The Singers. 1 Chronicles 25:1-31

1 The Singers 1 Chronicles 25:1-31

2 The Singers Text: 1 Chronicles 25:1-31, 1. David and the army officers selected some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy as they played stringed instruments and cymbals. The following men were assigned this responsibility: 2. From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were supervised by Asaph, who prophesied under the king s supervision. 3. From the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah six in all, under supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied as he played a harp, giving thanks and praise to the Lord. 4. From the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. 5. All these were the sons of Heman, the king s prophet. God had promised him these sons in order to make him prestigious. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6. All of these were under the supervision of their fathers; they were musicians in the Lord s temple, playing cymbals and stringed instruments as they served in God s temple. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the supervision of the king. 7. They and their relatives, all of them skilled and trained to make music to the Lord, numbered two hundred eighty-eight. 8. They cast lots to determine their responsibilities oldest as well as youngest, teacher as well as student. 9. The first lot went to Asaph s son Joseph and his relatives and sons twelve in all, the second to Gedaliah and his relatives and sons twelve in all, 10. the third to Zaccur and his sons and relatives twelve in all,

3 11. the fourth to Izri and his sons and relatives twelve in all, 12. the fifth to Nethaniah and his sons and relatives twelve in all, 13. the sixth to Bukkiah and his sons and relatives twelve in all, 14. the seventh to Jesharelah and his sons and relatives twelve in all, 15. the eighth to Jeshaiah and his sons and relatives twelve in all, 16. the ninth to Mattaniah and his sons and relatives twelve in all, 17. the tenth to Shimei and his sons and relatives twelve in all, 18. the eleventh to Azarel and his sons and relatives twelve in all, 19. the twelfth to Hashabiah and his sons and relatives twelve in all, 20. the thirteenth to Shubael and his sons and relatives twelve in all, 21. the fourteenth to Mattithiah and his sons and relatives twelve in all, 22. the fifteenth to Jerimoth and his sons and relatives twelve in all, 23. the sixteenth to Hananiah and his sons and relatives twelve in all, 24. the seventeenth to Joshbekashah and his sons and relatives twelve in all, 25. the eighteenth to Hanani and his sons and relatives twelve in all, 26. the nineteenth to Mallothi and his sons and relatives twelve in all, 27. the twentieth to Eliathah and his sons and relatives twelve in all, 28. the twenty-first to Hothir and his sons and relatives twelve in all, 29. the twenty-second to Giddalti and his sons and relatives twelve in all, 30. the twenty-third to Mahazioth and his sons and relatives twelve in all, 31. the twenty-fourth to Romamti-Ezer and his sons and relatives twelve in all. (NET)

4 Introduction: I. Musicians were important to temple worship. Music was integral to ritual sacrifices in the temple, Hicks wrote. A. Further, Kleinig via Hicks wrote, It (the music ministry) had no independent ritual function but was part and parcel of the sacrificial ritual. II. This chapter addresses the twenty-four courses of singers and musicians engaged in Temple service. (Pulpit Commentary) Commentary: 1 Chronicles 25:1, David and the army officers selected some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy as they played stringed instruments and cymbals. The following men were assigned this responsibility: (NET) I. David, together with the commanders of the army,... A. The phrase, commanders of the army, does not refer to military personnel, but to the Levitical host or Levitical officials, Hicks stated. Clarke concurred. 1. Numbers 4:3, 23, 30, 35, from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, all who enter the company to do the work in the tent of meeting. You must number them from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, all who enter the company to do the work of the tent of meeting. You must number them from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, all who enter the company to do the work of the tent of meeting. from thirty years

