1 Chronicles25
World English Bible · Public Domain
1Moreover, David and the captains of the army set apart for the service certain of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who were to prophesy with harps, with stringed instruments, and with cymbals. The number of those who did the work according to their service was:
2of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah. The sons of Asaph were under the hand of Asaph, who prophesied at the order of the king.
3Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising Yahweh with the harp.
4Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, 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. God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
6All these were under the hands of their father for song in Yahweh’s house, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps, for the service of God’s house: Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman being under the order of the king.
7The number of them, with their brothers who were instructed in singing to Yahweh, even all who were skillful, was two hundred eighty-eight.
8They cast lots for their offices, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the student.
9Now the first lot came out for Asaph to Joseph; the second to Gedaliah, he and his brothers and sons were twelve;
10the third to Zaccur, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
11the fourth to Izri, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
12the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
13the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
14the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
15the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
16the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
17the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
18the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
19the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
20for the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
21for the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
22for the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
23for the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
24for the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
25for the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
26for the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
27for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
28for the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
29for the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
30for the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
31for the twenty-fourth to Romamti-Ezer, his sons and his brothers, 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