1 Chronicles 24:4 Since more leaders were found among Eleazar's descendants than those of Ithamar, they were divided accordingly. There were sixteen heads of families from the descendants of Eleazar and eight from the descendants of Ithamar.

Bible > 1 Chronicles > Chapter 24 > Verse 4

◄ 1 Chronicles 24:4 ►

New International Version
A larger number of leaders were found among Eleazar’s descendants than among Ithamar’s, and they were divided accordingly: sixteen heads of families from Eleazar’s descendants and eight heads of families from Ithamar’s descendants.

New Living Translation
Eleazar’s descendants were divided into sixteen groups and Ithamar’s into eight, for there were more family leaders among the descendants of Eleazar.

English Standard Version
Since more chief men were found among the sons of Eleazar than among the sons of Ithamar, they organized them under sixteen heads of fathers’ houses of the sons of Eleazar, and eight of the sons of Ithamar.

Berean Standard Bible
Since more leaders were found among Eleazar’s descendants than those of Ithamar, they were divided accordingly. There were sixteen heads of families from the descendants of Eleazar and eight from the descendants of Ithamar.

King James Bible
And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers.

New King James Version
There were more leaders found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar, and thus they were divided. Among the sons of Eleazar were sixteen heads of their fathers’ houses, and eight heads of their fathers’ houses among the sons of Ithamar.

New American Standard Bible
Since more chief men were found from the descendants of Eleazar than the descendants of Ithamar, they divided them this way: there were sixteen heads of fathers’ households of the descendants of Eleazar, and eight of the descendants of Ithamar according to their fathers’ households.

NASB 1995
Since more chief men were found from the descendants of Eleazar than the descendants of Ithamar, they divided them thus: there were sixteen heads of fathers’ households of the descendants of Eleazar and eight of the descendants of Ithamar, according to their fathers’ households.

NASB 1977
Since more chief men were found from the descendants of Eleazar than the descendants of Ithamar, they divided them thus: there were sixteen heads of fathers’ households of the descendants of Eleazar, and eight of the descendants of Ithamar according to their fathers’ households.

Legacy Standard Bible
And more chief men were found from the sons of Eleazar than the sons of Ithamar, so they divided them thus: there were sixteen heads of fathers’ households of the sons of Eleazar and eight of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers’ households.

Amplified Bible
Since there were more chief men found among the descendants of Eleazar than among the descendants of Ithamar [because of Eli’s misfortunes, and Saul’s massacre of the priests at Nob], they were divided in this way: sixteen heads of fathers’ households of the descendants of Eleazar and eight of the descendants of Ithamar, corresponding to their fathers’ households.

Christian Standard Bible
Since more leaders were found among Eleazar’s descendants than Ithamar’s, they were divided accordingly: sixteen heads of ancestral families were from Eleazar’s descendants, and eight heads of ancestral families were from Ithamar’s.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Since more leaders were found among Eleazar’s descendants than Ithamar’s, they were divided accordingly: 16 heads of ancestral houses were from Eleazar’s descendants, and eight heads of ancestral houses were from Ithamar’s.

American Standard Version
And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of fathers' houses; and of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers' houses, eight.

Contemporary English Version
Eleazar's descendants were divided into 16 groups, and Ithamar's were divided into eight groups, because Eleazar's family included more family leaders.

English Revised Version
And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of father's houses; and of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers' houses, eight.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Since Eleazar's descendants had more men who were family heads than Ithamar's descendants, they were divided so that Eleazar's descendants had 16 family leaders and Ithamar's descendants had 8 family leaders.

Good News Translation
The descendants of Eleazar were organized into sixteen groups, while the descendants of Ithamar were organized into eight; this was done because there were more male heads of families among the descendants of Eleazar.

International Standard Version
More leaders were located among Eleazar's descendants than among those of Ithamar, so sixteen leaders were appointed from the leaders of the ancestral households of Eleazar's descendants and eight from those of Ithamar.

Majority Standard Bible
Since more leaders were found among Eleazar?s descendants than those of Ithamar, they were divided accordingly. There were sixteen heads of families from the descendants of Eleazar and eight from the descendants of Ithamar.

NET Bible
The descendants of Eleazar had more leaders than the descendants of Ithamar, so they divided them up accordingly; the descendants of Eleazar had sixteen leaders, while the descendants of Ithamar had eight.

New Heart English Bible
There were more chief men found among the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; so they were divided like this: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen heads according to their ancestral houses, and eight according to their ancestral houses among the sons of Ithamar.

