1. the sons of Aaron] So vi. 3; Exodus vi. 23.
²But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office.
2. Nadab and Abihu died] by fire from heaven as a punishment for sacrilege—so Leviticus x. 1, 2; Numbers iii. 4.
³And David[¹] with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their ordering in their service.
[¹] Or, And David divided them, even Zadok &c.
3. Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar] The colleague of Zadok in the priesthood is variously named in different passages:—
1 Chronicles xxiv. 3. Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar.
1 Chronicles xxiv. 6. Ahimelech the son of Abiathar.
1 Chronicles xviii. 16. Abimelech the son of Abiathar.
Probably the same person is meant throughout, the confusion springing from a false reading in 2 Samuel viii. 17, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar for Abiathar the son of Ahimelech; see the notes on xv. 11, xviii. 16.