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Created 5928± 06 26 2024 [2008-9-27]

Updated 5940(?) 05 22 2026 [2010-08-03]

 

 

 

24 Courses of Priests and Levites

 

Facts and Considerations re the Timing of Each of their Temple Services

 

 

 

Abstract:

 

As referenced below there are some things that are known to me re the timing of the 24 courses of priests and Levites servicing the temple throughout the year, but at this point I find that I do not have the conclusive answers to some important details of timing that are of importance before a firm dating can be ascertained re the course of Abijah and the birth of John the Baptist referenced in Luke 1:5, 23 and re the plucking of grain by Yeshua and his disciples on the Second-First Shabbat referenced in Luke 6:1. For instance, I have not found a firm date for the beginning of the 1st course and I have not found any firm statements re how the three annual Feasts were being handled.

 

Nevertheless, based upon the facts of the matter available, perhaps my attempt to reconstruct the timing of the temple services of each of the 24 courses may still be more or less accurate?...

 

. . . . . . .

 

Notwithstanding any of the above or below said, after long time consideration, I believe the simple and straightforward answer to each and all questions re the within matter, is as follows:

 

The month given the name “the First Moon,” i.e. Aviv, as in the Hebrew word ‘rishon,’ meaning ‘foremost,’ is the month being used for tuning each and every year to the seasons, and without fail. It stands to reason that “the First Course” is the one beginning in the month with the same name.

 

The focal point of Month #1 is the aviv, and the focal point of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is the Seventh-day Sabbath upon which, in the very middle of the 24 hours, that is, in the early morning of the Sabbath, the sacrifice of the Omer is being brought. This Sabbath is the foundation of the entire calendar, it is the base upon which all of the remainder of the Count of Omer rests. It is the accession day before the subsequent seven weeks where the Seventh Shabbat constitutes the Feast of Sabbaths, that is, the Day of Pentecost. In the count of fifty it is itself both the first and the fiftieth day.

 

It is only self-evident that the first-first Course of Priests begin their service at the beginning of the Sabbath of the Omer and continue until and including the next Sabbath. I don’t find any mention in the Scriptures for any complicated splitting of services over two weeks due to whichever Feast Days when priests from other courses join in as needed, and I don’t believe there is any reason for thus complicating the schedule or the reckoning of courses. Thusly numbering the courses of priests, there will be full harmony between the numbers assigned to the weeks of Omer and the numbered Courses of Priests. No reason for confusion!... Thus, the 1st Course of Priests do their duty through the end of the 1st Sabbath cycle, the 2nd Course of Priests do their duty through the end of the 2nd Sabbath cycle, etc., even through the end of the 24th Sabbath cycle. When the 24th Course of Priests have completed their course, they are replaced by the 1st Course. What could be more natural? When this happens to coincide with the last week before the First-First or the Second-First Course, then so be it! Isn’t their time cut short anyhow by an intermediary seven days of either the Feast of Unleavened Bread or of the Feast of Tabernacles?! No need for feeling robbed of a blessing or for having to serve double duty, is there? Some will be more blessed than others perhaps, that is, when there is an extra leap month added to the year. But then, isn’t it only good that some are getting extra training for matters of special importance?!!!

 

The Second-First course would naturally begin their service at the beginning of the Seventh-day Sabbath within the Feast of Tabernacles, thus mirroring the procedure during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

 

. . . . . . .

 

Naturally, these last considerations above resolves any and all matters re dating, e.g. the 8th course of Abijah, and the Second-First Sabbath, etc…

 

 

 

 

Considerations:

 

Luke 1:5 (KJV) "There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth."

