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1 Chronicles 23-25
New English Translation
1 Chronicles 23-25
New English Translation
David Organizes the Levites
23 When David was old and approaching the end of his life,[a] he made his son Solomon king over Israel.
2 David[b] assembled all the leaders of Israel, along with the priests and the Levites. 3 The Levites who were thirty years old and up were counted; there were 38,000 men.[c] 4 David said,[d] “Of these, 24,000 are to direct the work of the Lord’s temple; 6,000 are to be officials and judges; 5 4,000 are to be gatekeepers; and 4,000 are to praise the Lord with the instruments I supplied for worship.”[e] 6 David divided them into groups corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
7 The Gershonites included Ladan and Shimei.
8 The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the oldest, Zetham, and Joel—three in all.
9 The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran—three in all.
These were the leaders of the family of Ladan.
10 The sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina,[f] Jeush, and Beriah. These were Shimei’s sons—four in all.[g] 11 Jahath was the oldest and Zizah the second oldest. Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they were considered one family with one responsibility.
12 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel—four in all.
13 The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses.
Aaron and his descendants were chosen on a permanent basis to consecrate the most holy items, to offer sacrifices before the Lord, to serve him, and to praise his name.[h] 14 The descendants of Moses the man of God were considered Levites.[i]
15 The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.
16 The son[j] of Gershom: Shebuel[k] the oldest.
17 The son of Eliezer was[l] Rehabiah, the oldest. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah had many descendants.
18 The son[m] of Izhar: Shelomith the oldest.
19 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the oldest, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
20 The sons of Uzziel: Micah the oldest, and Isshiah the second.
21 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi.
The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.
22 Eleazar died without having sons; he had only daughters. The sons of Kish, their cousins, married them.[n]
23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth—three in all.
24 These were the descendants of Levi according to their families, that is, the leaders of families as counted and individually listed who carried out assigned tasks in the Lord’s temple and were twenty years old and up.[o] 25 For David said, “The Lord God of Israel has given his people rest and has permanently settled in Jerusalem. 26 So the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the items used in its service.” 27 According to David’s final instructions, the Levites twenty years old or older were counted.[p]
28 Their job was to help Aaron’s descendants in the service of the Lord’s temple. They were to take care of the courtyards, the rooms, ceremonial purification of all holy items, and other jobs related to the service of God’s temple.[q] 29 They also took care of[r] the bread that is displayed, the flour for offerings, the unleavened wafers, the round cakes, the mixing, and all the measuring.[s] 30 They also stood in a designated place[t] every morning and offered thanks and praise to the Lord. They also did this in the evening 31 and whenever burnt sacrifices were offered to the Lord on the Sabbath and at new moon festivals and assemblies. A designated number were to serve before the Lord regularly in accordance with regulations.[u] 32 They were in charge of the meeting tent and the Holy Place, and helped their relatives, the descendants of Aaron, in the service of the Lord’s temple.[v]
David Organizes the Priests
24 The divisions of Aaron’s descendants were as follows:
The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
2 Nadab and Abihu died before their father did; they had no sons. Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.
3 David, Zadok (a descendant of Eleazar), and Ahimelech (a descendant of Ithamar) divided them into groups to carry out their assigned responsibilities.[w] 4 The descendants of Eleazar had more leaders than the descendants of Ithamar, so they divided them up accordingly; the descendants of Eleazar had sixteen leaders, while the descendants of Ithamar had eight.[x] 5 They divided them by lots, for there were officials of the Holy Place and officials designated by God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar.[y] 6 The scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, wrote down their names before the king, the officials, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the leaders of the priestly and Levite families. One family was drawn by lot from Eleazar, and then the next from Ithamar.[z]
7 The first lot went to Jehoiarib,
the second to Jedaiah,
8 the third to Harim,
the fourth to Seorim,
9 the fifth to Malkijah,
the sixth to Mijamin,
10 the seventh to Hakkoz,
the eighth to Abijah,
11 the ninth to Jeshua,
the tenth to Shecaniah,
12 the eleventh to Eliashib,
the twelfth to Jakim,
13 the thirteenth to Huppah,
the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
14 the fifteenth to Bilgah,
the sixteenth to Immer,
15 the seventeenth to Hezir,
the eighteenth to Happizzez,
16 the nineteenth to Pethahiah,
the twentieth to Jehezkel,
17 the twenty-first to Jakin,
the twenty-second to Gamul,
18 the twenty-third to Delaiah,
the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
19 This was the order in which they carried out their assigned responsibilities when they entered the Lord’s temple, according to the regulations given them by their ancestor[aa] Aaron, just as the Lord God of Israel had instructed him.[ab]
Remaining Levites
20 The rest of the Levites included:[ac]
Shubael[ad] from the sons of Amram,
Jehdeiah from the sons of Shubael,
21 the firstborn Isshiah from Rehabiah and the sons of Rehabiah,
22 Shelomoth from the Izharites,
Jahath from the sons of Shelomoth.
