1 Moreover 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:
2 Of 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.
3 Of 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.
4 Of Heman: the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth:
5 All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
6 All 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 king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.
7 So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.
8 And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.
9 Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and sons were twelve:
10 The third to Zaccur, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
11 The fourth to Izri, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
12 The fifth to Nethaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
13 The sixth to Bukkiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
14 The seventh to Jesharelah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
15 The eighth to Jeshaiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
16 The ninth to Mattaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
17 The tenth to Shimei, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
18 The eleventh to Azareel, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
19 The twelfth to Hashabiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
20 The thirteenth to Shubael, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
21 The fourteenth to Mattithiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
22 The fifteenth to Jeremoth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
23 The sixteenth to Hananiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
24 The seventeenth to Joshbekashah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
25 The eighteenth to Hanani, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
26 The nineteenth to Mallothi, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
27 The twentieth to Eliathah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
28 The one and twentieth to Hothir, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
29 The two and twentieth to Giddalti, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
30 The three and twentieth to Mahazioth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
31 The four and twentieth to Romamtiezer, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve.
1 Moreover David H1732 and the captains H8269 of the host H6635 separated H914 to the service H5656 of the sons H1121 of Asaph, H623 and of Heman, H1968 and of Jeduthun, H3038 who should prophesy H5012 H5030 with harps, H3658 with psalteries, H5035 and with cymbals: H4700 and the number H4557 of the workmen H582 H4399 according to their service H5656 was:
2 Of the sons H1121 of Asaph; H623 Zaccur, H2139 and Joseph, H3130 and Nethaniah, H5418 and Asarelah, H841 the sons H1121 of Asaph H623 under the hands H3027 of Asaph, H623 which prophesied H5012 according to the order H3027 of the king. H4428
3 Of Jeduthun: H3038 the sons H1121 of Jeduthun; H3038 Gedaliah, H1436 and Zeri, H6874 and Jeshaiah, H3470 Hashabiah, H2811 and Mattithiah, H4993 six, H8337 under the hands H3027 of their father H1 Jeduthun, H3038 who prophesied H5012 with a harp, H3658 to give thanks H3034 and to praise H1984 the LORD. H3068
4 Of Heman: H1968 the sons H1121 of Heman; H1968 Bukkiah, H1232 Mattaniah, H4983 Uzziel, H5816 Shebuel, H7619 and Jerimoth, H3406 Hananiah, H2608 Hanani, H2607 Eliathah, H448 Giddalti, H1437 and Romamtiezer, H7320 Joshbekashah, H3436 Mallothi, H4413 Hothir, H1956 and Mahazioth: H4238
5 All these were the sons H1121 of Heman H1968 the king's H4428 seer H2374 in the words H1697 of God, H430 to lift up H7311 the horn. H7161 And God H430 gave H5414 to Heman H1968 fourteen H702 H6240 sons H1121 and three H7969 daughters. H1323
6 All these were under the hands H3027 of their father H1 for song H7892 in the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 with cymbals, H4700 psalteries, H5035 and harps, H3658 for the service H5656 of the house H1004 of God, H430 according to the king's H4428 order H3027 to Asaph, H623 Jeduthun, H3038 and Heman. H1968
7 So the number H4557 of them, with their brethren H251 that were instructed H3925 in the songs H7892 of the LORD, H3068 even all that were cunning, H995 was two hundred H3967 fourscore H8084 and eight. H8083
8 And they cast H5307 lots, H1486 ward H4931 against H5980 ward, as well the small H6996 as the great, H1419 the teacher H995 as the scholar. H8527
9 Now the first H7223 lot H1486 came forth H3318 for Asaph H623 to Joseph: H3130 the second H8145 to Gedaliah, H1436 who with his brethren H251 and sons H1121 were twelve: H8147 H6240
10 The third H7992 to Zaccur, H2139 he, his sons, H1121 and his brethren, H251 were twelve: H8147 H6240
11 The fourth H7243 to Izri, H3339 he, his sons, H1121 and his brethren, H251 were twelve: H8147 H6240
12 The fifth H2549 to Nethaniah, H5418 he, his sons, H1121 and his brethren, H251 were twelve: H8147 H6240
13 The sixth H8345 to Bukkiah, H1232 he, his sons, H1121 and his brethren, H251 were twelve: H8147 H6240
