David assigns the priests their duties

1Aaron's descendants were then divided into work groups. Aaron had four sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2But Nadab and Abihu died long before their father, without having any sons. That's why Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.24.2: Lv 10.1,2.

3David divided Aaron's descendants into groups, according to their assigned work. Zadok, one of Eleazar's descendants, and Ahimelech, one of Ithamar's descendants, helped David.

4Eleazar's descendants were divided into sixteen groups, and Ithamar's were divided into eight groups, because Eleazar's family included more family leaders. 5However, both families included temple officials and priests, and so to make sure the work was divided fairly, David asked God what to do.24.5 asked God what to do: The Hebrew text has “cast lots” (see the note at 6.65).

6As each group was assigned their duties, Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the Levite wrote down the name of the family leader in charge of that group. The witnesses were David and his officials, as well as Zadok the priest, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the family leaders from the clans of the priests and the Levites.

7-18Each group of priests went by the name of its family leader, and they were assigned their duties in the following order: Jehoiarib, Jedaiah, Harim, Seorim, Malchijah, Mijamin, Hakkoz, Abijah, Jeshua, Shecaniah, Eliashib, Jakim, Huppah, Jeshebeab, Bilgah, Immer, Hezir, Happizzez, Pethahiah, Jehezkel, Jachin, Gamul, Delaiah, Maaziah. 19These men were assigned their duties at the temple, just as the LORD God of Israel had commanded their ancestor Aaron.

The rest of the Levites are assigned their duties

20Here is a list of the other descendants of Levi:

Amram was the ancestor of Shubael and Jehdeiah.

21Rehabiah was the ancestor of Isshiah, the eldest son in his family.

22Izhar was the father of Shelomoth and the grandfather of Jahath.

23Hebron had four sons, in the following order: Jeriah, Amariah, Jahaziel, and Jekameam.

24Uzziel was the father of Micah and the grandfather of Shamir.

25Isshiah, Micah's brother, was the father of Zechariah.

26Merari was the father of Mahli, Mushi, and Jaaziah.

27Jaaziah had three sons: Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.24.26,27 Ibri: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verses 26,27. 28-29Mahli was the father of Eleazar and Kish. Eleazar had no sons, but Kish was the father of Jerahmeel. 30Mushi had three sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth.

These were the descendants of Levi, according to their clans. 31Each one was assigned his duties in the same way that their relatives the priests had been assigned their duties. David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the family leaders of the priests and Levites were the witnesses.