The Rotation That Lasted a Thousand Years.

וְלִבְנֵ֥י אַהֲרֹ֖ן מַחְלְקוֹתָ֑ם בְּנֵ֣י אַהֲרֹ֔ן נָדָב֙ וַאֲבִיה֔וּא אֶלְעָזָ֖ר וְאִיתָמָֽר׃

The divisions of the sons of Aaron were these. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. The divisions of the sons of Aaron were these. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

וַיָּ֨מָת נָדָ֤ב וַאֲבִיהוּא֙ לִפְנֵ֣י אֲבִיהֶ֔ם וּבָנִ֖ים לֹא־הָי֣וּ לָהֶ֑ם וַֽיְכַהֲנ֔וּ אֶלְעָזָ֖ר וְאִיתָמָֽר׃

[2] But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children, so Eleazar and Ithamar became the priests. [2] But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children, so Eleazar and Ithamar became the priests.

וַיֶּֽחָלְקֵ֣ם דָּוִ֔יד וְצָדוֹק֙ מִן־בְּנֵ֣י אֶלְעָזָ֔ר וַאֲחִימֶ֖לֶךְ מִן־בְּנֵ֣י אִיתָמָ֑ר לִפְקֻדָּתָ֖ם בַּעֲבֹדָתָֽם׃

[3] With the help of Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, David organized them according to the appointed duties in their service. [3] With the help of Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, David organized them according to the appointed duties in their service.

וַיִּמָּצְא֣וּ בְֽנֵי־אֶלְעָזָ֡ר רַבִּ֞ים לְרָאשֵׁ֧י הַגְּבָרִ֛ים מִן־בְּנֵ֥י אִיתָמָ֖ר וַֽיַּחְלְק֑וּם לִבְנֵ֨י אֶלְעָזָ֜ר רָאשִׁ֤ים לְבֵית־אָבוֹת֙ שִׁשָּׁ֣ה עָשָׂ֔ר וְלִבְנֵ֧י אִיתָמָ֛ר לְבֵ֥ית אֲבוֹתָ֖ם שְׁמוֹנָֽה׃

[4] 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. [4] 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.

וַיַּחְלְק֥וּם בְּגוֹרָל֖וֹת אֵ֣לֶּה עִם־אֵ֑לֶּה כִּי־הָי֤וּ שָֽׂרֵי־קֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ וְשָׂרֵ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים מִבְּנֵ֥י אֶלְעָזָ֖ר וּבִבְנֵ֥י אִיתָמָֽר׃ ס

[5] They divided them by lot, all alike, for there were sacred officers and officers of God among both the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar. [5] They divided them by lot, all alike, for there were sacred officers and officers of God among both the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar.

וַֽיִּכְתְּבֵ֡ם שְֽׁמַֽעְיָה֩ בֶן־נְתַנְאֵ֨ל הַסּוֹפֵ֜ר מִן־הַלֵּוִ֗י לִפְנֵ֨י הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ וְהַשָּׂרִים֙ וְצָד֣וֹק הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וַאֲחִימֶ֙לֶךְ֙ בֶּן־אֶבְיָתָ֔ר וְרָאשֵׁי֙ הָֽאָב֔וֹת לַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְלַלְוִיִּ֑ם בֵּֽית־אָ֣ב אֶחָ֗ד אָחֻז֙ לְאֶלְעָזָ֔ר וְאָחֻ֥ז׀ אָחֻ֖ז לְאִיתָמָֽר׃ פ

[6] And the scribe Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded them in the presence of the king and the princes and Zadok the priest and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar and the heads of the fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites, one father's house being chosen for Eleazar and one chosen for Ithamar. [6] And the scribe Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded them in the presence of the king and the princes and Zadok the priest and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar and the heads of the fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites, one father's house being chosen for Eleazar and one chosen for Ithamar.

וַיֵּצֵ֞א הַגּוֹרָ֤ל הָרִאשׁוֹן֙ לִיה֣וֹיָרִ֔יב לִֽידַעְיָ֖ה הַשֵּׁנִֽי׃

[7] The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, [7] The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,

לְחָרִם֙ הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י לִשְׂעֹרִ֖ים הָרְבִעִֽי׃

[8] the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, [8] the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,

לְמַלְכִּיָּה֙ הַחֲמִישִׁ֔י לְמִיָּמִ֖ן הַשִּׁשִּֽׁי׃

[9] the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin, [9] the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,

לְהַקּוֹץ֙ הַשְּׁבִעִ֔י לַאֲבִיָּ֖ה הַשְּׁמִינִֽי׃

[10] the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, [10] the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,

לְיֵשׁ֙וּעַ֙ הַתְּשִׁעִ֔י לִשְׁכַנְיָ֖הוּ הָעֲשִׂרִֽי׃

[11] the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah, [11] the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,

לְאֶלְיָשִׁיב֙ עַשְׁתֵּ֣י עָשָׂ֔ר לְיָקִ֖ים שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָֽׂר׃

[12] the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim, [12] the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,

לְחֻפָּה֙ שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה עָשָׂ֔ר לְיֶֽשֶׁבְאָ֖ב אַרְבָּעָ֥ה עָשָֽׂר׃

[13] the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab, [13] the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,

לְבִלְגָּה֙ חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה עָשָׂ֔ר לְאִמֵּ֖ר שִׁשָּׁ֥ה עָשָֽׂר׃

