CHAPTER 25

(1015 B.C.)

THE DIVISION OF THE MUSICIANS

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 (we are now told of the division of the 4,000 singers into 24 courses or weekly periods; there was no such provision for song and worship in the Tabernacle in the wilderness, as in the Temple of Solomon; this was because the former spoke of a provided Redemption, the latter of an accomplished Salvation; as well, musical instrumentation which accompanies Spirit-led singing is constituted as prophecy [I Cor. 14:3]):

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 kings 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 kings order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman (the overseership of this service seemed to be divided among the sons of Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman).

⁷So the number of them, with their brethren who were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all who were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight (they were helped by 288 skilled musicians and skilled singers).

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 of 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.