Wikipedia's first sentence called it “ritual work groups in judaism originally formed during the reign of king david in the 10th century bce as docum”. Today it says “groups into which kohanim "priests" were divided for service in the temple in jerusalem in ancient judea”.
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Machine-checked against the full current article on 2026-08-03.
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The opening as it read in 2010
The priestly divisions or sacerdotal courses (Hebrew: Mishmar (מִשְׁמָר)) are ritual work groups in Judaism originally formed during the reign of King David in the 10th century BCE as documented in the biblical passage of 1 Chronicles 24. These priests were all descendants of Aaron, known today as Kohen or Aaronites . Aaron had four sons: Nadab , Abihu , Eleazar and Ithamar . However, Nadab and Abihu died before Aaron and only Eleazar and Ithamar had sons. One priest, Zadok , from Eleazar's descendants and another priest, Ahimelech , from Ithamar's descendants, were designated by King David to help create the various priestly work groups. Sixteen of Eleazar's descendants were selected to head priestly orders while only eight of Ithamar's descendants were so chosen. The passage states that this was done because of the greater number of leaders among Eleazar's descendants. Lots were drawn to designate the order of ministering for the heads of the priestly orders when they entered the temple . Each order was responsible for ministering during a different week and shabbat , and were stationed as a watch at the Tabernacle . All of the orders were present during biblical festivals . Their duties involved offering the daily and Jewish holiday sacrifices, collectively known as the korbanot in Hebrew , and blessing the people in a ceremony known as Nesiat Kapayim ("raising of the hands"), the ceremony of the Priestly Blessing .1
This is Wikipedia's own text, saved in our repository. Their copy of it is revision 340621091.
The opening as it stood in 2015
The priestly divisions or sacerdotal courses (Hebrew: mishmar (מִשְׁמָר)) are ritual work groups in Judaism originally formed during the reign of King David in the 10th century BCE as documented in the biblical passage of 1 Chronicles 24 . These priests were all descendants of Aaron , known also as Aaronites . Aaron had four sons: Nadab , Abihu , Eleazar and Ithamar . However, Nadab and Abihu died before Aaron and only Eleazar and Ithamar had sons. One priest, Zadok , from Eleazar's descendants and another priest, Ahimelech , from Ithamar's descendants, were designated by King David to help create the various priestly work groups. Sixteen of Eleazar's descendants were selected to head priestly orders while only eight of Ithamar's descendants were so chosen. The passage states that this was done because of the greater number of leaders among Eleazar's descendants. Lots were drawn to designate the order of ministering for the heads of the priestly orders when they entered the temple in Jerusalem . Each order was responsible for ministering during a different week and shabbat , and were stationed as a watch at the Tabernacle . All of the orders were present during biblical festivals . Their duties involved offering the daily and Jewish holy day sacrifices ( korbanot in Hebrew ), and blessing the people in a ceremony known as nesiat kapayim ("raising of the hands"), the ceremony of the Priestly Blessing .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 641793598.
The opening as it stood in 2020 11 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Work divisions of Jewish priests in the Temple The priestly divisions or sacerdotal courses ( mishmar ) are the groups into which Jewish priests were divided for the purposes of their service in the Temple in Jerusalem .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 963686670.
The opening as it stood on October 6, 2023
Work divisions of Jewish priests in the Temple The priestly divisions or sacerdotal courses ( mishmar ) are the groups into which Jewish priests were divided for the purposes of their service in the Temple in Jerusalem . The 24 priestly divisions are first listed in the Biblical Book of Chronicles 24 .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1177740399.
The opening as it stood in 2025
Work divisions of Jewish priests in the Temple The priestly divisions or sacerdotal courses ( Hebrew : מִשְׁמָר mishmar ) are the groups into which kohanim "priests" were divided for service in the Temple in Jerusalem in ancient Judea .The 24 priestly divisions are first listed in 1 Chronicles 24 .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1292291233. This is our newest snapshot; the live article may have moved again since.
Today
Wikipedia's first sentence called it “ritual work groups in judaism originally formed during the reign of king david in the 10th century bce as docum”. Today it says “groups into which kohanim "priests" were divided for service in the temple in jerusalem in ancient judea”. Read the current article and compare.
2010
2015
2020
Oct '23
2025
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What Wikipedia says this is
Every article opens by defining its subject. This one was redefined since 2010, and today's defining sentence is their current revision.
Then
ritual work groups in judaism originally formed during the reign of king david in the 10th century bce as docum
Now
groups into which kohanim "priests" were divided for service in the temple in jerusalem in ancient judea
Struck red text is no longer in the article; dotted amber text was rewritten. Every revision id links to Wikipedia's copy; the text shown is our own saved copy. Data: /data. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA; quoted for the record; not affiliated with Wikipedia.
