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The Temple Musicians

25 David and the officers of the army also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who were to prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals. The list of those who did the work and of their duties was: Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, sons of Asaph, under the direction of Asaph, who 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, 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 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 for the music in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the order of the king. They and their kindred, who were trained in singing to the Lord, all of whom were skilful, numbered two hundred and eighty-eight. And they cast lots for their duties, 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 Jesarelah,[b] 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 Ms: Gk: MT lacks Shimei
  2. 1 Chronicles 25:14 Or Asarelah; see 25.2

The Musicians

25 Moreover David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of (A)Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals. And the number of the skilled men performing their service was: Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and [a]Asharelah; the sons of Asaph were [b]under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied according to the order of the king. Of (B)Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, [c]Zeri, Jeshaiah, [d]Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, [e]six, under the direction 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, [f]Uzziel, [g]Shebuel, [h]Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer in the words of God, to [i]exalt his (C)horn. For God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.

All these were under the direction of their father for the music in the house of the Lord, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and (D)harps, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were (E)under the authority of the king. So the (F)number of them, with their brethren who were instructed in the songs of the Lord, all who were skillful, was two hundred and eighty-eight.

And they cast lots for their duty, the small as well as the great, (G)the teacher with the student.

Now the first lot for Asaph came out for Joseph; the second for Gedaliah, him with his brethren and sons, twelve; 10 the third for Zaccur, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 11 the fourth for [j]Jizri, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 12 the fifth for Nethaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 13 the sixth for Bukkiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 14 the seventh for [k]Jesharelah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 15 the eighth for Jeshaiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 16 the ninth for Mattaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 17 the tenth for Shimei, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 18 the eleventh for [l]Azarel, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 19 the twelfth for Hashabiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 20 the thirteenth for [m]Shubael, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 21 the fourteenth for Mattithiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 22 the fifteenth for [n]Jeremoth, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 23 the sixteenth for Hananiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 24 the seventeenth for Joshbekashah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 25 the eighteenth for Hanani, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 26 the nineteenth for Mallothi, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 27 the twentieth for Eliathah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 28 the twenty-first for Hothir, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 29 the twenty-second for Giddalti, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 30 the twenty-third for Mahazioth, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 31 the twenty-fourth for Romamti-Ezer, his sons and his brethren, twelve.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 25:2 Jesharelah, v. 14
  2. 1 Chronicles 25:2 Lit. at the hands of
  3. 1 Chronicles 25:3 Jizri, v. 11
  4. 1 Chronicles 25:3 So with one Heb. ms., LXX mss.
  5. 1 Chronicles 25:3 Shimei is the sixth, v. 17
  6. 1 Chronicles 25:4 Azarel, v. 18
  7. 1 Chronicles 25:4 Shubael, v. 20
  8. 1 Chronicles 25:4 Jeremoth, v. 22
  9. 1 Chronicles 25:5 Increase his power or influence
  10. 1 Chronicles 25:11 Zeri, v. 3
  11. 1 Chronicles 25:14 Asharelah, v. 2
  12. 1 Chronicles 25:18 Uzziel, v. 4
  13. 1 Chronicles 25:20 Shebuel, v. 4
  14. 1 Chronicles 25:22 Jerimoth, v. 4

25 The singers are appointed with their places and lots.

So David and the captains of the army [a]separated for the ministry the sons of Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun, who should sing prophesies with harps, with viols, and with cymbals, and their number was even of the men for the office of their ministry, to wit,

Of the sons of Asaph, Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asharelah the sons of Asaph were under the hand of Asaph, which sang prophecies by the [b]commission of the King.

Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun, Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah and Mattithiah, [c]six, under the hands of their father: Jeduthun sang [d]prophecies with an harp, for 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 Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.

All these were the sons of Heman, the King’s [e]Seer in the words of God to lift up the [f]horn: and God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.

All these were under the [g]hand of their father singing in the house of the Lord with cymbals, viols and harps, for the service of the house of God, and Asaph, and Jeduthun, and Heman were at the King’s [h]commandment.

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

And they cast lots, [i]charge against charge, as well [j]small as great, the cunning man as the scholar.

And the first lot fell to [k]Joseph, which was of Asaph, the second, to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and his sons were twelve.

10 The third, to Zaccur, he, his sons and his brethren were twelve.

11 The fourth, to [l]Jizri, he, his sons and his brethren twelve.

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

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

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

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

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

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

18 The eleventh to Azarel, he, his sons and his brethren twelve.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

31 The four and twentieth to Romamti-Ezer, he, his sons and his brethren twelve.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 25:1 The singers were divided into 24 courses, so that every course or order contained twelve, and in all there were 288, as verse 7.
  2. 1 Chronicles 25:2 Hebrew, hands.
  3. 1 Chronicles 25:3 Whereof one is not here numbered.
  4. 1 Chronicles 25:3 Meaning, Psalms and songs to praise God.
  5. 1 Chronicles 25:5 Or, Prophet.
  6. 1 Chronicles 25:5 Or, power, meaning of the king.
  7. 1 Chronicles 25:6 Or, government.
  8. 1 Chronicles 25:6 Hebrew, hand.
  9. 1 Chronicles 25:8 Who should be in every company and course.
  10. 1 Chronicles 25:8 Without respect to age or cunning.
  11. 1 Chronicles 25:9 So that he served in the first turn, and the rest everyone as his turn followed orderly.
  12. 1 Chronicles 25:11 Or, the Zerites.