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1 Chronicles 24:31

in 1 Chronicles 24

As their brothers the descendants of Aaron did, they also cast lots in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the families of the priests and Levites—the family heads and their younger brothers alike.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

These likewise cast lots even as their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the priests and of the Levites; the fathers’ houses of the chief even as those of his younger brother.

KJV

These likewise cast lots over against their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren.

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This verse in 1 Chronicles 24

Commentary

5 notes on this verse
The principal fathers over against their younger brethren - i. e., “all the Levitical houses enumerated drew lots in their courses on equal terms, the older families having no advantage over the younger ones.” As there were 24 courses of the priests, so we must suppose that there were 24 of the Levites, though the number of the families as given in the text 1 Chr. 23:7-23; 1Ch 24:20-30 is 25.

This site's exposition

the rest of the sons

on 1 Chronicles 24:20-31

A second census follows for the rest of the Levites, the singers' and gatekeepers' own kin, organized under the houses of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, Uzziel and Merari and counted by household exactly as the priests were. Barnes counts twenty-five family heads named here against the twenty-four priestly courses, one more than the pattern would predict, and the text itself does not explain the difference. Verse 31 closes the chapter by restating its whole method, that these houses too cast lots in David's presence and the older families drew no advantage over the younger, precedence settled by lot rather than birth.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

The particular account of these establishments is of little use to us now; but, when Ezra published it, it was of great use to direct their church affairs after their return from captivity into the old channel again.
These likewise cast lots over against their brethren, the sons of Aaron,.... These, being divided into twenty four classes also, cast lots, which class should answer to, attend upon, and serve the first course of the priests, and which the second, and so on.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

These likewise cast lots - The Levites were divided into twenty-four orders; and these were appointed by lot to serve under the twenty-four orders of the priests: the first order of Levities under the first order of priests, and so on. The meaning is not very clear: “both elder and younger,” says Bishop Patrick, “had their places by lot, not by seniority of houses. They who were of greater dignity drew lots against those who were of less; and were to take their courses according to the lot they drew.” This may have been the case; but we are very little interested in the subject.

How the passage was read

What the Jewish commentators add

Avot the head opposite his younger kinsman. That was his name— Avot (=Avoth).
Radak: Provence, 1160–1235 · Radak on I Chronicles 24:31:1, via Sefaria, The Commentary of Radak to Chronicles: A Translation with Introduction and Supercommentary, by Yitzhak Berger, Brown University, 2007

This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.

Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.

The words behind it

22 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַיַּפִּילוּ֩and they cast

    vaiyapiluH5307 →435 times

  • גַם־also

    gam-H1571 →769 times

  • הֵ֨םthey

    hemH1992 →553 times

  • גּוֹרָל֜וֹתlots

    goralotH1486 →78 times

  • לְעֻמַּ֣ת׀<to> corresponding to

    leumatH5980 →32 times

  • אֲחֵיהֶ֣םrelatives their

    ʾacheihemH251 →630 times

  • בְּנֵֽי־[the] descendants of

    benei-H1121 →4930 times

  • אַהֲרֹ֗ןAaron

    ʾaharonH175 →347 times

  • לִפְנֵ֨י<to> before

    lifneiH6440 →2123 times

  • דָוִ֤ידDavid

    davidH1732 →999 times

  • הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙the king

    hamelekhH4428 →2525 times

  • וְצָד֣וֹקand Zadok

    vetzadokH6659 →53 times

  • וַאֲחִימֶ֔לֶךְand Ahimelech

    vaachimelekhH288 →16 times

  • וְרָאשֵׁי֙and [the] heads of

    verasheiH7218 →599 times

  • הָֽאָב֔וֹתthe fathers

    haavotH1 →1212 times

  • לַכֹּהֲנִ֖יםof the priests

    lakohanimH3548 →750 times

  • וְלַלְוִיִּ֑םand of the Levites

    velalviyimH3881 →291 times

  • אָב֣וֹתfathers

    ʾavotH1 →1212 times

  • הָרֹ֔אשׁthe chief

    haroshH7218 →599 times

  • לְעֻמַּ֖ת<to> corresponding to

    leumatH5980 →32 times

  • אָחִ֥יוbrother his

    ʾachivH251 →630 times

  • הַקָּטָֽן׃ ס<the> young

    hakatanH6996 →101 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

13 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

1 Chronicles 24:5–6Thus they were divided by lot, for there were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God among both Eleazar’s and Ithamar’s descendants.5 works1 Chronicles 26:13They cast lots for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.5 works1 Chronicles 25:8They cast lots for their duties, young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil.3 works1 Chronicles 24:3With the help of Eleazar’s descendant Zadok and Ithamar’s descendant Ahimelech, David divided them according to the offices of their service.3 worksNumbers 26:56Each inheritance is to be divided by lot among the larger and smaller tribes.”2 works1 Chronicles 27:17over Levi was Hashabiah son of Kemuel; over Aaron was Zadok;2 works
The other 7 cross-references, with their words ▾
1 Chronicles 6:53Zadok his son, and Ahimaaz his son.2 works2 Chronicles 1:2Then Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel—the heads of the families.2 works2 Chronicles 5:2At that time Solomon assembled in Jerusalem the elders of Israel—all the tribal heads and family leaders of the Israelites—to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Zion, the City of David.2 worksEzra 8:1These are the family heads and genealogical records of those who returned with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:2 works1 Chronicles 15:12And he said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves so that you may bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.2 worksProverbs 18:18Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents.2 works1 Chronicles 26:32Among Jerijah’s relatives there were 2,700 capable men who were heads of families. King David appointed them over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh for every matter pertaining to God and to the affairs of the king.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    1 Chronicles 26:13

    They cast lots for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.

    it leads to

    • 1 Chronicles 25:8

      They cast lots for their duties, young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil.

  • Through

    1 Chronicles 25:8

    They cast lots for their duties, young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil.

    it leads to

    • 1 Chronicles 26:13

      They cast lots for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.

    • 1 Chronicles 24:5

      Thus they were divided by lot, for there were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God among both Eleazar’s and Ithamar’s descendants.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Proverbs 16:33

      The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

    • 1 Chronicles 26:16

      The lots for the West Gate and the Shallecheth Gate on the ascending highway fell to Shuppim and Hosah. There were guards stationed at every watch.

    • 1 Chronicles 15:22

      Chenaniah the head Levite was the director of the music because he was highly skilled.

  • Through

    Numbers 26:56

    Each inheritance is to be divided by lot among the larger and smaller tribes.”

    it leads to

    • Romans 11:7

      What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,

    • 1 Corinthians 12:4

      There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.

About 1 Chronicles

Cedars Are Cut Down for the Jerusalem Temple, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Cedars Are Cut Down for the Jerusalem Temple, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
1 Chronicles: the study guide →Read 1 Chronicles 24 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil, The Books of the Chronicles and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in 1 Chronicles 24 →