14 The seventh H7637 to Jesharelah, H3480 he, his sons, H1121 and his brethren, H251 were twelve: H8147 H6240
15 The eighth H8066 to Jeshaiah, H3470 he, his sons, H1121 and his brethren, H251 were twelve: H8147 H6240
16 The ninth H8671 to Mattaniah, H4983 he, his sons, H1121 and his brethren, H251 were twelve: H8147 H6240
17 The tenth H6224 to Shimei, H8096 he, his sons, H1121 and his brethren, H251 were twelve: H8147 H6240
18 The eleventh H6249 H6240 to Azareel, H5832 he, his sons, H1121 and his brethren, H251 were twelve: H8147 H6240
19 The twelfth H8147 H6240 to Hashabiah, H2811 he, his sons, H1121 and his brethren, H251 were twelve: H8147 H6240
20 The thirteenth H7969 H6240 to Shubael, H7619 he, his sons, H1121 and his brethren, H251 were twelve: H8147 H6240
21 The fourteenth H702 H6240 to Mattithiah, H4993 he, his sons, H1121 and his brethren, H251 were twelve: H8147 H6240
22 The fifteenth H2568 H6240 to Jeremoth, H3406 he, his sons, H1121 and his brethren, H251 were twelve: H8147 H6240
23 The sixteenth H8337 H6240 to Hananiah, H2608 he, his sons, H1121 and his brethren, H251 were twelve: H8147 H6240
24 The seventeenth H7651 H6240 to Joshbekashah, H3436 he, his sons, H1121 and his brethren, H251 were twelve: H8147 H6240
25 The eighteenth H8083 H6240 to Hanani, H2607 he, his sons, H1121 and his brethren, H251 were twelve: H8147 H6240
26 The nineteenth H8672 H6240 to Mallothi, H4413 he, his sons, H1121 and his brethren, H251 were twelve: H8147 H6240
27 The twentieth H6242 to Eliathah, H448 he, his sons, H1121 and his brethren, H251 were twelve: H8147 H6240
28 The one H259 and twentieth H6242 to Hothir, H1956 he, his sons, H1121 and his brethren, H251 were twelve: H8147 H6240
29 The two H8147 and twentieth H6242 to Giddalti, H1437 he, his sons, H1121 and his brethren, H251 were twelve: H8147 H6240
30 The three H7969 and twentieth H6242 to Mahazioth, H4238 he, his sons, H1121 and his brethren, H251 were twelve: H8147 H6240
31 The four H702 and twentieth H6242 to Romamtiezer, H7320 he, his sons, H1121 and his brethren, H251 were twelve. H8147 H6240
1 Moreover David and the captains of the host set apart for the service certain 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 them that did the work according to their service was:
2 of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asharelah, the sons of Asaph, under the hand of Asaph, who prophesied after the order of the king.
3 Of Jeduthun; the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun with the harp, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising Jehovah.
4 Of Heman; the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth.
5 All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
6 All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of Jehovah, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God; Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman being under the order of the king.
7 And the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in singing unto Jehovah, even all that were skilful, was two hundred fourscore and eight.
8 And they cast lots for their offices, all alike, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.
9 Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah; he and his brethren and sons were twelve:
10 the third to Zaccur, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
11 the fourth to Izri, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
12 the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
13 the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
14 the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
15 the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
16 the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
17 the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
18 the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
19 the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
20 for the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
21 for the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
22 for the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
23 for the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
24 for the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
25 for the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
26 for the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
27 for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
28 for the one and twentieth to Hothir, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
29 for the two and twentieth to Giddalti, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
30 for the three and twentieth to Mahazioth, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
31 for the four and twentieth to Romamtiezer, his sons and his brethren, twelve.
1 And David and the heads of the host separate for service, of the sons of Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun, who are prophesying with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals, and the number of the workmen is according to their service.
2 Of sons of Asaph: Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asharelah, sons of Asaph, `are' by the side of Asaph, who is prophesying by the side of the king.
