1 Chronicles 25:1-31

LESSON TWELVE 25-26

THE APPOINTMENT OF MUSICIANS DOORKEEPERS AND STEWARDS OF THE TEMPLE TREASURY
17. THE TEMPLE SINGERS (Chapter 25)

INTRODUCTION

David, the sweet psalmist of Israel, showed real interest in the musical program of the Temple. The instrumentalists and the singers were equipped and appointed. The physical matters such as guards and treasurers were also attended to by David.

TEXT

1 Chronicles 25:1. 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 ROrnanti-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 skillful, 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 son 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 ROrnanti-ezer, his sons and his brethren, twelve.

PARAPHRASE

1 Chronicles 25:1. David and the officials of the Tabernacle then appointed men to prophesy to the accompaniment of zithers, harps, and cymbals. These men were from the groups of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun. Here is a list of their names and their work: 2. Under the leadership of Asaph, the king's private prophet, were his sons Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah. 3. Under Jeduthun, who led in giving thanks and praising the Lord (while accompanied by the zither), were his six sons: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shime-i, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah. 4, 5. Under the direction of Heman, the king's private chaplain, were his sons: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Geddalti, ROrnanti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazi-oth, (For God had honored him with fourteen sons and three daughters.) 6, 7. Their music ministry included the playing of cymbals, harps, and zithers; all were under the direction of their father as they performed this ministry in the Tabernacle. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman reported directly to the king. They and their families were all trained in singing praises to the Lord; each one288 of them in allwas a master musician. 8. The singers were appointed to their particular term of service by coin-toss, without regard to age or reputation.

9-31. The first toss indicated Joseph of the Asaph clan; The second, Gedaliah, along with twelve of his sons and brothers; The third, Zaccur and twelve of his sons and brothers; The fourth, Izri and twelve of his sons and brothers; Fifth, Nethaniah and twelve of his sons and brothers; Sixth, Bukkiah and twelve of his sons and brothers; Seventh, Jesharelah and twelve of his sons and brothers; Eighth, Jeshaiah and twelve of his sons; Ninth, Mattaniah and twelve of his sons and brothers; Tenth, Shime-i and twelve of his sons and brothers; Eleventh, Azarel and twelve of his sons and brothers; Twelfth, Hashabiah and twelve of his sons and brothers; Thirteenth, Shuba-el and twelve of his sons and brothers; Fourteenth, Mattithiah and twelve of his sons and brothers; Fifteenth, Jeremoth and twelve of his sons and brothers; Sixteenth, Hananiah and twelve of his sons and brothers; Seventeenth, Joshbekasha and twelve of his sons and brothers; Eighteenth, Hanani and twelve of his sons and brothers; Nineteenth, Mallothi and twelve of his sons and brothers; Twentieth, Eliathah and twelve of his sons and brothers; Twenty-first, Hothir and twelve of his sons and brothers; Twenty-second, Giddalti and twelve of his sons and brothers; Twenty-third, Mahazi-oth and twelve of his sons and brothers; Twenty-fourth, Romamti-ezer and twelve of his sons and brothers.

COMMENTARY

As he had done on previous occasions, David gathered all of his counselors (captains of the host) to assist in the appointments of the musicians and singers.[42] This was not a military matter, but it did concern the princes, the heads of tribes and other principal leaders. Three important families among the Hebrews provided the personnel for the corps of musicians. Asaph was a Gershonite Levite. Heman belonged to the Kohathite family. Jeduthun was a Merarite. In these three men all of the tribe of Levi was represented. From these three branches of the tribe of Levi a choir numbering two hundred and eighty eight was selected and trained (1 Chronicles 25:7). The specific assignment for the musicians was that they should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals (1 Chronicles 25:1). Asaph's sons were Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah. Their ministry is described as prophesying, Like the seventy elders who assisted Moses by prophesying when Israel murmured against Jehovah (Numbers 11:16-30), so these men were to speak out for Jehovah, to declare His wonder through sacred music and song. In like manner, Jeduthun's six sons (1 Chronicles 25:3), who with their father were master harpists Prophesied in giving thanks and praising Jehovah. Heman's fourteen sons (1 Chronicles 25:4) were trained in the use of the horn (or trumpet). These sons were under their father's direction. Heman was also regarded as a seer. Samuel filled this office at the time when Saul sought his father's lost asses (1 Samuel 9:9). The seer was able by divine help to give direction to men. All of these men and their sons were trained in the words of God (1 Chronicles 25:5). Their music was useful only in connection with the word. Some of the psalms are attributed to Asaph (see Psalms 50, 73-83). Jeduthun's name appears in the titles of some Psalms (see Psalms 39, 62, 77). Several Psalms have the phrase for the chief musician in their titles without naming the chief musician. Perhaps certain songs were to be directed by particular leaders when singing and instrumental accompaniment were first introduced into the Temple liturgy. The sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun were under the direction of their fathers and all of the musicians were under orders from the king who in his own person was the sweet psalmist of Israel. Music was considered to be a very important part of worship and those who served in this manner were carefully trained (1 Chronicles 25:7). The twenty four named above were charged with the training and employment of eleven others in each instance, making a total of two hundred eighty eight musicians. To determine particular appointments, the casting of lots were used. Men with varying talents would serve in each of the twenty-four courses. 1 Chronicles 25:9-31 list the details of the courses of the Levitical singers as they were selected by casting the sacred lot. The first lot went to Joseph, Asaph's son. The twenty fourth lot went to Romamtiezer, son of Heman. The student is impressed with the careful attention given to these assignments. All of this was set up prior to David's death and before the construction of the Temple was begun.

[42] Oehler, Gustave F., Theology of the Old Testament, p. 375. Archer, Gleason L. Jr., A Surey of Old Testament Introduction, p. 395.