 

Luke 1:23 (TLT)  AndG2532 it came to pass,G1096 that, in that mannerG5613 were concludedG4130 theG3588 daysG2250 of hisG846 ministrationG3009 and he departedG565 toG1519 his ownG848 house.G3624

Luke 1:23 (KJV)  AndG2532 it came to pass,G1096 that, as soon asG5613 theG3588 daysG2250 of hisG846 ministrationG3009 were accomplished,G4130 he departedG565 toG1519 his ownG848 house.G3624

 

Luk 6:1(KJV) “And it came to pass on the second Sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat…”

 

The priests followed an annual service calendar established since the days of king David and Samuel, the prophet. Each family of priests was on duty at the temple one certain eight day period every semi-year, from Sabbath to Sabbath [i.e. from sunset one Friday until darkness eight days later:]

 

David… divided them also into courses: and when he had separated the priests from them, he found of these priests twenty-four courses, sixteen of the house of Eleazar, and eight of that of Ithamar; and he ordained that one course should minister to God eight days, from sabbath to sabbath. And thus were the courses distributed by lot, in the presence of David, and Zadok and Abiathar the high priests, and of all the rulers; and that course which came up first was written down as the first, and accordingly the second, and so on to the twenty-fourth; and this partition hath remained to this day. He also made twenty-four parts of the tribe of Levi; and when they cast lots, they came up in the same manner for their courses of eight days.” (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book 7, Chapter 14:7. Cf. Josephus, The life of Flavius Josephus, paragraph #1. Cf. also Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: 2 Kings 11:4-12; 1 Chr 24:1-19.)

 

     The priests were divided into twenty-four courses, and a full and accurate record was made regarding this division. Each course was thoroughly organized under its chief, and each was to come to Jerusalem twice a year, to attend for one week to the ministry of the sanctuary.  {3BC 1128.4}

     The Levites, whose duty it was to assist in the sanctuary service, were organized and allotted their part with similar precision (RH Oct. 5, 1905).  {3BC 1128.5}

 

Considering the fact that the exact beginning of the biblical year is uncertain until aviv [a stage of ripening of the barley] is ascertained before the observation of the new moon crescent it cannot be that the first course begins until, at the very earliest, the beginning of the first Shabbat within, and following the beginning of, the First Moon [Abib / Nisan] each year. [I.e. apparently contrary to the statement of Earnest L. Martin that the first course began within the last Shabbat of the preceding month (cf. Earnest L. Martin, “The Star that Astonished the World,” chapter 5, Part 1 & 2.) However, notice below how that the first course does very likely begin with the Shabbat immediately preceding the partial week prior to the Feast of Unleavened bread and end with the partial week following the Feast of Unleavened Bread and that by so doing the first course does very likely span the beginning of the half year corresponding to the beginning on the Eighth Day, i.e. the half year beginning with Aviv 22.]

 

In fact, I find it reasonable to conclude that the first course was delayed until the second Shabbat of Aviv in order to give the priests of the 1st course at least a seven days advance notice lest otherwise some years they may end up having absolutely no advance notice of the exact time at all, i.e. before the beginning of their appointment. I believe that a second Shabbat start – or possibly even the first Shabbat following the Shabbat of the Omer sacrifice and after the end of the Feast of Unleavened Bread - is also suggested by the Torah instructions for Aviv 10 as well as also by the date given in Ezekiel 40:1 in conjunction with Ezekiel 43:18-27 & 45:18-23. That the first course of the first cycle of the twenty-four courses began in Aviv and not at the time of the biblical new year beginning with the Eight Day following the Feast of Tabernacles should be clear from Exodus 40:2, 13-16, though apparently this arrangement of twenty-four courses was established by Samuel and king David (1 Chr 9:22) and then reestablished by Ezra (Ezra 2:36-39. Cf. also 1 Chr. 27:1-2.)

 

It seems likely to me that Earnest L. Martin’s statements re skipping course counts during the Feast days and extra Shabbats have a basis in fact and that all the priest families cooperated in the services during those special times of the year (cf. 2 Chr. 5:11:

 

for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course

 

and Acts 13:42:

“The nextG3342 Sabbath” being better translated “the betwixt Sabbath;”

Strong’s G3342:

From G3326 and a form of G4862; betwixt (of place or person); (of time) as adjective intervening, or (by implication) adjoining.”) 

