1 CHRONICLES - CHAPTER 25
The Temple Musicians
v1 David and the army officers appointed some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to lead worship. They would prophecy with harps, lyres, and cymbals. These men performed this service: v2 From the sons of Asaph, there were Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. Asaph was their leader. He prophesied, as the king directed him. v3 Jeduthun’s sons who served were Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah. There were 6 of them, and Jeduthun led them. He prophesied and he used a harp to give thanks and to praise the LORD.
v4 Heman had 14 sons. They were: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. v5 All these were sons of Heman, the king’s prophet. God promised to make Heman strong, so Heman had many sons. God gave him 14 sons and three daughters.
v6 Their father led all these men in the music for the LORD’s temple. They played with cymbals, lyres, and harps. The king directed Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman. v7 These men and their relatives had trained in music. And they had the skill to make music for the LORD. There were 288 of them. v8 So they all made their choice for their duties by means of lots. Young and old men alike did this. Teachers and students alike did this.
v9 The first choice was for 12 men from the family of Joseph. (Joseph belonged to Asaph’s family). The second choice was for 12 men from the family of Gedaliah, his brothers and sons.
v10 The third choice was for 12 men from the family of Zaccur, his sons and relatives.
v11 The 4th choice was for 12 men from the family of Izri, his sons and relatives.
v12 The 5th choice was for 12 men from the family of Nethaniah, his sons and relatives.
v13 The 6th choice was for 12 men from the family of Bukkiah, his sons and relatives.
v14 The 7th choice was for 12 men from the family of Jesarelah, his sons and relatives.
v15 The 8th choice was for 12 men from the family of Jeshaiah, his sons and relatives.
v16 The 9th choice was for 12 men from the family of Mattaniah, his sons and relatives.
v17 The 10th choice was for 12 men from the family of Shimei, his sons and relatives.
v18 The 11th choice was for 12 men from the family of Azarel, his sons and relatives.
v19 The 12th choice was for 12 men from the family of Hashabiah, his sons and relatives.
v20 The 13th choice was for 12 men from the family of Shubael, his sons and relatives.
v21 The 14th choice was for 12 men from the family of Mattithiah, his sons and relatives.
v22 The 15th choice was for 12 men from the family of Jerimoth, his sons and relatives.
v23 The 16th choice was for 12 men from the family of Hananiah, his sons and relatives.
v24 The 17th choice was for 12 men from the family of Joshbekashah, his sons and relatives.
v25 The 18th choice was for 12 men from the family of Hanani, his sons and relatives.
v26 The 19th choice was for 12 men from the family of Mallothi, his sons and relatives.
v27 The 20th choice was for 12 men from the family of Eliathah, his sons and relatives.
v28 The 21st choice was for 12 men from the family of Hothir, his sons and relatives.
v29 The 22nd choice was for 12 men from the family of Giddalti, his sons and relatives.
v30 The 23rd choice was for 12 men from the family of Mahazioth, his sons and relatives.
v31 The 24th choice was for 12 men from the family of Romamti-Ezer, his sons and relatives.
COMMENTARY
VERSE 1
David organized the 288 musicians into 24 groups. These would work with the groups of priests and other Levites. The leaders of these groups came from the families of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun. About 30 years before, David had appointed these three men to be leaders of the music. That was when they brought the LORD’s ark to Jerusalem (16:4-7; 16:37; 16:41-42).
These three men would prophesy with harps, lyres, and cymbals. There are two possible meanings of the word ‘prophesy’ in this passage. They could have spoken words that God gave to them at that time. Or they could praise him with Psalms (songs of worship) that they (or somebody else) had written.
VERSES 2-5
The leaders of the groups were the sons of Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman. Asaph had 4 sons and Jeduthun had 6 sons. Heman had 14 sons. These sons made the 24 leaders for the groups.
VERSES 6-8
The ‘father’ means Heman, who led his sons in music. But of course, Asaph and Jeduthun led their sons as well. There were 4,000 Levites who praised the LORD with instruments (23:5). It seems that these 288 skilled musicians led them. 12 skilled musicians were in each group, and they led their sons and relatives. The groups chose their order of duties. They used the same fair method that the priests and Levites had used.
VERSES 9-31
This is a list of the groups in the order of their duties.
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