1 Chronicles 24:31
These likewise cast lots over against their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren.
This verse belongs to the history of David's reign and records part of his plans for the service of the house of God. It belongs to the account of David establishing the worship of God and preparing for the temple.
It belongs to the organizing of the priests and Levites into courses for sanctuary service. The arrangement provided rotating service, sending laborers out from Jerusalem to work among the people throughout the kingdom.
The chapter records twenty-four courses, each with a chief over it. Abijah, called Abia in the New Testament, was eighth in order. This organization continued to the time of Christ.
The priestly and Levitical divisions were assigned their order of service by lot in the presence of David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites. The divisions of the two priestly families were arranged alongside one another. Senior and junior family heads, the principal fathers over against their younger brethren, were treated on equal terms in assigning their duties, with senior and younger family groups alike represented.
The verse shows one of the Bible instances of casting lots. The manner was to put names on stones or marks, throw them together into the lap or fold of a garment or into an urn or vase, and shake them violently so they were perfectly mingled and the one who drew had no advantage. The faithful always did this with reference to God and His interpretation, for the whole disposing of the lot is of the Lord.
The verse contains one of the seventy-six Old Testament uses of the Hebrew word goh-rahl translated lot. In human speech it is called chance, hazard, or fortune, but in strictness it is the determination of Providence by which the fate or portion of one is determined. Here lot means a portion, outcome, or assignment determined by lot, a decision made by casting lots and understood as Providence's decision, not a hereditary land inheritance.
This use proves Daniel does not stand in the lot of his inheritance at the end of the 1335 days, but stands in his lot in the decisions of the judgment of the righteous dead.
The organization into courses serves as a type of Christ's priestly work. The twenty-four courses and their chiefs correspond to the twenty-four elders in Revelation 4 seen in the heavenly sanctuary. They assist Christ in His priestly ministry.