3 Of Jeduthun: sons of Jeduthun, Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, Shisshah, `are' by the side of their father Jeduthun; with a harp he is prophesying, for giving of thanks and of praise to Jehovah.
4 Of Heman: sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth;
5 all these `are' sons of Heman -- seer of the king in the things of God -- to lift up a horn; and God giveth to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
6 All these `are' by the side of their father in the song of the house of Jehovah, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God; by the side of the king `are' Asaph, and Jeduthun, and Heman.
7 And their number, with their brethren -- taught in the song of Jehovah, all who are intelligent -- is two hundred, eighty and eight.
8 And they cause to fall lots -- charge over-against `charge', as well the small as the great, the intelligent with the learner.
9 And the first lot goeth out for Asaph to Joseph; `to' Gedaliah the second; he, and his brethren and his sons, twelve;
10 the third `to' Zaccur, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
11 the fourth to Izri, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
12 the fifth `to' Nethaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
13 the sixth `to' Bukkiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
14 the seventh `to' Jesharelah, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
15 the eighth `to' Jeshaiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
16 the ninth `to' Mattaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
17 the tenth `to' Shimei, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
18 eleventh `to' Azareel, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
19 the twelfth `to' Hashabiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
20 at the thirteenth `to' Shubael, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
21 at the fourteenth `to' Mattithiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
22 at the fifteenth `to' Jeremoth, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
23 at the sixteenth `to' Hananiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
24 at the seventeenth `to' Joshbekashah, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
25 at the eighteenth `to' Hanani, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
26 at the nineteenth `to' Mallothi, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
27 at the twentieth `to' Eliathah, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
28 at the one and twentieth `to' Hothir, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
29 at the two and twentieth `to' Giddalti, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
30 at the three and twentieth `to' Mahazioth, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
31 at the four and twentieth `to' Romamti-Ezer, his sons and his brethren, twelve.
1 And David and the captains of the host separated for the service those of the sons of Asaph and of Heman and of Jeduthun who were to prophesy with harps and lutes and cymbals; and the number of the men employed according to their service was:
2 of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asharelah, the sons of Asaph under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied at the direction of the king.
3 Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Isaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, [and Shimei] six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the harp, to give thanks and to praise Jehovah.
4 Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkijah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth:
5 all these were sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to exalt his power; and God had given to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
6 All these were under the direction of their fathers Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman, for song in the house of Jehovah, with cymbals, lutes and harps, for the service of the house of God, under the direction of the king.
7 And the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of Jehovah, all of them skilful, was two hundred and eighty-eight.
8 And they cast lots with one another over the charges, the small as well as the great, the teacher with the scholar.
9 And the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph; to Gedaliah the second: he and his brethren and his sons were twelve.
10 The third to Zaccur; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
11 The fourth to Jizri; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
12 The fifth to Nethaniah; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
13 The sixth to Bukkijah; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
14 The seventh to Jesharelah; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
15 The eighth to Isaiah; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
16 The ninth to Mattaniah; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
17 The tenth to Shimei; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
18 The eleventh to Azareel; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
19 The twelfth to Hashabiah; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
20 The thirteenth to Shubael; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
21 The fourteenth to Mattithiah; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
22 The fifteenth to Jeremoth; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
23 The sixteenth to Hananiah; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
24 The seventeenth to Joshbekashah; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
25 The eighteenth to Hanani; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
26 The nineteenth to Mallothi; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
27 The twentieth to Elijathah; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
28 The twenty-first to Hothir; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
29 The twenty-second to Giddalti; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
30 The twenty-third to Mahazioth; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
31 The twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
1 Moreover, David and the captains of the host set apart for the service certain 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 those who did the work according to their service was:
2 of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asharelah, the sons of Asaph, under the hand of Asaph, who prophesied after the order of the king.
3 Of Jeduthun; the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun with the harp, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising Yahweh.
4 Of Heman; the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth.
5 All 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.
6 All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of Yahweh, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God; Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman being under the order of the king.
7 The number of them, with their brothers who were instructed in singing to Yahweh, even all who were skillful, was two hundred eighty-eight.
