1. This is how Aaron’s descendants, the priests, were divided into groups for service. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
2. But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and they had no sons. So only Eleazar and Ithamar were left to carry on as priests.
3. With the help of Zadok, who was a descendant of Eleazar, and of Ahimelech, who was a descendant of Ithamar, David divided Aaron’s descendants into groups according to their various duties.
4. Eleazar’s descendants were divided into sixteen groups and Ithamar’s into eight, for there were more family leaders among the descendants of Eleazar.
5. All tasks were assigned to the various groups by means of sacred lots so that no preference would be shown, for there were many qualified officials serving God in the sanctuary from among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar.
6. Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, acted as secretary and wrote down the names and assignments in the presence of the king, the officials, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the family leaders of the priests and Levites. The descendants of Eleazar and Ithamar took turns casting lots.
7. The first lot fell to Jehoiarib.The second lot fell to Jedaiah.
8. The third lot fell to Harim.The fourth lot fell to Seorim.
9. The fifth lot fell to Malkijah.The sixth lot fell to Mijamin.
10. The seventh lot fell to Hakkoz.The eighth lot fell to Abijah.
11. The ninth lot fell to Jeshua.The tenth lot fell to Shecaniah.
12. The eleventh lot fell to Eliashib.The twelfth lot fell to Jakim.