Priestly divisions
Encyclopedia
The priestly divisions or sacerdotal courses (Hebrew: mishmar (מִשְׁמָר)) are ritual work groups in Judaism originally formed during the reign of King David in the 10th century BCE as documented in the biblical passage of 1 Chronicles 24. These priests were all descendants of Aaron, known also as Aaronites. Aaron had four sons: Nadab
, Abihu, Eleazar
and Ithamar
. However, Nadab and Abihu died before Aaron and only Eleazar and Ithamar had sons. One priest, Zadok
, from Eleazar's descendants and another priest, Ahimelech
, from Ithamar's descendants, were designated by King David to help create the various priestly work groups. Sixteen of Eleazar's descendants were selected to head priestly orders while only eight of Ithamar's descendants were so chosen. The passage states that this was done because of the greater number of leaders among Eleazar's descendants. Lots were drawn to designate the order of ministering for the heads of the priestly orders when they entered the temple in Jerusalem
. Each order was responsible for ministering during a different week and shabbat
, and were stationed as a watch at the Tabernacle
. All of the orders were present during biblical festivals. See also Kohen
. Their duties involved offering the daily and Jewish holy day sacrifices (korbanot in Hebrew), and blessing the people in a ceremony known as nesiat kapayim ("raising of the hands"), the ceremony of the Priestly Blessing
.
of the bulk of the remaining Jewish population in Judea
at the end of the Bar Kochva Revolt, Jewish tradition in the Talmud
and poems from the period records that the descendants of each priestly watch established a separate residential seat in towns and villages of the Galilee, and maintained this residential pattern for at least several centuries in anticipation of the reconstruction of the Temple and reinstitution of the cycle of priestly courses. Specifically, this Kohanic settlement region stretched from the Beit Netofa Valley
, through the Nazareth
region to Arbel
and the vicinity of Tiberias.
Nadab
Nadab may refer to:*Nadab , Biblical figure, eldest son of Aaron the High Priest of Israel*Nadab of Israel , king of the northern Kingdom of Israel...
, Abihu, Eleazar
Eleazar
Eleazar , was a priest in the Hebrew Bible, the second Kohen Gadol - succeeding his father Aaron. He was a nephew of Moses.-Life:...
and Ithamar
Ithamar
In the Torah, Ithamar is mentioned as the youngest son of Aaron the High Priest. After the death of his two eldest brothers Nadab and Abihu when they had been punished by the Lord for performing an unauthorized sacrificial offering, Ithamar served as a priest along with his elder brother, Eleazar...
. However, Nadab and Abihu died before Aaron and only Eleazar and Ithamar had sons. One priest, Zadok
Zadok
Zadok was a high priest of the Israelites in Jerusalem after it was conquered by David.Zadok may also refer to:*Rabbi Zadok, tanna of the 1st-century CE*Zadok the Priest, an 18th-century coronation anthem by Handel...
, from Eleazar's descendants and another priest, Ahimelech
Ahimelech
Ahimelech , the son of Ahitub and father of Abiathar , described in 2 Sam. 8:17 as the son of Abiathar and in four places in 1 Chronicles. He descended from Eli in the line of Ithamar. In 1 Chr. 18:16 his name is Abimelech according to the Masoretic Text, and is probably the same as Ahiah...
, from Ithamar's descendants, were designated by King David to help create the various priestly work groups. Sixteen of Eleazar's descendants were selected to head priestly orders while only eight of Ithamar's descendants were so chosen. The passage states that this was done because of the greater number of leaders among Eleazar's descendants. Lots were drawn to designate the order of ministering for the heads of the priestly orders when they entered the temple in Jerusalem
Temple in Jerusalem
The Temple in Jerusalem or Holy Temple , refers to one of a series of structures which were historically located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, the current site of the Dome of the Rock. Historically, these successive temples stood at this location and functioned as the centre of...
. Each order was responsible for ministering during a different week and shabbat
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
, and were stationed as a watch at the Tabernacle
Tabernacle
The Tabernacle , according to the Hebrew Torah/Old Testament, was the portable dwelling place for the divine presence from the time of the Exodus from Egypt through the conquering of the land of Canaan. Built to specifications revealed by God to Moses at Mount Sinai, it accompanied the Israelites...
. All of the orders were present during biblical festivals. See also Kohen
Kohen
A Kohen is the Hebrew word for priest. Jewish Kohens are traditionally believed and halachically required to be of direct patrilineal descent from the Biblical Aaron....
. Their duties involved offering the daily and Jewish holy day sacrifices (korbanot in Hebrew), and blessing the people in a ceremony known as nesiat kapayim ("raising of the hands"), the ceremony of the Priestly Blessing
Priestly Blessing
The Priestly Blessing, , also known in Hebrew as Nesiat Kapayim, , or Dukhanen , is a Jewish prayer recited by Kohanim during certain Jewish services...
