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Atomic Bible
1 Chronicles

Chapter 25

Twenty-Four Divisions of Musicians

David sets apart the musical families of Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman for service in the house of the LORD, describing their prophetic music, their oversight, and their training. The chapter then orders that service by lot, naming twenty-four divisions of twelve so praise in the temple is both gifted and carefully arranged.

After the priests and gatekeepers are organized, this chapter gives the singers their place in the same ordered pattern. It shows that worship in David’s preparations is not ornamental but a named, disciplined part of the house of God.

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1 Chronicles 25

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vv. 1-31

Twenty-Four Divisions of Musicians

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A1dditionally, 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: 2From 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. 3From 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. 4From the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. 5All 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. 6All these were under the direction of their fathers for the music of the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres, for the service of the house of God. 7Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the direction of the king. Together with their relatives, who were all trained and skillful in the songs of the LORD, they numbered 288. 8They cast lots for their duties, young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil.

9The first lot, which was for Asaph, fell to Joseph, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all; 10the third to Zaccur, his sons, and his brothers— 12 in all; 11the fourth to Izri, his sons, and his brothers— 12 in all; 12the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons, and his brothers— 12 in all; 13the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons, and his brothers— 12 in all; 14the seventh to Jesarelah, his sons, and his brothers— 12 in all; 15the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons, and his brothers— 12 in all; 16the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons, and his brothers— 12 in all; 17the tenth to Shimei, his sons, and his brothers— 12 in all; 18the eleventh to Azarel, his sons, and his brothers— 12 in all; 19the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons, and his brothers— 12 in all; 20the thirteenth to Shubael, his sons, and his brothers— 12 in all; 21the fourteenth to Mattithiah, his sons, and his brothers— 12 in all; 22the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons, and his brothers— 12 in all; 23the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons, and his brothers— 12 in all; 24the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons, and his brothers— 12 in all; 25the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons, and his brothers— 12 in all; 26the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons, and his brothers— 12 in all; 27the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons, and his brothers— 12 in all; 28the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons, and his brothers— 12 in all; 29the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons, and his brothers— 12 in all; 30the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons, and his brothers— 12 in all; 31and the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his sons, and his brothers— 12 in all.