Number and Services of Musicians

1Moreover, David and the commanders of the army selected for the [temple] service some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, who were to [a]prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals. The list of the musicians who performed their service was as follows: 2Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah; the sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied [b]under the [c]direction of the king. 3Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the lyre in thanksgiving and praise to the LORD. 4Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. 5All these [men] were the sons of Heman the king’s seer to [d]exalt him in accordance with the words of God; for God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6All these were under the direction of their father to sing in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the order and direction of the king. 7So their number [who led the remainder of the 4,000], with their relatives who were trained in singing to the LORD, all who were skillful, was 288.

Divisions of Musicians

8The musicians cast lots for their duties, everyone alike, the small (younger) as well as the great (older), the teacher as well as the student.

9The first lot for Asaph fell to Joseph; the second to Gedaliah, to him, his relatives and his sons, twelve; 10the third to Zaccur, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 11the fourth to Izri, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 12the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 13the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 14the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 15the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 16the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 17the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 18the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 19the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 20the thirteenth to Shubael, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 21the fourteenth to Mattithiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 22the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 23the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 24the seventeenth of Joshbekashah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 25the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 26the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 27the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 28the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 29the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 30the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 31the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his sons and his relatives, twelve.

[a] 1 This was probably a form of praise and worship designed to declare God’s character and His truths with music and lyrics.
[b] 2 Control over prophecy is later affirmed by Paul (1 Cor 14:32); i.e. a prophet is not overcome by the Spirit to the point that he cannot control his actions. He can, for example, refrain from speaking, and in this case Asaph did not prophesy until ordered or given permission to do so by the king.
[c] 2 Lit hand.
[d] 5 Lit lift up the horn.