BOOK 13 OF 66 · HISTORY · KING JAMES BIBLE

1 Chronicles 25

1 Chronicles book home•Chapter 25 of 29•31 verses

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REVIEWED OVERVIEW

1 Chronicles 25 Overview

David and the military leaders set apart descendants of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun for musical ministry. Their service is described as prophesying with harps, psalteries, and cymbals, and trained singers are arranged by lot into twenty-four courses. The chapter presents music as skilled, organized, accountable worship rather than spontaneous background activity.

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Before you read 1 Chronicles 25

Coming from

Chapter 24 organized priests into twenty-four service courses.

In this chapter

Temple musicians are now organized into corresponding divisions under recognized families and leaders.

Leads into

Chapter 26 arranges gatekeepers, treasurers, and other officers who handle security, resources, and external administration.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The word ‘prophesy’ here is connected with musical praise under Spirit-enabled Old Testament worship leadership; it should not automatically be equated with predicting future events. The chapter also stresses trained skill: singers are described as instructed and cunning in song.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

Music in Israel’s temple worship is treated as serious assigned ministry.

Truth 2

Spiritual service and cultivated skill are not opposites.

Truth 3

Musical leadership is organized under accountability and family divisions.

Truth 4

Lots distribute service across the twenty-four groups.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

First Chronicles 16 first assigns Asaph and other Levites to continuing musical praise before the ark.

Connection 2

Second Chronicles 5:12-14 later shows temple singers and musicians participating when God’s glory fills the house.

Connection 3

Psalms 50 and 73–83 carry the name of Asaph, connecting his family with Israel’s worship tradition.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

Do not assume ‘prophesying’ with instruments means every musical performance is predictive revelation.

Keep this clear 2

The temple musicians belong to Israel’s covenant worship structure and are not identical to a required New Testament church office.

Keep this clear 3

Skill in music should not be confused with greater spiritual worth.

Read 1 Chronicles 25 watching for…

The three principal musical families.

The connection between music and prophetic praise.

The emphasis on training and skill.

The use of lots.

The twenty-four divisions paralleling priestly organization.

Chapter outline2 sections

1-7Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun lead families appointed to prophesy with music 8-31The singers are divided by lot into twenty-four courses

Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service 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 the workmen according to their service was:

Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king.

Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD.

Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth:

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.

All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.

So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.

And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.

Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and sons were twelve:

The third to Zaccur, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The fourth to Izri, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The fifth to Nethaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The sixth to Bukkiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The seventh to Jesharelah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The eighth to Jeshaiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The ninth to Mattaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The tenth to Shimei, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The eleventh to Azareel, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The twelfth to Hashabiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The thirteenth to Shubael, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The fourteenth to Mattithiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The fifteenth to Jeremoth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The sixteenth to Hananiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The seventeenth to Joshbekashah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The eighteenth to Hanani, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The nineteenth to Mallothi, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The twentieth to Eliathah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The one and twentieth to Hothir, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The two and twentieth to Giddalti, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The three and twentieth to Mahazioth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The four and twentieth to Romamtiezer, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve.

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1 Chronicles 25:4

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