23 The sons of Hebron:[ae] Jeriah, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
24 The son[af] of Uzziel: Micah;
Shamir from the sons of Micah.
25 The brother of Micah: Isshiah.
Zechariah from the sons of Isshiah.
26 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi.
The son of Jaaziah: Beno.[ag]
27 The sons of Merari, from Jaaziah: Beno,[ah] Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.
28 From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
29 From Kish: Jerahmeel.[ai]
30 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth.
These were the Levites, listed by their families.
31 Like their relatives, the descendants of Aaron, they also cast lots before King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, the leaders of families, the priests, and the Levites. The families of the oldest son cast lots along with those of the youngest.[aj]
David Organizes the Musicians
25 David and the army officers selected some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy as they played stringed instruments and cymbals.[ak] The following men were assigned this responsibility:[al]
2 From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were supervised by Asaph, who prophesied under the king’s supervision.[am]
3 From the sons of Jeduthun:[an] Gedaliah, Zeri,[ao] Jeshaiah,[ap] Hashabiah, and Mattithiah—six in all,[aq] under supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied as he played a harp, giving thanks and praise to the Lord.
4 From the sons of Heman:[ar] 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 prophet. God had promised him these sons in order to make him prestigious.[as] God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
6 All these were under the supervision of their fathers; they were musicians in the Lord’s temple, playing cymbals and stringed instruments as they served in God’s temple. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the supervision of the king. 7 They and their relatives, all of them skilled and trained to make music to the Lord, numbered 288.[at]
8 They cast lots to determine their responsibilities—oldest as well as youngest, teacher as well as student.[au]
9 The first lot went to Asaph’s son Joseph and his relatives and sons—twelve in all,[av]
the second to Gedaliah and his relatives and sons—twelve in all,
10 the third to Zaccur and his sons and relatives—twelve in all,
11 the fourth to Izri[aw] and his sons and relatives—twelve in all,
12 the fifth to Nethaniah and his sons and relatives—twelve in all,
13 the sixth to Bukkiah and his sons and relatives—twelve in all,
14 the seventh to Jesharelah[ax] and his sons and relatives—twelve in all,
15 the eighth to Jeshaiah and his sons and relatives—twelve in all,
16 the ninth to Mattaniah and his sons and relatives—twelve in all,
17 the tenth to Shimei and his sons and relatives—twelve in all,
18 the eleventh to Azarel[ay] and his sons and relatives—twelve in all,
19 the twelfth to Hashabiah and his sons and relatives—twelve in all,
20 the thirteenth to Shubael and his sons and relatives—twelve in all,
21 the fourteenth to Mattithiah and his sons and relatives—twelve in all,
22 the fifteenth to Jerimoth and his sons and relatives—twelve in all,
23 the sixteenth to Hananiah and his sons and relatives—twelve in all,
24 the seventeenth to Joshbekashah and his sons and relatives—twelve in all,
25 the eighteenth to Hanani and his sons and relatives—twelve in all,
26 the nineteenth to Mallothi and his sons and relatives—twelve in all,
27 the twentieth to Eliathah and his sons and relatives—twelve in all,
28 the twenty-first to Hothir and his sons and relatives—twelve in all,
29 the twenty-second to Giddalti and his sons and relatives—twelve in all,
30 the twenty-third to Mahazioth and his sons and relatives—twelve in all,
31 the twenty-fourth to Romamti-Ezer and his sons and relatives—twelve in all.
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 23:1 tn Heb “and full of years.”