8 They cast lots for their offices, all alike, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.
9 Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah; he and his brothers and sons were twelve:
10 the third to Zaccur, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
11 the fourth to Izri, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
12 the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
13 the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
14 the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
15 the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
16 the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
17 the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
18 the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
19 the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
20 for the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
21 for the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
22 for the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
23 for the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
24 for the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
25 for the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
26 for the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
27 for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
28 for the one and twentieth to Hothir, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
29 for the two and twentieth to Giddalti, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
30 for the three and twentieth to Mahazioth, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
31 for the four and twentieth to Romamtiezer, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
1 Further, David and the chiefs of the servants of the holy place made selection of certain of the sons of Asaph and of Heman and of Jeduthun for the work of prophets, to make melody with corded instruments and brass; and the number of the men for the work they had to do was:
2 Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur and Joseph and Nethaniah and Asharelah, sons of Asaph; under the direction of Asaph, acting as a prophet under the orders of the king;
3 Of Jeduthun: the six sons of Jeduthun, Gedaliah and Zeri and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah and Mattithiah; under the direction of their father Jeduthun who, acting as a prophet, with corded instruments gave praise and glory to the Lord.
4 Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth;
5 All these were sons of Heman, the king's seer in the words of God. And to make great his power God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
6 All these, under the direction of their father, made music in the house of the Lord, with brass and corded instruments, for the worship of the house of God; Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman being under the orders of the king.
7 And the number of them, with their brothers who were trained and expert in making melody to the Lord, was two hundred and eighty-eight.
8 And selection was made of them for their special work, all having equal chances, small as well as great, the teacher as the learner.
9 Now of the group of Asaph, the first name to come out was Joseph; the second Gedaliah; he and his brothers and sons were twelve?
10 The third Zaccur, with his sons and his brothers, twelve;
11 The fourth Izri, with his sons and his brothers, twelve;
12 The fifth Nethaniah, with his sons and his brothers, twelve;
13 The sixth Bukkiah, with his sons and his brothers, twelve;
14 The seventh Jesharelah, with his sons and his brothers, twelve;
15 The eighth Jeshaiah, with his sons and his brothers, twelve;
16 The ninth Mattaniah, with his sons and his brothers, twelve;
17 The tenth Shimei, with his sons and his brothers, twelve;
18 The eleventh Azarel, with his sons and his brothers, twelve;
19 The twelfth Hashabiah, with his sons and his brothers, twelve;
20 The thirteenth Shubael, with his sons and his brothers, twelve;
21 The fourteenth Mattithiah, with his sons and his brothers, twelve;
22 The fifteenth Jeremoth, with his sons and his brothers, twelve;
23 The sixteenth Hananiah, with his sons and his brothers, twelve;
24 The seventeenth Joshbekashah, with his sons and his brothers, twelve;
25 The eighteenth Hanani, with his sons and his brothers, twelve;
26 The nineteenth Mallothi, with his sons and his brothers, twelve;
27 The twentieth Eliathah, with his sons and his brothers, twelve;
28 The twenty-first Hothir, with his sons and his brothers, twelve;
29 The twenty-second Giddalti, with his sons and his brothers, twelve;
30 The twenty-third Mahazioth, with his sons and his brothers, twelve;
31 The twenty-fourth Romamti-ezer, with his sons and his brothers, twelve.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » John Gill's Exposition of the Bible » Commentary on 1 Chronicles 25
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 25 John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 25
This chapter relates the appointment of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, to be singers in the temple, 1 Chronicles 25:1 the distribution of them by lot into twenty four classes, twelve in each class, 1 Chronicles 25:8.
Moreover, David and the captains of the host separated to the service,.... Of singing the praises of God; this was done by the princes of the people, and the chief of the priests, who were gathered together, and before whom the lots were cast, both for priests and Levites, and now here for the singers, see 1 Chronicles 22:2 and those that were separated were
of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun; or Ethan, the three precentors, or chief of the singers:
who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals; sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, endited by the Holy Spirit of God; which contained in them prophecies concerning things to come, particularly relating to the Messiah, of which there are many in the book of Psalms; and to the tunes of these they played on the above instruments of music:
and the number of the workmen, according to their service, was; as follows.
