and said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it.
And there were more chief men found of the sons of Ele-a´zar than of the sons of Ith´amar; and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Ele-a´zar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ith´amar according to the house of their fathers.
The Levites in the days of Eli´ashib, Joi´ada, and Jo´hanan, and Jad´du-a, were recorded chief of the fathers: also the priests, to the reign of Dari´us the Persian.