1 Chronicles 24:31
New International Version
They also cast lots, just as their relatives the descendants of Aaron did, in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelek, and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites. The families of the oldest brother were treated the same as those of the youngest.

New Living Translation
Like the descendants of Aaron, they were assigned to their duties by means of sacred lots, without regard to age or rank. Lots were drawn in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the family leaders of the priests and the Levites.

English Standard Version
These also, the head of each father’s house and his younger brother alike, cast lots, just as their brothers the sons of Aaron, in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of fathers’ houses of the priests and of the Levites.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
These also cast lots just as their brothers the sons of Aaron did, in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the priests and Levites. The chief fathers did just as their younger brethren.

New American Standard Bible
These also cast lots just as their relatives, the sons of Aaron did in the presence of David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites—the head of fathers’ households as well as those of his younger brother.

NASB 1995
These also cast lots just as their relatives the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites— the head of fathers’ households as well as those of his younger brother.

NASB 1977
These also cast lots just as their relatives the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites—the head of fathers’ households as well as those of his younger brother.

Legacy Standard Bible
These also cast lots alongside their relatives the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites—the head of fathers’ households alongside those of his younger brother.

Amplified Bible
These also cast lots as did their relatives the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites—the head of father’s households as well as those of his younger brother.

Christian Standard Bible
They also cast lots the same way as their relatives the descendants of Aaron did in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the families of the priests and Levites—the family heads and their younger brothers alike.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They also cast lots the same way as their relatives the sons of Aaron did in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the families of the priests and Levites—the family heads and their younger brothers alike.

American Standard Version
These likewise cast lots even as their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites; the fathers' houses of the chief even as those of his younger brother.

Contemporary English Version
Each 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.

English Revised Version
These likewise cast lots even as their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites; the fathers' houses of the chief even as those of his younger brother.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They drew lots as their relatives, Aaron's descendants, had done. They drew them in front of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the leaders of the families of the priests and Levites. The families of the oldest brother were treated the same way as those of the youngest.

Good News Translation
The head of each family and one of his younger brothers drew lots for their assignments, just as their relatives, the priests descended from Aaron, had done. King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites were witnesses.

International Standard Version
These individuals also cast lots corresponding to their relatives, Aaron's descendants, in the presence of King David, Zadok, and Ahimelech, and in the presence of the heads of the ancestral households of the priests and of the descendants of Levi, and the eldest was treated as impartially as was the younger brother.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
Just like their relatives, the descendants of Aaron, they also cast lots before King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, the leaders of families, the priests, and the Levites. The families of the oldest son cast lots along with the those of the youngest.

New Heart English Bible
These likewise cast lots even as their kinsmen the descendants of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the heads of the ancestral houses of the priests and of the Levites; the ancestral houses of the chief even as those of his younger brother.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
These likewise cast lots even as their brothers the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites, the fathers’ households of the chief even as those of his younger brother.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and they also cast lots just as their brothers, the sons of Aaron, before David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and heads of the fathers for priests and for Levites; the chief father just as his younger brother.

Young's Literal Translation
and they cast, they also, lots over-against their brethren the sons of Aaron, before David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and heads of the fathers, for priests and for Levites; the chief father over-against his younger brother.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will also cast lots near their brethren the sons of Aaron before David the king and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers to the priests and to the Levites, the fathers the head near his brethren the small.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they also cast lots over against their brethren the sons of Aaron before David the king, and Sadoc, and Ahimelech, and the princes of the priestly and Levitical families, both the elder and the younger. The lot divided all equally.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they also cast lots concerning their brothers, the sons of Aaron, before David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the leaders of the priestly and Levitical families, as much concerning the elder as the younger. The lot divided all things equitably.

New American Bible
They too, in the same manner as their kinsmen, the sons of Aaron, cast lots in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the priestly and levitical families; the more important family did so in the same way as the less important one.

