1 Chronicles 25:3

3 From the sons of Jeduthun, there were Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six in all. They worked under the direction of their father, Jeduthun, who proclaimed God’s messages to the accompaniment of the lyre, offering thanks and praise to the LORD .

1 Chronicles 25:3 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 25:3

Of Jeduthun
Or Ethan, the sons of Jeduthun:

Gedaliah and Zeri;
called Izri, ( 1 Chronicles 25:11 ) ,

and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six;
whereas five only are mentioned; it may be thought that Shimei, ( 1 Chronicles 25:17 ) is the sixth, he not being mentioned elsewhere; it is a tradition of the Jews, that his mother was now with child of him, and it being foreseen by the Holy Spirit that he would be the chief of a course, the number six is given, as Jarchi observes; but rather, as Kimchi, he was young, and not fit to sing, yet was chosen the head of a course, until he was grown up and fit for it; to these six came up the second, fourth, eighth, twelfth, fourteenth, and tenth lots, ( 1 Chronicles 25:9 1 Chronicles 25:11 1 Chronicles 25:15 1 Chronicles 25:21 1 Chronicles 25:17 ) and these

[were] under the hands of their father Jeduthun;
to instruct and direct them, and appoint their service to them:

who prophesied with a harp;
or sung a prophetic psalm or hymn on that:

to give thanks, and to praise the Lord;
for what he had done and promised, and foretold he would do for his people.

1 Chronicles 25:3 In-Context

1 David and the army commanders then appointed men from the families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to proclaim God’s messages to the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. Here is a list of their names and their work:

2 From the sons of Asaph, there were Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. They worked under the direction of their father, Asaph, who proclaimed God’s messages by the king’s orders.

3 From the sons of Jeduthun, there were Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six in all. They worked under the direction of their father, Jeduthun, who proclaimed God’s messages to the accompaniment of the lyre, offering thanks and praise to the LORD .

4 From the sons of Heman, there were Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.

5 All these were the sons of Heman, the king’s seer, for God had honored him with fourteen sons and three daughters.

Footnotes

• [a]. As in one Hebrew manuscript and some Greek manuscripts (see also 25:17 ); most Hebrew manuscripts lack Shimei.