1 Crônicas 24

1 Crônicas 24

TIMELINE OF THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL, KINGS & CHRONICLES 1107 1011 971 931 853 722 586 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 1 Kings 2 Kings 31 1-4 5-10 11-20 21-24 1-11 12-22 1-17 18-25 1 Chronicles 10 1Chr 11-19 1Chr 20-29 2 Chronicles 1-9 2 Chronicles 10-20 2 Chronicles 21-36 Legend: B.C. dates at top of timeline are approximate. Note that 931 BC marks the division of the Kingdom into Southern Tribes (Judah and Benjamin) and Ten Northern Tribes. To avoid confusion be aware that after the division of the Kingdom in 931 BC, the Southern Kingdom is most often designated in Scripture as "Judah" and the Northern Kingdom as "Israel." Finally, note that 1 Chronicles 1-9 is not identified on the timeline because these chapters are records of genealogy. THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL Comparison of 1 Samuel thru 2 Chronicles FIRST CHRONICLES SUMMARY CHART 1 Chronicles 1-9:44 1 Chronicles 10:1-39:30 Royal Line of David Reign of David 12 Tribes of David's Reign Highlights of David's Reign Genealogies History Ancestry Activity 1000's of Years Circa 33 Years Map of David's Kingdom-ESV Global Map of Cities in 2 Samuel 1 Chronicles 24:1 Now the divisions of the descendants of Aaron were these: the sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. the divisions: 1Ch 23:6 *marg: The sons: 1Ch 6:3 Ex 6:23 28:1 Lev 10:1-6 Nu 3:2 26:60 Related Passages: Leviticus 10:1-6+ Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. 2 And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “It is what the LORD spoke, saying, ‘By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, And before all the people I will be honored.’” So Aaron, therefore, kept silent. 4 Moses called also to Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come forward, carry your relatives away from the front of the sanctuary to the outside of the camp.” 5 So they came forward and carried them still in their tunics to the outside of the camp, as Moses had said. 6 Then Moses said to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not uncover your heads nor tear your clothes, so that you will not die and that He will not become wrathful against all the congregation. But your kinsmen, the whole house of Israel, shall bewail the burning which the LORD has brought about. (What is the meaning of the strange fire in Leviticus 10:1? | GotQuestions.org) DIVISIONS OF THE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD In this section 1Ch 24:1-31 David is continuing to make preparations for the soon to be built Temple, in this chapter first organizing the priests who were responsible for religious duties associated with the temple (Ex 28:1–43) organizing them into 24 divisions. "Divisions" indicates when they would serve at the temple. He would return to the Levites in 1Ch 24:20ff who in chapter 23 had just organized into four divisions for varying tasks. Now the divisions of the descendants of Aaron were these: the sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar - David's divisions were not the result of David's genius, but reflected his implementation of divine instructions. Remember that the descendants of Aaron were the only Levites who were qualified to be priests. Nadab ("liberal, generous" - he was "liberal" in the wrong way!) was eldest of Aaron's four sons (Ex 6:23; Nu 3:2). He with his brothers and their father were consecrated as priests of Jehovah (Ex. 28:1). He afterwards perished with Abihu for the sin of offering strange fire on the altar of burnt-offering (Lev. 10:1,2; Nu 3:4; 26:60). The reason the Chronicler goes back to Aaron is that it was important that the priests truly be descendants of Aaron. David's organization of the priests into division flows over into the New Testament where we read of Zacharias in Luke 1:5+ "In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth." Abihu - father of Him; i.e., "worshipper of God", the second of the sons of Aaron (Ex. 6:23; Num. 3:2; 26:60; 1 Chr. 6:3). Along with his three brothers he was consecrated to the priest's office (Ex. 28:1). With his father and elder brother he accompanied the seventy elders part of the way up the mount with Moses (Ex. 24:1,9). On one occasion he and Nadab his brother offered incense in their censers filled with "strange" (i.e., common) fire, i.e., not with fire taken from the great brazen altar (Lev. 6:9, etc.), and for this offence they were struck dead, and were taken out and buried without the camp (Lev. 10:1-11; comp. Num. 3:4; 26:61; 1 Chr. 24:2). It is probable that when they committed this offence they were intoxicated, for immediately after is given the law prohibiting the use of wine or strong drink to the priests. Eleazar (God has helped) - The third son of Aaron (Ex. 6:23). His wife, a daughter of Putiel, bore him Phinehas (Ex. 6:25). After the death of Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:12; Num. 3:4) he was appointed to the charge of the sanctuary (Nu 3:32). On Mount Hor he was clothed with the sacred vestments, which Moses took from off his brother Aaron and put upon him as successor to his father in the high priest's office, which he held for more than twenty years (Nu. 20:25-29). He took part with Moses in numbering the people (Nu 26:3, 4), and assisted at the inauguration of Joshua. He assisted in the distribution of the land after the conquest (Josh. 14:1). The high-priesthood remained in his family till the time of Eli, into whose family it passed, till it was restored to the family of Eleazar in the person of Zadok (1 Sa 2:35; comp. 1 Kings 2:27). Ithamar (palm isle), the fourth and youngest son of Aaron (1 Chr. 6:3). He was consecrated to the priesthood along with his brothers (Ex. 6:23); and after the death of Nadab and Abihu, he and Eleazar alone discharged the functions of that office (Lev. 10:6, 12; Num. 3:4). While Nadab and Abihu were prematurely cut off for offering strange fire before the Lord (Lev 10:1,2; Nu 3:4; 26:61), and Eleazar was appointed chief of the tribe of Levi (Ex 6:23,25) and ultimately succeeded Aaron (Ex 28:1), Ithamar was made the treasurer of the offerings for the Tabernacle (Ex 38:21), and superintendent of the Gershonites and Merarites in the service of the Tabernacle (Nu 4:28,33). He and his family occupied the position of common priest till the high priesthood passed into his family in the person of Eli (1 Kings 2:27), the reasons for which are not recorded. QUESTION - What is the difference between priests and Levites? ANSWER - The Levites were the tribe of Israelites descended from Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. The priests of Israel were a group of qualified men from within the tribe of the Levites who had responsibility over aspects of tabernacle or temple worship. All priests were to be Levites, according to the Law, but not all Levites were priests. Priests existed prior to the Levites in a general sense. For example, we first see the role of a priest in Genesis 14:18 during Abraham’s time, long before Levi was born. Melchizedek was the king of the town of Salem, which later became Jerusalem. Melchizedek was also said to be “a priest forever” (Psalm 110:4; cf. Hebrews 6:20; 7:17). Pagan nations also had priests for their religious activities. Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, was the priest of Midian (Exodus 3:1;18:1). When the Jews received the Law of Moses at Sinai, the Lord gave commands regarding a formal priesthood for Israel. The priests would be males from the tribe of Levi and must meet certain physical and age qualifications in order to serve. In addition, they had to remain ceremonially clean to perform their duties before a holy God. The priests served as mediators between the Israelites and God. They were the ones who performed animal sacrifices on behalf of the people. It was only the priests who were permitted to enter the Holy Place in the tabernacle and, later, the temple. A more detailed description of the Levitical priesthood can be found in our article “What was the Levitical priesthood?” Among these Levitical priests was the high priest. The first high priest was Aaron, the brother of Moses. His sons and their descendants were to serve as the future high priests of the nation of Israel (Exodus 29). Only the high priest was permitted to enter the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle and temple, and that only once per year on the Day of Atonement. A more detailed description of the work of the high priest can be found in our article “What was the biblical role of the high priest?” Ezra, one of the leaders of the Jews who returned from Babylon, was a Levitical priest (Nehemiah 12:1). Zechariah and Elizabeth, John the Baptist’s parents, were both Levites descended from Aaron (see Luke 1:5). Zechariah was a priest, but his son, John, also a Levite, was a prophet, not a priest. By the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, the Jewish priesthood held much spiritual and political power. In fact, the Jewish chief priests were involved in sentencing Jesus to death. Following the resurrection of Jesus, believers now live under a new covenant in which all Christians are priests: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). We no longer need an earthly mediator between us and God because Jesus has made the final sacrifice on our behalf and acts as our Mediator (Hebrews 10:19–23; 1 Timothy 2:5). The Jewish role of high priest is now fulfilled by