1 Chronicles 24:31

Verse 1 Chronicles 24:31. _THESE LIKEWISE CAST LOTS_] The Levites were divided into _twenty-four_ orders; and these were appointed by lot to serve under the _twenty-four_ orders of the priests: the first order of Levities under the first order of priests, and so on. The meaning is not very clear: "both elder and younger," says Bishop Patrick, "had their places by lot, not by seniority of houses. They who were of greater dignity drew lots against those who were of less; and were to take their courses according to the lot they drew." This may have been the case; but we are very little interested in the subject....

THE PRINCIPAL FATHERS OVER AGAINST THEIR YOUNGER BRETHREN - i. e., “all the Levitical houses enumerated drew lots in their courses on equal terms, the older families having no advantage over the younger ones.” As there were 24 courses of the priests, so we must suppose that there were 24 of the Levites, though the number of the families as given in the text 1 Chronicles 23:7; 1 Chronicles 24:20 is 25....

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 ...

THESE LIKEWISE CAST LOTS OVER AGAINST THEIR BRETHREN, THE SONS OF AARON,.... These, being divided into twenty four classes also, cast lots, which class should answer to, attend upon, and serve the first course of the priests, and which the second, and so on. And this they did in the same solemn and public manner as the priests had done: IN THE PRESENCE OF DAVID THE KING, AND ZADOK, AND AHIMELECH, AND THE CHIEF OF THE FATHERS OF THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES; as in 1 Chronicles 24:6 EVEN THE PRINCIPAL FATHERS OVER AGAINST THEIR YOUNGER BRETHREN; the sense is, either that the one stood over against the other, to be distributed by lot, the one as well as the other; or they were chosen by lot, let it fall as it would, without any regard to age or dignity, to the seniority or largeness of houses and families; but as they were chosen, be they younger or e

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....

CAST LOTS. See notes on the Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:30; Numbers 26:55). OVER AGAINST. equally with....

_over against their brethren_ R.V. EVEN AS THEIR BRETHREN. _and Ahimelech_ We expect _and Abiathar_; cp. 1 Chronicles 24:3; 1Ch 15:11; 1 Chronicles 18:16; with the notes. _the chief of the fathers_ R.V. THE HEADS OF THE FATHERS" HOUSES. even _the principal … brethren_ R.V. THE FATHERS" HOUSES OF THE CHIEF EVEN AS THOSE OF HIS YOUNGER BROTHER....

EVEN THE PRINCIPAL FATHERS OVER AGAINST THEIR YOUNGER BRETHREN— The meaning, says Bishop Patrick, is, that both elder and younger had their places by lot, not by seniority of houses: they who were of greater dignity drew lots against those who were of less, and all were to take their courses according to the lot that they drew. REFLECTIONS.—1st, The family of Eleazar, being most numerous, had sixteen courses; Ithamar only eight. That there might be no dispute about precedence, God appoints the determination of the order in which they should minister to be by lot: and these courses, though interrupted probably during the reigns of wicked kings, or in the captivity, yet subsisted still at their return, and till the destruction of the second temple. In Luke 1:5 we find John the Baptist's father of the course of Abijah,...

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