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

The Musicians

25 Along with officers in his army, David consecrated to assist in service to the descendants of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun those who prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals.

The list of those who participated in this service included: from the descendants of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, sons of Asaph mentored by[a] Asaph himself, who prophesied under the supervision[b] of the king; from Jeduthun, these six of his descendants: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, mentored by their father Jeduthun, who played a lyre and prophesied, giving thanks and praise to the Lord; from Heman, these descendants: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. All of these were descendants of Heman the king’s seer, according to God’s promise to exalt him, since God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. They were all under their father’s supervision regarding music in the Temple of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the Temple of God.

Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under command of the king. They and their relatives who had been skillfully trained in singing to the Lord, numbered 288. Their duties, whether significant or insignificant, whether performed by teacher or pupil alike, were assigned by lottery.

Asaph’s first lottery was cast in favor of Joseph; the second went to Gedaliah, that is, to him, to his relatives, and his sons, for a total of twelve;[c] 10 the third to Zaccur, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 11 the fourth to Izri, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 12 the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 13 the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 14 the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 15 the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 16 the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 17 the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 18 the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 19 the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 20 the thirteenth to Shubael, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 21 the fourteenth to Mattithiah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 22 the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 23 the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 24 the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 25 the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 26 the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 27 the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 28 the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 29 the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 30 the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; 31 the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 25:2 Lit. under the hand of; and so throughout the chapter
  2. 1 Chronicles 25:2 Lit. hand
  3. 1 Chronicles 25:9 The Heb. lacks for a total of; and so throughout the chapter