The Musicians

25 David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph,(A) Heman(B) and Jeduthun(C) for the ministry of prophesying,(D) accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals.(E) Here is the list of the men(F) who performed this service:(G)

From the sons of Asaph:

Zakkur, Joseph, Nethaniah and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were under the supervision of Asaph, who prophesied under the king’s supervision.

As for Jeduthun, from his sons:(H)

Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei,[a] Hashabiah and Mattithiah, six in all, under the supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied, using the harp(I) in thanking and praising the Lord.

As for Heman, from his sons:

Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael and Jerimoth; Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-Ezer; Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir and Mahazioth. (All these were sons of Heman the king’s seer. They were given him through the promises of God to exalt him. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.)

All these men were under the supervision of their father(J) for the music of the temple of the Lord, with cymbals, lyres and harps, for the ministry at the house of God.

Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman(K) were under the supervision of the king.(L) Along with their relatives—all of them trained and skilled in music for the Lord—they numbered 288. Young and old alike, teacher as well as student, cast lots(M) for their duties.

The first lot, which was for Asaph,(N) fell to Joseph,
his sons and relatives[b]12[c]
the second to Gedaliah,
him and his relatives and sons12
10 the third to Zakkur,
his sons and relatives12
11 the fourth to Izri,[d]
his sons and relatives12
12 the fifth to Nethaniah,
his sons and relatives12
13 the sixth to Bukkiah,
his sons and relatives12
14 the seventh to Jesarelah,[e]
his sons and relatives12
15 the eighth to Jeshaiah,
his sons and relatives12
16 the ninth to Mattaniah,
his sons and relatives12
17 the tenth to Shimei,
his sons and relatives12
18 the eleventh to Azarel,[f]
his sons and relatives12
19 the twelfth to Hashabiah,
his sons and relatives12
20 the thirteenth to Shubael,
his sons and relatives12
21 the fourteenth to Mattithiah,
his sons and relatives12
22 the fifteenth to Jerimoth,
his sons and relatives12
23 the sixteenth to Hananiah,
his sons and relatives12
24 the seventeenth to Joshbekashah,
his sons and relatives12
25 the eighteenth to Hanani,
his sons and relatives12
26 the nineteenth to Mallothi,
his sons and relatives12
27 the twentieth to Eliathah,
his sons and relatives12
28 the twenty-first to Hothir,
his sons and relatives12
29 the twenty-second to Giddalti,
his sons and relatives12
30 the twenty-third to Mahazioth,
his sons and relatives12
31 the twenty-fourth to Romamti-Ezer,
his sons and relatives12.(O)

The Gatekeepers

26 The divisions of the gatekeepers:(P)

From the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph.

Meshelemiah had sons:

Zechariah(Q) the firstborn,

Jediael the second,

Zebadiah the third,

Jathniel the fourth,

Elam the fifth,

Jehohanan the sixth

and Eliehoenai the seventh.

Obed-Edom also had sons:

Shemaiah the firstborn,

Jehozabad the second,

Joah the third,

Sakar the fourth,

Nethanel the fifth,

Ammiel the sixth,

Issachar the seventh

and Peullethai the eighth.

(For God had blessed Obed-Edom.(R))

Obed-Edom’s son Shemaiah also had sons, who were leaders in their father’s family because they were very capable men. The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad; his relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also able men. All these were descendants of Obed-Edom; they and their sons and their relatives were capable men with the strength to do the work—descendants of Obed-Edom, 62 in all.

Meshelemiah had sons and relatives, who were able men—18 in all.

10 Hosah the Merarite had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father had appointed him the first),(S) 11 Hilkiah the second, Tabaliah the third and Zechariah the fourth. The sons and relatives of Hosah were 13 in all.

12 These divisions of the gatekeepers, through their leaders, had duties for ministering(T) in the temple of the Lord, just as their relatives had. 13 Lots(U) were cast for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.

