1 Chronicles 25:3

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 a harp to give thanks and to praise 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 Moreover David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals. And the number of the skilled men performing their service was:

2 Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah; the sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied according to the order 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 a harp to give thanks and to praise the Lord.

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

5 All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to exalt his horn. For God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.

Footnotes

• [a]. Spelled Jizri in 1 Chronicles 25:11
• [b]. Shimei, appearing in one Hebrew and several Septuagint manuscripts, completes the total of six sons (compare 1 Chronicles 25:17).