Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Chronicler records a Davidic-era administrative act assigning sanctuary duties to the descendants of Aaron and other Levitical clans.
The words — גּוֹרָלוֹת (goralot) translates to lots, and וַ/יַּפִּילוּ (va.yapilu) means and they cast, describing the method used to distribute service roles.
The thread — The same lot-casting procedure for dividing priestly and Levitical responsibilities appears in 1 Chronicles 24:5, 1 Chronicles 25:8, and 1 Chronicles 26:13.
Why it lands — The text states that duty assignments were made by lot before King David and named officials, including every family head and younger brother. It requires the reader to note that sacred service is distributed by randomized selection across all ranks, not by human appointment.
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
These likewise cast lots over against their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 24:5 Thus they were divided by lot, for there were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God among both Eleazar’s and Ithamar’s descendants.
- 1 Chronicles 25:8 They cast lots for their duties, young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil.
- 1 Chronicles 26:13 They cast lots for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.
- Numbers 26:56 Each inheritance is to be divided by lot among the larger and smaller tribes.”