14 The lot for the East Gate(V) fell to Shelemiah.[g] Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah,(W) a wise counselor, and the lot for the North Gate fell to him. 15 The lot for the South Gate fell to Obed-Edom,(X) and the lot for the storehouse fell to his sons. 16 The lots for the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the upper road fell to Shuppim and Hosah.

Guard was alongside of guard: 17 There were six Levites a day on the east, four a day on the north, four a day on the south and two at a time at the storehouse. 18 As for the court[h] to the west, there were four at the road and two at the court[i] itself.

19 These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah and Merari.(Y)

The Treasurers and Other Officials

20 Their fellow Levites(Z) were[j] in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries for the dedicated things.(AA)

21 The descendants of Ladan, who were Gershonites through Ladan and who were heads of families belonging to Ladan the Gershonite,(AB) were Jehieli, 22 the sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel. They were in charge of the treasuries(AC) of the temple of the Lord.

23 From the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites and the Uzzielites:(AD)

24 Shubael,(AE) a descendant of Gershom son of Moses, was the official in charge of the treasuries. 25 His relatives through Eliezer: Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zikri his son and Shelomith(AF) his son. 26 Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of all the treasuries for the things dedicated(AG) by King David, by the heads of families who were the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and by the other army commanders. 27 Some of the plunder taken in battle they dedicated for the repair of the temple of the Lord. 28 And everything dedicated by Samuel the seer(AH) and by Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner and Joab son of Zeruiah, and all the other dedicated things were in the care of Shelomith and his relatives.

29 From the Izharites: Kenaniah and his sons were assigned duties away from the temple, as officials and judges(AI) over Israel.

30 From the Hebronites: Hashabiah(AJ) and his relatives—seventeen hundred able men—were responsible in Israel west of the Jordan for all the work of the Lord and for the king’s service. 31 As for the Hebronites,(AK) Jeriah was their chief according to the genealogical records of their families. In the fortieth(AL) year of David’s reign a search was made in the records, and capable men among the Hebronites were found at Jazer in Gilead. 32 Jeriah had twenty-seven hundred relatives, who were able men and heads of families, and King David put them in charge of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh for every matter pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 25:3 One Hebrew manuscript and some Septuagint manuscripts (see also verse 17); most Hebrew manuscripts do not have Shimei.
  2. 1 Chronicles 25:9 See Septuagint; Hebrew does not have his sons and relatives.
  3. 1 Chronicles 25:9 See the total in verse 7; Hebrew does not have twelve.
  4. 1 Chronicles 25:11 A variant of Zeri
  5. 1 Chronicles 25:14 A variant of Asarelah
  6. 1 Chronicles 25:18 A variant of Uzziel
  7. 1 Chronicles 26:14 A variant of Meshelemiah
  8. 1 Chronicles 26:18 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  9. 1 Chronicles 26:18 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  10. 1 Chronicles 26:20 Septuagint; Hebrew As for the Levites, Ahijah was

25 Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:

Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king.

Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the Lord.

Of Heman: the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth:

All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.

All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the Lord, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.

So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the Lord, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.

And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.

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:

11 The fourth to Izri, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

12 The fifth to Nethaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

13 The sixth to Bukkiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

14 The seventh to Jesharelah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

15 The eighth to Jeshaiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

16 The ninth to Mattaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

17 The tenth to Shimei, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

18 The eleventh to Azareel, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

19 The twelfth to Hashabiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

20 The thirteenth to Shubael, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

21 The fourteenth to Mattithiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

22 The fifteenth to Jeremoth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

23 The sixteenth to Hananiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

24 The seventeenth to Joshbekashah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

25 The eighteenth to Hanani, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

26 The nineteenth to Mallothi, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

27 The twentieth to Eliathah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

28 The one and twentieth to Hothir, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

29 The two and twentieth to Giddalti, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

30 The three and twentieth to Mahazioth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

31 The four and twentieth to Romamtiezer, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve.

26 Concerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.

And the sons of Meshelemiah were, Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,

Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh.

Moreover the sons of Obededom were, Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth.

Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth: for God blessed him.

Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father: for they were mighty men of valour.

