The classification of the Priests
1These are the groups to which the descendants of Aaron belong. Sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, Ithamar. 2Nadab and Abihu died in their father’s lifetime leaving no children, so Eleazar and Ithamar became priests. 3David divided them into groups with the help of Zadok, one of Eleazar’s sons, and Ahimelech, one of the sons of Ithamar, and made a register of them according to their duties. 4The sons of Eleazar were found to have more leading men than the sons of Ithamar; accordingly, from the heads of families of the sons of Eleazar they made sixteen groups, and from those of the sons of Ithamar, eight. 5They divided them, both parties, by lot: there were Temple officials and spiritual leaders among the sons of Eleazar, as well as among the sons of Ithamar. 6One of the Levites, the scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, recorded them in the presence of the king, his officers, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar and the heads of the priestly and levitical families. They took turns in drawing lots for each family of the sons of Eleazar and for the sons of Ithamar.
7The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, to Jedaiah the second, 8Harim the third, Seorim the fourth, 9Malchijah the fifth, Mijamin the sixth, 10Hakkoz the seventh, Abijah the eighth, 11Jeshua the ninth, Shecaniah the tenth, 12Eliashib the eleventh, Jakim the twelfth, 13Huppah the thirteenth, Ishbaal the fourteenth, 14Bilgah the fifteenth, Immer the sixteenth, 15Hezir the seventeenth, Happizzez the eighteenth, 16Pethahiah the nineteenth, Jehezkel the twentieth, 17Jachin the twenty-first, Gamul the twenty-second, 18Delaiah the twenty-third, Maaziah the twenty-fourth. 19These men were registered according to their various duties, to enter the Temple of Yahweh according to the regulations that Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given through Haran, their ancestor.
20As regards the rest of the sons of Levi:
Sons of Amram: Shubael. Sons of Shubael: Jehdeiah. 21For Rehabiah, for the sons of Rehabiah: the eldest, Isshiah. 22Izharites: Shelomoth: Jahath. 23Sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth. 24Sons of Uzziel: Micah; sons of Micah: Shamir; 25the brother of Micah: Isshiah; sons of Micah: Isshiah, Zechariah. 26Sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. Sons of Jaaziah: his son; 27sons of Merari: for Jaaziah his son: Shoham, Zaccur, Ibri: 28for Mahli: Eleazar who had no sons; 29for Kish: the sons of Kish: Jerahmeel. 30Sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, Jerimoth.
31These were the sons of Levi by their families. 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.
