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The Music Groups

25 David and the ·commanders [officers] of the army chose some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to ·preach [proclaim; prophesy] and play harps, lyres, and cymbals. Here is a list of the men who ·served in this way [performed/were assigned these services]:

Asaph’s sons who served were Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. King David ·chose [directed] Asaph to ·preach [proclaim; prophesy], and Asaph directed his sons.

Jeduthun’s sons who served were Gedaliah, ·Zeri [or Izri; v. 11], Jeshaiah, Shimei [C name not included in most manuscripts], Hashabiah, and Mattithiah. There were six of them, and Jeduthun directed them. He ·preached [proclaimed; prophesied] and used a harp to give thanks and praise to the Lord.

Heman’s sons who served were Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. All these were sons of Heman, David’s ·seer [prophet]. God promised to ·make Heman strong, so Heman had [exalt/honor him with] many sons. God gave him fourteen sons and three daughters. Heman directed all his sons in ·making music [singing] for the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord with cymbals, lyres, and harps; that was their way of serving in the ·Temple [L house] of God. King David ·was in charge of [directed; supervised] Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman. These men and their relatives were trained and skilled in ·making music for [singing to] the Lord. There were two hundred eighty-eight ·of them [with these skills; experts]. Everyone threw lots ·to choose the time his family was to serve at the Temple [for their duties]. The ·young [small] and the ·old [great], the teacher and the student, had to throw lots.

First, the lot fell to Joseph, from the ·family [clan] of Asaph [C the number twelve needs to be understood here, as in the following verses, to make the total come to the stated 288].

Second, twelve men were chosen from Gedaliah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

10 Third, twelve men were chosen from Zaccur, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

11 Fourth, twelve men were chosen from ·Izri [or Zeri; v. 3], his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

12 Fifth, twelve men were chosen from Nethaniah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

13 Sixth, twelve men were chosen from Bukkiah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

14 Seventh, twelve men were chosen from ·Jesarelah [or Asarelah; 25:2], his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

15 Eighth, twelve men were chosen from Jeshaiah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

16 Ninth, twelve men were chosen from Mattaniah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

17 Tenth, twelve men were chosen from Shimei, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

18 Eleventh, twelve men were chosen from ·Azarel [or Uzziel; 25:4], his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

19 Twelfth, twelve men were chosen from Hashabiah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

20 Thirteenth, twelve men were chosen from Shubael, his sons and·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

21 Fourteenth, twelve men were chosen from Mattithiah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

22 Fifteenth, twelve men were chosen from Jerimoth, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

23 Sixteenth, twelve men were chosen from Hananiah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

24 Seventeenth, twelve men were chosen from Joshbekashah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

25 Eighteenth, twelve men were chosen from Hanani, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

26 Nineteenth, twelve men were chosen from Mallothi, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

27 Twentieth, twelve men were chosen from Eliathah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

28 Twenty-first, twelve men were chosen from Hothir, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

29 Twenty-second, twelve men were chosen from Giddalti, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

30 Twenty-third, twelve men were chosen from Mahazioth, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

31 Twenty-fourth, twelve men were chosen from Romamti-Ezer, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

David Organizes the Musicians

25 David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service the sons of (A)Asaph, and of (B)Heman, and of (C)Jeduthun, who (D)prophesied with lyres, with (E)harps, and with cymbals. The list of those who did the work and of their duties was: Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah, sons of Asaph, under the direction of Asaph, who (F)prophesied under the direction of the king. Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei,[a] Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, (G)who prophesied with the lyre in thanksgiving and praise to the Lord. Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth. All these were the sons of Heman (H)the king's seer, according to the promise of God to exalt him, for God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. They were all under the direction of their father in the music in the house of the Lord with cymbals, (I)harps, and lyres for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the order of the king. The number of them along with their brothers, who were trained in singing to the Lord, all who were skillful, was (J)288. And they cast lots for their duties, (K)small and great, teacher and pupil alike.

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

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 25:3 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts lack Shimei