- 1 Chronicles 23:2 tn Heb “he”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 1 Chronicles 23:3 tn Heb “and their number by their heads, by men, was 38,000.”
- 1 Chronicles 23:4 tn The words “David said” are supplied here in the translation for clarification. The appearance of the first person verb “I supplied” in v. 5 indicates that David is speaking here.
- 1 Chronicles 23:5 tn Heb “made to [or “for”] praise.”
- 1 Chronicles 23:10 tc The MT reads “Zina” here and “Zizah” in v. 11. One Hebrew ms, the LXX, and the Vulgate, harmonizing the form of the name to that found in v. 11, read “Zizah” here.
- 1 Chronicles 23:10 sn Verses 8-10 are confusing. Two different lists of Shimei’s sons appear. In between these lists is the statement “these were the leaders of the family of Ladan,” suggesting that the list just before this includes the sons of Ladan, not Shimei. But verse 8 already lists Ladan’s sons. Apparently the text as it stands is a conflation of differing traditions.
- 1 Chronicles 23:13 tn Heb “and Aaron was set apart to consecrate it, the most holy things, he and his sons, permanently, to sacrifice before the Lord, to serve him, and to bless his name permanently.”
- 1 Chronicles 23:14 tn Heb “and Moses the man of God, his sons were called to the tribe of Levi.”
- 1 Chronicles 23:16 tn The Hebrew text has the plural “sons,” but only one name appears after this. The attached phrase “the oldest” might indicate that Shebuel was not Gershom’s only son, but note v. 17.
- 1 Chronicles 23:16 tc The LXX reads Σουβαηλ (Soubaēl) here, a reading followed by NAB, NIV, NCV, CEV (“Shubael”); cf. 24:20.
- 1 Chronicles 23:17 tn The Hebrew text has “the sons of Eliezer were,” but only one name appears after this in the verse, and we are specifically told that Eliezer had no other sons.
- 1 Chronicles 23:18 tn The Hebrew text has the plural “sons,” but only one name appears after this. The attached phrase “the oldest” might indicate that Shelomith was not Izhar’s only son, but note v. 17.
- 1 Chronicles 23:22 tn Heb “the sons of Kish, their brothers [i.e., relatives/cousins] lifted them up.” For other uses of נָאָשׂ (naʾas, “lift up”) in the sense of “marry,” see BDB 671 s.v. Qal.3.d.
- 1 Chronicles 23:24 tn Heb “these were the sons of Levi according to the house of their fathers, heads of the fathers, according to their numberings, by number of names, according to their heads, doer[s] of the work for the service of the house of the Lord, from a son of twenty years and upwards.”
- 1 Chronicles 23:27 tn Heb “for by the final words of David, they were the number of the sons of Levi, from a son of twenty years and upward.”
- 1 Chronicles 23:28 tn Heb “For their assignment was at the hand of the sons of Aaron for the work of the house of the Lord concerning the courtyards and concerning the rooms and concerning the purification of all holiness and the work of the service of the house of God.”
- 1 Chronicles 23:29 tn Heb “with respect to.”
- 1 Chronicles 23:29 tn The Hebrew terms מְשׂוּרָה (mesurah) and מִדָּה (middah) refer to different types of measurements.
- 1 Chronicles 23:30 tn Heb “and to stand.”
- 1 Chronicles 23:31 tn Heb “by number according to the manner upon them, regularly before the Lord.”
- 1 Chronicles 23:32 tn Heb “and they kept the charge of the tent of meeting and the charge of the holy place and the charge of the sons of Aaron, their brothers, for the service of the house of the Lord.”
- 1 Chronicles 24:3 tn Heb “for their assignment in their service.”
- 1 Chronicles 24:4 tn Heb “And the sons of Eleazar were found to be more, with respect to the heads of men, than the sons of Ithamar, and they divided them. To the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen heads, according to the house of the fathers; and to the sons of Ithamar there were eight, according to the house of their fathers.”
- 1 Chronicles 24:5 tn Heb “and they divided them by lots, these with these, for the officials of the holy place and the officials of God were from the sons of Eleazar and among the sons of Ithamar.”
- 1 Chronicles 24:6 tn Heb “one house of a father was drawn by lot for Eleazar, and one [this assumes an emendation of אָחֻז (ʾakhuz) to אֶחָד (ʾekhad, “one”)] was drawn by lot for Ithamar.”
