1 Chronicles 24:2

_BUT NADAB AND ABIHU DIED BEFORE THEIR FATHER, AND HAD NO CHILDREN: THEREFORE ELEAZAR AND ITHAMAR EXECUTED THE PRIEST'S OFFICE._ Nadab and Abihu died before their father - i:e., not in his presence, but during his lifetime (see marginal reference). THEREFORE ELEAZAR AND ITHAMAR EXECUTED THE PRIEST'S OFFICE. In consequence of the death of his two oldest sons without issue, the descendants of Aaron were comprised in the families of Eleazar and Ithamar. Both of these sons discharged the priestly functions as assistants to their father. Eleazar succeeded him, and in his line the high priesthood continued until it was transferred to the family of Ithamar, in the person of Eli....

Verse 1 Chronicles 24:2. _NADAB AND ABIHU DIED BEFORE THEIR FATHER_] That is, during his lifetime. _ELEAZAR AND ITHAMAR EXECUTED THE PRIEST'S OFFICE._] These two served the office during the life of their father Aaron; after his death Eleazar succeeded in the high priesthood. And under Eli the high priest, the family of Ithamar re-entered into that office....

EXPOSITION 1 CHRONICLES 24:1 The twenty-four classes of priests. 1 CHRONICLES 24:1 The Hebrew of this verse reads, AND TO THE SONS OF AARON, THEIR DIVISIONS מַחְלְקוֹתָם); THE SONS OF AARON: NADEB AND ABIHU, ELEAZAR AND ITHAMAR. The word "divisions" is the same word that is translated "courses" in 1 Chronicles 24:6, and which verse also would read literally, "And David divided them divisions to the sons of Levi, to Gershon, Kohath, and Merari." Our present verse evidently continues both the subject and construction of that verse. Of the four sons ...

BUT NADAB AND ABIHU DIED BEFORE THEIR FATHER,.... While he was living, see Leviticus 10:1 AND HAD NO CHILDREN, THEREFORE ELEAZAR AND ITHAMAR EXECUTED THE PRIESTS' OFFICE: otherwise, as Jarchi observes, had their brethren left children, they would have come into the office before them....

3. THE TWENTY-FOUR COURSES OF THE PRIESTS CHAPTER 24 _ 1. The twenty-four courses (1 Chronicles 24:1)_ 2. The organization of other Levites (1 Chronicles 24:20) In the previous chapter we read of 24,000 Levites set apart for the service. In the next chapter we find twenty-four leaders of song and music appointed, and here David instituted twenty-four courses of priests. Each of these ministered a full week, from one sabbath to the next. These courses were not only continued by Solomon, but also by Hezekiah and Josiah. From Luke 1:5, we learn the same order was still followed in the days our Lord was born. Zecharias belonged to the eighth course, that of Abijah. In the bo

The courses of the priests (the sons of Aaron), twenty-four in number, took their turns in the service of the Temple, and each course cast lots for the particular place of service of each priest (_cf._ Luke 1:8 f.). 1 Chronicles 24:20. Another list of Levites; this is probably from a later hand; the names coincide to a large extent with those already given in 1 Chronicles 23:7, though some new ones are added....

CHILDREN. sons....

_Nadab and Abihu died_ By fire from heaven as a punishment for sacrilege; Leviticus 10:1-2; Numbers 3:4....

16. THE CLASSES OF PRIESTS AND LEVITES (Chapter 24) TEXT 1 Chronicles 24:1. And the courses of the sons of Aaron were these. The sons of Aaron: Nadab and 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. 3. And David with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their ordering in their service. 4. And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar then of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of fathers-' houses; and of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers-' houses, eight. 5. Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for there were princes of the sanctuary, and princes of God, both of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons

THE COURSES OF THE SONS OF AARON 1. Divisions.. Aaron] i.e. courses of the priests, corresponding to the course of the Levites described in 1 Chronicles 23:6....