I Chronicles 25, Levite Musicians

David has set up the schedules for priestly cohorts in the temple worship. Now he organizes the Levite musicians into cohorts. 

1 Chronicles 25: 1-5, Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun

David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals. Here is the list of the men who performed this service:

   From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were under the supervision of Asaph, who prophesied under the king's supervision.

   As for Jeduthun, from his sons: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah and Mattithiah, six in all, under the supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied, using the harp in thanking and praising the LORD.

   As for Heman, from his sons: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael and Jerimoth; Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-Ezer; Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir and Mahazioth. All these were sons of Heman the king's seer. They were given him through the promises of God to exalt him. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 

 

Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun are all names that appear in the Psalms. These assignments continue earlier appointments of 1 Chronicles 16: 4-7, 37-42. David's reign, and that of Solomon that follows, will emphasize praise and worship in music and song. 

Payne (p. 425) says that Heman's last nine sons, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer; Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir and Mahazioth form a prayer. The Hebrew represented by the names is, in order of birth:

Be gracious YHWH

be gracious to me!

My God, You

I've praised

and exalted for helping.

Though sitting forlorn

I've proclaimed

highest 

visions.

Heman also had three daughters. Having even sons and three daughters is interpreted as a heavenly blessing (eg. Job 1: 2) and doubling the number of sons to fourteen is an exceptional heavenly blessing (eg. Job 42: 12-15.)

1 Chronicles 25: 6-8, Cymbals, lyres and harps

All these men were under the supervision of their fathers for the music of the temple of the LORD, with cymbals, lyres and harps, for the ministry at the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman were under the supervision of the king. Along with their relatives--all of them trained and skilled in music for the LORD--they numbered 288. Young and old alike, teacher as well as student, cast lots for their duties.

The singing is accompanied by the musical instruments of the day.

1 Chronicles 25: 9-31, Results of lot casting

 The first lot, which was for Asaph, fell to Joseph, his sons and relatives, 12

   the second to Gedaliah, he and his relatives and sons, 12
   the third to Zaccur, his sons and relatives, 12
   the fourth to Izri, his sons and relatives, 12
   the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and relatives, 12
   the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and relatives, 12
   the seventh to Jesarelah, his sons and relatives, 12
   the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and relatives, 12
   the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and relatives, 12
   the tenth to Shimei, his sons and relatives, 12
   the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and relatives, 12
   the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and relatives, 12
   the thirteenth to Shubael, his sons and relatives, 12
   the fourteenth to Mattithiah, his sons and relatives, 12
   the fifteenth to Jerimoth, his sons and relatives, 12
   the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and relatives, 12
   the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and relatives, 12
   the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and relatives, 12
   the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and relatives, 12
   the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and relatives, 12
   the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons and relatives, 12
   the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons and relatives, 12
   the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons and relatives, 12
   the twenty-fourth to Romamti-Ezer, his sons and relatives, 12

The twenty four cohorts of Levitical musicians are chosen by lot. Courses one, three, five and seven go to sons of Asaph. (Jesarelah is the same as Asarelah, says an NIV footnote.)