The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. ²But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did. They didn’t have any sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as the priests.

³With the help of Zadok and Ahimelech, David separated the priests into groups. Each group served in its appointed order and time. Zadok belonged to the family line of Eleazar. Ahimelech belonged to the family line of Ithamar. ⁴More leaders were found among Eleazar’s family line than among Ithamar’s. So the priests were separated into their groups based on that fact. There were 16 family leaders from Eleazar’s line. There were eight family leaders from Ithamar’s line.

⁵The priests were separated into their groups by using lots. That was the fair way to do it. The priests were officials of the temple and officials of God. They came from the family lines of Eleazar and Ithamar.

⁶Shemaiah was a Levite. He was the son of Nethanel. He was the writer who recorded the names of the priests. He wrote them down in front of the king and the officials. The officials included the priest Zadok and Ahimelech. Ahimelech was the son of Abiathar. They also included the leaders of the families of the priests and the Levites. One family was chosen by lot from Eleazar. Then one was chosen from Ithamar.

⁷The 1st lot that was drawn out was for Jehoiarib.

The 2nd was for Jedaiah.

⁸The 3rd was for Harim.

The 4th was for Seorim.

⁹The 5th was for Malkijah.

The 6th was for Mijamin.

¹⁰The 7th was for Hakkoz.

The 8th was for Abijah.

¹¹The 9th was for Jeshua.

The 10th was for Shecaniah.

¹²The 11th was for Eliashib.

The 12th was for Jakim.

¹³The 13th was for Huppah.

The 14th was for Jeshebeab.

¹⁴The 15th was for Bilgah.

The 16th was for Immer.

¹⁵The 17th was for Hezir.

The 18th was for Happizzez.

¹⁶The 19th was for Pethahiah.

The 20th was for Jehezkel.

¹⁷The 21st was for Jakin.

The 22nd was for Gamul.

¹⁸The 23rd was for Delaiah.

The 24th was for Maaziah.

¹⁹That was their appointed order for serving when they entered the Lord’s temple. That order was based on the rules Aaron had given them long ago. Everything was done exactly as the Lord had commanded Aaron. The Lord is the God of Israel.

The Rest of the Levites

²⁰Here are the other members of the family line of Levi.

From the sons of Amram came Shubael.

From the sons of Shubael came Jehdeiah.

²¹From the sons of Rehabiah came Isshiah.

Isshiah was the oldest.

²²From the people of Izhar came Shelomoth.

From the sons of Shelomoth came Jahath.

²³Jeriah was the first son of Hebron. Amariah was his second son. Jahaziel was the third. Jekameam was the fourth.

²⁴The son of Uzziel was Micah.

From the sons of Micah came Shamir.

²⁵The brother of Micah was Isshiah.

From the sons of Isshiah came Zechariah.

²⁶The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi.

The son of Jaaziah was Beno.

²⁷The sons of Merari

from Jaaziah were Beno, Shoham, Zaccur and Ibri.

²⁸From Mahli came Eleazar. Eleazar didn’t have any sons.

²⁹From Kish came

Jerahmeel. Jerahmeel was the son of Kish.

³⁰The sons of Mushi were Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth.

Those were the Levites, family by family. ³¹They cast lots, just as their relatives, the sons of Aaron, had done. They did it in front of King David, Zadok and Ahimelech. They did it in front of the family leaders of the priests. They also did it in front of the family leaders of the Levites. The families of the oldest brother were treated in the same way as the families of the youngest.

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