 

 

It stands to reason that the family of priests responsible for the partial week beginning prior to the Feast of Unleavened Bread would complete their service by serving also the partial week following the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It remains to be determined for certain whether those days of service before and after said feast were accomplished by the 1st course or by the course currently serving at the tail end of the second cycle of courses.

 

Re the subsequent feasts and extra Shabbats of the year: If the entire 7th week (1st through 7th Day) of the 49/50 day Count of Omer and the first three weeks of the 7th moon, i.e. beginning with the Day of Trumpets and including also the Day of At-One-Meant and the First through Seventh Days of Tabernacles, are also considered Betwixt Shabbats, then I find that there would be exactly five weeks of temple service covered by all the families of priests jointly, thus leaving 24 complete weeks of temple service into the hands of the twenty-four families of priests and Levites [7 moons x 29.5 days = 29.5 weeks] until the 1st course would begin their second cycle of service in the Eighth Moon. I find it likely that each of the 24 courses would be completed in the first cycle before the beginning of the second cycle lest otherwise the first course of priests would always be faced with that same uncertainty and minimal advance notice, and also lest the 24th course, and perhaps even the 23rd course, might otherwise in some years have no service at all either in the first or second cycle of courses. Accordingly and until I find further info re this matter I see the following as a likely arrangement (the 2nd most likely arrangement being also indicated within the first three items in the list below:)

 

One cycle (the 1st?) of 24 courses – Aviv thru Tishri:

 

1st course (or, alternatively, the course currently serving at the tail end of the second cycle?:) From the beginning of the 2nd Shabbat of Aviv (First-First Shabbat?) through the end of the 4th Shabbat of Aviv (1st Shabbat of Omer) and skipping the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

2nd course (or, alternatively, the 1st course?:) From the beginning of the 4th Shabbat (First-Second Shabbat?) of the sacred year (Aviv through Adar) through the end of the 5th Shabbat of the sacred year (2nd Shabbat of Omer).

3rd course (…2nd course etc.?:) From the beginning of the 5th Shabbat (First-Third Shabbat?) of the sacred year through the end of the 6th Shabbat of the sacred year (3rd Shabbat of Omer).

4th course: From the beginning of the 6th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 7th Shabbat of the sacred year (4th Shabbat of Omer).

5th course: From the beginning of the 7th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 8th Shabbat of the sacred year (5th Shabbat of Omer).

6th course: From the beginning of the 8th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 9th Shabbat of the sacred year (6th Shabbat of Omer).

7th course: From the beginning of the 9th Shabbat of the sacred year, skipping the 7th week of Omer, then continuing through the end of the 11th Shabbat of the sacred year (1st Shabbat after Pentecost).

8th course (or, alternatively, the 7th course?:) From the beginning of the 11th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 12th Shabbat of the sacred year.

9th course (or, alternatively, the 8th course?:): From the beginning of the 12th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 13th Shabbat of the sacred year.

10th course: From the beginning of the 13th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 14th Shabbat of the sacred year.

11th course: From the beginning of the 14th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 15th Shabbat of the sacred year.

12th course: From the beginning of the 15th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 16th Shabbat of the sacred year.

13th course: From the beginning of the 16th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 17th Shabbat of the sacred year.

14th course: From the beginning of the 17th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 18th Shabbat of the sacred year.

15th course: From the beginning of the 18th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 19th Shabbat of the sacred year.

16th course: From the beginning of the 19th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 20th Shabbat of the sacred year.

17th course: From the beginning of the 20th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 21st Shabbat of the sacred year.

18th course: From the beginning of the 21st Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 22nd Shabbat of the sacred year.

19th course: From the beginning of the 22nd Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 23rd Shabbat of the sacred year.

20th course: From the beginning of the 23rd Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 24th Shabbat of the sacred year.

21st course: From the beginning of the 24th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 25th Shabbat of the sacred year.

