1 Chronicles 25

The Levitical Musicians

1 David and the officers of the army also set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, who were to prophesy accompanied by lyres, harps, and cymbals. This is the list of the men who performed their service:

2 From Asaph's sons: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, sons of Asaph, under Asaph's authority, who prophesied under the authority of the king.

3 From Jeduthun: Jeduthun's sons: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei,^[a] Hashabiah, and Mattithiah-six-under the authority of their father Jeduthun, prophesying to the accompaniment of lyres, giving thanks and praise to the Lord.

4 From Heman: Heman's sons: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.

5 All these sons of Heman, the king's seer, were [given] by the promises of God to exalt him,^[b] for God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.

6 All these men were under their own fathers' authority for the music in the Lord's temple, with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of God's temple. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the king's authority.

7 Together with their relatives who were all trained and skillful in music for the Lord, they numbered 288.

8 They cast lots impartially for their duties, the young and old alike, the teacher along with the pupil.

9 The first lot for Asaph fell to Joseph, [his sons, and his brothers- 12] [to] Gedaliah the second: him, his brothers, and his sons- 12

10 the third [to] Zaccur, his sons, and his brothers- 12

11 the fourth to Izri,^[c] his sons, and his brothers- 12

12 the fifth [to] Nethaniah, his sons, and his brothers- 12

13 the sixth [to] Bukkiah, his sons, and his brothers- 12

14 the seventh [to] Jesarelah, his sons, and his brothers- 12

15 the eighth [to] Jeshaiah, his sons, and his brothers- 12

16 the ninth [to] Mattaniah, his sons, and his brothers- 12

17 the tenth [to] Shimei, his sons, and his brothers- 12

18 the eleventh [to] Azarel,^[d] his sons, and his brothers- 12

19 the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons, and his brothers- 12

20 the thirteenth [to] Shubael, his sons, and his brothers- 12

21 the fourteenth [to] Mattithiah, his sons, and his brothers- 12

22 the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons, and his brothers- 12

23 the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons, and his brothers- 12

24 the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons, and his brothers- 12

25 the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons, and his brothers- 12

26 the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons, and his brothers- 12

27 the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons, and his brothers- 12

28 the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons, and his brothers- 12

29 the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons, and his brothers- 12

30 the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons, and his brothers- 12

31 and the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his sons, and his brothers- 12.

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

• [a]. One Hb ms, LXX; MT omits Shimei
• [b]. Or Him; lit by the words of God to lift a horn
• [c]. A variant of Zeri
• [d]. A variant of Uzziel

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.