1Chronicles 25:1 ¶ 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:
1Chronicles 25:2 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.
1Chronicles 25:3 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.
1Chronicles 25:4 Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth:
1Chronicles 25:5 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.
The focus in this chapter turns to the musicians. It’s interesting to note that the military leaders assisted David in this process. The sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun were chosen to sing and play with harps, lyres and cymbals (strings and percussion).
Guzik provided this insight: “Their service was connected with the dynamic of prophecy in the sense that it was inspired by God. Their ministry in music was not merely the product of good musicianship; it was a gift of the Holy Spirit being exercised through them.”
The sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah and Asarelah. They are identified principally as singers. A quick search shows that Asaph is credited with composing 12 of the psalms (50 & 73-83).
The sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Hashabiah and Mattithiah. They were assigned to play harps and sing praises to the LORD. Jeduthan is noted as the chief musician directing psalms 39, 62 and 77.
The sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir and Mahazioth. They were assigned to play the horns. It is noted that Heman was one of the king’s personal seers and was blessed with 14 sons and 3 daughters. Heman is credited with the composition of psalm 88.
1Chronicles 25:6 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.
1Chronicles 25:7 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.
1Chronicles 25:8 ¶ And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.
“cunning” (v7) = skilled
A total of 288 men were chosen to serve in the music ministry. The musicians were also divided by lot into 24 courses to serve alongside the corresponding courses of priests and Levites.
Gill makes this observation on verse 8: “…no regard was had to the age of a person, his being the firstborn or a younger brother, or to his office and station, whether as a teacher or a learner in the science of singing; he was made the head of a course, as the lot came up; and it may easily be observed, by comparing the lots in the following verses with the sons of the chief singers, according to the order of them in 1 Chronicles 25:2 that the younger are often preferred in the courses by lot to the elder, of which even the first lot is an instance.”
Wiersbe: “God is not disorganized. When we plan worship carefully and prayerfully, amazing moments of spontaneous worship develop. But a lack of planning or organization tends to result in confusion rather than creativity.”
Courson: “There were two purposes for music in the temple. One was to give God’s Word to men. The other was to direct praise to God. Those purposes have not changed. The highest calling of a musician is still to meet those two requirements.”
The rest of the chapter identifies the leaders of each group of 12 men.
1Chronicles 25:9 Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and sons were twelve:
1Chronicles 25:10 The third to Zaccur, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
1Chronicles 25:11 The fourth to Izri, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
1Chronicles 25:12 The fifth to Nethaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
1Chronicles 25:13 The sixth to Bukkiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
1Chronicles 25:14 The seventh to Jesharelah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
1Chronicles 25:15 The eighth to Jeshaiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
1Chronicles 25:16 The ninth to Mattaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
1Chronicles 25:17 The tenth to Shimei, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
1Chronicles 25:18 The eleventh to Azareel, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
1Chronicles 25:19 The twelfth to Hashabiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
1Chronicles 25:20 The thirteenth to Shubael, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
1Chronicles 25:21 The fourteenth to Mattithiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
1Chronicles 25:22 The fifteenth to Jeremoth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
1Chronicles 25:23 The sixteenth to Hananiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
1Chronicles 25:24 The seventeenth to Joshbekashah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
1Chronicles 25:25 The eighteenth to Hanani, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
1Chronicles 25:26 The nineteenth to Mallothi, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
1Chronicles 25:27 The twentieth to Eliathah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
1Chronicles 25:28 The one and twentieth to Hothir, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
1Chronicles 25:29 The two and twentieth to Giddalti, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
1Chronicles 25:30 The three and twentieth to Mahazioth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
1Chronicles 25:31 The four and twentieth to Romamtiezer, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve.
1Chronicles 26:1 ¶ Concerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
1Chronicles 26:2 And the sons of Meshelemiah were, Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
1Chronicles 26:3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh.
1Chronicles 26:4 Moreover the sons of Obededom were, Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth,
1Chronicles 26:5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth: for God blessed him.