22nd course: From the beginning of the 25th Shabbat of the sacred year until the 1st day of the Seventh Moon (when the 26th Shabbat falls in the Seventh Moon) and then, skipping the first three weeks of the Seventh Moon, continuing with (or after?) the 8th Day and through the end of the subsequent Shabbat, i.e. through the 29th Shabbat of the sacred year aka. the 1st Shabbat of the biblical year, or else (when the 26th Shabbat falls in the Sixth Moon) through the end of the 26th Shabbat of the sacred year.

23rd course: If not within the Seventh Moon, from the beginning of the 26th Shabbat of the sacred year until the 1st day of the Seventh Moon and then, skipping the first three weeks of the Seventh Moon, continuing with (or after?) the 8th Day and through the end of the subsequent Shabbat, i.e. through the 30th Shabbat of the sacred year aka. the 1st Shabbat of the biblical year, or else (when the 26th Shabbat falls in the Seventh Moon) from the 29th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 30th Shabbat of the sacred year.

24th course: From the beginning of the 30th Shabbat (First-Twenty-fourth Shabbat?) of the sacred year through the end of the 31st Shabbat of the sacred year.

 

 

The other (2nd?) cycle of 24 courses: End of Tishri or early Chesron thru Adar:

 

As stated above I believe it is most likely that this cycle of courses did not begin until the completion of the 24th course of the preceding cycle regardless of the beginning of the biblical year. But which cycle of courses was reckoned as the first cycle and which one was the second? Cf. Luke 6:1: “σαββατωG4521 N-DSN  δευτεροπρωτωG1207 A-DSN.” Can we be certain?  [Doubtful alternate: 1st course: From the beginning of the 1st Shabbat after the end of the Feast of Tabernacles and the Eight Day.]

 

1st course (or, alternatively, the 24th course of the 1st cycle?:): From the beginning of the 31st Shabbat (Second-First Shabbat?) of the sacred year through the end of the 32nd Shabbat of the sacred year.

2nd course (or, alternatively, the 1st course?:): From the beginning of the 32nd Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 33rd Shabbat of the sacred year.

3rd course: From the beginning of the 33rd Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 34th Shabbat of the sacred year.

4th course: From the beginning of the 34th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 35th Shabbat of the sacred year.

5th course: From the beginning of the 35th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 36th Shabbat of the sacred year.

6th course: From the beginning of the 36th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 37th Shabbat of the sacred year.

7th course: From the beginning of the 37th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 38th Shabbat of the sacred year.

8th course: From the beginning of the 38th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 39th Shabbat of the sacred year.

9th course: From the beginning of the 39th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 40th Shabbat of the sacred year.

10th course: From the beginning of the 40th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 41st Shabbat of the sacred year.

11th course: From the beginning of the 41st Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 42nd Shabbat of the sacred year.

12th course: From the beginning of the 42nd Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 43rd Shabbat of the sacred year.

13th course: From the beginning of the 43rd Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 44th Shabbat of the sacred year.

14th course: From the beginning of the 44th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 45th Shabbat of the sacred year.

15th course: From the beginning of the 45th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 46th Shabbat of the sacred year.

16th course: From the beginning of the 46th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 47th Shabbat of the sacred year.

17th course: From the beginning of the 47th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 48th Shabbat of the sacred year.

18th course: From the beginning of the 48th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 49th Shabbat of the sacred year.

19th course: From the beginning of the 49th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 50th Shabbat of the sacred year.

20th course: From the beginning of the 50th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 51st Shabbat of the sacred year.

21st course: From the beginning of the 51st Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 2nd Shabbat of Aviv or else through the end of the 52nd Shabbat of the sacred year, whichever one comes first.

22nd course: From the beginning of the 52nd Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 2nd Shabbat of Aviv or else through the end of the 53rd Shabbat of the sacred year, whichever one comes first.

23rd course: From the beginning of the 53rd Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 2nd Shabbat of Aviv or else through the end of the 54th Shabbat of the sacred year, whichever one comes first.

24th course: From the beginning of the 54th Shabbat of the sacred year through the end of the 2nd Shabbat of Aviv.

 

 

 

 

 

 


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