David divides Aaron’s priestly descendants into twenty-four courses by lot in this chapter - the liturgical scaffold that governed Israel’s worship for a thousand years and opened the very first scene of the New Testament.

Full sung version coming soon.

Lyrics

Now the divisions of the sons of Aaron were these The sons of Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar

But Nadab and Abihu died before their father And had no children, therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office And David with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar And Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar

Divided them according to the appointed duties of their service Of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men And of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers’ houses, eight

Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another For there were princes of the sanctuary And princes of God, both of the sons of Eleazar and of the sons of Ithamar

Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the scribe Recorded them before the king and the princes The first lot came out for Jehoiarib, the second for Jedaiah

The third for Harim, the fourth for Seorim The fifth for Malchijah, the sixth for Mijamin The seventh for Hakkoz, the eighth for Abijah

The ninth for Jeshua, the tenth for Shecaniah The eleventh for Eliashib, the twelfth for Jakim The thirteenth for Huppah, the fourteenth for Jeshebeab

The fifteenth for Bilgah, the sixteenth for Immer The seventeenth for Hezir, the eighteenth for Happizzez The nineteenth for Pethahiah, the twentieth for Jehezkel

The priestly courses ordered Each division appointed The service structured The sanctuary held

Listen

1 Chronicles 24 sung by Psalm Selah. The whole Bible, one chapter at a time.

Published 2026-05-22 · Last updated 2026-06-06
Written by Reid Wender, Editorial Director at Psalmody Press