1 Chronicles 24

1 And the divisions of the sons of Aaron were: The sons of Aaron were Nadab, and Abihu, El'azar, 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 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and they had no children: and El'azar and Ithamar became 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 divided them off with Zadok of the sons of El'azar', and Achimelech of the sons of Ithamar, to their office in their service.

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 the sons of El'azar were found more numerous in the chiefs of males than the sons of Ithamar; and they divided them accordingly. Of the sons of El'azar there were sixteen chiefs of the family divisions, and of the sons of Ithamar, eight for their family divisions.

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 they divided them off by lot, both the first and the last; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors [of the house] of God, were from the sons of El'azar, and from 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 Shema'yah the son of Nethanel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them down before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Achimelech the son of Ebyathar, and the chiefs of the families of the priests and Levites: one family division being drawn of El'azar, and one being equally drawn of 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 there came out the first lot for Jehoyarib, for Jeda'yah the second,

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

8 For Charim the third, for Se'orim the fourth,

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

9 For Malkiyah the fifth, for Miyamin the sixth.

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

10 For Hakkoz the seventh, for Abiyah the eighth,

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

11 For Jeshua' the ninth, for Shechanyahu the tenth,

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

12 For Elyashib the eleventh, for Jakim the twelfth,

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

13 For Chuppah the thirteenth, for Jeshehah the fourteenth,

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

14 For Bilgah the fifteenth, for Immer the sixteenth,

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

15 For Chezir the seventeenth, for Happizzez the eighteenth,

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

16 For Pethachyah the nineteenth, for Ezekiel the twentieth.

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

17 For Jachin the one and twentieth, for Gamul the two and twentieth,

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

18 For Delayahu the three and twentieth, for Ma'azyahu the four and twentieth.

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

19 This was their office in their service to come into the house of the Lord, according to the manner prescribed to them, under the supervision of Aaron their father, as the Lord the God of Israel had commanded him.

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 of the rest of the sons of Levi there were, of the sons of 'Amram: Shubael. Of the sons of Shubael: Jechdeyahu.

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

21 Concerning Rechabyahu, of the sons of Rechabyahu the chief was Yishiyah.

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

22 Of the Yisharites was Shelomoth: of the sons of Shelomoth was Jachath.

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

23 And the sons [of Hebron]: Jeriyah, Amaryahu the second, Jachaziel the third, Jekam'am the fourth.

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

24 [Of] the sons of 'Uzziel, Michah: of the sons of Michah, Shamir.

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

25 The brother of Michah was Yishiyah; of the sons of Yishiyah, Zecharyahu.

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

26 The sons of Merari were Machli and Mushi: the sons of Ja'aziyahu, Beno.

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

27 The sons of Merari by Ja'aziyahu: Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and 'Ibri.

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

28 Of Machli: El'azar, who had no sons.

Mahli’s son Eleazar did not have any sons.

29 Of Kish: The son of Kish was Jerachmeel.

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

30 And the sons of Mushi were Machli, and 'Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after their family divisions.

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 These likewise cast lots in the same manner as their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of king David, and Zadok, and Achimelech, and the chiefs of the families of the priests and Levites, even the principal of the families equally with his youngest brother.

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.