What does 1 Chronicles 24:14 mean?
What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 24:14?

the fifteenth to Bilgah

“the fifteenth to Bilgah” (1 Chronicles 24:14)

• David’s priestly schedule lists Bilgah fifteenth in order, showing that God values orderliness in worship (1 Chron 24:1-5).

• Bilgah is one of twenty-four rotating courses of priests, each course serving one week at a time in the temple (1 Chron 24:19; 2 Chron 31:2).

• The fixed rotation ensured every priestly family shared the privilege and responsibility of ministering before the LORD (Numbers 18:7; Deuteronomy 10:8).

• Later generations kept these names even after exile; Bilgah reappears among the priests who returned with Zerubbabel (Nehemiah 12:5), proving God preserves His covenant people through centuries of upheaval (Jeremiah 33:17-22).

• By assigning Bilgah a set slot, David modeled how spiritual service thrives when structured, predictable, and obedient to God’s revealed pattern (1 Corinthians 14:40).


the sixteenth to Immer

“the sixteenth to Immer” (1 Chronicles 24:14)

• Immer follows Bilgah, reminding us that no course was favored above another; each had its God-appointed turn (1 Chron 24:18).

• The sons of Immer later appear in temple rebuilding efforts (Ezra 2:37) and vow to separate from foreign practices (Nehemiah 10:20), illustrating repentance and renewal can spring from any lineage.

• One descendant, Pashhur son of Immer, wrongly persecuted Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:1-2); yet another Pashhur son of Immer helped repair Jerusalem’s wall (Nehemiah 3:6). God judges unfaithfulness but still welcomes repentant offspring, proving individual accountability (Ezekiel 18:20) within covenant continuity (Exodus 34:6-7).

• The existence of the Immer course sixteen generations into the rotation demonstrates God’s precise foreknowledge; even the week Zechariah served in the Abijah course centuries later (Luke 1:5, 8-9) was predetermined, setting the stage for John the Baptist’s conception. Likewise, Immer’s placement shows divine sovereignty over times and seasons (Acts 17:26).


summary

1 Chronicles 24:14 isn’t a random record; it reveals God’s meticulous design for worship, equal dignity among His servants, and faithfulness to keep priestly lines intact. Bilgah and Immer’s assigned turns illustrate that every believer called to serve—whether fifteenth, sixteenth, or first—operates under God’s ordered plan, sharing in the privilege of drawing near to Him and pointing His people toward holiness.

Why is the lineage of priests important in 1 Chronicles 24:13?
Top of Page
Top of Page