Jesus, who serves as our high priest. Jesus’ sacrifice ended our need for continued sacrifices. The Holy Spirit guides and counsels us. The Levitical priesthood was part of the old covenant system of sacrifices. It has been fulfilled in Jesus, and we are now under the new covenant. There is no longer a biblical mandate for priests. Every follower of Christ has access to God, regardless of gender, race, or tribe (Hebrews 7:11–28; Ephesians 3:11–12; Colossians 3:11).GotQuestions.org 1 Chronicles 24:2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests. Nadab: Ex 24:1,9 died: Lev 10:2 Nu 3:4 26:61 Eleazar: Ex 29:9 Lev 10:12 Nu 16:39,40 18:7 TRIBE OF LEVI Source: Thomas Constable ELEAZAR & ITHAMAR SUCCEED NADAB & ABIHU But Nadab and Abihu died before (not time but in presence of) their father and had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests. They apparently used coals of fire that were not taken from the bronze altar as prescribed (see 6:12-13; 16:12). It seems, too, that they offered incense other than at the morning or evening sacrifice (cf. Ex. 30:7-8). Some feel that they were drunk because a prohibition against drinking immediately follows their punishment (v. 9). On their very first day of service, after their seven-day consecration, Nadab and Abihu, the two oldest sons of Aaron (Ex. 6:23), were slain in the court of the tabernacle (v. 2). What did Nadab and Abihu do to incur such a severe judgment? Several suggestions are in order: (1) they put hot coals in their censers which were not from the altar of burnt offering (cf. Ex 16:12; Ex. 30:9; Num. 16:46); (2) they were intoxicated (vv. 8-11); (3) they arrogantly attempted to enter the Most Holy Place (cf. the prohibition in 16:1, 2) but were struck down before doing so (v. 4); (4) they made their incense offering at the wrong time (cf. chs. 9; 10), i.e., not the normal morning or evening offering as prescribed (Ex. 30:7, 8). Their sin very well may have been a combination of these. The abiding truth is that willful disobedience to the revealed will of God (v. 1) incurs the wrath and judgment of God. The fact that these men were the sons of the high priest offered them no immunity. 1 Chronicles 24:3 David, with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their offices for their ministry. Zadok: 1Ch 24:6,31 6:4-8,50-53 12:27,28 15:11 16:39 2Sa 20:25 1Ki 2:35 Ahimelech: 1Sa 21:1 22:9-23 2Sa 8:17 DAVID'S TWO RULING PRIESTS David, with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech (aka "Abiathar") of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their offices for their ministry - Offices for their ministry is a reference to the system of work shifts for the priests. This was a new system which David instituted at this time. Zadok and Ahimelech were "co-priests" under David. Ultimately the line of the High-Priest would come through Eleazar's offspring in accord with the covenant promise God made to Phinehas in (Nu 25:11-13+ = "it shall be for him [Phinehas] and his descendants after him, a covenant of a perpetual priesthood"). 1 Chronicles 18:16 says "Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech (Ahimelech) the son of Abiathar were priests." (Abiathar's line is not continued in the diagram above, but it appears that he had a son named Ahimelech (1Ch 24:6) who served with Zadok. In fairness, this nomenclature is confusing because of the repetition of the name Ahimelech and the presumption that it is sometimes recorded as Abimelech. Jack Hay comments - The mention of Ahimelech is perplexing. Abiathar and not Ahimelech was the man most frequently linked with Zadok. Ahimelech was Abiathar's father, the victim of a deception on the part of David that led to his execution (1 Sam 22). That rules him out of the present consideration. Some commentators (e.g. Adam Clarke) see Ahimelech here as an alternative name for Abiathar himself, although it would be difficult to prove that from Scripture. 1Ch 24:6 indicates that Abiathar had a son called Ahimelech, and there is no reason why he should not have been Zadok's companion (ED: WHICH IN FACT IS DESCRIBED IN 1Ch 18:16). (What the Bible Teaches – 1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles) The Expositor's Bible Commentary – The king's impartiality is significant. Even though Eleazar, as senior surviving son, had been designated leader of the Levites and of those who worked in the sanctuary (Nu 3:32), and even though he had eventually succeeded his father Aaron as high priest (Nu 20:28), it was only the physical fact of the "larger number" (1Ch 24:4) of priests who traced their ancestry to him that gave Eleazar numerical superiority in courses; those of Ithamar received an equal standing (cf. the even-handedness of Exod 28:1, 40-43) Bob