5 old and upward to fifty years old, everyone who entered the company for the work in the tent of meeting; (NET) 2. Numbers 8:23-25, Then the Lord spoke to Moses: This is what pertains to the Levites: At the age of twenty-five years and upward one may begin to join the company in the work of the tent of meeting, and at the age of fifty years they must retire from performing the work and may no longer work. (NET) 3. 1 Chronicles 15:16, David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint some of their relatives as musicians; they were to play various instruments, including stringed instruments and cymbals, and to sing loudly and joyfully. (NET) 4. 1 Chronicles 25:6, All of these were under the supervision of their fathers; they were musicians in the Lord s temple, playing cymbals and stringed instruments as they served in God s temple. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the supervision of the king. (NET) B. The Pulpit Commentary states that the captains of the host designates those who superintended the order of temple worship. 1. 1 Chronicles 22:17, David ordered all the officials of Israel to support his son Solomon. (NET) 2. 1 Chronicles 23:2, David assembled all the leaders of Israel, along with the priests and the Levites. (NET) 3. 1 Chronicles 24:6, The scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, wrote down their names before the king, the officials, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the leaders of the priestly and Levite

6 families. One family was drawn by lot from Eleazar, and then the next from Ithamar. (NET) II. set apart some of the sons of... A. Asaph,... 1. Asaph was of the Levitical family of Gershon. B. Heman and... 1. Heman was of the Levitical family of Kohath. C. Jeduthun... 1. Jeduthun was of the Levitical family of Merari. Note: This section begins and ends by enumerating the three major families: Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun, Hicks observed. From these three great families the singers and musicians were selected. (Pulpit Commentary) III. for the ministry of prophesying,... A. Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun were prophets or seers, Hicks noted. 1. 1 Chronicles 25:2, 3, 5, From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were supervised by Asaph, who prophesied under the king s supervision. From the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah six in all, under supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied as he played a harp, giving thanks and praise to the Lord. All these were the sons of Heman, the king s

7 prophet. God had promised him these sons in order to make him prestigious. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. (NET) 2. The Levitical singers performed a prophetic function, Hicks wrote. a. Exodus 15: 20, 21, Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a hand-drum in her hand, and all the women went out after her with hand-drums and with dances. Miriam sang in response to them, Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and its rider he has thrown into the sea. (NET) 3. These singers uttered the divine mind in song as they were led to do by divine impulse. (The Pulpit Commentary) 4. The musicians proclaimed the deeds of God to the people through song, Hicks noted. a. Clarke wrote that music was accompanied by prayer and singing. b. 2 Kings 23:2, The king went up to the Lord s temple, accompanied by all the people of Judah, all the residents of Jerusalem, the priests, and the prophets. All the people were there, from the youngest to the oldest. He read aloud all the words of the scroll of the covenant that had been discovered in the Lord s temple. (NET) c. 2 Chronicles 34:30, The king went up to the Lord s temple, accompanied by all the people of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, the priests, and

8 the Levites. All the people were there, from the oldest to the youngest. He read aloud all the words of the scroll of the covenant that had been discovered in the Lord s temple. (NET) IV. accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals. A. They were to proclaim God s messages accompanied by the music of harps and cymbals. (The Good News Bible via Coffman) V. Here is the list (number) of the men who performed this service:... 1 Chronicles 25:2, From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were supervised by Asaph, who prophesied under the king s supervision. (NET) I. From the sons of Asaph: A. Zaccur,... B. Joseph,... C. Nethaniah and... D. Asarelah (Jesharelah). 1. 1 Chronicles 25:14, the seventh to Jesharelah and his sons and relatives twelve in all, (NET) II. The sons of Asaph were under supervision (direction) of Asaph, who prophesied under the king s supervision. A. The Targum, et. al. understand this prophesying was performed by the Holy Spirit. (Clarke)

9 B. Psalms 1 and 73-83 are attributed in one way or another to Asaph. 1 Chronicles 25:3, From the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah six in all, under supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied as he played a harp, giving thanks and praise to the Lord. (NET) I. As for Jeduthun, from his sons: A. Gedaliah,... B. Zeri (Izri),... C. Jeshaiah,... D. Shimei,... E. Hashabiah and... F. Mattithiah,... G. six in all,... II. under the supervision of their father Jeduthun,... A. who prophesied using the harp in thanking and praising the Lord. 1 Chronicles 25:4, From the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. (NET)

