_A.M. 2989. B.C. 1015._ The priests are divided by lot into twenty-four orders, 1 Chronicles 24:1. Ministers are allotted them from the Levites, out of the tribes of the Kohathites and the Merarites, 1 Chronicles 24:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
_These are the divisions of the sons of Aaron_ The several branches into which that family was divided. _Therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office_ Their brethren being dead, and leaving no issue, they and their sons were the only persons to whom the execution of that office could b... [ Continue Reading ]
_And David distributed them_, &c. To avoid all confusion, now that they were much increased, he distributed the priests, as he had done the Levites, into several courses, allotting to each of them the times wherein they should by turns have the government of holy ministrations.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Among the sons of Eleazar were sixteen chief men_, &c. He appointed, therefore, sixteen courses of the sons of Eleazar, under as many heads of their families, and half as many of the posterity of Ithamar.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus were they divided by lot_ That the business being committed, in this way, to the Divine disposal, there might be no occasion for complaint, and so all contentions might be prevented, as no man could be charged with partiality, nor could any say they had wrong done them. Solomon says, the lot c... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shemaiah, the scribe, wrote them before the king_ Their names were written and put into an urn, out of which the lots were to be drawn: which, that there might be no suspicion of fraud, were drawn before the king, the princes, the high-priest and his assistant, and before the several families of pr... [ Continue Reading ]
_These were the orderings of them_ In this order and method they were to come to perform the offices of the temple. _To come into the house_ To come into the temple every sabbath day, and to continue there till the next sabbath, when they were relieved by others. _Under Aaron_ Under the direction of... [ Continue Reading ]
_The rest of the sons of Levi_ Either such as were only Levites, and not priests, or such as were not named or numbered before, in this or the former chapter. _The sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah_ Who being, as it seems, an eminent person, or having a very numerous family, was not reckoned with or under h... [ Continue Reading ]
_These likewise cast lots_ There was the like solemnity used in their distribution as there was in that of the priests, by casting lots; whereby they knew what Levites should wait in every course with the sons of Aaron. _Even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren _ These words ar... [ Continue Reading ]