New Revised Standard Version
These also cast lots corresponding to their kindred, the descendants of Aaron, in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of ancestral houses of the priests and of the Levites, the chief as well as the youngest brother.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
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.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
These likewise cast lots even as their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites; the fathers' houses of the chief even as those of his younger brother.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they also received lots as their brethren the sons of Aaron before the king; Sadoc also, and Achimelech, and the chiefs of the families of the priests and of the Levites, principal heads of families, even as their younger brethren.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Rest of the Levites
30And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites, according to their families. 31As 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.

Cross References
1 Chronicles 23:6
Then David divided the Levites into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.

1 Chronicles 25:1
Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list of the men who performed this service:

1 Chronicles 26:13
They cast lots for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.

1 Chronicles 28:13
for the divisions of the priests and Levites, for all the work of service in the house of the LORD, and for all the articles of service in the house of the LORD:

1 Chronicles 28:21
The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the service of the house of God, and every willing man of every skill will be at your disposal for the work. The officials and all the people are fully at your command.”

2 Chronicles 8:14
In keeping with the ordinances of his father David, Solomon appointed the divisions of the priests over their service, and the Levites for their duties to offer praise and to minister before the priests according to the daily requirement. He also appointed gatekeepers by their divisions at each gate, for this had been the command of David, the man of God.

2 Chronicles 23:18
Moreover, Jehoiada put the oversight of the house of the LORD into the hands of the Levitical priests, whom David had appointed over the house of the LORD, to offer burnt offerings to the LORD as written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and song, as ordained by David.

2 Chronicles 31:2
Hezekiah reestablished the divisions of the priests and Levites—each of them according to their duties as priests or Levites—for the burnt offerings and peace offerings, for ministry, for giving thanks, and for singing praises at the gates of the LORD’s dwelling.

Nehemiah 12:24
The leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel, along with their associates, who stood across from them to give praise and thanksgiving as one section alternated with the other, as prescribed by David the man of God.

Nehemiah 12:45
They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, along with the singers and gatekeepers, as David and his son Solomon had prescribed.

Luke 1:5
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron.

Luke 1:8-9
One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, / he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

Acts 6:4
and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

Romans 12:4-8
Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function, / so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another. / We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith; ...

1 Corinthians 12:4-6
There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. / There are different ministries, but the same Lord. / There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people.


Treasury of Scripture

These likewise cast lots over against their brothers 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 brothers.

Mushi

1 Chronicles 6:47
The son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.

1 Chronicles 23:23
The sons of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

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1 Chronicles 24
1. The division of the sons of Aaron by lot into twenty-four orders.
20. The Kohathites
26. and the Merarites, divided by lot














They also cast lots
The practice of casting lots in ancient Israel was a method used to discern God's will or to make decisions impartially. The Hebrew word for "lots" is "goral," which implies a small stone or object used in decision-making. This practice underscores the belief in divine sovereignty, where God is seen as guiding the outcome. It reflects a deep trust in God's providence, ensuring that the distribution of duties among the priests and Levites was fair and divinely ordained.

just as their brothers the descendants of Aaron did
This phrase highlights the unity and equality among the priestly families. The descendants of Aaron, the first high priest, held a special status, yet the process of casting lots was applied equally to all, emphasizing fairness and the shared responsibility in serving God. It reflects the biblical principle that all are equal before God, regardless of lineage or status.

in the presence of King David
King David's involvement signifies the importance of the event. As a man after God's own heart, David's presence lent authority and legitimacy to the proceedings. His role as king was not just political but also spiritual, as he sought to organize the worship of God in a manner that honored divine instructions. This highlights the integration of faith and governance in Israel's history.