- 1 Chronicles 24:19 tn Heb “father.”
- 1 Chronicles 24:19 tn Heb “these were their responsibilities for their service to enter the house of the Lord according to their manner [given] by the hand of Aaron their father, as the Lord God of Israel commanded him.”
- 1 Chronicles 24:20 tn Heb “Belonging to the rest of the sons of Levi.”
- 1 Chronicles 24:20 tn This appears to be a variant of the name Shebuel (cf. 1 Chr 23:16 and 26:24).
- 1 Chronicles 24:23 tc Most Hebrew mss omit “Hebron” here, but see 1 Chr 23:19. The name is included in two Hebrew mss and some LXX mss.
- 1 Chronicles 24:24 tn The Hebrew text has the plural “sons,” but only one name appears after this.
- 1 Chronicles 24:26 tn Heb “the sons of Jaaziah, Beno.” Apparently בְנוֹ (veno), which could be translated “his son,” is a proper name here. The text, however, may be defective at this point; a list of Jaaziah’s sons may have been accidentally omitted. See v. 27.
- 1 Chronicles 24:27 tn Or “from Jaaziah his son.” See the note on “Beno” in v. 26.
- 1 Chronicles 24:29 tc The Hebrew text has, “Belonging to [i.e., from] Kish, the sons of Kish, Jerahmeel.” There appears to be a conflation of headings.
- 1 Chronicles 24:31 tn Heb “the fathers [i.e., families] of the head [i.e., oldest] just like his youngest brother.”
- 1 Chronicles 25:1 tn Heb “David and the officers of the army set apart for service the sons of Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, the ones prophesying by harps, by lyres, and by cymbals.”
- 1 Chronicles 25:1 tn Heb “and their number was, the men of work for their service.”
- 1 Chronicles 25:2 tn Heb “the sons of Asaph [were] upon the hand of Asaph, the one prophesying upon the hands of the king.”
- 1 Chronicles 25:3 tn Heb “belonging to Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun.”
- 1 Chronicles 25:3 tn This name appears as “Izri” in v. 11.
- 1 Chronicles 25:3 tc One Hebrew ms and some LXX mss supply the name “Shimei” after “Jeshaiah.” Most Hebrew mss omit the name here (but cf. v. 17).
- 1 Chronicles 25:3 tc The list includes only five names. Apparently the name “Shimei” (see v. 17), which appears in one medieval Hebrew ms and in the LXX, has been accidentally omitted from the Hebrew text.
- 1 Chronicles 25:4 tn Heb “belonging to Heman, the sons of Heman.”
- 1 Chronicles 25:5 tn Heb “by the words of God to exalt a horn.” An animal’s horn is sometimes used metaphorically as a symbol of strength and honor. See BDB 901-2 s.v. קֶרֶן.
- 1 Chronicles 25:7 tn Heb “and their number with their brothers, trained in music to the Lord, all skilled, was 288.”
- 1 Chronicles 25:8 tn Heb “and they cast lots [for] service, just as like small, like great, teacher with student.”
- 1 Chronicles 25:9 tc Heb “The first lot went to Asaph, to Joseph.” Apparently the recurring formula, “and his sons and his relatives, twelve” has been accidentally omitted from the Hebrew text at this point (see vv. 10-31; the formula is slightly different in v. 9b). If the number “twelve” is not supplied here, the total comes to only 276, not the 288 required by v. 7.
- 1 Chronicles 25:11 tn “Izri” is a variant of the name “Zeri” (cf. 25:3).
- 1 Chronicles 25:14 tn “Jesharelah” is a variant of the name “Asarelah” (cf. 25:2).
- 1 Chronicles 25:18 tn “Azarel” is a variant of the name “Uzziel” (cf. 25:4).
1 Chronicles 23-25
New International Version
1 Chronicles 23-25
New International Version
The Levites
23 When David was old and full of years, he made his son Solomon(A) king over Israel.(B)
2 He also gathered together all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and Levites. 3 The Levites thirty years old or more(C) were counted,(D) and the total number of men was thirty-eight thousand.(E) 4 David said, “Of these, twenty-four thousand are to be in charge(F) of the work(G) of the temple of the Lord and six thousand are to be officials and judges.(H) 5 Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise the Lord with the musical instruments(I) I have provided for that purpose.”(J)
6 David separated(K) the Levites into divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi:(L) Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
Gershonites
7 Belonging to the Gershonites:(M)
Ladan and Shimei.
