The priesthood in Israel was established by God through Moses. All priests were to come from the tribe of Levi, and specifically from the line of Aaron. Exodus 28:1 says,
“Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest.”
Aaron was the first high priest, and his descendants were given the responsibility of ministering in the tabernacle and later in the temple. The Levites who were not of Aaron’s line assisted with other duties but could not serve as priests.
The Division into Courses
As the nation grew and the temple duties became more extensive, King David, under divine direction, organized the priests into divisions for orderly service. 1 Chronicles 24:1–3 records this system:
“Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron… And David with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to the schedule of their service.”
There were 24 divisions (courses) in total, drawn from the descendants of Aaron’s two surviving sons, Eleazar and Ithamar. 1 Chronicles 24:4 explains,
“More leaders were 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 father’s houses, and eight among the sons of Ithamar.”
These divisions ensured that priestly service at the temple was conducted with order and regularity. Each division would serve at the temple in Jerusalem for a week at a time, rotating throughout the year.
Continued Use into the New Testament
The division of the priesthood remained in effect into the time of Christ. Luke 1:5 refers to this system when speaking of John the Baptist’s father,
“There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah.”
Abijah was the eighth course of the 24 divisions. This system was so consistent that it helped determine when John the Baptist was conceived, and by extension, gives insight into the timeline of Jesus’ birth.
My Final Thoughts
The division of priests in the Old Testament reveals God’s concern for order, holiness, and structure in worship. Each family line had its duties, and each division had its appointed time. It was a foreshadowing of the order found in the Body of Christ, where every member has a role. The priesthood was never to be casual. it was consecrated and carefully appointed. God’s house demands reverence and stewardship.
