1 Chronicles 24:1–19

Duties of the Priests

This is how Aaron’s descendants, the priests, were divided into groups for service. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ²But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and they had no sons. So only Eleazar and Ithamar were left to carry on as priests.

³With the help of Zadok, who was a descendant of Eleazar, and of Ahimelech, who was a descendant of Ithamar, David divided Aaron’s descendants into groups according to their various duties. ⁴Eleazar’s descendants were divided into sixteen groups and Ithamar’s into eight, for there were more family leaders among the descendants of Eleazar.

⁵All tasks were assigned to the various groups by means of sacred lots so that no preference would be shown, for there were many qualified officials serving God in the sanctuary from among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar. ⁶Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, acted as secretary and wrote down the names and assignments in the presence of the king, the officials, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the family leaders of the priests and Levites. The descendants of Eleazar and Ithamar took turns casting lots.

⁷The first lot fell to Jehoiarib.

The second lot fell to Jedaiah.

⁸The third lot fell to Harim.

The fourth lot fell to Seorim.

⁹The fifth lot fell to Malkijah.

The sixth lot fell to Mijamin.

¹⁰The seventh lot fell to Hakkoz.

The eighth lot fell to Abijah.

¹¹The ninth lot fell to Jeshua.

The tenth lot fell to Shecaniah.

¹²The eleventh lot fell to Eliashib.

The twelfth lot fell to Jakim.

¹³The thirteenth lot fell to Huppah.

The fourteenth lot fell to Jeshebeab.

¹⁴The fifteenth lot fell to Bilgah.

The sixteenth lot fell to Immer.

¹⁵The seventeenth lot fell to Hezir.

The eighteenth lot fell to Happizzez.

¹⁶The nineteenth lot fell to Pethahiah.

The twentieth lot fell to Jehezkel.

¹⁷The twenty-first lot fell to Jakin.

The twenty-second lot fell to Gamul.

¹⁸The twenty-third lot fell to Delaiah.

The twenty-fourth lot fell to Maaziah.

¹⁹Each group carried out its appointed duties in the house of the Lord according to the procedures established by their ancestor Aaron in obedience to the commands of the Lord, the God of Israel.