8 The sons of Ladan:
Jehiel the first, Zetham and Joel—three in all.
9 The sons of Shimei:
Shelomoth, Haziel and Haran—three in all.
These were the heads of the families of Ladan.
10 And the sons of Shimei:
Jahath, Ziza,[a] Jeush and Beriah.
These were the sons of Shimei—four in all.
11 Jahath was the first and Ziza the second, but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons; so they were counted as one family with one assignment.
Kohathites
12 The sons of Kohath:(N)
Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel—four in all.
13 The sons of Amram:(O)
Aaron and Moses.
Aaron was set apart,(P) he and his descendants forever, to consecrate the most holy things, to offer sacrifices before the Lord, to minister(Q) before him and to pronounce blessings(R) in his name forever. 14 The sons of Moses the man(S) of God were counted as part of the tribe of Levi.
15 The sons of Moses:
Gershom and Eliezer.(T)
16 The descendants of Gershom:(U)
Shubael was the first.
17 The descendants of Eliezer:
Rehabiah(V) was the first.
Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous.
18 The sons of Izhar:
Shelomith(W) was the first.
19 The sons of Hebron:(X)
Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth.
20 The sons of Uzziel:
Micah the first and Ishiah the second.
Merarites
21 The sons of Merari:(Y)
Mahli and Mushi.(Z)
The sons of Mahli:
Eleazar and Kish.
22 Eleazar died without having sons: he had only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them.(AA)
23 The sons of Mushi:
Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth—three in all.
24 These were the descendants of Levi by their families—the heads of families as they were registered under their names and counted individually, that is, the workers twenty years old or more(AB) who served in the temple of the Lord. 25 For David had said, “Since the Lord, the God of Israel, has granted rest(AC) to his people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem forever, 26 the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles used in its service.”(AD) 27 According to the last instructions of David, the Levites were counted from those twenty years old or more.
28 The duty of the Levites was to help Aaron’s descendants in the service of the temple of the Lord: to be in charge of the courtyards, the side rooms, the purification(AE) of all sacred things and the performance of other duties at the house of God. 29 They were in charge of the bread set out on the table,(AF) the special flour for the grain offerings,(AG) the thin loaves made without yeast, the baking and the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size.(AH) 30 They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord. They were to do the same in the evening(AI) 31 and whenever burnt offerings were presented to the Lord on the Sabbaths, at the New Moon(AJ) feasts and at the appointed festivals.(AK) They were to serve before the Lord regularly in the proper number and in the way prescribed for them.
32 And so the Levites(AL) carried out their responsibilities for the tent of meeting,(AM) for the Holy Place and, under their relatives the descendants of Aaron, for the service of the temple of the Lord.(AN)
The Divisions of Priests
24 These were the divisions(AO) of the descendants of Aaron:(AP)
The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.(AQ) 2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did,(AR) and they had no sons; so Eleazar and Ithamar served as the priests. 3 With the help of Zadok(AS) a descendant of Eleazar and Ahimelek a descendant of Ithamar, David separated them into divisions for their appointed order of ministering. 4 A larger number of leaders were found among Eleazar’s descendants than among Ithamar’s, and they were divided accordingly: sixteen heads of families from Eleazar’s descendants and eight heads of families from Ithamar’s descendants. 5 They divided them impartially by casting lots,(AT) for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar.
6 The scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded their names in the presence of the king and of the officials: Zadok the priest, Ahimelek(AU) son of Abiathar and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites—one family being taken from Eleazar and then one from Ithamar.
