David Organizes the Musicians

25 David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service the sons of (A)Asaph, and of (B)Heman, and of (C)Jeduthun, who (D)prophesied with lyres, with (E)harps, and with cymbals. The list of those who did the work and of their duties was: Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah, sons of Asaph, under the direction of Asaph, who (F)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, (G)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 (H)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 in the music in the house of the Lord with cymbals, (I)harps, and lyres for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the order of the king. The number of them along with their brothers, who were trained in singing to the Lord, all who were skillful, was (J)288. And they cast lots for their duties, (K)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 Jesharelah, 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.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 25:3 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts lack Shimei

Temple musicians

25 David and the army officers[a] set apart Asaph’s family, Heman and Jeduthun, for service to prophesy[b] accompanied by lyres, harps, and cymbals.

This is the list of those who performed this special service:

From Asaph’s family: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. Asaph’s family was under Asaph’s direction and prophesied by order of the king.

From Jeduthun and his family: Gedaliah, Izri,[c] Jeshaiah, Shimei,[d] Hashabiah, and Mattithiah—six in all. They were under their father Jeduthun’s direction, prophesying with the lyre and giving thanks and praise to the Lord.

From Heman and his family: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.

All these were the family of Heman the king’s seer, according to God’s promise to honor him. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. They were all under their father’s direction when singing in the Lord’s temple with cymbals, harps, and lyres to provide service in God’s temple, by order of the king.

As for Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman, the number of themselves and their relatives, who were trained in singing to the Lord and who were all skillful, was 288.

They cast lots for their assigned duties, small as well as great, teacher and pupil alike.

The first lot fell for Asaph to Joseph; the second to Gedaliah, his relatives, and his family, 12;

10 the third to Zaccur, his family, and his relatives, 12;

11 the fourth to Izri, his family, and his relatives, 12;

12 the fifth to Nethaniah, his family, and his relatives, 12;

13 the sixth to Bukkiah, his family, and his relatives, 12;

14 the seventh to Jesarelah, his family, and his relatives, 12;

15 the eighth to Jeshaiah, his family, and his relatives, 12;

16 the ninth to Mattaniah, his family, and his relatives, 12;

17 the tenth to Shimei, his family, and his relatives, 12;

18 the eleventh to Uzziel,[e] his family, and his relatives, 12;

19 the twelfth to Hashabiah, his family, and his relatives, 12;

20 the thirteenth to Shubael, his family, and his relatives, 12;

21 the fourteenth to Mattithiah, his family, and his relatives, 12;

22 the fifteenth to Jerimoth,[f] his family, and his relatives, 12;

23 the sixteenth to Hananiah, his family, and his relatives, 12;

24 the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his family, and his relatives, 12;

25 the eighteenth to Hanani, his family, and his relatives, 12;

26 the nineteenth to Mallothi, his family, and his relatives, 12;

27 the twentieth to Eliathah, his family, and his relatives, 12;

28 the twenty-first to Hothir, his family, and his relatives, 12;

29 the twenty-second to Giddalti, his family, and his relatives, 12;

30 the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his family, and his relatives, 12;

31 and the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his family, and his relatives, 12.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 25:1 Or liturgical officers
  2. 1 Chronicles 25:1 DSS, LXX, Vulg; MT the prophets
  3. 1 Chronicles 25:3 Cf 25:11: MT Zeri
  4. 1 Chronicles 25:3 LXX, cf 25:17; MT lacks Shimei.
  5. 1 Chronicles 25:18 LXX, Syr; MT Azrael
  6. 1 Chronicles 25:22 Cf 25:4; MT Jeremoth