1 Chronicles 25:3

3 The six sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah. Under the direction of their father they proclaimed God's message, accompanied by the music of harps, and sang praise and thanks 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 King David and the leaders of the Levites chose the following Levite clans to lead the worship services: Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun. They were to proclaim God's messages, accompanied by the music of harps and cymbals. This is the list of persons chosen to lead the worship, with the type of service that each group performed:

2 The four sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah. They were under the direction of Asaph, who proclaimed God's messages whenever the king commanded.

3 The six sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah. Under the direction of their father they proclaimed God's message, accompanied by the music of harps, and sang praise and thanks to the Lord.

4 The fourteen sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.

5 God gave to Heman, the king's prophet, these fourteen sons and also three daughters, as he had promised, in order to give power to Heman.