UBF Daily Bread

DAVID APPOINTS MUSICIANS

Passage: 1_Chronicles 25:1~31

Key verse: 1a

The Musicians

25 David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph,^(A) Heman^(B) and Jeduthun^(C) for the ministry of prophesying,^(D) accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals.^(E) Here is the list of the men^(F) who performed this service:^(G)

²From the sons of Asaph:

Zakkur, Joseph, Nethaniah and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were under the supervision of Asaph, who prophesied under the king’s supervision.

³As for Jeduthun, from his sons:^(H)

Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei,^[a] Hashabiah and Mattithiah, six in all, under the supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied, using the harp^(I) in thanking and praising the Lord.

⁴As for Heman, from his sons:

Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael and Jerimoth; Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-Ezer; Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir and Mahazioth. ⁵(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.)

⁶All these men were under the supervision of their father^(J) 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^(K) were under the supervision of the king.^(L) ⁷Along with their relatives—all of them trained and skilled in music for the Lord—they numbered 288. ⁸Young and old alike, teacher as well as student, cast lots^(M) for their duties.

⁹The first lot, which was for Asaph,^(N) fell to Joseph,
his sons and relatives^[b]	12^[c]
the second to Gedaliah,
him and his relatives and sons	12
¹⁰the third to Zakkur,
his sons and relatives	12
¹¹the fourth to Izri,^[d]
his sons and relatives	12
¹²the fifth to Nethaniah,
his sons and relatives	12
¹³the sixth to Bukkiah,
his sons and relatives	12
¹⁴the seventh to Jesarelah,^[e]
his sons and relatives	12
¹⁵the eighth to Jeshaiah,
his sons and relatives	12
¹⁶the ninth to Mattaniah,
his sons and relatives	12
¹⁷the tenth to Shimei,
his sons and relatives	12
¹⁸the eleventh to Azarel,^[f]
his sons and relatives	12
¹⁹the twelfth to Hashabiah,
his sons and relatives	12
²⁰the thirteenth to Shubael,
his sons and relatives	12
²¹the fourteenth to Mattithiah,
his sons and relatives	12
²²the fifteenth to Jerimoth,
his sons and relatives	12
²³the sixteenth to Hananiah,
his sons and relatives	12
²⁴the seventeenth to Joshbekashah,
his sons and relatives	12
²⁵the eighteenth to Hanani,
his sons and relatives	12
²⁶the nineteenth to Mallothi,
his sons and relatives	12
²⁷the twentieth to Eliathah,
his sons and relatives	12
²⁸the twenty-first to Hothir,
his sons and relatives	12
²⁹the twenty-second to Giddalti,
his sons and relatives	12
³⁰the twenty-third to Mahazioth,
his sons and relatives	12
³¹the twenty-fourth to Romamti-Ezer,
his sons and relatives	12.^(O)

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Footnotes

1 Chronicles 25:3 One Hebrew manuscript and some Septuagint manuscripts (see also verse 17); most Hebrew manuscripts do not have Shimei.
1 Chronicles 25:9 See Septuagint; Hebrew does not have his sons and relatives.
1 Chronicles 25:9 See the total in verse 7; Hebrew does not have twelve.
1 Chronicles 25:11 A variant of Zeri
1 Chronicles 25:14 A variant of Asarelah
1 Chronicles 25:18 A variant of Uzziel

1. David sets apart Levite musicians (1-6a)

Music was a vital part of worship. David and the army commanders had some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, all Levites, set apart for the music ministry at the house of God. They were to prophesy while being accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals. These musicians were to thank and praise the LORD through music. God gave twenty-four sons combined to these three Levites gifted in music. David knew that music could help people to worship and open their hearts to God’s word. We, too, should sing to the LORD. (Ps 96:1)

2. The musicians assigned their duties (6b-32)

The selected musicians were all trained and skilled in music for the LORD. Regardless of age or experience, all could participate in music ministry. As with the other duties assigned to the Levites, lots were cast to determine which musicians would perform and when. God had prepared not only the temple building but all who would minister there.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the blessing of music that lifts up your name and helps us to worship.

One Word: Praise and thank God through music