1 Chronicles 25

King James Version

Full text for 1 Chronicles Chapter 25

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:

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 Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, [and] Mahazioth:

5All 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.

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 king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.

7So 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.

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 to 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 Romamtiezer, [he], his sons, and his brethren, [were] twelve.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

King David, with the captains, organized the Levitical musicians from the families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun for service in the house of the Lord. These 288 skilled individuals were appointed to prophesy and praise God with various musical instruments. They were subsequently divided by lot into twenty-four courses, each comprising twelve members.

Medium Summary

King David, in conjunction with the military captains, established a structured service for the Levitical musicians, drawing from the descendants of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun. Their role was to prophesy, give thanks, and praise the LORD using harps, psalteries, and cymbals within the house of God. Heman, specifically identified as the king's seer, had a large family, all of whom were involved in this musical ministry. The total number of these trained musicians, including their brethren, amounted to two hundred eighty-eight. To ensure an orderly rotation of service, these musicians were then organized into twenty-four distinct courses. Each course, led by a designated individual, consisted of twelve members, and their assignments were determined impartially by casting lots.

Long Summary

King David, alongside the principal commanders of the host, meticulously organized the service of the Levitical musicians, specifically drawing from the families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun. These individuals were designated to prophesy and offer praise to the LORD using a variety of instruments, including harps, psalteries, and cymbals, for the sacred service within the house of God. The chapter details the specific sons of Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman who were appointed to this ministry, emphasizing their role in prophesying according to the king's command. Jeduthun's sons were noted for their role in giving thanks and praising the LORD with the harp. Heman, described as the king's seer, was blessed with a large family, comprising fourteen sons and three daughters, all of whom were involved in this musical service. The collective body of these skilled musicians, including their brethren who were instructed in the songs of the LORD, totaled two hundred eighty-eight individuals. To ensure an equitable and systematic rotation of their duties, these musicians were then divided into twenty-four distinct courses. The method of division involved casting lots, ensuring impartiality for both the experienced teachers and the less experienced scholars. Each of these twenty-four courses was comprised of twelve members, including the designated leader, his sons, and his brethren. The chapter then proceeds to list each of the twenty-four courses, identifying the leader for each lot, from Joseph of Asaph's line receiving the first lot to Romamtiezer receiving the twenty-fourth. This detailed organization underscored the importance of music and prophetic praise in the worship life of Israel under King David's reign.

Core Concepts

  • Musical ProphecyThe practice of prophesying with musical instruments, such as harps, psalteries, and cymbals, by the Levites, indicating a spiritual dimension to their musical service.
  • Organization of ServiceKing David's systematic arrangement of the Levitical musicians into distinct groups and courses to ensure orderly and continuous worship in the house of the LORD.
  • Families of MusiciansThe prominent role of the families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, who were specifically chosen and set apart for the musical ministry.
  • Casting LotsThe method used to impartially assign the twenty-four courses of musicians, ensuring fairness in their rotational duties, regardless of status.
  • Twenty-Four CoursesThe division of the two hundred eighty-eight skilled musicians into twenty-four groups, each comprising twelve members, for regular service.
  • Heman the SeerHeman's unique designation as the 'king's seer in the words of God,' highlighting his prophetic and spiritual authority within the musical ministry.