Zadok, Ahimelech
Zadok and Ahimelech were prominent priests during David's reign. Zadok, from the line of Eleazar, and Ahimelech, from the line of Ithamar, represent the two main priestly lines. Their presence indicates a collaboration and unity among the priestly families, ensuring that the religious leadership was inclusive and representative of all legitimate priestly lines.

and the heads of the families of the priests and the Levites
The involvement of family heads underscores the communal and familial nature of Israelite society. Leadership was often based on family lineage, and the heads of families played crucial roles in decision-making processes. This reflects the biblical emphasis on family as a foundational unit of society and faith.

the heads of families and their younger brothers alike
This phrase emphasizes inclusivity and equality. In a patriarchal society where the eldest often held the most authority, this inclusion of younger brothers signifies a break from tradition, ensuring that all voices were heard and considered. It reflects the biblical theme of God valuing each individual, regardless of age or status, and using them for His purposes.

(31) These likewise cast lots over against their brethren the sons of Aaron.--Rather, Just like, in the same way as their brethren, the priests. The same compound preposition (le'ummath) recurs in 1Chronicles 26:12; 1Chronicles 26:16. In 2Samuel 16:13 it has the sense of over against, or parallel with. The lots were cast, as in the case of the priests, to determine the order according to which the classes were to serve in rotation.

Their brethren the sons of Aaron.--This expression seems to indicate that the preceding list does not include all the Levites, but only those who assisted the priests in the Temple services: that is, the 24,000 of 1Chronicles 23:4. The chronicler naturally returned to them after his account of the priestly classes. Hence, perhaps, the omission of the Gershonite houses is intentional. The narrative proceeds to treat of the Levites who were not in immediate attendance on the priesthood in 1 Chronicles 25, 26

The chief of the fathers.--Rather, the chiefs of the clans.

Even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren.--Rather, clans--the chief just like his younger brother. The word "fathers" (?both) is a brief form of "father-houses" (beth- ?both). The meaning appears to be that all the Levitical houses received their position by lot, senior and junior branches alike. The order, as thus determined, is not communicated; nor is it expressly stated that the Levitical classes were twenty-four in number, but it appears highly probable, both from the data of the text, and from the analogy of the classes of the priests and the musicians (1 Chronicles 25). . . .

Verse 31. - Over against... over against. This translation of the Hebrew (לְעמַּת) is obscure and awkward. The meaning is "equally with," or "correspondingly with" (1 Chronicles 26:12, 16, etc.). The root means "communion," and the word is found only in the constructive state. The Vulgate shows the translation, Omnes sors aequaliter dividebat; tam majores quam minores.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
As
לְעֻמַּ֣ת ׀ (lə·‘um·maṯ)
Preposition-l
Strong's 5980: Society, near, beside, along with

their brothers
אֲחֵיהֶ֣ם (’ă·ḥê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 251: A brother, )

the descendants
בְּנֵֽי־ (bə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Aaron did,
אַהֲרֹ֗ן (’a·hă·rōn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses

they
הֵ֨ם (hêm)
Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

also
גַם־ (ḡam-)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

cast
וַיַּפִּילוּ֩ (way·yap·pî·lū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

lots
גּוֹרָל֜וֹת (gō·w·rā·lō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1486: Lot -- a lot (for casting)

in the presence
לִפְנֵ֨י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

of King
הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

David
דָוִ֤יד (ḏā·wîḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

and of Zadok,
וְצָד֣וֹק (wə·ṣā·ḏō·wq)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6659: Zadok -- the name of several Israelites

Ahimelech,
וַאֲחִימֶ֔לֶךְ (wa·’ă·ḥî·me·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 288: Ahimelech -- 'brother of a king', an Israelite name, also a Hittite name

and the heads
וְרָאשֵׁי֙ (wə·rā·šê)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7218: The head

of the families
הָֽאָב֔וֹת (hā·’ā·ḇō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

of the priests
לַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים (lak·kō·hă·nîm)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

and Levites—
וְלַלְוִיִּ֑ם (wə·lal·wî·yim)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

the family
אָב֣וֹת (’ā·ḇō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

heads
הָרֹ֔אשׁ (hā·rōš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7218: The head

and their younger
הַקָּטָֽן׃ (haq·qā·ṭān)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6996: Small, young, unimportant

brothers alike.
אָחִ֥יו (’ā·ḥîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 24:31 These likewise cast lots even as their (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
1 Chronicles 24:30
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