1 Chronicles 25:1-31

The Book of 1 Chronicles

God rules History

1 Chronicles

Ian Mackervoy

Chapter 25

The *temple musicians – 1 Chronicles 25:1-31

v1 David and the army officers appointed some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to lead *worship. They would *prophecy with *harps, *lyres, and *cymbals. These men performed this service:

v2 From the sons of Asaph, there were Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. Asaph was their leader. He *prophesied, as the king directed him.

v3 Jeduthun’s sons who served were Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah. There were 6 of them, and Jeduthun led them. He *prophesied and he used a *harp to give thanks and to praise the *LORD.

v4 Heman had 14 sons. They were: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. v5 All these were sons of Heman, the king’s *prophet. God promised to make Heman strong, so Heman had many sons. God gave him 14 sons and three daughters.

v6 Their father led all these men in the music for the *LORD’s *temple. They played with *cymbals, *lyres, and *harps. The king directed Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman. v7 These men and their relatives had trained in music. And they had the skill to make music for the *LORD. There were 288 of them. v8 So they all made their choice for their duties by means of *lots. Young and old men alike did this. Teachers and students alike did this.

v9 The first choice was for 12 men from the family of Joseph. (Joseph belonged to Asaph’s family).

The second choice was for 12 men from the family of Gedaliah, his brothers and sons.

v10 The third choice was for 12 men from the family of Zaccur, his sons and relatives.

v11 The 4th choice was for 12 men from the family of Izri, his sons and relatives.

v12 The 5th choice was for 12 men from the family of Nethaniah, his sons and relatives.

v13 The 6th choice was for 12 men from the family of Bukkiah, his sons and relatives.

v14 The 7th choice was for 12 men from the family of Jesarelah, his sons and relatives.

v15 The 8th choice was for 12 men from the family of Jeshaiah, his sons and relatives.

v16 The 9th choice was for 12 men from the family of Mattaniah, his sons and relatives.

v17 The 10th choice was for 12 men from the family of Shimei, his sons and relatives.

v18 The 11th choice was for 12 men from the family of Azarel, his sons and relatives.

v19 The 12th choice was for 12 men from the family of Hashabiah, his sons and relatives.

v20 The 13th choice was for 12 men from the family of Shubael, his sons and relatives.

v21 The 14th choice was for 12 men from the family of Mattithiah, his sons and relatives.

v22 The 15th choice was for 12 men from the family of Jerimoth, his sons and relatives.

v23 The 16th choice was for 12 men from the family of Hananiah, his sons and relatives.

v24 The 17th choice was for 12 men from the family of Joshbekashah, his sons and relatives.

v25 The 18th choice was for 12 men from the family of Hanani, his sons and relatives.

v26 The 19th choice was for 12 men from the family of Mallothi, his sons and relatives.

v27 The 20th choice was for 12 men from the family of Eliathah, his sons and relatives.

v28 The 21st choice was for 12 men from the family of Hothir, his sons and relatives.

v29 The 22nd choice was for 12 men from the family of Giddalti, his sons and relatives.

v30 The 23rd choice was for 12 men from the family of Mahazioth, his sons and relatives.

v31 The 24th choice was for 12 men from the family of Romamti-Ezer, his sons and relatives.

Verse 1 David organised the 288 musicians into 24 groups. These would work with the groups of priests and other *Levites. The leaders of these groups came from the families of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun. About 30 years before, David had appointed these three men to be leaders of the music. That was when they brought the *LORD’s *ark to Jerusalem (16:4-7; 16:37; 16:41-42).

These three men would *prophesy with *harps, *lyres, and *cymbals. There are two possible meanings of the word ‘*prophesy’ in this passage. They could have spoken words that God gave to them at that time. Or they could praise him with Psalms (songs of *worship) that they (or somebody else) had written.

Verses 2-5 The leaders of the groups were the sons of Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman. Asaph had 4 sons and Jeduthun had 6 sons. Heman had 14 sons. These sons made the 24 leaders for the groups.

Verses 6-8 The ‘father’ means Heman, who led his sons in music. But of course, Asaph and Jeduthun led their sons as well.

4000 *Levites praised the *LORD with instruments (23:5). It seems that these 288 skilled musicians led them. 12 skilled musicians were in each group and they led their sons and relatives.

The groups chose their order of duties. They used the same fair method that the priests and *Levites had used.

Verses 9-31 This is a list of the groups in the order of their duties.

temple ~ a special building for the worship of God. Or, a building for the worship of false gods. The Jews had a temple in Jerusalem for the worship of the real God.
worship ~ acts to show honour to God (or to a false god). When people praise and thank God.
Jews ~ another name for the Israelites.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
worship ~ acts to show honour to God (or to a false god). When people praise and thank God.
prophecy ~ a message from God; a gift of the Holy Spirit.
harp ~ a musical instrument that has many strings.
lyre ~ a kind of musical instrument with strings.
cymbals ~ a kind of musical instrument. A person hits two cymbals together to make a loud crash.
prophesy ~ to speak a prophecy.
prophecy ~ a message from God; a gift of the Holy Spirit.
lord ~ someone with authority such as the king.
Lord ~ a title for God, to show that he is over all people and things.
LORD ~ ‘LORD’ is the special name that God gave to himself. The name probably means: ‘He is always God.’ This name has a relationship with God’s special promises to his people.
prophet ~ a person who speaks for God. He can sometimes say what will happen in the future.
lots ~ a way to make a decision. People seemed to decide the matter by chance when they used this method. But they believed that, in fact, God guided them to make the right decision.
Levite ~ a person who belongs to the tribe of Levi.
tribe ~ The Israelites originally consisted of the 12 large families of the sons of Jacob. These families became the 12 tribes of Israel.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Israel ~ Israel is the special name that God gave to Jacob. His descendants were called Israel after him. So, Israel is the nation whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The country in which they live is called Israel.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
descendant ~ a future member of a family or nation.
ark ~ the ark of the LORD or the ark of God; the Bible also calls it ‘the ark of God’s special promise’. It was a wooden box with gold all over the outside and inside. It had two models of gold cherubim on the top (see Exodus 25:10-22). The Israelites kept the ark in the most holy place; first in the LORD’s tent and then in the temple.
lord ~ someone with authority such as the king.
Lord ~ a title for God, to show that he is over all people and things.
LORD ~ ‘LORD’ is the special name that God gave to himself. The name probably means: ‘He is always God.’ This name has a relationship with God’s special promises to his people.
cherubim ~ special angels who were in the most holy place of the temple.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
temple ~ a special building for the worship of God. Or, a building for the worship of false gods. The Jews had a temple in Jerusalem for the worship of the real God.
angel ~ one of God’s special servants from heaven. God made angels to serve him and to take his messages.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
worship ~ acts to show honour to God (or to a false god). When people praise and thank God.
Jews ~ another name for the Israelites.