1Chronicles 26:6 Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father: for they were mighty men of valour.
1Chronicles 26:7 The sons of Shemaiah; Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were strong men, Elihu, and Semachiah.
1Chronicles 26:8 All these of the sons of Obededom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men for strength for the service, were threescore and two of Obededom.
1Chronicles 26:9 And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, strong men, eighteen.
1Chronicles 26:10 Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons; Simri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief;)
1Chronicles 26:11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.
1Chronicles 26:12 Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another, to minister in the house of the LORD.
As noted in previous chapters, the porters were the gatekeepers charged with supervising access to the temple and ensuring that no unclean or unscrupulous person was allowed to enter. They were also divided into 24 groups to serve with the corresponding groups of priests, Levites and musicians.
Good application to the church from Courson: “If you’re a porter in prayer—keeping out the enemy as well as opening the doors of blessing—heaven will reward you.”
Guzik: “Some would make a distinction between the spiritual work of the temple and the practical work of the temple and regard the spiritual work as more important. The Chronicler is careful to remind us that the work of these gatekeepers, whose service was more practical in nature, was esteemed by God as just as valuable.”
1Chronicles 26:13 And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.
1Chronicles 26:14 And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.
1Chronicles 26:15 To Obededom southward; and to his sons the house of Asuppim.
1Chronicles 26:16 To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward.
1Chronicles 26:17 Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two.
1Chronicles 26:18 At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.
1Chronicles 26:19 These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari.
Lots were cast to determine the gate assignments. Again it is pointed out that these assignments were made without prejudice to influence, wealth or seniority.
East – Shelemiah, assisted by six Levites
North – Zechariah, son of Shelemiah, assisted by four Levites
South – Obededom, assisted by four Levites
West – Shuppim and Hosah (2 entrances), assisted by four Levites at the gate from the causeway and two at the gate leading west
1Chronicles 26:20 ¶ And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.
1Chronicles 26:21 As concerning the sons of Laadan; the sons of the Gershonite Laadan, chief fathers, even of Laadan the Gershonite, were Jehieli.
1Chronicles 26:22 The sons of Jehieli; Zetham, and Joel his brother, which were over the treasures of the house of the LORD.
1Chronicles 26:23 Of the Amramites, and the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites:
1Chronicles 26:24 And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler of the treasures.
1Chronicles 26:25 And his brethren by Eliezer; Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son.
1Chronicles 26:26 Which Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated.
1Chronicles 26:27 Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the LORD.
1Chronicles 26:28 And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated; and whosoever had dedicated any thing, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren.
This section is a record of those in charge of the temple treasury and all the valuable things specifically dedicated for temple use, e.g., the spoils of war. The treasury included the spoils of war that had been dedicated by the prophet Samuel, King Saul, Abner (Saul’s military commander) and Joab (David’s military commander).
1Chronicles 26:29 ¶ Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.
1Chronicles 26:30 And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand and seven hundred, were officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward in all the business of the LORD, and in the service of the king.
1Chronicles 26:31 Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even among the Hebronites, according to the generations of his fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valour at Jazer of Gilead.
1Chronicles 26:32 And his brethren, men of valour, were two thousand and seven hundred chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king.
This section details those appointed to serve as officers and judges for the judicial system in Israel. JFB notes that there were three different groups: “…there were six thousand of them (1 Chronicles 23:4), who probably acted like their brethren on the principle of rotation, and these were divided into three classes — one (1 Chronicles 26:29) for the outward business over Israel; one (1 Chronicles 26:30), consisting of seventeen hundred, for the west of Jordan ‘in all business of the Lord, and in the service of the king’; and the third (1 Chronicles 26:31, 32), consisting of twenty-seven hundred, ‘rulers for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king.’”
It is important to note that these men were responsible for matters requiring judgment both spiritual and mundane.
Verse 31 makes the point that these things were taking place in the 40th or last year of David’s reign.