The sons of Shemaiah; Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were strong men, Elihu, and Semachiah.

All these of the sons of Obededom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men for strength for the service, were threescore and two of Obededom.

And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, strong men, eighteen.

10 Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons; Simri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief;)

11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.

12 Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another, to minister in the house of the Lord.

13 And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.

14 And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.

15 To Obededom southward; and to his sons the house of Asuppim.

16 To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward.

17 Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two.

18 At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.

19 These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari.

20 And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.

21 As concerning the sons of Laadan; the sons of the Gershonite Laadan, chief fathers, even of Laadan the Gershonite, were Jehieli.

22 The sons of Jehieli; Zetham, and Joel his brother, which were over the treasures of the house of the Lord.

23 Of the Amramites, and the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites:

24 And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler of the treasures.

25 And his brethren by Eliezer; Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son.

26 Which Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated.

27 Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the Lord.

28 And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated; and whosoever had dedicated any thing, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren.

29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.

30 And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand and seven hundred, were officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward in all the business of the Lord, and in the service of the king.

31 Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even among the Hebronites, according to the generations of his fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valour at Jazer of Gilead.

32 And his brethren, men of valour, were two thousand and seven hundred chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king.

Organización de los cantores

25 David y los responsables del culto separaron para el servicio del canto a los descendientes de Asaf, Hemán y Jedutún para que cantasen como profetas al son de cítaras, salterios y platillos. He aquí la lista de los hombres adscritos a este servicio:

De la familia de Asaf: Zacur, José, Natanael y Asarelá, hijos de Asaf, dirigidos por su padre, profeta cantor a las órdenes de David. De la familia de Jedutún: Guedalías, Serí, Isaías, Simeí, Jasabías y Matatías; los seis dirigidos por su padre Jedutún, que profetizaba al son de la cítara para dar gracias y alabar al Señor. De la familia de Hemán, Buquías, Matanías, Uziel, Sebuel, Jerimot, Jananías, Jananí, Eliatá, Guidaltí, Romanti Ézer, Josbecasá, Malotí, Hotir y Majaziot; todos ellos eran hijos de Hemán, el vidente del rey, que le transmitía los oráculos divinos para acrecentar su poder, pues Dios había dado a Hemán catorce hijos y tres hijas. Todos ellos, bajo la dirección de su padre, cantaban en el Templo del Señor con platillos, salterios y cítaras al servicio del Templo de Dios. Asaf, Jedutún y Hemán estaban a las órdenes del rey. Su número, incluidos sus hermanos instruidos en el canto al Señor, todos ellos expertos, era de doscientos ochenta y ocho.

Repartieron a suertes los turnos de servicio, sin distinguir pequeños y grandes, maestros y discípulos. El primer turno correspondió a José, de la familia de Asaf; el segundo a Guedalías, que sumaba doce con hijos y parientes; 10 el tercero a Zacur, 11 el cuarto a Jisrí, 12 el quinto a Natanael, 13 el sexto a Buquías, 14 el séptimo a Jesarelá, 15 el octavo a Isaías, 16 el noveno a Matanías, 17 el décimo a Simeí, 18 el undécimo a Azarel, 19 el duodécimo a Jasabías, 20 el décimo tercero a Subael, 21 el décimo cuarto a Matitías, 22 el décimo quinto a Jeremot, 23 el décimo sexto a Jananías, 24 el décimo séptimo a Josbecasá, 25 el décimo octavo a Jananí, 26 el décimo noveno a Malotí, 27 el vigésimo a Eliatá, 28 el vigésimo primero a Hotir, 29 el vigésimo segundo a Guidaltí, 30 el vigésimo tercero a Majaziot 31 y el vigésimo cuarto a Romanti Ézer.

