1 Chronicles

Retells some stories from Samuel and Kings, focusing on King David and the importance of worship.

Chapter 24

1 Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

*Now, here are the groups of Aaron's children: Aaron's children are Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office.

*Nadab and Abihu passed away before their dad and didn't have kids, so Eleazar and Ithamar took over the priest job.

3 And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service.

*David assigned Zadok from Eleazar's family and Ahimelech from Ithamar's family to their respective roles in serving.

4 And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers.

*In simpler terms, this verse says that there were more important people from the family of Eleazar than from the family of Ithamar. They divided them like this: There were 16 leaders in the Eleazar family and 8 leaders in the Ithamar family.

5 Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.

*So, they used a method to separate them into groups. Some were in charge of the temple, while others took care of God's house. These leaders came from the children of Eleazar and Ithamar.

6 And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.

*Shemaiah, a Levite and son of Nethaneel, wrote this for the king, leaders, Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar. He also wrote it for the top priests' and Levites' family chiefs. One important family group was for Eleazar, and one was for Ithamar.

7 Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,

*Now, the first group went to Jehoiarib, and the second group went to Jedaiah.

8 The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,

*The third one goes to Harim, the fourth one goes to Seorim.

9 The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,

*The fifth was for Malchijah, the sixth was for Mijamin,

10 The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,

*The seventh was for Hakkoz, the eighth belonged to Abijah.

11 The ninth to Jeshuah, the tenth to Shecaniah,

*The ninth one went to Jeshuah, the tenth one went to Shecaniah.

12 The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,

*Verse 11 is for Eliashib, and verse 12 is for Jakim.

13 The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,

*The 13th was for Huppah, the 14th for Jeshebeab.

14 The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,

*The 15th was at Bilgah, the 16th was at Immer.

15 The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses,

*Verse: To Hezir, it was the seventeenth. To Aphses, the eighteenth.

16 The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel,

*The 19th was for Pethahiah, the 20th for Jehezekel.

17 The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,

*The 21st was for Jachin, and the 23rd was for Gamul.

18 The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.

*The 23rd one went to Delaiah, the 25th one went to Maaziah.

19 These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.

*This was how they arranged their duties for serving in the Lord's temple, following the way their father Aaron set up, just like what the Lord God of Israel told him to do.

20 And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram; Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdeiah.

*The other Levites had these sons: From Amram's children, there was Shubael; from Shubael's children, there was Jehdeiah.

21 Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah.

*About Rehabiah: Rehabiah's son Isshiah came first.

22 Of the Izharites; Shelomoth: of the sons of Shelomoth; Jahath.

*From the Izharites, there was Shelomoth. Among Shelomoth's children, one was Jahath.

23 And the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.

*And the children of Hebron: Jeriah was first, then Amariah, followed by Jahaziel, and lastly, Jekameam.

24 Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah: of the sons of Michah; Shamir.

*From Uzziel's children, Michah; from Michah's children, Shamir.

25 The brother of Michah was Isshiah: of the sons of Isshiah; Zechariah.

*Michah's sibling was Isshiah. From Isshiah's children, Zechariah is one.

26 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi: the sons of Jaaziah; Beno.

*Mahli and Mushi were the children of Merari through Jaaziah, and Beno was another child.

27 The sons of Merari by Jaaziah; Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.

*The children of Merari from Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.

28 Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons.

*Eleazar came from Mahli and he didn't have any sons.

29 Concerning Kish: the son of Kish was Jerahmeel.

*About Kish's son: Jerahmeel was his name.

30 The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after the house of their fathers.

*The children of Mushi included Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. They were descendants of the Levite family groups.

31 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.

*They also drew lots with their brothers from the family of Aaron in front of King David and Zadok, Ahimelech, and the main priest and Levite leaders, choosing the top positions over the younger siblings.

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