1 Chronicles25
New Living Translation
1David and the army commanders then appointed men from the families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to proclaim God’s messages to the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. Here is a list of their names and their work:
2From the sons of Asaph, there were Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. They worked under the direction of their father, Asaph, who proclaimed God’s messages by the king’s orders.
3From the sons of Jeduthun, there were Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six in all. They worked under the direction of their father, Jeduthun, who proclaimed God’s messages to the accompaniment of the lyre, offering thanks and praise to the Lord.
4From the sons of Heman, there were Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.
5All these were the sons of Heman, the king’s seer, for God had honored him with fourteen sons and three daughters.
6All these men were under the direction of their fathers as they made music at the house of the Lord. Their responsibilities included the playing of cymbals, harps, and lyres at the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman reported directly to the king.
7They and their families were all trained in making music before the Lord, and each of them—288 in all—was an accomplished musician.
8The musicians were appointed to their term of service by means of sacred lots, without regard to whether they were young or old, teacher or student.
9The first lot fell to Joseph of the Asaph clan and twelve of his sons and relatives. The second lot fell to Gedaliah and twelve of his sons and relatives.
10The third lot fell to Zaccur and twelve of his sons and relatives.
11The fourth lot fell to Zeri and twelve of his sons and relatives.
12The fifth lot fell to Nethaniah and twelve of his sons and relatives.
13The sixth lot fell to Bukkiah and twelve of his sons and relatives.
14The seventh lot fell to Asarelah and twelve of his sons and relatives.
15The eighth lot fell to Jeshaiah and twelve of his sons and relatives.
16The ninth lot fell to Mattaniah and twelve of his sons and relatives.
17The tenth lot fell to Shimei and twelve of his sons and relatives.
18The eleventh lot fell to Uzziel and twelve of his sons and relatives.
19The twelfth lot fell to Hashabiah and twelve of his sons and relatives.
20The thirteenth lot fell to Shubael and twelve of his sons and relatives.
21The fourteenth lot fell to Mattithiah and twelve of his sons and relatives.
22The fifteenth lot fell to Jerimoth and twelve of his sons and relatives.
23The sixteenth lot fell to Hananiah and twelve of his sons and relatives.
24The seventeenth lot fell to Joshbekashah and twelve of his sons and relatives.
25The eighteenth lot fell to Hanani and twelve of his sons and relatives.
26The nineteenth lot fell to Mallothi and twelve of his sons and relatives.
27The twentieth lot fell to Eliathah and twelve of his sons and relatives.
28The twenty-first lot fell to Hothir and twelve of his sons and relatives.
29The twenty-second lot fell to Giddalti and twelve of his sons and relatives.
30The twenty-third lot fell to Mahazioth and twelve of his sons and relatives.
31The twenty-fourth lot fell to Romamti-ezer and twelve of his sons and relatives.
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