Tyndale Open Study Notes1 Chronicles 24

The information about the priests’ duties only covers their organization into orders and how they assign responsibilities by casting lots. The Chronicler does not explain their duties because these were well established long ago (see Exodus 28:1–5; Leviticus 1–7; Numbers 6:22–27).

The priests were organized into divisions for service, starting with Aaron’s sons, Eleazar and Ithamar. All of Israel’s priests came from these two men.

Zadok and Ahimelech led the two priestly families during King David's time (see 1 Chronicles 6:8; 18:16; 2 Samuel 8:17).

The twenty-four divisions for the priests stayed the same for many generations. The order of Abijah (1 Chronicles 24:10) is mentioned in Luke 1:5, 8.

The other family leaders might refer to tribe members who were not priests but had been documented (see 1 Chronicles 23:6–23), or it might refer to Levites not mentioned before. However, most families were already in the previous list. Therefore, this list seems to be a separate, additional list that complements the earlier register of Levites, possibly updating it at a later time.

The Levites were organized in the same way as the priests (1 Chronicles 24:5–6).