The Levitical Musicians

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

From Asaph’s sons:

Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, sons of Asaph, under Asaph’s authority, who prophesied under the authority of the king.

From Jeduthun:(D) 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.

From Heman: Heman’s sons:

Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. All these sons of Heman, the king’s seer,(E) were given by the promises of God to exalt him,[b] for God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.

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. They numbered 288 together with their relatives who were all trained and skillful in music for the Lord. They cast lots for their duties, young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil.(F)

The first lot for Asaph fell to Joseph, his sons, and his relatives—12[c]
to Gedaliah the second: him, his relatives, and his sons—12
10 the third to Zaccur, his sons, and his relatives—12
11 the fourth to Izri,[d] his sons, and his relatives—12
12 the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons, and his relatives—12
13 the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons, and his relatives—12
14 the seventh to Jesarelah, his sons, and his relatives—12
15 the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons, and his relatives—12
16 the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons, and his relatives—12
17 the tenth to Shimei, his sons, and his relatives—12
18 the eleventh to Azarel,[e] his sons, and his relatives—12
19 the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons, and his relatives—12
20 the thirteenth to Shubael, his sons, and his relatives—12
21 the fourteenth to Mattithiah, his sons, and his relatives—12
22 the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons, and his relatives—12
23 the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons, and his relatives—12
24 the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons, and his relatives—12
25 the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons, and his relatives—12
26 the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons, and his relatives—12
27 the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons, and his relatives—12
28 the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons, and his relatives—12
29 the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons, and his relatives—12
30 the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons, and his relatives—12
31 and the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his sons, and his relatives—12.

Footnotes

  1. 25:3 One Hb ms, LXX; other Hb mss omit Shimei
  2. 25:5 Lit by the words of God to lift a horn
  3. 25:9 LXX; MT lacks his sons, and his relatives—12
  4. 25:11 Variant of Zeri
  5. 25:18 Variant of Uzziel

David Appoints Musicians for the Temple

25 David and the army commanders appointed the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to serve as prophets with lyres, harps, and cymbals. This is the list of the men who performed this service:

From the sons of Asaph were Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah. (They were directed by Asaph, who served as a prophet under the king’s direction.)

From the sons of Jeduthun were Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, Mattithiah. (The six brothers were directed by their father, the prophet Jeduthun. They thanked and praised the Lord as they played lyres.)

From the sons of Heman were Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. (All of them were the sons of the king’s seer [a] Heman. They were given to him to make him prominent, as God had promised. So God gave Heman 14 sons and 3 daughters.)

All these ⌞Levites⌟ sang at the Lord’s temple under the direction of their fathers Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman. They played cymbals, lyres, and harps for worship in God’s temple under the direction of the king. They, along with their relatives, were trained, skilled musicians for the Lord. There were 288 of them.

They drew lots for their assignment of duties, the youngest as well as the oldest, the skilled ⌞musicians⌟ along with the students.

The first lot drawn chose Joseph, the son of Asaph.

The second chose Gedaliah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

10 The third chose Zaccur, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

11 The fourth chose Izri, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

12 The fifth chose Nethaniah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

13 The sixth chose Bukkiah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

14 The seventh chose Jesarelah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

15 The eighth chose Jeshaiah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

16 The ninth chose Mattaniah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

17 The tenth chose Shimei, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

18 The eleventh chose Azarel, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

19 The twelfth chose Hashabiah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

20 The thirteenth chose Shubael, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

21 The fourteenth chose Mattithiah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

22 The fifteenth chose Jeremoth, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

23 The sixteenth chose Hananiah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

24 The seventeenth chose Joshbekashah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

25 The eighteenth chose Hanani, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

26 The nineteenth chose Mallothi, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

27 The twentieth chose Eliathah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

28 The twenty-first chose Hothir, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

29 The twenty-second chose Giddalti, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

30 The twenty-third chose Mahazioth, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

31 The twenty-fourth chose Romamti Ezer, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

Footnotes

  1. 25:5 A seer   is a prophet.