Chapter 24

The priests organized into 24 divisions by lot.  This was because Eleazar had 16 sons and Ithamar had 8 sons.  These two were the only surviving sons of Aaron.  So the 24 divisions don't really seem to have any special calendar meaning or anything like that.  I think these were the ones who served in the temple for two weeks, and if they were lucky, might get to go into the Holy of Holies once in their lifetime, as the father of John the Baptist did that one time.

2023 - AND, I wonder if this is also the basis of the 24 elders around the throne of God!?!?!  This makes really good sense that they might be based on this original division of the priests according to the sons of Eleazar and Ithamar, sons of Aaron.  Oh my...how have I never read this anywhere???  Here is the passage:  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. [1Ch 24:4 ESV].  This needs to be added to the Revelation notes ASAP!

2026- Also, it makes sense that if we look at the 24 elders around the throne as representing 24 hours in a day in which God is to be praised in heaven, then we can also see where the 16 and the eight here are also corresponding to 24 hours. They may have been in charge of looking after the temple 24 hours a day. The correspondence is a little bit too much for just chance.

2023 - The priests were the sons of Aaron.  These were concerned with the sacrifices, the rituals, and so on.  From these, one would be the High Priest.  The Levites - the 24,000 in Chapter 23 were to serve the sons of Aaron - the priests - by doing all the maintenance work on the Temple, and singing, and judging the people, and regulating the number allowed into the temple - I think...