This verse shows how God appointed distinct priestly lines to maintain orderly worship in Israel.
“the fifteenth for Bilgah, the sixteenth for Immer,” (v.14). This verse appears in the middle of a detailed listing of priestly divisions under King David’s organizational plan. King David, who ruled Israel from around 1010 BC to 970 BC, led the nation during a time of growth and consolidation, and he established various structures to maintain order in the worship life of Israel. Here, “the fifteenth for Bilgah” (v.14) identifies the fifteenth priestly division and “the sixteenth for Immer” (v.14) names the sixteenth. Both Bilgah and Immer were among the families descended from Aaron, Moses’ brother, and therefore were responsible for specific duties in the temple. Their roles would have included performing sacrifices and ensuring that the temple worship system functioned properly according to God’s instructions (1 Chronicles 24:1-19).
The city of Jerusalem, where the temple was later built by Solomon (completed around 957 BC), was in the southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains. This holy city became the epicenter for Israel’s worship and symbolized God’s special presence among His people. The priests of Bilgah and Immer, alongside other priestly families, would have traveled to Jerusalem during their appointed times to serve in the temple. This structure of rotating priestly divisions ensured that worship was given consistent attention, reflecting the importance of revering God continually.
In the New Testament, Jesus is recognized as the ultimate high priest, superseding the sacrificial system (Hebrews 4:14-16). Although these priestly families such as Bilgah and Immer served a critical role in Old Testament times, Jesus fulfilled and completed the need for a constantly rotating priestly order, as His singular sacrifice on the cross covered the sins of the world once for all (Hebrews 10:12). The divisions of the priests, each with important duties, foreshadow the complete and perfect ministry found in Christ.
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1 Chronicles 24:14 meaning
“the fifteenth for Bilgah, the sixteenth for Immer,” (v.14). This verse appears in the middle of a detailed listing of priestly divisions under King David’s organizational plan. King David, who ruled Israel from around 1010 BC to 970 BC, led the nation during a time of growth and consolidation, and he established various structures to maintain order in the worship life of Israel. Here, “the fifteenth for Bilgah” (v.14) identifies the fifteenth priestly division and “the sixteenth for Immer” (v.14) names the sixteenth. Both Bilgah and Immer were among the families descended from Aaron, Moses’ brother, and therefore were responsible for specific duties in the temple. Their roles would have included performing sacrifices and ensuring that the temple worship system functioned properly according to God’s instructions (1 Chronicles 24:1-19).
The city of Jerusalem, where the temple was later built by Solomon (completed around 957 BC), was in the southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains. This holy city became the epicenter for Israel’s worship and symbolized God’s special presence among His people. The priests of Bilgah and Immer, alongside other priestly families, would have traveled to Jerusalem during their appointed times to serve in the temple. This structure of rotating priestly divisions ensured that worship was given consistent attention, reflecting the importance of revering God continually.
In the New Testament, Jesus is recognized as the ultimate high priest, superseding the sacrificial system (Hebrews 4:14-16). Although these priestly families such as Bilgah and Immer served a critical role in Old Testament times, Jesus fulfilled and completed the need for a constantly rotating priestly order, as His singular sacrifice on the cross covered the sins of the world once for all (Hebrews 10:12). The divisions of the priests, each with important duties, foreshadow the complete and perfect ministry found in Christ.