Webster's Bible Translation
And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers.

World English Bible
There were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and they were divided like this: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of fathers’ houses; and of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers’ houses, eight.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and there are found of the sons of Eleazar more for heads of the mighty men than of the sons of Ithamar; and they distribute them. Of the sons of Eleazar, heads for [each] house of [their] fathers—sixteen; and of the sons of Ithamar, for [each] house of their fathers—eight.

Young's Literal Translation
and there are found of the sons of Eleazar more for heads of the mighty men than of the sons of Ithamar; and they distribute them: Of the sons of Eleazar, heads for a house of fathers, sixteen; and of the sons of Ithamar, for a house of their fathers, eight.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the sons of Eleazar will be found many for heads, mighty ones above the sons of Ithamar; and they will be divided: to the sons of Eleazar, heads to the house of the fathers, sixteen; and to the sons of Ithamar, to the house of their fathers, eight.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And there were found many more of the sons of Eleazar among the principal men, than of the sons of Ithamar. And he divided them so, that there were of the sons of Eleazar, sixteen chief men by their families: and of the sons of Ithamar eight by their families and houses.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And there were found many more of the sons of Eleazar among the leading men, than of the sons of Ithamar. Therefore, he divided them so that there were, of the sons of Eleazar, sixteen leaders by their families, and of the sons of Ithamar eight by their families and houses.

New American Bible
But since the sons of Eleazar were found to be more numerous by male heads than those of Ithamar, the former were divided into sixteen groups, and the latter into eight groups, each under its family heads.

New Revised Standard Version
Since more chief men were found among the sons of Eleazar than among the sons of Ithamar, they organized them under sixteen heads of ancestral houses of the sons of Eleazar, and eight of the sons of Ithamar.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus he divided them. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers and eight of the sons of Ithamar, according to the house of their fathers.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the sons of Eliazar were found that the Chief man had were more than the sons of Ithamar, and the Chief man had half of the sons of Eliazar of the house of their fathers, and they were sixteen in number, and the Chief man had eight sons of Ithamar of the house of their fathers.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of fathers' houses; and of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers' houses, eight.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And there were found among the sons of Eleazar more chiefs of the mighty ones, than of the sons of Ithamar: and he divided them, sixteen heads of families to the sons of Eleazar, eight according to their families to the sons of Ithamar.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Divisions of the Priests
…3With the help of Eleazar’s descendant Zadok and Ithamar’s descendant Ahimelech, David divided them according to the offices of their service. 4Since more leaders were found among Eleazar’s descendants than those of Ithamar, they were divided accordingly. There were sixteen heads of families from the descendants of Eleazar and eight from the descendants of Ithamar. 5Thus they were divided by lot, for there were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God among both Eleazar’s and Ithamar’s descendants.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

1 Kings 2:35
And the king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada in Joab’s place over the army, and he appointed Zadok the priest in Abiathar’s place.

1 Kings 4:4
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

1 Kings 4:2-6
and these were his chief officials: Azariah son of Zadok was the priest; / Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, were secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder; / Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; ...

1 Kings 8:4
and they brought up the ark of the LORD and the Tent of Meeting with all its sacred furnishings. So the priests and Levites carried them up.

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.

2 Chronicles 35:4-5
Prepare yourselves by families in your divisions, according to the instructions written by David king of Israel and Solomon his son. / Moreover, stand in the Holy Place by the divisions of the families of your kinsmen the lay people, and by the divisions of the families of the Levites.

Ezra 6:18
They also appointed the priests by their divisions and the Levites by their groups to the service of God in Jerusalem, according to what is written in the Book of Moses.

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.”

Acts 13:2
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Treasury of Scripture

And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar, and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers.

1 Chronicles 15:6-12
Of the sons of Merari; Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty: …

sons of Eleazar

Numbers 25:11-13
Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy…

according

1 Chronicles 23:24
These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and upward.

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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

Berean Study Bible

more leaders were found
The phrase "more leaders were found" indicates a process of selection or recognition of leadership within the priestly families. In the Hebrew context, the word for "leaders" can be associated with "chiefs" or "heads," suggesting those who were recognized for their wisdom, experience, or divine calling. This reflects the importance of spiritual leadership in Israel, where leaders were not only administrators but also spiritual guides. The process of finding leaders implies a divine orchestration, as God often raises leaders according to His purposes.