7 The first lot fell to Jehoiarib,
the second to Jedaiah,(AV)
8 the third to Harim,(AW)
the fourth to Seorim,
9 the fifth to Malkijah,
the sixth to Mijamin,
10 the seventh to Hakkoz,
the eighth to Abijah,(AX)
11 the ninth to Jeshua,
the tenth to Shekaniah,
12 the eleventh to Eliashib,
the twelfth to Jakim,
13 the thirteenth to Huppah,
the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
14 the fifteenth to Bilgah,
the sixteenth to Immer,(AY)
15 the seventeenth to Hezir,(AZ)
the eighteenth to Happizzez,
16 the nineteenth to Pethahiah,
the twentieth to Jehezkel,
17 the twenty-first to Jakin,
the twenty-second to Gamul,
18 the twenty-third to Delaiah
and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
19 This was their appointed order of ministering when they entered the temple of the Lord, according to the regulations prescribed for them by their ancestor Aaron, as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded him.
The Rest of the Levites
20 As for the rest of the descendants of Levi:(BA)
from the sons of Amram: Shubael;
from the sons of Shubael: Jehdeiah.
21 As for Rehabiah,(BB) from his sons:
Ishiah was the first.
22 From the Izharites: Shelomoth;
from the sons of Shelomoth: Jahath.
23 The sons of Hebron:(BC) Jeriah the first,[b] Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth.
24 The son of Uzziel: Micah;
from the sons of Micah: Shamir.
25 The brother of Micah: Ishiah;
from the sons of Ishiah: Zechariah.
26 The sons of Merari:(BD) Mahli and Mushi.
The son of Jaaziah: Beno.
27 The sons of Merari:
from Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zakkur and Ibri.
28 From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
29 From Kish: the son of Kish:
Jerahmeel.
30 And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth.
These were the Levites, according to their families. 31 They also cast lots,(BE) just as their relatives the descendants of Aaron did, in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelek, and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites. The families of the oldest brother were treated the same as those of the youngest.
The Musicians
25 David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph,(BF) Heman(BG) and Jeduthun(BH) for the ministry of prophesying,(BI) accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals.(BJ) Here is the list of the men(BK) who performed this service:(BL)
2 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.
3 As for Jeduthun, from his sons:(BM)
Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei,[c] Hashabiah and Mattithiah, six in all, under the supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied, using the harp(BN) in thanking and praising the Lord.
4 As for Heman, from his sons:
Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael and Jerimoth; Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-Ezer; Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir and Mahazioth. 5 (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.)
6 All these men were under the supervision of their father(BO) 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(BP) were under the supervision of the king.(BQ) 7 Along with their relatives—all of them trained and skilled in music for the Lord—they numbered 288. 8 Young and old alike, teacher as well as student, cast lots(BR) for their duties.
| 9 The first lot, which was for Asaph,(BS) fell to Joseph, | |
| his sons and relatives[d] | 12[e] |
| the second to Gedaliah, | |
| him and his relatives and sons | 12 |
| 10 the third to Zakkur, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 11 the fourth to Izri,[f] | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 12 the fifth to Nethaniah, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 13 the sixth to Bukkiah, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 14 the seventh to Jesarelah,[g] | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 15 the eighth to Jeshaiah, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 16 the ninth to Mattaniah, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 17 the tenth to Shimei, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 18 the eleventh to Azarel,[h] | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 19 the twelfth to Hashabiah, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 20 the thirteenth to Shubael, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 21 the fourteenth to Mattithiah, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 22 the fifteenth to Jerimoth, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 23 the sixteenth to Hananiah, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 24 the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 25 the eighteenth to Hanani, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 26 the nineteenth to Mallothi, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 27 the twentieth to Eliathah, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 28 the twenty-first to Hothir, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 29 the twenty-second to Giddalti, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 30 the twenty-third to Mahazioth, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 31 the twenty-fourth to Romamti-Ezer, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12.(BT) |
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 23:10 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint and Vulgate (see also verse 11); most Hebrew manuscripts Zina
- 1 Chronicles 24:23 Two Hebrew manuscripts and some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 23:19); most Hebrew manuscripts The sons of Jeriah:
- 1 Chronicles 25:3 One Hebrew manuscript and some Septuagint manuscripts (see also verse 17); most Hebrew manuscripts do not have Shimei.
- 1 Chronicles 25:9 See Septuagint; Hebrew does not have his sons and relatives.
- 1 Chronicles 25:9 See the total in verse 7; Hebrew does not have twelve.
- 1 Chronicles 25:11 A variant of Zeri
- 1 Chronicles 25:14 A variant of Asarelah
- 1 Chronicles 25:18 A variant of Uzziel
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