Of the sons of Asaph,.... Who were separated, and by lot appointed, to the service of singers in the temple:
Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah; called Jesharelah, 1 Chronicles 25:14, these had the third fourth, fifth, and seventh lots, 1 Chronicles 25:9,
under the hands of Asaph; under his instruction and authority:
which prophesied according to the order of the king; which Asaph composed psalms under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, and was ordered by King David to sing them, and by whose command they were inserted in the book of Psalms, where they now stand with his name to them.
Of Jeduthun,.... Or Ethan, the sons of Jeduthun:
Gedaliah and Zeri; called Izri, 1 Chronicles 25:11,
and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six; whereas five only are mentioned; it may be thought that Shimei, 1 Chronicles 25:17 is the sixth, he not being mentioned elsewhere; it is a tradition of the Jews, that his mother was now with child of him, and it being foreseen by the Holy Spirit that he would be the chief of a course, the number six is given, as Jarchi observes; but rather, as Kimchi, he was young, and not fit to sing, yet was chosen the head of a course, until he was grown up and fit for it; to these six came up the second, fourth, eighth, twelfth, fourteenth, and tenth lots, 1 Chronicles 25:9 and these
were under the hands of their father Jeduthun; to instruct and direct them, and appoint their service to them:
who prophesied with a harp; or sung a prophetic psalm or hymn on that:
to give thanks, and to praise the Lord; for what he had done and promised, and foretold he would do for his people.
Of Heman: the sons of Heman,.... The third chief singer:
Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel; the same with Azareel, 1 Chronicles 25:18.
Shebuel; called Shubael, 1 Chronicles 25:20.
and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth; in all fourteen, to whom came the sixth, ninth, eleventh, fifteenth, sixteenth, eighteenth, twentieth, twenty second, twenty fourth, seventeenth, nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty third lots, 1 Chronicles 25:13.
All these were the sons of Heman, the king's seer,.... The prophet of the king, as the Targum, who was frequently with him, assisting him
in the words of God: in divine things:
to lift up the horn; to blow with the hornpipe or trumpet, and to magnify and set forth the greatness of the kingdom of Israel, and especially of the King Messiah, the horn of salvation, that would be raised up in the house of David:
and God gave to Heman fourteen sons; whose names are before mentioned:
and three daughters; of whom we have no more account, only may observe, that both are the gifts of God, and an heritage from him, Psalm 127:3.
All these were under the hands of their father, for song in the house of the Lord,.... Instructed and directed by him in the performance of the service in the temple:
with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God; which were the three principal instruments of music used in the temple service:
according to the king's order, to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman; who ordered and directed them what to sing, what tunes to make use of, and what instruments to play upon to those tunes.
So the number of them, with their brethren,.... Who each of them had twelve with them, as after reckoned:
that were instructed in the songs of the Lord; taught how to sing them:
even all that were cunning; expert and well skilled in the science of singing:
was two hundred and eighty eight; for there being twenty four classes answerable to those of the priests, and twelve in each class, twelve times twenty four makes two hundred and eighty eight.
And they cast lots, ward against ward,.... That is, which ward or course of the singers should answer to and attend on the first ward or course of the priests in their weekly service, and which the second, and so on:
as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar; no regard was had to the age of a person, his being the firstborn or a younger brother, or to his office and station, whether as a teacher or a learner in the science of singing; he was made the head of a course, as the lot came up; and it may easily be observed, by comparing the lots in the following verses with the sons of the chief singers, according to the order of them in 1 Chronicles 25:2 that the younger are often preferred in the courses by lot to the elder, of which even the first lot is an instance.
Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph,.... His second son to the preference of the firstborn, 1 Chronicles 25:2,
the second to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and sons were twelve: and which must also be understood of Joseph, and supplied to him; for those being both in one verse, as Jarchi observes, it is but once mentioned, but must be supplied, or otherwise the number of two hundred and eighty eight could not be made up; the same is observed of all the other lots and courses to the end of the chapter as here, and therefore need no more remarks.