¹⁶ David^(A) told the leaders of the Levites^(B) to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians^(C) to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.^(D)

¹⁷ So the Levites appointed Heman^(E) son of Joel; from his relatives, Asaph^(F) son of Berekiah; and from their relatives the Merarites,^(G) Ethan son of Kushaiah; ¹⁸ and with them their relatives next in rank: Zechariah,^[a] Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom^(H) and Jeiel,^[b] the gatekeepers.

¹⁹ The musicians Heman,^(I) Asaph and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; ²⁰ Zechariah, Jaaziel,^[c] Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah were to play the lyres according to alamoth,^{[d] 21} and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah were to play the harps, directing according to sheminith.^[e]

⁴² Heman and Jeduthun were responsible for the sounding of the trumpets and cymbals and for the playing of the other instruments for sacred song.^(A) The sons of Jeduthun^(B) were stationed at the gate.

⁵ Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise the Lord with the musical instruments^(A) I have provided for that purpose.”^(B)

²⁶ So the Levites stood ready with David’s instruments,^(A) and the priests with their trumpets.^(B)

²⁷ Hezekiah gave the order to sacrifice the burnt offering on the altar. As the offering began, singing to the Lord began also, accompanied by trumpets and the instruments^(C) of David king of Israel. ²⁸ The whole assembly bowed in worship, while the musicians played and the trumpets sounded. All this continued until the sacrifice of the burnt offering^(D) was completed.

²⁹ When the offerings were finished, the king and everyone present with him knelt down and worshiped.^{(E) 30} King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed down and worshiped.

³⁶ and his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani—with musical instruments^(A) prescribed by David the man of God.^(B) Ezra^(C) the teacher of the Law led the procession.