Levitas porteros

26 Distribución de los porteros coreítas: Por los descendientes de Asaf: Meselemías, descendiente de Coré. Descendientes de Meselemías: el primogénito Zacarías, segundo Jediael, tercero Zebadías, cuarto Jatniel, quinto Elán, sexto Yojanán y séptimo Elioenay. Descendientes de Obededón: el primogénito Semaías, segundo Jozabat, tercero Joaj, cuarto Sacar, quinto Natanael, sexto Amiel, séptimo Isacar y octavo Peuletay, pues Dios había bendecido a Obededón. Su hijo Semaías tuvo descendientes que sobresalieron en sus respectivas familias, pues eran gente valerosa. Descendientes de Semaías: Otní, Rafael, Obed, Elzabad y sus parientes, gente valerosa, Elihú y Semaquías. Todos estos eran los descendientes de Obededón y con sus hijos y parientes, valerosos y competentes en su oficio, sumaban sesenta y dos. Los descendientes y parientes de Meselemías sumaban dieciocho personas valerosas. 10 Descendientes de Josá, de la familia de Merarí: primero Simrí, pues, aunque no era el primogénito, su padre lo puso de jefe; 11 segundo Jilquías, tercero Tebalías, y cuarto Zacarías. En total, los descendientes y parientes de Josá eran trece.

12 A estos grupos de porteros, tanto a los jefes como a sus parientes, se les encomendó el servicio del Templo del Señor. 13 Y se repartieron a suertes por familias, lo mismo pequeños que grandes, cada una de las puertas. 14 La puerta oriental le correspondió a Selemías; a su hijo Zacarías, prudente consejero, le correspondió la puerta del norte tras nuevo sorteo; 15 a Obededón le tocó la puerta del sur y a sus hijos los almacenes; 16 a Supín y a Josá, la occidental, junto con la puerta de Saléquet, en el camino de la cuesta.

Las guardias eran proporcionales: 17 en la puerta oriental había seis levitas al día; en la del norte, cuatro; en la del sur cuatro; y en los almacenes, dos y dos; 18 y en el pórtico occidental, cuatro para la calzada y dos para el pórtico. 19 Estos eran los grupos de porteros descendientes de Coré y de Merarí.

Guardianes del tesoro

20 Sus parientes levitas también se encargaban de los tesoros del Templo y de las ofrendas consagradas. 21 Los descendientes de Ladán, descendientes de Guersón por Ladán, incluían a los jielitas como cabezas de familia del guersonita Ladán. 22 Zetán y su hermano Joel, descendientes de Jiel, custodiaban los tesoros del Templo del Señor. 23 De las familias de Amrán: Jisar, Hebrón y Aziel. 24 El tesorero jefe era Sebuel, descendiente de Guersón, hijo de Moisés. 25 Descendientes de su hermano Eliezer en línea directa: Rejabías, Isaías, Zicrí y Selomit. 26 Este Solomit y sus parientes estaban al cargo de todas las ofrendas sagradas que habían consagrado el rey David, los cabezas de familia, los capitanes de millar y de cien y los jefes del ejército. 27 Pues habían consagrado parte del botín de guerra para el mantenimiento del Templo del Señor. 28 Y todo lo que habían consagrado el profeta Samuel, Saúl, el hijo de Quis, Abner, el hijo de Ner, y Joab, el hijo de Seruyá, todas las ofrendas estaban al cargo de Selomit y sus parientes.

Otros servicios levíticos

29 De los jesharitas, Quenanías y sus descendientes se encargaban de los asuntos externos de Israel como escribanos y jueces. 30 De los hebronitas, Jasabías y sus parientes, mil setecientos hombres valerosos, se encargaban del gobierno de Israel, al oeste de Transjordania, en todos los asuntos concernientes al Señor y al servicio del rey. 31 El jefe de los hebronitas era Jerías. El año cuarenta del reinado de David se hizo una investigación sobre el árbol genealógico de los hebronitas y se descubrió que de su clan quedaba gente de valía en Jaezer de Galaad. 32 Sus parientes eran gente de valía que sumaban dos mil setecientos cabezas de familia. El rey David los puso al frente de los rubenitas, de los gaditas y de la media tribu de Manasés para todos los asuntos religiosos y los negocios del rey.