10 I. As for Heman, from his sons: A. Bukkiah,... B. Mettaniah,... C. Uzziel (Azareel),... D. Shubael (Shebuel) and... E. Jerimoth,... F. Hananiah,... G. Hanani,... H. Eliathah,... I. Giddalti and... J. Romamti-Ezer,... K. Joshbekashah,... L. Mallothi,... M. Hothir and... N. Mahazioth. 1 Chronicles 25:5, All these were the sons of Heman, the king s prophet. God had promised him these sons in order to make him prestigious. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. (NET)

11 I. All these were the sons of Heman the King s seer. A. 1 Chronicles 21:9, The Lord told Gad, David s prophet, (NET) B. 2 Chronicles 35:15, The musicians, the descendants of Asaph, manned their posts, as prescribed by David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king s prophet. The guards at the various gates did not need to leave their posts, for their fellow Levites made preparations for them. (NET) C. 1 Chronicles 21:9, 19, The Lord told Gad, David s prophet, So David went up as Gad instructed him to do in the name of the Lord. (NET) D. Seers were authorized mediums of verbal communication between God and the king. (The Pulpit Commentary) E. The authorized King James Version adds the expression to lift up the horn which has no reference to the musical instrument but, according to The Pulpit Commentary, has the same meaning as indicated in the following Scriptures: 1. Psalm 75:5, 6, Do not be so certain you have won! Do not speak with your head held so high! 6 For victory does not come from the east or west, or from the wilderness. (NET) 2. Psalm 89:18, 25, For our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel. will place his hand over the sea, his right hand over the rivers. (NET) 3. Psalm 92:12, The godly grow like a palm tree; they grow high like a cedar in Lebanon. (NET)

12 4. Psalm 112:9, He generously gives to the needy; his integrity endures. He will be vindicated and honored. (NET) 5. 1 Samuel 2:1, 10, Hannah prayed, My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is exalted high because of the Lord. I loudly denounce my enemies, for I am happy that you delivered me. The Lord shatters his adversaries; he thunders against them from the heavens. The Lord executes judgment to the ends of the earth. He will strengthen his king and exalt the power of his anointed one. (NET) 6. To lift up the horn means to add to the strength or honour of another person. II. They were given him through the promises of God to exalt him. III. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. A. These daughters, Clarke wrote, were employed among the singers. 1 Chronicles 25:6, All of these were under the supervision of their fathers; they were musicians in the Lord s temple, playing cymbals and stringed instruments as they served in God s temple. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the supervision of the king. (NET) I. All these men were under the supervision of their fathers for the music of the temple of the Lord,... A. All these are the people named in verses 2-4. II. with cymbals, lyres and harps,...

13 III. for the ministry at the house of God. IV. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman were under the supervision of the king. 1 Chronicles 25:7, They and their relatives, all of them skilled and trained to make music to the Lord, numbered two hundred eightyeight. (NET) I. Along with their relatives all of them trained and skilled in music for the Lord they numbered 288. A. Clarke wrote, That is, twelve classes of twenty-four Levites each; for two-hundred and eighty-eight divided by twelve equals twenty-four. B. The total number of trained singers was two-hundred, eightyeight. (The Pulpit Commentary) 1 Chronicles 25:8, They cast lots to determine their responsibilities oldest as well as youngest, teacher as well as student. (NET) I. Young and old alike, teacher as well as student, cast lots for their duties. 1 Chronicles 25:9-31, The first lot went to Asaph s son Joseph and his relatives and sons twelve in all, the second to Gedaliah and his relatives and sons twelve in all, the third to Zaccur and his sons and relatives twelve in all, the fourth to Izri and his sons and relatives twelve in all, the fifth to Nethaniah and his sons and relatives twelve in all, the sixth to Bukkiah and his sons and relatives twelve in all, the seventh to Jesharelah and his sons and relatives twelve in all, the eighth to Jeshaiah and his sons and relatives twelve in all, the ninth to Mattaniah and his sons and

