Number and Services of Musicians

25 Moreover, David and the commanders of the army set apart for the service some of the sons of (A)Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, who were to (B)prophesy with lyres, (C)harps, and cymbals; and the number of [a]those who performed this service was: Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and [b]Asharelah; the sons of Asaph were [c]under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied [d]under the direction of the king. (D)Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, [e]Zeri, Jeshaiah, [f]Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six in all, [g]under the direction of their father Jeduthun with the harp, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising the Lord. Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, [h]Uzziel, [i]Shebuel and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. All these were the sons of Heman (E)the king’s seer to [j]exalt him according to the words of God, for God gave fourteen sons and three daughters to Heman. All of these were under the [k]direction of their father to sing in the house of the Lord, (F)with cymbals, harps, and lyres, for the service of the house of God. (G)Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were [l]under the direction of the king. Their number who were trained in singing to the Lord, with their relatives, all who were skillful, was (H)288.

Divisions of the Musicians

(I)They cast lots for their duties, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the pupil.

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

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 25:1 Lit workmen according to their service
  2. 1 Chronicles 25:2 In v 14, Jesharelah
  3. 1 Chronicles 25:2 Lit on the hand
  4. 1 Chronicles 25:2 Lit on the hands
  5. 1 Chronicles 25:3 In v 11, Izri
  6. 1 Chronicles 25:3 As in one ms and ancient versions, cf. v 17
  7. 1 Chronicles 25:3 Lit on the hands
  8. 1 Chronicles 25:4 In v 18, Azarel
  9. 1 Chronicles 25:4 In v 20, Shubael
  10. 1 Chronicles 25:5 Lit raise the horn
  11. 1 Chronicles 25:6 Lit on the hands
  12. 1 Chronicles 25:6 Lit on the hands
  13. 1 Chronicles 25:11 In v 3, Zeri
  14. 1 Chronicles 25:14 In v 2, Asherelah

The Musicians

25 David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun. They set them apart to serve the Lord by prophesying while harps, lyres and cymbals were being played. Here is the list of the men who served in that way.

From the sons of Asaph came

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

From the sons of Jeduthun came

Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah and Mattithiah. The total number was six. They were under the direction of their father Jeduthun. He prophesied while playing the harp. He used it to thank and praise the Lord.

From the sons of Heman came

Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir and Mahazioth. All of them were sons of the king’s prophet Heman. They were given to Heman to bring him honor. That’s what God had promised. God gave him 14 sons and three daughters.

All of them were under the direction of their father. They played music for the Lord’s temple. They served at the house of God by playing cymbals, lyres and harps. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman were under the king’s direction.

All of them were trained and skilled in playing music for the Lord. Their total number was 288. That included their relatives. Young and old alike cast lots for their duties. That was true for students as well as teachers.

The 1st lot chosen was for Asaph. It was for Joseph and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.

The 2nd lot was for Gedaliah and his relatives and sons. The total number was 12.

10 The 3rd was for Zakkur and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.

11 The 4th was for Izri and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.

12 The 5th was for Nethaniah and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.

13 The 6th was for Bukkiah and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.

14 The 7th was for Jesarelah and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.

15 The 8th was for Jeshaiah and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.

16 The 9th was for Mattaniah and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.

17 The 10th was for Shimei and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.

18 The 11th was for Azarel and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.

19 The 12th was for Hashabiah and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.

20 The 13th was for Shubael and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.

21 The 14th was for Mattithiah and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.

22 The 15th was for Jerimoth and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.

23 The 16th was for Hananiah and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.

24 The 17th was for Joshbekashah and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.

25 The 18th was for Hanani and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.

26 The 19th was for Mallothi and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.

27 The 20th was for Eliathah and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.

28 The 21st was for Hothir and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.

29 The 22nd was for Giddalti and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.

30 The 23rd was for Mahazioth and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.

31 The 24th was for Romamti-Ezer and his sons and relatives. The total number was 12.