Annotations Upon the Historical Books Part 2, 1 Chronicles · Chapter 24
CHAP. XXIIII.
Verſ. 3. ANd David diſtributed them, both Zadok of the ſonnes of Eleazar, &c.] That is, David diſtributed all the prieſts the ſonnes of Aaron into two parts; all that were of the ſonnes of Eleazar in one, over whom Zadok was the chief; and all that were of the ſonnes of Ithamar in the other, over whom Ahimelech was chief, to wit, under the high prieſt, who accordingly attended in the Temple, according to their offices in their ſervice.
Verſ. 4. And there were moe chief men found of the ſonnes of Eleazar, then of the ſonnes of Ithamar, &c.] That is, there were more heads of families found among the ſonnes of Eleazer, then among the ſonnes of Ithamar; and conſequently being to divide the prieſts into twenty foure orders or courſes, in each of which there was one to be the chief and head of the reſt, he appointed ſixteen of theſe courſes among the ſonnes of Eleazar, and but eight among the ſonnes of Ithamar.
Verſ. 5. Thus were they divided by lot, one ſort with another, &c.] That is, having divided the prieſts into twenty foure parts, thoſe of Eleazer into ſixteen parts, and thoſe of Ithamar into eight, there were lots caſt amongſt theſe diviſions promiſcuouſly, not preferring thoſe of one Image before thoſe of another, to determine both which of theſe companies ſhould ſerve firſt, and which ſecond, and ſo in order, each company being to ſerve a week, and then to go out, and alſo which of thoſe that were heads of families in each company, ſhould be the chief of that company: and ſo the firſt company was choſen by lot, and the lot fell upon Jehoiarib to be the head of that company, which was thenceforth called the courſe of Jehoiarib, and ſo after the ſame manner in all the reſt.
Verſ. 10. The eighth to Abijah.] Of this courſe was Zachariah the father of John the Baptiſt, Luke 1.5.
Verſ. 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, &c.] That is, as Eleazar and Ithamar did in former times diſcharge the work of the prieſthood in the houſe of God under Aaron their father; ſo did theſe ſonnes of Eleazar and Ithamar now in their courſes diſcharge the ſame work, after the ſame manner: or elſe the meaning of theſe words is onelyonly this, that after their manner, that is, week by week, chap. 9.25. or after the manner appointed in the Law, theſe prieſts in their ſeverall courſes did all diſcharge the work of the inferiour prieſthood, being all of them under the command of the high prieſt, who is here called Aaron, becauſe he held the ſame place that Aaron formerly did.
Verſ. 20. And the reſt of the ſonnes of Levi were theſe, &c.] Having in the former part of the chapter expreſſed the ſeverall courſes of the prieſts, here now are added the ſeverall families of the reſt of the ſonnes of Levi, that were not prieſts, to wit, the Levites, and (as ſome conceive) who they were of thoſe families that were heads of the ſeverall companies of the Levites, that were to ſerve in the Temple in their turns and courſes, as the prieſts alſo did: or rather, becauſe the Gerſhonites were ſet down before, chap, 23.7. theſe that are here added, are ſaid to be the reſt of the ſonnes of Levi, to wit, the Kohathites and Merarites, who eſpecially attended upon the Prieſts.
Verſ. 31. Theſe likewiſe caſt lots over against their brethren the ſonnes of Aaron.] That is, as the prieſts being divided into twenty foure companies, there were lots caſt for them, as is above-ſaid, verſ. 5. ſo was it on the other ſide with the Levites too, according to the ſeverall employments whereto they were ſet a part; they were divided into twenty foure diviſions, and lots were caſt who ſhould attend the ſervice in the firſt courſe, coming in and going out with the firſt courſe of the prieſts, and ſo who ſhould be in the ſecond courſe, with the ſecond courſe of prieſts, &c. This is expreſſed concerning the ſingers in the next chapter; and the like it ſeems therefore was done both for the porters, and thoſe that attended upon the prieſts, and did the other work of the Lord, chap. 23, 4, 5.
In the preſence of David the king, and Zadok and Abimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the prieſts and Levites, even the principall fathers over againſt their younger brethren.] There may be a double ſenſe of theſe laſt words, to wit, either that as the principall fathers ſate with David, and Zadok, and Abimelech to ſee this work done, ſo on the other ſide their younger brethren ſtood to be diſtributed to their ſeverall courſes, as the lot fell amongſt them; or rather, that as the chief of the fathers were choſen by lots, as heads over the reſt, ſo were their young brethren alſo.