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The Divisions of the Priests
v. 1. Now, these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Lev_10:1-6.
v. 2. But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, when they attempted to bring sacrifices which were not commanded by the Lord, Num_3:4, and had no children; therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office.
v. 3. And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons, that is, of the line, of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons, that is, of the line, of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service.
v. 4. And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar, in whose line the high priest's office should have remained alone, 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, a total of twenty-four father-houses.
v. 5. Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another, the lots being drawn alternately for one line and then for the other, in order to eliminate all appearance of favoritism 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.
v. 6. And Shemaiah, the son of Nethaneel, the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok, the priest, and Ahimelech, the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, one principal household, or father-house, being taken for Eleazar and one taken for Ithamar. The lots were drawn in such a manner as to have two lots of Eleazar to one of Ithamar, the classes being noted down as they were drawn from the urn.
v. 7. Now, the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
v. 8. the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
v. 9. the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
v. 10. the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
v. 11. the ninth to Jeshuah, the tenth to Shecaniah,
v. 12. the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim.
v. 13. the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
v. 14. the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
v. 15. the seventeenth to Hezer, the eighteenth to Aphses,
v. 16. the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel,
v. 17. the one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,
v. 18. the three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.
v. 19. These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the Lord, according to their manner, under Aaron, their father, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him, these orders being continued even after the exile, as in the case of Zechariah. For their antiquity, Cf Eze_8:16-18; Neh_12:1-7; Neh_12:21.