1 Chronicles 24 5

1 Chronicles 24:5 kjv

Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.

1 Chronicles 24:5 nkjv

Thus they were divided by lot, one group as another, for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of the house of God, from the sons of Eleazar and from the sons of Ithamar.

1 Chronicles 24:5 niv

They divided them impartially by casting lots, for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar.

1 Chronicles 24:5 esv

They divided them by lot, all alike, for there were sacred officers and officers of God among both the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar.

1 Chronicles 24:5 nlt

All tasks were assigned to the various groups by means of sacred lots so that no preference would be shown, for there were many qualified officials serving God in the sanctuary from among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar.

1 Chronicles 24 verses

1 Chronicles 24 5 Meaning

1 Chronicles 24:5 describes how the priestly families, specifically the descendants of Eleazar and Ithamar, were divided into administrative roles by lot, ensuring that all significant positions, referred to as "princes of the sanctuary" and "princes of God," were distributed fairly and impartially among them. This method emphasized divine impartiality and order in the structuring of temple service.

1 Chronicles 24 5 Context

Chapter 24 of 1 Chronicles meticulously records King David's organized structure for the Levitical priesthood. In preparation for the future Temple, David, inspired by God, initiated a comprehensive reorganization of the religious life of Israel. This specific verse, 1 Chronicles 24:5, comes after the lineage of Aaron's sons (Eleazar and Ithamar) is listed and before the detailed twenty-four courses of priests are enumerated. Its immediate context emphasizes that the critical high administrative and leadership positions within the sanctuary were distributed impartially to both Eleazar's more numerous line (16 chief families) and Ithamar's fewer line (8 chief families) through the casting of lots. Historically, this organizational foresight by David laid the groundwork for orderly and consistent temple worship that would continue for centuries.

1 Chronicles 24 5 Word analysis

• "Thus": Refers to the preceding explanation, signifying that the following action is the outcome or summary of the described method (casting lots, as introduced in previous verses).
• "were they divided": From the Hebrew verb חָלַק (khalaq), meaning "to divide, portion, assign." This indicates an intentional and systematic process of assigning roles, not a haphazard occurrence. It highlights David's, and ultimately God's, deliberate organization.
• "by lot": Hebrew: גּוֹרָל (goral). A divinely sanctioned method in ancient Israel for discerning God's will, ensuring impartiality, or allocating portions (as seen in land distribution, identifying culprits, or selecting personnel). Its use here signifies that the distribution of roles was under divine superintendence, leaving no room for human bias or manipulation. This emphasizes divine providence in every detail of the priestly service.
• "one as the other": This idiomatic phrase implies fairness and equality, "impartially" or "equally, turn by turn." Despite the significant numerical disparity between the chief families of Eleazar (16) and Ithamar (8) mentioned in verse 4, this phrase affirms that neither lineage was given preferential treatment regarding the allotment of the important princely or chief positions. All were treated equally under divine arrangement.
• "for there were": This conjunction (כִּי הָיוּ - ki hayu) serves to provide the rationale or a key aspect of why this particular division was significant. It clarifies what kinds of positions were being allocated.
• "princes of the sanctuary": Hebrew: שָׂרֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ (sarei ha'kodesh). "Princes" (שָׂר - sar) indicates chief officers or leaders. "Sanctuary" (קֹּדֶשׁ - kodesh) refers to the sacred space of the tabernacle/temple, signifying their high responsibility in managing sacred duties, rituals, and sacred objects. These were key administrative positions related to the holy work.
• "and princes of God": Hebrew: שָׂרֵי הָאֱלֹהִים (sarei ha'Elohim). "Princes of God" emphasizes that these leaders were appointed by God and served God directly. This term could be synonymous parallelism with "princes of the sanctuary" or could imply leadership roles in broader sacred administration beyond the immediate sacred rituals, focusing on their divine mandate and accountability to God.
• "both of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar": These were the two main surviving lines of Aaron through whom the priesthood continued after Nadab and Abihu died. This specifies the parties involved in the division, affirming that these crucial administrative roles were designated for both foundational branches of the Aaronic priesthood. The inclusivity of both lines demonstrates divine fairness and rejection of favoritism within His ordained service.

1 Chronicles 24 5 Bonus section

• The system established here for priestly courses by David, using the lot, provided a blueprint for temple service that largely continued throughout the First Temple period and influenced the structure of the Second Temple period, reflecting a commitment to organized and inherited priestly duty.
• Despite Eleazar's line having more "chief men" (16) compared to Ithamar's (8) as per 1 Chron 24:4, the emphasis on distributing the high offices "one as the other" highlights a unique form of divine impartiality that superseded genealogical numbers in the critical division of sacred authority and access. This was not a distribution of number of courses but of types of high leadership offices.
• This verse contributes to the Chronicler's broader theological theme of showing David as a visionary leader, obedient to God's instructions in preparing for the Temple, extending beyond military and political accomplishments to the detailed organization of divine worship.

1 Chronicles 24 5 Commentary

1 Chronicles 24:5 unveils a critical aspect of King David's comprehensive reorganization of the Levitical priesthood: the impartial and divinely orchestrated distribution of leadership roles. The phrase "by lot, one as the other," particularly salient given the numerical superiority of Eleazar's house, signifies that the appointment to vital administrative positions—"princes of the sanctuary" overseeing holy operations and "princes of God" indicating their divine commission—was based on divine selection rather than human favoritism, seniority, or numerical advantage. This meticulous and equitable assignment of duties was not merely for organizational efficiency but embodied the sacred principle of divine order in worship. It preempted disputes among the priestly families and established a system of shared responsibility in serving the Almighty, ensuring continuity and reverence in Israel's approach to God through the generations, thereby setting a lasting precedent for faithful and orderly service within God's house.