1 Chronicles 25:1-12

David Organizes the Musicians

25:1 David and the army officers selected some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy as they played stringed instruments and cymbals. ¹  The following men were assigned this responsibility: ² 

25:2 From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were supervised by Asaph, who prophesied under the king’s supervision. ³ 

25:3 From the sons of Jeduthun: ⁴  Gedaliah, Zeri, ⁵  Jeshaiah, ⁶  Hashabiah, and Mattithiah – six in all, ⁷  under supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied as he played a harp, giving thanks and praise to the Lord.

25:4 From the sons of Heman: ⁸  Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. 25:5 All these were the sons of Heman, the king’s prophet. God had promised him these sons in order to make him prestigious. ⁹  God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.

25:6 All of these were under the supervision of their fathers; they were musicians in the Lord’s temple, playing cymbals and stringed instruments as they served in God’s temple. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the supervision of the king. 25:7 They and their relatives, all of them skilled and trained to make music to the Lord, numbered two hundred eighty-eight. ¹⁰ 

25:8 They cast lots to determine their responsibilities – oldest as well as youngest, teacher as well as student. ¹¹ 

25:9 The first lot went to Asaph’s son Joseph and his relatives and sons – twelve in all, ¹² 

the second to Gedaliah and his relatives and sons – twelve in all,

25:10 the third to Zaccur and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,

25:11 the fourth to Izri ¹³  and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,

25:12 the fifth to Nethaniah and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,

[25:1]  ¹ tn Heb “David and the officers of the army set apart for service the sons of Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, the ones prophesying by harps, by lyres, and by cymbals.”

[25:1]  ² tn Heb “and their number was, the men of work for their service.”

[25:2]  ³ tn Heb “the sons of Asaph [were] upon the hand of Asaph, the one prophesying upon the hands of the king.”

[25:3]  ⁴ tn Heb “belonging to Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun.”

[25:3]  ⁵ tn This name appears as “Izri” in v. 10.

[25:3]  ⁶ tc One Hebrew ms and some LXX mss supply the name “Shimei” after “Jeshaiah.” Most Hebrew mss omit the name here (but cf. v. 17).

[25:3]  ⁷ tc The list includes only five names. Apparently the name “Shimei” (see v. 17), which appears in one medieval Hebrew ms and in the LXX, has been accidentally omitted from the Hebrew text.

[25:4]  ⁸ tn Heb “belonging to Heman, the sons of Heman.”

[25:5]  ⁹ tn Heb “by the words of God to exalt a horn.” An animal’s horn is sometimes used metaphorically as a symbol of strength and honor. See BDB 901-2 s.v. קֶרֶנ.

[25:7]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “and their number with their brothers, trained in music to the Lord, all skilled, was 288.”

[25:8]  ¹¹ tn Heb “and they cast lots [for] service, just as like small, like great, teacher with student.”

[25:9]  ¹² tc Heb “The first lot went to Asaph, to Joseph.” Apparently the recurring formula, “and his sons and his relatives, twelve” has been accidentally omitted from the Hebrew text at this point (see vv. 10-31; the formula is slightly different in v. 9b). If the number “twelve” is not supplied here, the total comes to only 276, not the 288 required by v. 7.

[25:11]  ¹³ tn “Izri” is a variant of the name “Zeri” (cf. 25:3).