Division may refer to separate tribal or priestly groups, including the rotating courses serving at the temple. In the New Testament it can also mean dissension or schism.
Definition
Division may denote a separate body or section of people, including tribal divisions, sections of a tribe, or organized classes of priests and Levites. In the New Testament it may also mean dissension, disunion, or schism.
Biblical Usage
Israel’s tribes and their subdivisions are called divisions. Priests, singers, and doorkeepers were organized into courses serving in rotation at the temple. New Testament passages use division for discord within the community and for conduct producing disunion.
Historical Background
The Chronicler gives special prominence to twenty-four classes of priests, singers, and doorkeepers serving in turns. In some passages the King James Version’s “divisions” is revised to “watercourses” or “rivers,” showing that the same English word can represent different meanings.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>di-vizh'-un: Used in English Versions of the Bible in the following senses:</p><p>(1) A separate body of people</p><p>(a) of the tribal divisions of Israel (Jos 11:23; 12:7; 18:10);</p><p>(b) of sections of a tribe, "the divisions of Reuben" (Jud 5:15,16 the King James Version; but the Revised Version (British and American) rightly substitutes "the watercourses of Reuben"; in Job 20:17 the same word is rendered "rivers");</p><p>(c) of the (late) organization of priests and Levites into classes or families who ministered in the temple in rotation; translated "courses" generally in the King James Version, and always in the Revised Version (British and American) (1Ch 24:1; 26:1,12,19; Ne 11:36; compare 2Ch 35:5). Much prominence is given by the Chronicler to the 24 classes of priests, singers, and doorkeepers, who served in turns in the temple (compare Lu 1:5,8).</p><p>(3) In the New Testament, dissension, disunion, schism (Lu 12:51; Ro 16:17; 1Co 3:3 the King James Version, omitted the Revised Version (British and American); 1Co 1:10; 11:18; Ga 5:20).</p><p>D. Miall Edwards</p>
