UNROLL
Evening before the ark's plain tent on the ridge of the City of David: a small row of Levite singers in undyed linen, with a lyre, an upright harp and bronze cymbals, sing before the low stone wall of the court under a deepening blue sky with the first stars.

The Book of

1 Chronicles 25

Two hundred eighty-eight trained singers, young and old, set apart to give thanks to the LORD, and a lot to fix each one’s turn.

31 verses≈ 4 min4 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

Tap any post to go deeper

In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–9GenealogiesAll Israel, from Adam
  2. 10Saul fallsThe kingdom turned to David
  3. 11–12David kingAll Israel gathers
  4. 13–16The arkBrought home with songs
  5. 17The covenantA house forever
  6. 18–20David's warsThe LORD gave victory
  7. 21The siteOrnan's threshing floor
  8. 22–27Preparing the templePriests, Levites and singersChapter 25
  9. 28–29David's farewellBe strong, and do the work

Twenty-Four Divisions of Musicians

Dawn in the small court of the ark's tent: Asaph and a dozen Levite singers in undyed linen play lyres, upright harps and cymbals, one with eyes closed and head lifted, while old King David and two army commanders stand to one side listening.

Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list of the men who performed this service:

0:13

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Family line

Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman

    • Zaccur
    • Joseph
    • Nethaniah
    • Asarelah

    Prophesied under the king

    From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. These sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king.

    • Gedaliah
    • Zeri
    • Jeshaiah
    • Shimei
    • Hashabiah
    • Mattithiah

    Prophesied with the harp

    From the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah—six in all—under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the harp, giving thanks and praise to the LORD.

    • Bukkiah
    • Mattaniah
    • Uzziel
    • Shebuel
    • Jerimoth
    • Hananiah
    • Hanani
    • Eliathah
    • Giddalti
    • Romamti-ezer
    • Joshbekashah
    • Mallothi
    • Hothir
    • Mahazioth

    Fourteen sons

    From the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

All these sons of Heman the king’s seer were given him through the promises of God to exalt him, for God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.

They cast lots for their duties, young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil.

Reflect

Teacher and pupil

The lots fell on the teacher and the pupil alike: “young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil.” The oldest singer and the youngest had the same standing in the order of praise. Who taught you to worship God? Who could you teach? Write down one name for each, and what you might do this week about the second.

Musicians’ lots

Lots 1 to 12 · twelve in each

  1. Asaph · Jeduthun

    1 Joseph · 2 Gedaliah

    The first lot, which was for Asaph, fell to Joseph, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

    the second to Gedaliah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

  2. Asaph

    3 Zaccur

    the third to Zaccur, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

  3. Jeduthun

    4 Izri

    the fourth to Izri, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

  4. Asaph

    5 Nethaniah

    the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

  5. Heman

    6 Bukkiah

    the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

  6. Asaph

    7 Jesarelah

    the seventh to Jesarelah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

  7. Jeduthun

    8 Jeshaiah

    the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

  8. Heman

    9 Mattaniah

    the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

  9. Jeduthun

    10 Shimei

    the tenth to Shimei, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

  10. Heman

    11 Azarel

    the eleventh to Azarel, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

  11. Jeduthun

    12 Hashabiah

    the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

Night before the ark's tent: twelve Levite singers in undyed linen, young and gray, stand in two rows of six in the lamplit court with lyres, harps and cymbals, singing under the stars.

Musicians’ lots

Lots 13 to 24 · twelve in each

  1. Heman

    13 Shubael

    the thirteenth to Shubael, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

  2. Jeduthun

    14 Mattithiah

    the fourteenth to Mattithiah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

  3. Heman, to the end

    15 Jeremoth

    the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

  4. 16 Hananiah

    the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

  5. 17 Joshbekashah

    the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

  6. 18 Hanani

    the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

  7. 19 Mallothi

    the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

  8. 20 Eliathah

    the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

  9. 21 Hothir

    the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

  10. 22 Giddalti

    the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

  11. 23 Mahazioth

    the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

  12. 24 Romamti-ezer

    and the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all.

Question

Quick question

Twenty-four lots were cast, and each lot was “his sons, and his brothers—12 in all.”

Twenty-four lots, twelve singers in each. How many trained singers were there?

You’ve experienced

1 Chronicles 25

0 of 29 chapters read

A verse to carry with you

They cast lots for their duties, young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil.

1 Chronicles 25:8

or swipe left