14 relatives twelve in all, the tenth to Shimei and his sons and relatives twelve in all, the eleventh to Azarel and his sons and relatives twelve in all, the twelfth to Hashabiah and his sons and relatives twelve in all, the thirteenth to Shubael and his sons and relatives twelve in all, the fourteenth to Mattithiah and his sons and relatives twelve in all, the fifteenth to Jerimoth and his sons and relatives twelve in all, the sixteenth to Hananiah and his sons and relatives twelve in all, the seventeenth to Joshbekashah and his sons and relatives twelve in all, the eighteenth to Hanani and his sons and relatives twelve in all, the nineteenth to Mallothi and his sons and relatives twelve in all, the twentieth to Eliathah and his sons and relatives twelve in all, the twenty-first to Hothir and his sons and relatives twelve in all, the twenty-second to Giddalti and his sons and relatives twelve in all, the twenty-third to Mahazioth and his sons and relatives twelve in all, the twentyfourth to Romamti-Ezer and his sons and relatives twelve in all. (NET) Note: Regarding lots see Proverbs 16:33, The dice are thrown into the lap, but their every decision is from the Lord. (NET) I. The first lot, which was for Asaph,... A. fell to Joseph, his sons and relatives,... 1. Joseph was Asaph s firstborn. (Clarke) B. the second to Gedaliah, he and his relatives and sons,... 1. Gedaliah was The first-born of Jeduthun. (Clarke) C. the third to Zaccur, his sons and relatives,... 1. Zaccur was Asaph s second son.

15 D. the fourth to Izri, his sons and relatives,... 1. Izri was the second son of Jeduthun. (Clarke) E. the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and relatives,... 1. Nethaniah was The third son of Asaph. (Clarke) F. the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and relatives,... G. the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and relatives,... H. the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and relatives,... I. the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and relatives,... J. the tenth to Shimei, his sons and relatives,... K. the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and realtives,... L. the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and relatives,... M. the thirteenth to Shubael, his sons and relatives,... N. the fourteenth to Mattithiah, his sons and relatives,... O. the fifteenth to Jerimoth, his sons and relatives,... P. the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and relatives,... Q. the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his son and relatives,... R. the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and relatives,... S. the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and relatives

16 T. the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and relatives,... U. the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons and relatives,... V. the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons and relatives,... W. the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons and relatives,... X. the twenty-fourth to Romamti-Ezer, his sons and relatives. Note: As there were twenty-four courses, divisions of priests, there are twenty-four groups of singers, musicians. Note: The authorized King James Version includes the phrase were twelve following each entry in verses 9-31. Conclusion: I. Music served a vitally important function in Temple worship. A. Singers were well trained and their services were rendered in an orderly and well accomplished manner. B. Temple music taught, revealed in song the will of god. II. David and the religious leaders of Israel appointed families and individuals to be responsible for the Temple music ministry all of whom were of the tribe of Levi. A. Asaph of the family of Gershon, Heman of the family of Kohath and Jeduthun of the family of Merari were identified as those who, along with their descendants, would provide the Temple music through the years.

17 B. David gave careful attention to all aspects of temple preparation and temple worship. C. There were twenty-four (24) groups of singers to coincide with the twenty-four (24) priestly groups of singers each consisting of twelve (12) individuals for a total of two-hundred eighty-eight (288). II. Great care was given to the temple music ministry and great care must be given to church music ministries as well.

18 Questions 1 Chronicles 25:1-31 (Questions based on NIV text.) 1. What purposes were served by temple musicians? 2. Temple musicians were selected from what three Levitical families and from what three individual s families? (see verse 1.) 3. How were the temple musicians selected? By whom were they selected? How much of the selection was by chance and how much by divine guidance? (See Proverbs 16:33.) 4. Who supervised the singers? Who supervised Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun?

19 5. Was the use of harps, lyres and cymbals in temple worship divinely prescribed or humanly devised by David? (See Amos 6:5) 6. What were the functions of seers? 7. Exactly who were Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun? 8. What is meant by the phrase to life up the horn in verse 5 as found in the Authorized King James Version?

20 9. Exactly what was the ministry of prophesy? 10. On whom did each lot fall? (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16), (17), (18), (19), (20), (21), (22), (23), (24),