Synopsis of the Chapter
The priests are distributed into 24 classes, and to each is assigned its class of Levites to serve in the sacrifices.
Verse 3: David Divided Them by Turns ¶
3. AND DAVID DIVIDED THEM, THAT IS, ZADOK FROM THE SONS OF ELEAZAR, AND AHIMELECH FROM THE SONS OF ITHAMAR, ACCORDING TO THEIR TURNS — that is, he divided all the priests, descendants of Eleazar and Ithamar, into 24 classes. He divided them, I say, not by himself, but through the two High Priests, namely through Zadok who was from the descendants of Eleazar, and through Ahimelech who was from the descendants of Ithamar. For this distribution of priests pertained to the High Priest, not to the king.
Verse 5: Divided by Lots ¶
5. AND HE DIVIDED BOTH FAMILIES AMONG THEMSELVES BY LOTS — lest anyone could complain that he had been unjustly placed behind, and another promoted by favoritism, but
so that all would be regarded with equal right and standing: therefore the matter was decided by lot, and the lot assigned to each one his order and turn.
FOR THEY WERE LEADERS OF THE SANCTUARY. — There were 24 priestly families, and each had its own leader, namely the firstborn, who presided over everyone in his turn and directed everything in the temple; therefore he was the chief priest of his class, and hence was called a pontiff. There were therefore 24 pontiffs or chief priests, of whom there is frequent mention in the Gospels; but over all of these the supreme Pontiff, namely Zadok, was preeminent and presided.
Verse 6: Ahimelech the Son of Abiathar ¶
6. AHIMELECH THE SON OF ABIATHAR. — From this it appears that Abiathar the Pontiff, being ill or occupied with other matters, delegated his duties to his son Ahimelech, so that he might assist alongside Zadok the Pontiff and distribute these 24 priestly classes.
Verse 10: The Eighth, Abijah ¶
10. THE EIGHTH, ABIJAH — From this division was Zechariah the father of John the Baptist; therefore it is certain that he was not the supreme Pontiff. For the Pontiff did not have a turn, but presided over all. Whether Zechariah was a Pontiff, that is, the leader and firstborn of his family of Abijah, as St. Dionysius says in the Celestial Hierarchy chapter 4, and likewise whether he was from the descendants of Eleazar or from the descendants of Ithamar, is uncertain.
Verse 26: The Son of Jaaziah, Beno ¶
26. THE SON OF JAAZIAH, BENO — and the others who are listed in verse 27, as I will now explain.
Verse 27: The Son of Merari, Jaaziah ¶
27. THE SON OF MERARI: JAAZIAH. — These words seem to be intercepted by a parenthesis; for the following names, namely "Shoham and Zaccur and Ibri, are sons of Jaaziah." This is clear from the Hebrew and Chaldean which read thus: The sons of Merari through Jaaziah, or by Jaaziah: Beno and Shoham and Zaccur and Ibri. For since it had said: "the son of Jaaziah, Beno," and had not said whose son "Jaaziah" was, it therefore explains this by adding: "the son of Merari, Jaaziah," and then continues with the remaining sons of Jaaziah besides the already-named Beno, saying: and Shoham and Zaccur and Ibri. — For the sons of Merari, namely Mahli and Mushi, he had already listed in verse 26. So Vatablus, Pagninus, and others.
Verse 31: They Also Cast Lots ¶
31. AND THEY ALSO CAST LOTS ALONGSIDE THEIR BRETHREN — that is, opposite or facing their brethren, that is, their kinsmen: and as Vatablus translates, facing their brethren. The Septuagint: just as their brethren; that is, just as the priests, descendants of Aaron, divided into 24 classes had cast lots to determine in what order each should minister in the tabernacle; so also the Levites received their turns of ministry by casting lots.