1 Chronicles 25:8

8 And they cast lots, ward against ward, the small as well as the great, the one with understanding as well as the disciple.

1 Chronicles 25:8 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 25:8

And they cast lots, ward against ward
That is, which ward or course of the singers should answer to and attend on the first ward or course of the priests in their weekly service, and which the second, and so on: as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar;
no regard was had to the age of a person, his being the firstborn or a younger brother, or to his office and station, whether as a teacher or a learner in the science of singing; he was made the head of a course, as the lot came up; and it may easily be observed, by comparing the lots in the following verses with the sons of the chief singers, according to the order of them in ( 1 Chronicles 25:2-4 ) that the younger are often preferred in the courses by lot to the elder, of which even the first lot is an instance.

1 Chronicles 25:8 In-Context

6 All these were under the direction of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the ministry of the house of God, under the hand of the king, of Asaph, of Jeduthun, and of Heman.

7 So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that had understanding, was two hundred eighty-eight.

8 And they cast lots, ward against ward, the small as well as the great, the one with understanding as well as the disciple.

9 Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph; the second to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and sons were twelve;

10 the third to Zaccur, he, his sons, and his brethren were twelve;