Chronicles I 24

1 And [they number] the sons of Aaron in [their] division, Nadab, and Abiud, and Eleazar, and Ithamar.

These are the groups of the descendants of Aaron [the first Supreme Priest]: Aaron’s four sons were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

2 And Nadab and Abiud died before their father, and they had no sons: so Eleazar and Ithamar the sons of Aaron ministered as priests.

But Nadab and Abihu died before their father died, and they had no children. So their [younger] brothers Eleazar and Ithamar became the priests.

3 And David distributed them, even Sadoc of the sons of Eleazar, and Achimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their numbering, according to their service, according to the houses of their fathers.

Zadok, who was a descendant of Eleazar, and Ahimelech, who was a descendant of Ithamar, helped David to separate his descendants into two groups. Each group had certain duties.

4 And there were found [among] the sons of Eleazar more chiefs of the mighty ones, than of the sons of Ithamar: and he divided them, sixteen heads of families to the sons of Eleazar, eight according to [their] families to the sons of Ithamar.

There were more leaders among the descendants of Eleazar than there were among the descendants of Ithamar. So they appointed 16 leaders from Eleazar’s descendants and eight leaders from Ithamar’s descendants.

5 And he divided them according to their lots, one with the other; for there were those who had charge of the holy things, and those who had charge of the [house] of the Lord among the sons of Eleazar, and among the sons of Ithamar.

There were temple officials and priests, including descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar, to make sure that the work was divided fairly. So they decided what work each person would do by (casting lots/throwing marked stones).

6 And Samaias the son of Nathanael, the scribe, [of the family] of Levi, wrote them down before the king, and the princes, and Sadoc the priest, and Achimelech the son of Abiathar [were present]; and the heads of the families of the priests and the Levites, each of a household [were assigned] one to Eleazar, and one to Ithamar.

Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel, who was a descendant of Levi, wrote down the names [of the leaders of each group] while David and his officials were watching. Zadok, the [Supreme] Priest, and Ahimelech [his assistant], and the leaders of the families of the priests and of the families of the other descendants of Levi also watched.

7 And the first lot came out to Joarim, the second to Jedia,

Jehoiarib was the first one whose name was selected [by casting lots/throwing marked stones]. Next Jedaiah was selected.

8 the third to Charib, the fourth to Seorim,

Next, Harim was selected. Next, Seorim was selected.

9 the fifth to Melchias, the sixth to Meiamin,

Next, Malkijah was selected. Next, Mijamin was selected.

10 the seventh to Cos, the eighth to Abia,

Next, Hakkoz was selected. Next, Abijah was selected.

11 the ninth to Jesus, the tenth to Sechenias,

Next, Jeshua was selected. Next, Shecaniah was selected.

12 the eleventh to Eliabi, the twelfth to Jacim,

Next, Eliashib was selected. Next, Jakim was selected.

13 the thirteenth to Oppha, the fourteenth to Jesbaal,

Next, Huppah was selected. Next, Jeshebeab was selected.

14 the fifteenth to Belga, the sixteenth to Emmer,

Next, Bilgah was selected. Next, Immer was selected.

15 the seventeenth to Chezin, the eighteenth to Aphese,

Next, Hezir was selected. Next, Happizzez was selected.

16 the nineteenth to Phetaea, the twentieth to Ezekel,

Next, Pethahiah was selected. Next, Jehezkel was selected.

17 the twenty-first to Achim, the twenty-second to Gamul,

Next, Jakin was selected. Next, Gamul was selected.

18 the twenty-third to Adallai, the twenty-fourth to Maasai.

Next, Delaiah was selected. Next, Maaziah was selected.

19 This [is] their numbering according to their service to go into the house of the Lord, according to their appointment by the hand of Aaron their father, as the Lord God of Israel commanded.

Those were the men who were chosen to be the leaders of the groups that would serve in the temple, obeying the regulations that were set down by Aaron, regulations which Yahweh, the God to whom the Israeli people belonged, had given to him.

20 And for the sons of Levi that were left, [even] for the sons of Ambram, Sobael: for the sons of Sobael, Jedia.

[This is a list of some of] the other descendants of Levi: Amram was the ancestor of Shubael and Jehdeiah.

21 For Raabia, the chief [was Isaari],

Rehabiah was the ancestor of Isshiah, the oldest son in his family.

22 and for Isaari, Salomoth: for the sons of Salomoth, Jath.

Izhar was the father of Shelomoth and the grandfather of Jahath.

23 The sons of Ecdiu; Amadia the second, Jaziel the third, Jecmoam the fourth.

[Kohath’s son] Hebron had four sons: Jeriah and his [younger] brothers Amariah, Jahaziel, and Jekameam.

24 For the sons of Oziel, Micha: the sons of Micha; Samer.

Uzziel was the father of Micah and the grandfather of Shamir.

25 The brother of Micha; Isia, the son of Isia; Zacharia.

Micah’s [younger] brother was the father of Zechariah.

26 The sons of Merari, Mooli, and Musi: the sons of Ozia,

The sons of Merari were Mahli, Mushi, and Jaaziah.

27 [That is, the sons] of Merari by Ozia, —his sons [were] Isoam, and Sacchur, and Abai.

Jaaziah had four sons: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.

28 To Mooli [were born] Eleazar, and Ithamar; and Eleazar died, and had no sons.

Mahli’s son Eleazar did not have any sons.

29 For Kis; the sons of Kis; Jerameel.

From the descendants of [Mahli’s second son] there was Jerahmeel.

30 And the sons of Musi; Mooli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These [were] the sons of the Levites according to the houses of their families.

The sons of Mushi were Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. Those were descendants of Levi who were listed according to the leaders of their families.

31 And they also received lots as their brethren the sons of Aaron before the king; Sadoc also, and Achimelech, and the chiefs of the families of the priests and of the Levites, principal heads of families, even as their younger brethren.

The jobs they would do were decided by (casting lots/throwing marked stones), like their fellow Israelis, the descendants of Aaron, did. They cast lots {The lots were cast} while King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the leaders of the families of the priests and the [other] descendants of Levi watched. They gave the same jobs to the families of each oldest brother and each youngest brother.