The Divisions of the Priests
241The following were the divisions for the sons of Aaron.
The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2But because Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children, Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.
3David, together with Zadok, the representative of the male descendants of Eleazar, and Ahimelek, the representative of the male descendants of Ithamar, divided the priests into divisions to be assigned different forms of service.
4Because the descendants of Eleazar had more men who were leaders of large groups than the descendants of Ithamar did, this is how the priests were divided: From the descendants of Eleazar there were sixteen heads of fathers' houses, and from the descendants of Ithamar there were eight heads of their fathers' houses.
5They were assigned to their duties impartially by drawing lots. There were officials for the sanctuary and officials to serve in the presence of God both from the sons of Eleazar and from the sons of Ithamar. 6Shemaiah son of Nethanel, the scribe, who was a Levite, recorded the lots in the presence of the king and the government officials, including Zadok the priest, Ahimelek son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites. One father's house was chosen from the descendants of Eleazar, then another, and then one was chosen from the descendants of Ithamar.[] 7The first lot came out for Jehoiarib,
the second for Jedaiah,
8the third for Harim,
the fourth for Seorim,
9the fifth for Malkijah,
the sixth for Mijamin,
10the seventh for Hakkoz,
the eighth for Abijah,
11the ninth for Jeshua,
the tenth for Shekaniah,
12the eleventh for Eliashib,
the twelfth for Jakim,
13the thirteenth for Huppah,
the fourteenth for Jeshebeab,
14the fifteenth for Bilgah,
the sixteenth for Immer,
15the seventeenth for Hezir,
the eighteenth for Happizzez,
16the nineteenth for Pethahiah,
the twentieth for Jehezkel,
17the twenty-first for Jakin,
the twenty-second for Gamul,
18the twenty-third for Delaiah,
and the twenty-fourth for Ma'aziah.
19These were their assigned groups for their service, to come into the Lord's house according to the regulations given to them by their forefather Aaron, as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded him.
The Divisions of Levites
20From the rest of the descendants of Levi, the following were the heads and founders of divisions.
Leaders of the Kohathites
Shubael was from the sons of Amram,
and Jehdeiah was from the sons of Shubael.
21Ishiah was the head from Rehabiah and the sons of Rehabiah.
22Shelomoth was from the Izharites,
and Jahath was from the sons of Shelomoth.
23The sons of Hebron[] were Jeriah, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. 24Micah was from the sons of Uzziel,
and Shamir was from the sons of Micah.
25Ishiah was the brother of Micah,
and Zechariah was from the sons of Ishiah.
Leaders of the Merarites
26The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi.
The son of Ja'aziah was Beno.[] 27The sons of Merari from Ja'aziah were Beno,[] Shoham, Zakkur, and Ibri. 28From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
29From Kish: the son of Kish was Jerahme'el.
30The sons of Mushi were Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth.
These were the descendants of the Levites according to their fathers' houses.[] 31These all cast lots just as their brothers the sons of Aaron had done in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelek, and the heads of the fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites. The fathers' houses of the oldest son cast lots just as those of his youngest brother did.