.
| Division | Name | Scriptural Reference |
|---|---|---|
| First | Jehoiarib Jehoiarib Jehoiarib was the head of a family of priests, which was made the first of the twenty-four priestly divisions organized by King David.- High Priest :... |
1 Chronicles 24:7 |
| Second | Jedaiah Jedaiah Jedaiah was a priest of ancient Israel after the order of Aaron, during the reign of King David in the 10th century BCE. Jedaiah lead the second of the 24 priestly divisions. The biblical passage of 1 Chronicles 24 documents the division of the priests during the reign of King David. These priests... |
1 Chronicles 24:7 |
| Third | Harim | 1 Chronicles 24:8 |
| Fourth | Seorim Seorim Seorim was a priest of ancient Israel after the order of Aaron, during the reign of King David in the 10th century BCE. Seorim lead the fourth of the 24 priestly divisions. The biblical passage of 1 Chronicles 24 documents the division of the priests during the reign of King David. These priests... |
1 Chronicles 24:8 |
| Fifth | Malchijah Malchijah Malchijah is a biblical name belonging to several persons mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and means "Yahu is King" or "the king is Yahu".-In 1 Chronicles:... |
1 Chronicles 24:9 |
| Sixth | Mijamin | 1 Chronicles 24:9 |
| Seventh | Hakkoz | 1 Chronicles 24:10 |
| Eighth | Abijah Abijah Abijah or Abiah or Abia is a Biblical unisex name that means Aviya or "my Father is Yahweh" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament the name Abijah was borne by several characters:Women... |
1 Chronicles 24:10 |
| Ninth | Jeshua | 1 Chronicles 24:11 |
| Tenth | Shecaniah Shecaniah Shecaniah - "one intimate with God". A priest to whom the tenth lotcame forth when David divided the priests . One of the priests who were set "to give to theirbrethren by courses" of the daily portion .... |
1 Chronicles 24:11 |
| Eleventh | Eliashib | 1 Chronicles 24:12 |
| Twelfth | Jakim | 1 Chronicles 24:12 |
| Thirteenth | Huppah | 1 Chronicles 24:13 |
| Fourteenth | Jeshebeab | 1 Chronicles 24:13 |
| Fifteenth | Bilgah | 1 Chronicles 24:14 |
| Sixteenth | Immer Immer Immer, German for "Always", is an influential mix album made by German electronic music artist Michael Mayer. It was released in 2002 on the Cologne-based Kompakt record label.-Reception:... |
1 Chronicles 24:14 |
| Seventeenth | Hezir | 1 Chronicles 24:15 |
| Eighteenth | Happizzez | 1 Chronicles 24:15 |
| Nineteenth | Pethahiah | 1 Chronicles 24:16 |
| Twentieth | Jehezkel | 1 Chronicles 24:16 |
| Twenty-first | Jachin | 1 Chronicles 24:17 |
| Twenty-second | Gamul | 1 Chronicles 24:17 |
| Twenty-third | Delaiah | 1 Chronicles 24:18 |
| Twenty-fourth | Maaziah | 1 Chronicles 24:18 |
Following the Temple's destruction
Following the Temple's destruction at the end of the First Jewish Revolt and the displacement to the GalileeGalilee
Galilee , is a large region in northern Israel which overlaps with much of the administrative North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee , Lower Galilee , and Western Galilee , extending from Dan to the north, at the base of Mount Hermon, along Mount Lebanon to the...
of the bulk of the remaining Jewish population in Judea
Judea
Judea or Judæa was the name of the mountainous southern part of the historic Land of Israel from the 8th century BCE to the 2nd century CE, when Roman Judea was renamed Syria Palaestina following the Jewish Bar Kokhba revolt.-Etymology:The...
at the end of the Bar Kochva Revolt, Jewish tradition in the Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
and poems from the period records that the descendants of each priestly watch established a separate residential seat in towns and villages of the Galilee, and maintained this residential pattern for at least several centuries in anticipation of the reconstruction of the Temple and reinstitution of the cycle of priestly courses. Specifically, this Kohanic settlement region stretched from the Beit Netofa Valley
Beit Netofa Valley
The Beit Netofa Valley is a valley in the Lower Galilee region of Israel, midway between Tiberias and Haifa. Covering 46 km2, it is the largest valley in the Galilee and one of the largest in the southern Levant...
, through the Nazareth
Nazareth
Nazareth is the largest city in the North District of Israel. Known as "the Arab capital of Israel," the population is made up predominantly of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel...
region to Arbel
Arbel
Arbel is a moshav in northern Israel. Located on Mount Arbel next to the Sea of Galilee near Tiberias, it falls under the jurisdiction of Lower Galilee Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 364....
and the vicinity of Tiberias.