(19) These were the orderings of them in their service.—Better, These were their classes for their service.

According to their manner, under Aaron.—Better, according to their rule (or order; Vulg., ritum), ordained through Aaron, &c. (See Numbers 2:1; Numbers 4:1; Numbers 4:17.) All the sacerdotal functions were fixed, and each of the twenty-four classes undertook the weekly discharge of them in rotation with the rest, beginning on the Sabbath (2Kings 11:9; 2Chronicles 23:8). Josephus (Ant. vii. 14, 7) declares that the arrangements of David lasted down to his own day.

2. Recapitulation of the Levitical classes (1Chronicles 24:20-31). (Comp. 1Chronicles 23:12-23.)

1 Chronicles 24:19. These were the orderings of them — In this order and method they were to come to perform the offices of the temple. To come into the house — To come into the temple every sabbath day, and to continue there till the next sabbath, when they were relieved by others. Under Aaron — Under the direction of the high-priest, whom he calls Aaron, because he represented Aaron’s person, and executed his office; and their father — Because of the authority which, by God’s appointment, he had over them.

24:1-31 The divisions of the priests and Levites. - When every one has, knows, and keeps his place and work, the more there are the better. In the mystical body of Christ, every member has its use, for the good of the whole. Christ is High Priest over the house of God, to whom all believers, being made priests, are to be in subjection. In Christ, no difference is made between bond and free, elder and younger. The younger brethren, if faithful and sincere, shall be no less acceptable to Christ than the fathers. May we all be children of the Lord, fitted to sing his praises for ever in his temple above.These were the orderings ... - i. e., "this was the numerical order fixed for their ministerial attendance in the house of the Lord - an attendance which was after the manner determined for them by their forefather Aaron, according to instructions which he received from God." 6. one principal household—The marginal reading is preferable, "one house of the father." The lot was cast in a deliberate and solemn manner in presence of the king, the princes, the two high priests, and the chiefs of the priestly and Levitical families. The heads of families belonging to Eleazar and Ithamar were alternately brought forward to draw, and the name of each individual, as called, registered by an attendant secretary. To accommodate the casting of the lots to the inequality of the number, there being sixteen fathers' houses of Eleazar, and only eight of Ithamar, it was arranged that every house of Ithamar should be followed by two of Eleazar, or, what is the same thing, that every two houses of Eleazar should be followed by one of Ithamar. If, then, we suppose a commencement to have been made by Eleazar, the order would be as follows: one and two, Eleazar; three, Ithamar; four and five, Eleazar; six, Ithamar; seven and eight, Eleazar; nine, Ithamar; and so forth [Bertheau]. The lot determined also the order of the priests' service. That of the Levites was afterwards distributed by the same arrangement (1Ch 24:31). These were the orderings of them in their service; in this order and method they were to come to perform the offices of the temple. To come into the house of the Lord, according to their manner, i.e. to come into the temple every sabbath day, and to continue there all the week long until the next sabbath, when they were relieved by others, as the manner was: see 2 Kings 11:5 1 Chronicles 9:25.

Under Aaron their father, i.e. under the inspection and direction of the high priest, whom he calls Aaron, because he represented his person, and executed his office, and also came out of his loins, and

their father, because of the authority which by God’s appointment he had over them, and that love, reverence, and obedience which they owed to him.

These were the orderings of them,.... Their classes or courses into which they were divided:

in their service to come into the house of the Lord; to perform their service in the temple, according to their turns, and in course as fixed by lot; one class or course served one week, and then went out, and another came in, each consisting of 1000 men, see 1 Chronicles 23:4.

according to their manner; law, right, custom, here prescribed for them: under Aaron their father; that is, him who was high priest for the time being; who bore this name because his successor and representative, under whose inspection, direction, and authority, all the rest of the priests were, and whom they were to obey in all things:

as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him; to take care they should be done.

These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under {d} Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.

(d) By the dignity that God gave to Aaron.