Bible Commentaries

Divisions - The several branches into which that family was divided.

Therefore, &c. - Were the only persons to whom the execution of that office was committed.

Distributed - Allotting to each of them several times, wherein they should by turns have the government of holy ministrations.

By lot - That the disposal thereof might be of the Lord, and so all contention be prevented, as no man could be charged with partiality, nor could any say, they had wrong done them. In like manner Matthias was chosen to the apostleship by lot with prayer. And I know not, says Mr. Henry, but it might be still used in faith, in parallel cases, as an instituted ordinance. Of God - Or rather, of the things of God, that is, of all persons ministering in the sanctuary, and of all holy ministrations done in it, and of all other matters of the Lord, as they are called by way of distinction from, the king's matters, 2 Chronicles 19:11 .

One, &c. - Or, the chief of one house of the fathers was taken (by lot) for Eleazar (out of his family) and that which was taken after it was taken for Ithamar, out of his family. So the first lot fell to Eleazar, and the second to Ithamar, the third to Eleazar, and the fourth to Ithamar, so successively, 'till all the families of Ithamar had received their lots. And afterwards all the lots came forth to the rest of Eleazar's families, which were double in number to those of Ithamar.

Came - Out of the vessel in which all the lots were put together, and out of which they were severally taken.

These, &c. - In this order and method they were to come to perform the offices of the temple. To come - To come into the temple every sabbath - day, and to continue there 'till the next sabbath, when they were relieved by others. Aaron - Under the direction of the high - priests, whom he calls Aaron, because he represented his person and executed his office, and their father, because of the authority which by God's appointment he had over them.

Over against - Answerable for number and order to those of the priests, so that there should be a course of the Levites for each course of the priests.