1 Chronicles 25

1 David and the officers of the army also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals. The list of those who did the work and of their duties was:
2 Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, sons of Asaph, under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king.
3 Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the lyre in thanksgiving and praise to the Lord.
4 Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth.
5 All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer, according to the promise of God to exalt him; for God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
6 They were all under the direction of their father for the music in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the order of the king.
7 They and their kindred, who were trained in singing to the Lord, all of whom were skillful, numbered two hundred eighty-eight.
8 And they cast lots for their duties, small and great, teacher and pupil alike.
9 The first lot fell for Asaph to Joseph; the second to Gedaliah, to him and his brothers and his sons, twelve;
10 the third to Zaccur, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
11 the fourth to Izri, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
12 the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
13 the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
14 the seventh to Jesarelah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
15 the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
16 the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
17 the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
18 the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
19 the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
20 to the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
21 to the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
22 to the fifteenth, to Jeremoth, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
23 to the sixteenth, to Hananiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
24 to the seventeenth, to Joshbekashah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
25 to the eighteenth, to Hanani, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
26 to the nineteenth, to Mallothi, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
27 to the twentieth, to Eliathah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
28 to the twenty-first, to Hothir, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
29 to the twenty-second, to Giddalti, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
30 to the twenty-third, to Mahazioth, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
31 to the twenty-fourth, to Romamti-ezer, his sons and his brothers, twelve.

1 Chronicles 25 Commentary

Chapter 25

The singers and musicians.

- David put those in order who were appointed to be singers and musicians in the temple. To prophesy, in this place, means praising God with great earnestness and devout affections, under the influences of the Holy Spirit. In raising these affections, poetry and music were employed. If the Spirit of God do not put life and fervour into our devotions, they will, however ordered, be a lifeless, worthless form.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. One Ms: Gk: MT lacks [Shimei]
  • [b]. Or [Asarelah]; see 25.2

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 25

This chapter relates the appointment of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, to be singers in the temple, 1Ch 25:1-7 the distribution of them by lot into twenty four classes, twelve in each class, 1Ch 25:8-31.

1 Chronicles 25 Commentaries

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.