1 Chronicles 25:1-11

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.
6 All these men were under the direction of their fathers as they made music at the house of the LORD . Their responsibilities included the playing of cymbals, harps, and lyres at the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman reported directly to the king.
7 They and their families were all trained in making music before the LORD, and each of them—288 in all—was an accomplished musician.
8 The musicians were appointed to their term of service by means of sacred lots, without regard to whether they were young or old, teacher or student.
9 The first lot fell to Joseph of the Asaph clan and twelve of his sons and relatives. The second lot fell to Gedaliah and twelve of his sons and relatives.
10 The third lot fell to Zaccur and twelve of his sons and relatives.
11 The fourth lot fell to Zeri and twelve of his sons and relatives.

1 Chronicles 25:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. As in one Hebrew manuscript and some Greek manuscripts (see also 25:17 ); most Hebrew manuscripts lack Shimei.
  • [b]. Hebrew Shebuel, a variant spelling of Shubael; compare 25:20 .
  • [c]. As in Greek version; Hebrew lacks and twelve of his sons and relatives.
  • [d]. Hebrew Izri, a variant spelling of Zeri; compare 25:3 .
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