[14] the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, [14] the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,

לְחֵזִיר֙ שִׁבְעָ֣ה עָשָׂ֔ר לְהַפִּצֵּ֖ץ שְׁמוֹנָ֥ה עָשָֽׂר׃

[15] the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez, [15] the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,

לִֽפְתַחְיָה֙ תִּשְׁעָ֣ה עָשָׂ֔ר לִֽיחֶזְקֵ֖אל הָעֶשְׂרִֽים׃

[16] the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel, [16] the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,

לְיָכִין֙ אֶחָ֣ד וְעֶשְׂרִ֔ים לְגָמ֖וּל שְׁנַ֥יִם וְעֶשְׂרִֽים׃

[17] the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul, [17] the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul,

לִדְלָיָ֙הוּ֙ שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֔ים לְמַֽעַזְיָ֖הוּ אַרְבָּעָ֥ה וְעֶשְׂרִֽים׃ פ

[18] the twenty-third to Delaiah, the twenty-fourth to Maaziah. [18] the twenty-third to Delaiah, the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.

אֵ֣לֶּה פְקֻדָּתָ֞ם לַעֲבֹדָתָ֗ם לָב֤וֹא לְבֵית־יְהוָה֙ כְּמִשְׁפָּטָ֔ם בְּיַ֖ד אַהֲרֹ֣ן אֲבִיהֶ֑ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֔הוּ יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פ

[19] These had as their appointed duty in their service to come into the house of the Lord according to the procedure established for them by Aaron their father, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him. [19] These had as their appointed duty in their service to come into the house of the Lord according to the procedure established for them by Aaron their father, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him.

וְלִבְנֵ֥י לֵוִ֖י הַנּוֹתָרִ֑ים לִבְנֵ֤י עַמְרָם֙ שֽׁוּבָאֵ֔ל לִבְנֵ֥י שׁוּבָאֵ֖ל יֶחְדְּיָֽהוּ׃

[20] And of the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah. [20] And of the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.

לִרְחַבְיָ֑הוּ לִבְנֵ֣י רְחַבְיָ֔הוּ הָרֹ֖אשׁ יִשִּׁיָּֽה׃

[21] Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the chief. [21] Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the chief.

לַיִּצְהָרִ֣י שְׁלֹמ֔וֹת לִבְנֵ֥י שְׁלֹמ֖וֹת יָֽחַת׃

[22] Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath. [22] Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.

וּבְנָ֖י יְרִיָּ֑הוּ אֲמַרְיָ֙הוּ֙ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י יַחֲזִיאֵל֙ הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י יְקַמְעָ֖ם הָרְבִיעִֽי׃

[23] The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth. [23] The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.

בְּנֵ֤י עֻזִּיאֵל֙ מִיכָ֔ה לִבְנֵ֥י מִיכָ֖ה ׳שָׁמוּר׳ ״שָׁמִֽיר׃״

[24] The sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir. [24] The sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir.

אֲחִ֤י מִיכָה֙ יִשִּׁיָּ֔ה לִבְנֵ֥י יִשִּׁיָּ֖ה זְכַרְיָֽהוּ׃

[25] The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah. [25] The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.

בְּנֵ֤י מְרָרִי֙ מַחְלִ֣י וּמוּשִׁ֔י בְּנֵ֖י יַעֲזִיָּ֥הֽוּ בְנֽוֹ׃

[26] The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Jaaziah: Beno. [26] The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Jaaziah: Beno.

בְּנֵ֖י מְרָרִ֑י לְיַֽעֲזִיָּ֣הֽוּ בְנ֔וֹ וְשֹׁ֥הַם וְזַכּ֖וּר וְעִבְרִֽי׃

[27] The sons of Merari: of Jaaziah, Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri. [27] The sons of Merari: of Jaaziah, Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.

לְמַחְלִי֙ אֶלְעָזָ֔ר וְלֹא־הָ֥יָה ל֖וֹ בָּנִֽים׃

[28] Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons. [28] Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.

לְקִ֖ישׁ בְּנֵי־קִ֥ישׁ יְרַחְמְאֵֽל׃

[29] Of Kish, the sons of Kish: Jerahmeel. [29] Of Kish, the sons of Kish: Jerahmeel.

וּבְנֵ֣י מוּשִׁ֔י מַחְלִ֥י וְעֵ֖דֶר וִירִימ֑וֹת אֵ֛לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י הַלְוִיִּ֖ם לְבֵ֥ית אֲבֹתֵיהֶֽם׃

[30] The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites according to their fathers' houses. [30] The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites according to their fathers' houses.

וַיַּפִּילוּ֩ גַם־הֵ֨ם גּוֹרָל֜וֹת לְעֻמַּ֣ת׀ אֲחֵיהֶ֣ם בְּנֵֽי־אַהֲרֹ֗ן לִפְנֵ֨י דָוִ֤יד הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְצָד֣וֹק וַאֲחִימֶ֔לֶךְ וְרָאשֵׁי֙ הָֽאָב֔וֹת לַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְלַלְוִיִּ֑ם אָב֣וֹת הָרֹ֔אשׁ לְעֻמַּ֖ת אָחִ֥יו הַקָּטָֽן׃ ס

[31] These also, the head of each father's house and his younger brother alike, cast lots, just as their brothers the sons of Aaron, in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites. [31] These also, the head of each father's house and his younger brother alike, cast lots, just as their brothers the sons of Aaron, in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites.