levites. One family was chosen by lot from Eleazar’s group. Then one was chosen from Ithamar’s group.
The 1st lot chosen was for Jehoiarib.
The 2nd was for Jedaiah.
The 3rd was for Harim.
The 4th was for Seorim.
The 5th was for Malkijah.
The 6th was for Mijamin.
The 7th was for Hakkoz.
The 8th was for Abijah.
The 9th was for Jeshua.
The 10th was for Shekaniah.
The 11th was for Eliashib.
The 12th was for Jakim.
The 13th was for Huppah.
The 14th was for Jeshebeab.
The 15th was for Bilgah.
The 16th was for Immer.
The 17th was for Hezir.
The 18th was for Happizzez.
The 19th was for Pethahiah.
The 20th was for Jehezkel.
The 21st was for Jakin.
The 22nd was for Gamul.
The 23rd was for Delaiah.
The 24th was for Maaziah.
That was their appointed order for serving when they entered the Lord’s temple. That order was based on the rules Aaron had given them long ago. Everything was done exactly as the Lord had commanded Aaron. The Lord is the God of Israel.
The Rest of the Levites
Here are the other members of the family line of Levi.
From the sons of Amram came Shubael.
From the sons of Shubael came Jehdeiah.
From the sons of Rehabiah came Ishiah. Ishiah was the oldest.
From the people of Izhar came Shelomoth.
From the sons of Shelomoth came Jahath.
Jeriah was the first son of Hebron. Amariah was his second son. Jahaziel was the third. Jekameam was the fourth.
The son of Uzziel was Micah.
From the sons of Micah came Shamir.
The brother of Micah was Ishiah.
From the sons of Ishiah came Zechariah.
The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi.
The son of Jaaziah was Beno.
The sons of Merari
from Jaaziah were Beno, Shoham, Zakkur and Ibri.
From Mahli came Eleazar. Eleazar didn’t have any sons.
From Kish came Jerahmeel. Jerahmeel was the son of Kish.
The sons of Mushi were Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth.
Those were the Levites, family by family.
They cast lots just as their relatives had done. Their relatives were in the family line of Aaron. They cast lots in front of King David, Zadok and Ahimelek. They did it in front of the family leaders of the priests. They also did it in front of the family leaders of the Levites. The families of the oldest brother were treated in the same way as the families of the youngest.
1 Chronicles 25:1-31
The Musicians
David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun. They set them apart to serve the Lord by prophesying while harps, lyres and cymbals were being played. Here is the list of the men who served in that way.
From the sons of Asaph came
Zakkur, Joseph, Nethaniah and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph. He prophesied under the king’s direction.
From the sons of Jeduthun came
Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah and Mattithiah. The total number was six. They were under the direction of their father Jeduthun. He prophesied while playing the harp. He used it to thank and praise the Lord.
From the sons of Heman came
Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir and Mahazioth. All of them were sons of the king’s prophet Heman. They were given to Heman to bring him honor. That’s what God had promised. God gave him 14 sons and three daughters.
All of them were under the direction of their father. They played music for the Lord’s temple. They served at the house of God by playing cymbals, lyres and harps. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman were under the king’s direction.
All of them were trained and skilled in playing music for the Lord. Their total number was 288. That included their relatives. Young and old alike cast lots for their duties. That was true for students as well as teachers.
The 1st lot chosen was for Asaph. It was for Joseph and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.
The 2nd lot was for Gedaliah and his relatives and sons. The total number was 12.
The 3rd was for Zakkur and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.
The 4th was for Izri and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.
The 5th was for Nethaniah and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.
The 6th was for Bukkiah and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.
The 7th was for Jesarelah and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.
The 8th was for Jeshaiah and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.
The 9th was for Mattaniah and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.
The 10th was for Shimei and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.
The 11th was for Azarel and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.
The 12th was for Hashabiah and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.
The 13th was for Shubael and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.
The 14th was for Mattithiah and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.
The 15th was for Jerimoth and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.
The 16th was for Hananiah and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.
The 17th was for Joshbekashah and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.
The 18th was for Hanani and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.
The 19th was for Mallothi and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.
The 20th was for Eliathah and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.
The 21st was for Hothir and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.
The 22nd was for Giddalti and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.
The 23rd was for Mahazioth and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.
The 24th was for Romamti-Ezer and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.
1 Chronicles 26:1-19
The Men Who Guarded the Gates
Here are the groups of men who guarded the gates.
From the family of Korah came
Meshelemiah, the son of Kore. Kore was one of the sons of Asaph. Meshelemiah had sons.
Zechariah was his first son.
Jediael was his second son.
Zebadiah was the third.
Jathniel was the fourth.
Elam was the fifth.
Jehohanan was the sixth.
And Eliehoenai was the seventh.
Obed-Edom also had sons.
Shemaiah was his first son.
Jehozabad was his second son.
Joah was the third.
Sakar was the fourth.
Nethanel was the fifth.
Ammiel was the sixth.
Issachar was the seventh.
And Peullethai was the eighth.
God had blessed Obed-Edom.
Obed-Edom’s son Shemaiah also had sons. They were leaders in their family. That’s because they were men of great ability. The sons of Shemaiah were
Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad.
Elzabad’s relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also capable men.
All of them belonged to the family line of Obed-Edom. They and their sons and relatives were capable men. They were strong enough to do their work. The total number of men in the family line of Obed-Edom was 62.
Meshelemiah’s sons and relatives were capable men. Their total number was 18.
Hosah belonged to the family line of Merari. Hosah’s first son was
Shimri. But Shimri wasn’t the oldest son. His father had made him the first.
Hilkiah was Hosah’s second son.
Tabaliah was the third.
Zechariah was the fourth.
The total number of Hosah’s sons and relatives was 13.
Those groups of men guarded the gates. They worked under their leaders. They served at the Lord’s temple, just as their relatives had served. Lots were cast for each gate, family by family. Young and old alike were chosen.
The lot chosen for the East Gate was for Shelemiah.
Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah, who gave wise advice. The lot chosen for the North Gate was for Zechariah.
The lot chosen for the South Gate was for Obed-Edom. The lot chosen for the storeroom was for his sons.
Lots were chosen for the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the upper road. Those lots were chosen for Shuppim and Hosah.
One guard stood next to another.
There were six Levites a day on the east.
There were four a day on the north.
There were four a day on the south.
And there were two at a time at the storeroom.
Two Levite guards were at the courtyard to the west. And four were at the road.
Those were the groups of the men who guarded the gates. They belonged to the family lines of Korah and Merari.
