Bible Commentaries

divisions . . . Aaron. 1Ch 24is concerning the courses of the priests, as 1Ch 23is of the Levites. Compare 1 Chronicles 23:6.

children = sons.

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

chief men = strong men. Hebrew. geber. App-14. Here denoting the heads of houses, or families.

divided by lot. See note on the Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:30).

God. Hebrew. Elohim.(with Art.) = the [true] God. App-4.

and of. Some codices, with four early printed editions, Aramaean, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and from among".

the scribe = the secretary. Compare 1 Chronicles 27:32. See note on 2 Samuel 8:17.

Ahimelech. So that Abiathar had a son named Ahimelech, who assisted him, as Hophni and Phinehas assisted Eli.

lot came forth. See notes on Exodus 28:30.

Jehoiarib. The twenty-four courses took, and kept, the names of these first heads (verses: 1 Chronicles 24:7-18). Each officiated a week (Sabbath to Sabbath), and Zacharias belonged to the eighth (Luke 1:5). Compare Neh 12. Solomon appointed the same courses, which were continued by Hezekiah and Josiah. Only four returned from the Captivity (Ezra 2:36-39. Nehemiah 7:39-42; Nehemiah 12:1-21). Luke 1:5 shows that they must have been made complete.

the orderings = the appointments: i.e. the order in which they fulfilled their service was all of Jehovah.

as = according as.

the rest of the sons of Levi. Verses 20-30 give the names of the heads of the twenty-four courses of Levites enumerated in 1 Chronicles 23:6-23.

Jeriah. Some codices, with eight early printed editions, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "and the sons of Jeriah", but the Ellipses are rightly supplied from Ch. 1 Chronicles 23:19.

Beno = his son; Jaaziah being a third son of Merari.

cast lots. See notes on the Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:30. Numbers 26:55).

over against = equally with.