1 Chronicles25
King James Version · Public Domain
1Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:
2Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king.
3Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the Lord.
4Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti–ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth:
5All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
6All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the Lord, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.
7So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the Lord, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.
8And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.
9Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and sons were twelve:
10The third to Zaccur, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
11The fourth to Izri, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
12The fifth to Nethaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
13The sixth to Bukkiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
14The seventh to Jesharelah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
15The eighth to Jeshaiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
16The ninth to Mattaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
17The tenth to Shimei, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
18The eleventh to Azareel, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
19The twelfth to Hashabiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
20The thirteenth to Shubael, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
21The fourteenth to Mattithiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
22The fifteenth to Jeremoth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
23The sixteenth to Hananiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
24The seventeenth to Joshbekashah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
25The eighteenth to Hanani, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
26The nineteenth to Mallothi, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
27The twentieth to Eliathah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
28The one and twentieth to Hothir, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
29The two and twentieth to Giddalti, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
30The three and twentieth to Mahazioth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
31The four and twentieth to Romamti–ezer, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Chronicles 25.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The singers and musicians. (1-31).
vv1-31
David put those in order who were appointed to be singers and musicians in the temple. To prophesy, in this place, means praising God with great earnestness and devout affections, under the influences of the Holy Spirit. In raising these affections, poetry and music were employed. If the Spirit of God do not put life and fervour into our devotions, they will, however ordered, be a lifeless, worthless form.
Key Words
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
שַׂר: a head person (of any rank or class)
צָבָא: a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship)
בָּדַל: to divide (in variation senses literally or figuratively, separate, distinguish, differ, select, etc.)
עֲבֹדָה: work of any kind
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
אָסָף: Asaph, the name of three Israelites, and of the family of the first
הֵימָן: Heman, the name of at least two Israelites
יְדוּתוּן: Jeduthun, an Israelite
נָבָא: to prophesy, i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)
Cross References
1 Chronicles 25Illuminates musical 'prophesying' under the influence of the Holy Spirit, connected to the sons of the prophets.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Shows historical precedent of musical instruments used to stir and awaken the prophetic spirit.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explains the biblical equivalence between the terms 'seer' and 'prophet' as applied to Heman.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies other royal seers of David (like Gad) matching Heman's title 'the king's seer'.
Supported by JFB
Establishes the appointments of the three primary musical leads: Asaph, Heman, and Ethan/Jeduthun.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms their specific musical instruments (cymbals of brass) matching their service assignments.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies the assembled 'captains' and princes of Israel present to establish these sacred orders.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Illuminates the inclusion of Heman's daughters in the sacred choir alongside the male singers.
Supported by JFB
Explains how the 288 skilled musicians directed the broader host of 4,000 levitical singers.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel structure of casting lots impartially, similar to the ordering of the priests.
Supported by JFB