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The Music Groups

25 David and the ·commanders [officers] of the army chose some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to ·preach [proclaim; prophesy] and play harps, lyres, and cymbals. Here is a list of the men who ·served in this way [performed/were assigned these services]:

Asaph’s sons who served were Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. King David ·chose [directed] Asaph to ·preach [proclaim; prophesy], and Asaph directed his sons.

Jeduthun’s sons who served were Gedaliah, ·Zeri [or Izri; v. 11], Jeshaiah, Shimei [C name not included in most manuscripts], Hashabiah, and Mattithiah. There were six of them, and Jeduthun directed them. He ·preached [proclaimed; prophesied] and used a harp to give thanks and praise to the Lord.

Heman’s sons who served were Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. All these were sons of Heman, David’s ·seer [prophet]. God promised to ·make Heman strong, so Heman had [exalt/honor him with] many sons. God gave him fourteen sons and three daughters. Heman directed all his sons in ·making music [singing] for the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord with cymbals, lyres, and harps; that was their way of serving in the ·Temple [L house] of God. King David ·was in charge of [directed; supervised] Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman. These men and their relatives were trained and skilled in ·making music for [singing to] the Lord. There were two hundred eighty-eight ·of them [with these skills; experts]. Everyone threw lots ·to choose the time his family was to serve at the Temple [for their duties]. The ·young [small] and the ·old [great], the teacher and the student, had to throw lots.

First, the lot fell to Joseph, from the ·family [clan] of Asaph [C the number twelve needs to be understood here, as in the following verses, to make the total come to the stated 288].

Second, twelve men were chosen from Gedaliah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

10 Third, twelve men were chosen from Zaccur, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

11 Fourth, twelve men were chosen from ·Izri [or Zeri; v. 3], his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

12 Fifth, twelve men were chosen from Nethaniah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

13 Sixth, twelve men were chosen from Bukkiah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

14 Seventh, twelve men were chosen from ·Jesarelah [or Asarelah; 25:2], his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

15 Eighth, twelve men were chosen from Jeshaiah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

16 Ninth, twelve men were chosen from Mattaniah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

17 Tenth, twelve men were chosen from Shimei, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

18 Eleventh, twelve men were chosen from ·Azarel [or Uzziel; 25:4], his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

19 Twelfth, twelve men were chosen from Hashabiah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

20 Thirteenth, twelve men were chosen from Shubael, his sons and·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

21 Fourteenth, twelve men were chosen from Mattithiah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

22 Fifteenth, twelve men were chosen from Jerimoth, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

23 Sixteenth, twelve men were chosen from Hananiah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

24 Seventeenth, twelve men were chosen from Joshbekashah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

25 Eighteenth, twelve men were chosen from Hanani, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

26 Nineteenth, twelve men were chosen from Mallothi, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

27 Twentieth, twelve men were chosen from Eliathah, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

28 Twenty-first, twelve men were chosen from Hothir, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

29 Twenty-second, twelve men were chosen from Giddalti, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

30 Twenty-third, twelve men were chosen from Mahazioth, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

31 Twenty-fourth, twelve men were chosen from Romamti-Ezer, his sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers].

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Number and Services of Musicians

25 Moreover, David and the commanders of the army selected for the [temple] service some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, who were to [a]prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals. The list of the musicians who performed their service was as follows: Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah; the sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied [b]under the [c]direction of the king. Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, 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, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. All these [men] were the sons of Heman the king’s seer to [d]exalt him in accordance with the words of God; for God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.(A) All these were under the direction of their father to sing 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 and direction of the king. So their number [who led the remainder of the 4,000], with their relatives who were trained in singing to the Lord, all who were skillful, was 288.(B)

Divisions of Musicians

The musicians cast lots for their duties, everyone alike, the small (younger) as well as the great (older), the teacher as well as the student.

The first lot for Asaph fell to Joseph; the second to Gedaliah, to him, his relatives and his sons, twelve; 10 the third to Zaccur, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 11 the fourth to 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 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 the thirteenth to Shubael, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 21 the fourteenth to Mattithiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 22 the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 23 the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 24 the seventeenth of Joshbekashah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 25 the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 26 the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 27 the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 28 the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 29 the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 30 the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 31 the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his sons and his relatives, twelve.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 25:1 This was probably a form of praise and worship designed to declare God’s character and His truths with music and lyrics.
  2. 1 Chronicles 25:2 Control over prophecy is later affirmed by Paul (1 Cor 14:32); i.e. a prophet is not overcome by the Spirit to the point that he cannot control his actions. He can, for example, refrain from speaking, and in this case Asaph did not prophesy until ordered or given permission to do so by the king.
  3. 1 Chronicles 25:2 Lit hand.
  4. 1 Chronicles 25:5 Lit lift up the horn.