among Eleazar’s descendants
Eleazar was one of Aaron's sons, and his lineage held a significant role in the priesthood. The emphasis on "Eleazar’s descendants" highlights the continuation of a divinely appointed priestly line. Historically, Eleazar's line was seen as more numerous and perhaps more faithful in their duties, which is why more leaders were found among them. This underscores the biblical principle of faithfulness and stewardship, where those who are faithful with little are entrusted with more.

than among Ithamar’s
Ithamar, another son of Aaron, also had descendants who served in the priesthood. The comparison "than among Ithamar’s" suggests a lesser number or perhaps a different level of prominence or faithfulness in leadership roles. This distinction may reflect historical shifts or divine favor, reminding us that God’s purposes are often fulfilled through specific lines or individuals, even when others are equally called.

they were divided accordingly
The division "accordingly" indicates an organized and fair distribution of responsibilities based on the number of leaders found. This reflects the biblical principle of order and justice, where roles and duties are assigned according to God’s wisdom and the needs of the community. It also shows the importance of structure within the priesthood, ensuring that worship and temple duties were carried out efficiently and reverently.

sixteen heads of families from the descendants of Eleazar
The specific number "sixteen heads of families" signifies a substantial representation from Eleazar’s line. In biblical numerology, sixteen can symbolize completeness or the doubling of eight, which often represents new beginnings. This suggests a fullness or maturity in leadership, indicating that Eleazar’s descendants were well-prepared to lead and serve in the temple.

eight from the descendants of Ithamar
The number "eight" from Ithamar’s line, while smaller, still holds significance. Eight often symbolizes new beginnings or resurrection in biblical terms. This could imply that despite being fewer, Ithamar’s descendants had a vital role in the renewal or continuation of priestly duties. It serves as a reminder that God values quality and faithfulness over quantity, and each role in His service is crucial.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) And there were more chief men found.--Literally, And the sons of Eleazar were found more numerous as regards the heads of the men than the sons of Ithamar. The basis of division was not the individual members of the different families, but the heads of them. There were more head men, or heads of households, deriving from Eleazar than from Ithamar.

Chief men.--Heb., heads of the men, i.e., heads of single families or households; just as "heads of the fathers "denotes heads of groups of fathers or clans. (Comp. Joshua 7:14; Joshua 7:16-18.) Of course, as the heads of households were more numerous, the total number of priests claiming descent from Eleazar must likewise have been more numerous than their kinsmen the Ithamarites.

And thus were they divided . . . fathers.--Rather, And they divided them: to the sons of Eleazar, heads of father-houses, sixteen, and to the sons of Ithamar, to their father-houses, eight (heads). They (i.e., David and the two high priests) divided them (1Chronicles 24:3.)

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 4. - The simpler translation of this verse might run thus: And there were found (of) sons of Eleazar, more for chief men, than (of) sons of Ithamar, and they divided them - to sons of Eleazar, sixteen chiefs of fathers' houses; and to sons of Ithamar, eight.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Since more
רַבִּ֞ים (rab·bîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

leaders
לְרָאשֵׁ֧י (lə·rā·šê)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7218: The head

were found
וַיִּמָּצְא֣וּ (way·yim·mā·ṣə·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

among Eleazar's
אֶלְעָזָ֡ר (’el·‘ā·zār)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 499: Eleazar -- 'God has helped', six Israelites

descendants
בְֽנֵי־ (ḇə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

than
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

[those]
בְּנֵ֥י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Ithamar,
אִיתָמָ֖ר (’î·ṯā·mār)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 385: Ithamar -- 'land of palms', a son of Aaron

they were divided accordingly.
וַֽיַּחְלְק֑וּם (way·yaḥ·lə·qūm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2505: To be smooth, to apportion, separate

[There were] sixteen
שִׁשָּׁ֣ה (šiš·šāh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 8337: Six (a cardinal number)

heads
רָאשִׁ֤ים (rā·šîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 7218: The head

of families
אָבוֹת֙ (’ā·ḇō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

from the descendants
לִבְנֵ֨י (liḇ·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Eleazar
אֶלְעָזָ֜ר (’el·‘ā·zār)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 499: Eleazar -- 'God has helped', six Israelites

and eight
שְׁמוֹנָֽה׃ (šə·mō·w·nāh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 8083: A cardinal number, eight, eighth

from the descendants
וְלִבְנֵ֧י (wə·liḇ·nê)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Ithamar.
אִיתָמָ֛ר (’î·ṯā·mār)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 385: Ithamar -- 'land of palms', a son of Aaron

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OT History: 1 Chronicles 24:4 There were more chief men found (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)