Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 24:3
With the help of Eleazar’s descendant Zadok and Ithamar’s descendant Ahimelech, David divided them according to the offices of their service.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Chronicler records David’s administrative action as he reorganizes the Aaronic priesthood following the death of Nadab and Abihu. David acts while the lines of Eleazar and Ithamar remain active in priestly service.
The words — וַ/יֶּֽחָלְקֵ֣/ם (va/i.ye.chal.Ke/m) translates literally as "and he divided them," referring to David’s distribution of priestly duties according to office.
The thread — This organizational act connects to the priestly roster in 2 Samuel 8:17, the later lot-casting procedure recorded in 1 Chronicles 24:31, and the earlier encounter with Ahimelech in 1 Samuel 21:1.
Why it lands — The text states that David allocated priestly service by lineage and office, establishing a fixed administrative structure for worship. It requires readers to recognize that sacred duties were assigned through documented lineage and deliberate division rather than arbitrary selection.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 8:17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was the scribe;
- 1 Chronicles 24:31 As their brothers the descendants of Aaron did, they also cast lots in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the families of the priests and Levites—the family heads and their younger brothers alike.
- 1 Samuel 21:1 Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And when Ahimelech met David, he trembled and asked him, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?”
- 1 Samuel 22:9 But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.
- 2 Samuel 20:25 Sheva was the scribe; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
- 1 Kings 2:35 And the king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada in Joab’s place over the army, and he appointed Zadok the priest in Abiathar’s place.
- 1 Chronicles 6:4 Eleazar was the father of Phinehas, Phinehas was the father of Abishua,
- 1 Chronicles 6:50 These were the descendants of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,
- 1 Chronicles 12:27 including Jehoiada, leader of the house of Aaron, with 3,700 men,
- 1 Chronicles 15:11 David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.