1 Chronicles 25

1 CHRONICLES CHAPTER 25

The Musicians

        • ESV Study Bible writes, “David’s organization of the Levitical musicians (initiated in chs 15-16) was to prepare them for leading worship in the temple. Like the priests, the musicians were arranged into 24 divisions for their duties, according to the number of sons of the three main family groups. Their service accompanied the regular offerings of the priests. The Chronicler was probably seeking to encourage a similar ministry among the Levitical singers of the second temple, whose service, authorized by David, would also connect the community of their day with the preexilic Davidic kingdom.”

      • David and the army commanders selected some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, who were to prophesy accompanied by lyres, harps, and cymbals.

        • Again we have a reference to an association between music and prophesy. The interested reader may refer to the episode in 2 Kgs 3:15 in which the prophet Elisha requests a harpist that, as NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible puts it, “plays a part in Elisha’s attainment of the prophetic ‘state’ in which he utters his prophecy.” Going further back, another mention of this connection occurs in 1 Sam 10:5-11.

        • ESV Study Bible says, “David and the leaders of the Levites divided the musicians into three family groups of Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman…who prophesied with musical instruments…In some cases, their songs seem to have become part of OT Scripture, for Asaph is named in the titles of Psalm 50 and 73-83, and Jeduthun in the titles of Psalms 39, 62, and 77. In addition, Heman here may be the same person as Heman the Ezrahite named in the title of Psalm 88 (cf also 1 Chron 6:33). The verb ‘to prophesy’ (Hb naba‘) indicates that their songs were prompted or guided by the Spirit of God…”

        • Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers includes a thought provoking comment on this passage, “In Hebrew, the verb to prophesy is a reflexive form, implying utterance under a spiritual influence. The ancients regarded musical utterance as an effect and proof of direct inspiration, and we still speak of the higher results of genius as inspired, however we may choose to explain the term away as a mere figure of speech. The power of moving sounds, whether of voice or instrument, is not to be gained by mere study or training; it is commonly spoken of as a ‘gift,’ and its products are called ‘inspirations.’ Whence come they, if not from the Divine source of life, and of all that makes life glad and beautiful? (James 1:17; 1Samuel 10:5; 1Samuel 16:16; 1Samuel 18:10).”

      • The following is a list of men who performed this service:

        • From Asaph’s sons: Zakkur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were supervised by Asaph, who prophesied under the supervision of the king.

        • From Jeduthun’s sons: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah- six in all- under the supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied using the harp in thanksgiving and praise to Yahweh.

          • NET Bible points out that the name Zeri “appears as ‘Izri’ in v. 11.” Also, “One Hebrew ms and some LXX mss supply the name ‘Shimei’ after ‘Jeshaiah.’ Most Hebrew mss omit the name here (but cf. v. 17).”

        • From Heman’s sons: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. All these were sons of Heman, who was the king’s seer. They were given to him in accordance with God’s promises to exalt him. God gave Heman 14 sons and 3 daughters.

          • On verses 2-5, NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible notes, “The listing of the sons of Asaph at the head probably indicates they were the most important. In 16:37-42, Asaph and his associates remained with the ark in Jerusalem, while the other two divisions were dispatched to Gibeon to the tent of meeting. Numerically, the sons of Asaph were in the minority and the sons of Heman in the majority. After the exile, however, only the descendants of Asaph are mentioned as returning in the first wave (Ezr 2:41). and only one of the descendants of Jeduthun (Ne 11:17). The descendants of Heman seem to have vanished.”

      • All these men were under their own fathers’ supervision for the music in the house of Yahweh, with cymbals, lyres, and harps for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the king’s supervision. They and their relatives- all of them skilled and trained in music for Yahweh- numbered 288.

      • Young and old alike, teacher as well as student, they all cast lots impartially to determine their duties.

        • ESV Study Bible writes, “The 24 divisions of 12 members each were assigned their duties impartially by lot, as were the priests (24:5). Each group varied in age and contained both teachers and pupils (25:8).”

      • The first lot fell to Asaph’s son Joseph and his relatives and sons- 12 in all;

        • NET Bible’s text critical notes point out, “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.”

      • the second to Gedaliah and his relatives and sons- 12 in all;

      • the third to Zakkur and his relatives ans sons- 12 in all;

        • the fourth to Izri and his relatives and sons- 12 in all;

        • NET Bible reminds us, “’Izri’ is a variant of the name ‘Zeri’ (cf. 25:3).”

      • the fifth to Nethaniah and his relatives and sons- 12 in all;

        • the sixth to Bukkiah and his relatives and sons- 12 in all;

        • the seventh to Jesarelah and his relatives and sons- 12 in all;

        • “‘Jesharelah’ is a variant of the name ‘Asarelah’ (cf. 25:2).” (NET Bible)

        • the eighth to Jeshaiah and his relatives and sons- 12 in all;

        • the ninth to Mattaniah and his relatives and sons- 12 in all;

        • the tenth to Shimei and his relatives and sons- 12 in all;

        • the eleventh to Azarel and his relatives and sons: 12 in all;

        • “‘Azarel’ is a variant of the name ‘Uzziel’ (cf. 25:4).” (NET Bible)

        • the twelfth to Hashabiah and his relatives and sons- 12 in all;

        • the thirteenth to Shubael and his relatives and sons- 12 in all;

        • the fourteenth to Mattithiah and his relatives and sons- 12 in all;

        • the fifteenth to Jerimoth and his relatives and sons- 12 in all;

        • the sixteenth to Hananiah and his relatives and sons- 12 in all;

        • the seventeenth to Joshbekashah and his relatives and sons- 12 in all;

        • the eighteenth to Hanani and his relatives and sons- 12 in all;

        • the nineteenth to Mallothi and his relatives and sons- 12 in all;

        • the twentieth to Eliathah and his relatives and sons- 12 in all;

        • the twenty-first to Hothir and his relatives and sons- 12 in all;

        • the twenty-second to Giddalti and his relatives and sons- 12 in all;

        • the twenty-third to Mahazioth and his relatives and sons- 12 in all;

        • the twenty-fourth to Romamti-Ezer and his relatives and sons- 12 in all.

  • NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible writes, “Music was a significant part of life in the ancient Near East. The Bible mentions several instruments, five of which are listed in 1 Ch 15:28 (several more are mentioned in Ps 150:3-5; Da 3:5).” The photo above is of an Anatolian trumpeter from the 8th-6th century BC which is located at The British Museum in London.

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