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1 Chronicles 24 · a question people ask

Did God choose the order, or was it left to chance?

In the text

The chapter says why lots were used, and no more: "Thus they were divided impartially by drawing lots; for there were princes of the sanctuary and princes of God, both of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar" (24:5). Eleazar's side had sixteen heads of fathers' houses and Ithamar's eight (24:4). The names were written down "in the presence of the king, the princes, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites" (24:6). The chapter doesn't say that the LORD chose through the lots, and it doesn't call the lot chance. Proverbs says, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD" (Proverbs 16:33), and "The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart" (Proverbs 18:18); 1 Chronicles 24 doesn't quote either. What the chapter does say is that their service went "according to the ordinance given to them by Aaron their father, as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded him" (24:19).

The verses

“This was their ordering in their service, to come into the LORD’s house according to the ordinance given to them by Aaron their father, as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded him.”
1 Chronicles 24:19 · World English Bible
“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.”
Proverbs 16:33 · World English Bible
“The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.”
Proverbs 18:18 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 1 Chronicles 24

1 Chronicles 24: The eighth lot to Abijah

The priest Zacharias, John's father, was "of the priestly division of Abijah" (Luke 1:5), and in 1 Chronicles 24 the lots drawn in David's day give "the eighth to Abijah" (24:10). Luke doesn't name Chronicles, but the name is there.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions