1 Chronicles 24:28 kjv
Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons.
1 Chronicles 24:28 nkjv
Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
1 Chronicles 24:28 niv
From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
1 Chronicles 24:28 esv
Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
1 Chronicles 24:28 nlt
From the descendants of Mahli, the leader was Eleazar, though he had no sons.
1 Chronicles 24 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 3:17 | And these were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. | Establishes the three main divisions of Levites |
| Num 3:33 | Of Merari came the family of the Mahlites... | Specifies Mahli's familial connection as a grandson of Levi |
| 1 Chron 23:6 | And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. | Context of David organizing the Levites for service |
| 1 Chron 23:21-22 | The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but only daughters... | Directly repeats this detail, emphasizing its significance |
| 1 Chron 24:1-19 | The divisions of the sons of Aaron were these... | Broader context of the meticulous priestly divisions |
| 1 Chron 24:20-31 | And the rest of the sons of Levi... these were also divided by lot... | Demonstrates the inclusion of all Levite lines for service |
| Gen 15:2-3 | But Abram said, "O Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless...?." | Illustrates the ancient concern regarding a lack of male heir |
| Num 27:1-11 | Zelophehad's daughters... our father died... he had no sons... | Shows the legal implications and provisions for lack of sons |
| Deut 25:5-6 | If brothers dwell together... and one of them dies and has no son, the wife... shall not marry outside the family to a stranger... | Highlights the importance of continuing a brother's lineage |
| Ezra 2:61-63 | Those who sought their names in the genealogical registers... were not found. Therefore they were considered defiled... and excluded... | Genealogies critical for priesthood legitimacy after exile |
| Neh 7:61-64 | These sought their register among those who were counted by genealogy... | Emphasizes the need for verifiable lineage for service |
| 1 Chron 9:1 | So all Israel was recorded in genealogies, and they were inscribed in the book... | Shows the comprehensive nature of Israel's genealogical records |
| Luke 1:5-6 | There was in the days of Herod, king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias... | Continuation of priestly roles and lineage in the NT |
| Heb 7:12-14 | for when there is a change in the priesthood, there must also be a change in the law. | Highlights the transition from hereditary to new covenant priesthood |
| Heb 7:23-24 | The former priests were many... because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; but Jesus, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. | Contrasts limited human lineage with Christ's eternal priesthood |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation... | Believers as a spiritual priesthood in the New Covenant |
| Rev 1:6 | and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father... | The ultimate priestly role of believers in Christ |
| Jer 33:17-18 | For thus says the Lord: "David shall never lack a man... and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man..." | Divine promise of continuous leadership and priestly service |
| Psa 102:28 | The children of your servants will dwell securely; their offspring will be established before you. | Emphasis on continuation of the people' of God's lineage. |
| Isa 66:21 | And I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites," says the Lord. | Prophecy of new, broader inclusion in priestly/Levitical roles |
1 Chronicles 24 verses
1 Chronicles 24 28 Meaning
This verse records Eleazar as a descendant from the line of Mahli (a grandson of Levi through Merari) within the comprehensive priestly and Levitical divisions. It specifically notes that Eleazar himself had no male offspring. This detail highlights the termination of his particular sub-branch's direct paternal lineage in the meticulously kept Levitical register, a critical aspect for establishing and maintaining the complete priestly and service roles in ancient Israel's temple system.
1 Chronicles 24 28 Context
1 Chronicles 24 is part of a larger section in Chronicles (1 Chr 23-26) detailing David's organization of the Levitical and priestly roles in preparation for the building and service of the temple. The chapter specifically outlines the meticulous division of the sons of Aaron into twenty-four courses for their priestly duties (vv. 1-19) and then enumerates other Levitical families and their specific branches (vv. 20-31) who were also divided by lot for temple service. The goal was to ensure a consistent, orderly, and divinely sanctioned system of worship for the future. For the chronicler's original audience, returning from exile and rebuilding the temple, these extensive genealogies provided the legitimacy and historical foundation for the established religious practices and priestly lines, connecting their present reality directly to David's initial God-inspired organizational efforts.
1 Chronicles 24 28 Word analysis
- Of Mahli (לְמַחְלִ֣י - l'Makhli): This introductory phrase denotes lineage, specifically linking the following individual to Mahli, who was a significant descendant of Merari, one of Levi's three sons (Exo 6:19). The Chronicler’s attention to this detail places Eleazar firmly within the specific branch of Merarite Levites.
- Eleazar (אֶלְעָזָ֑ר - 'El'azar): A common Hebrew name meaning "God has helped." It is crucial to distinguish this Eleazar, who is part of the Merarite-Mahli lineage, from Eleazar the son of Aaron (e.g., Num 3:2), who was the High Priest. The immediate context of 1 Chronicles 24:26-28 clarifies that this specific Eleazar is from the general Levitical class for service, not a descendant of the Aaronic priesthood. His role would be among the other Levites serving the priests in temple duties.
- but he had no sons (וְלֹֽא־הָיוּ֙ לוֹ֙ בָּנִ֔ים - v'lo-hayu lo banim): The Hebrew conjunctive "waw" (וְ) often translates as "and," but in this context, it carries a sense of contrast or exception, hence "but." The term "banim" (בָנִ֔ים) unequivocally means male offspring or sons. This precise declaration signifies the termination of Eleazar’s direct male lineage. In ancient Israel, especially concerning priestly and Levitical roles which were hereditary, the absence of male heirs was a notable fact for genealogical records. This detail shows the chronicler’s commitment to recording every nuance of the family trees, even when a specific branch ceased to perpetuate itself. Its explicit mention indicates its importance to the integrity and completeness of the Levitical rolls.
1 Chronicles 24 28 Bonus section
- The re-emphasis on "he had no sons" (also found in 1 Chr 23:22 regarding the same individual) within the different Levitical organization lists highlights the genealogical importance placed on every family branch. Even a terminated lineage was deemed necessary for the full record.
- The meticulous detailing in Chronicles contrasts with the Old Covenant emphasis on physical descent for sacred service, to the New Covenant understanding where spiritual sonship and rebirth through faith in Christ enable believers to become a "royal priesthood," transcending biological lineage for divine service.
1 Chronicles 24 28 Commentary
1 Chronicles 24:28, a succinct entry in a comprehensive list, contributes to the meticulous genealogical account of the Levitical families appointed for temple service. By noting that "Eleazar, but he had no sons," the verse documents the end of a specific male line within the Mahlite branch of the Merarite Levites. This seemingly small detail underscores the chronicler's commitment to completeness and precision in documenting the established divine order for temple worship. These records were vital for verifying the identity and legitimacy of all who served in sacred capacities, particularly for the post-exilic community who relied on these lineages to re-establish proper worship. It emphasizes that every aspect of the temple’s operations, down to the continuation or cessation of individual family lines, was meticulously noted and understood within God's sovereign plan for His people and His house.