1 Chronicles 24:3

_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 ... and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar. This statement, taken in connection with 1 Chronicles 24:6 is not a little perplexing, since (2 Samuel 15:24; 2 Samuel 15:35; 2 Samuel 20:25) Abiathar is mentioned as the person conjoined, in David's time, with Zadok in the collegiate exercise of the high priesthood. Some think that the words have been transposed, reading, Abiathar the son of Ahimelech. But there is no ground for regarding the text as fault

Verse 1 Chronicles 24:3. _AND AHIMELECH_] Ahimelech is put here for _Abiathar_, who was high priest in the days of David. Abiathar had also the name of Ahimelech, as well as his father. See _Calmet_....

Zadok and Ahimelech (rather Abiathar, see 1 Chronicles 24:6) assisted David in drawing up the priestly courses, as the “captains of the host” assisted him in making the divisions of the singers 1 Chronicles 25:1....

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 ...

AND DAVID DISTRIBUTED THEM,.... The posterities of Eleazar and Ithamar into certain classes or courses: BOTH ZADOK OF THE SONS OF ELEAZAR, AND AHIMELECH OF THE SONS OF ITHAMAR; these were the two principal men of the respective families, the one was high priest, and the other "sagan" or deputy; or they both officiated as high priests alternately, until the one was removed in Solomon's time, and the other established alone. And now their brethren the priests, who were under each of these, are the persons David divided into classes: ACCORDING TO THEIR OFFICES IN THEIR SERVICE: to perform their office as priests in the service of the temple in their turns....

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....

DISTRIBUTED. divided into courses, as in 1 Chronicles 23:6....

_David distributed them, both Zadok … and Ahimelech_ R.V. DAVID WITH ZADOK … AND AHIMELECH … DIVIDED THEM. _Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar_ The colleague of Zadok in the priesthood is variously named in different passages: 1 Chronicles 24:3. Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar. 1 Chronicles 24:6. Ahimelech the son of Abiathar. 1 Chronicles 18:16. Abimelech the son of Abiathar. Probably the same person is meant throughout, the confusion springing from a false reading in 1 Samuel 8:17, _Ahimelech the son of Abiathar_for Abiathar the son of

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