Bible Commentaries
1 Chronicles 25

Introduction

Overview

1 Chronicles 25:1, The number and offices of the singers; 1 Chronicles 25:8, Their division by lot into four and twenty orders.

Verse 1

the captains: That is, the chief of the several orders; not military captains. 1 Chronicles 12:28, 1 Chronicles 23:2, 1 Chronicles 24:5, 1 Chronicles 24:6, 2 Chronicles 23:1, 2 Chronicles 23:9

Asaph: 1 Chronicles 6:33, 1 Chronicles 6:39, 1 Chronicles 6:44, 1 Chronicles 15:16-19

prophesy: The word prophesy, here, seems to mean no more than praising God by singing inspired prophetical hymns. 1 Chronicles 25:3, 1 Samuel 10:5, 2 Kings 3:15, 1 Corinthians 14:24-26

harps: 1 Chronicles 15:16-21, 1 Chronicles 16:4, 1 Chronicles 16:5, 1 Chronicles 16:42, 1 Chronicles 23:5-7, 2 Chronicles 23:13, 2 Chronicles 29:25, 2 Chronicles 29:26, 2 Chronicles 31:2, 2 Chronicles 34:12, Ezra 3:10, Ezra 3:11, Nehemiah 12:24, Nehemiah 12:27, Nehemiah 12:43-46, Psalms 81:2, Psalms 92:1-3, Psalms 150:3-5, Revelation 15:2-4

Reciprocal: Numbers 1:50 - thou shalt Numbers 8:15 - go in 1 Kings 10:12 - harps 1 Chronicles 2:6 - Heman 1 Chronicles 6:31 - whom David 1 Chronicles 6:48 - brethren 1 Chronicles 9:16 - Obadiah 1 Chronicles 9:22 - David 1 Chronicles 9:33 - the singers 1 Chronicles 13:8 - with harps 1 Chronicles 15:17 - Heman 1 Chronicles 15:19 - General 1 Chronicles 16:37 - before the ark 1 Chronicles 16:41 - Heman 1 Chronicles 23:30 - stand 1 Chronicles 25:2 - Asaph 1 Chronicles 25:6 - for song 1 Chronicles 28:13 - the courses 2 Chronicles 5:12 - the Levites 2 Chronicles 7:6 - the Levites 2 Chronicles 8:14 - the Levites 2 Chronicles 9:11 - harps 2 Chronicles 20:19 - Levites 2 Chronicles 23:18 - by David 2 Chronicles 29:14 - Jeduthun 2 Chronicles 31:17 - by their courses 2 Chronicles 35:15 - according Ezra 2:41 - Asaph Ezra 7:7 - singers Nehemiah 7:1 - the porters Nehemiah 11:17 - to begin Nehemiah 11:22 - Of the sons Nehemiah 12:45 - the singers Nehemiah 12:46 - and Asaph Psalms 42:1 - the sons Psalms 65:1 - in Sion Psalms 87:7 - As well Psalms 98:5 - General Psalms 144:9 - upon Psalms 150:5 - the loud cymbals Ecclesiastes 2:8 - musical instruments Ezekiel 40:44 - chambers Daniel 3:10 - the cornet Revelation 14:2 - harpers

Verse 2

Asaph: 1 Chronicles 25:1, 1 Chronicles 6:39, 1 Chronicles 15:17, 1 Chronicles 16:5, Psalms 73:1, Psalms 74:1, Psalms 75:1, Psalms 76:1, Psalms 77:1, Psalms 78:1, *titles Psalms 79:1, Psalms 80:1, Psalms 81:1, Psalms 82:1, Psalms 83:1, *titles

Asarelah: "Otherwise called Jesharelah." 1 Chronicles 25:14.

under the hands: 1 Chronicles 25:3, 1 Chronicles 25:6, Isaiah 3:6

according to the order of the king: Heb. by the hands of the king, 1 Chronicles 25:6, *marg.

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 3:15 - bring me 1 Chronicles 9:15 - Zichri 1 Chronicles 15:18 - the second 1 Chronicles 25:9 - Joseph 1 Chronicles 25:10 - Zaccur 1 Chronicles 25:12 - Nethaniah 2 Chronicles 29:13 - Asaph Ezra 2:41 - Asaph Nehemiah 7:44 - The singers Nehemiah 12:35 - Zechariah

Verse 3

Jeduthun: 1 Chronicles 9:16, 1 Chronicles 16:41, 1 Chronicles 16:42, 2 Chronicles 29:14

Gedaliah: 1 Chronicles 25:9

Zeri: 1 Chronicles 25:11, Izri

Jeshaiah: 1 Chronicles 25:15

Mattithiah: 1 Chronicles 25:21, 1 Chronicles 15:18, 1 Chronicles 15:21

six: "With Shimei, mentioned 1 Chronicles 25:17." Shimei is not only mentioned in the parallel passage, but is supplied here by the Arabic version.

to give thanks: Psalms 92:1, Jeremiah 33:11

Reciprocal: Numbers 3:20 - General 2 Kings 3:15 - bring me 1 Chronicles 6:44 - Ethan 1 Chronicles 16:38 - Jeduthun 1 Chronicles 25:6 - under the hands 1 Chronicles 25:19 - Hashabiah Psalms 33:2 - Praise Psalms 105:1 - Give

Verse 4

Heman: 1 Chronicles 6:33, 1 Chronicles 15:17, 1 Chronicles 15:19, 1 Chronicles 16:41, 1 Chronicles 16:42, Psalms 88:1, *title

Bukkiah: 1 Chronicles 25:13

Mattaniah: 1 Chronicles 25:16

Uzziel: 1 Chronicles 25:18, Azareel, 1 Chronicles 24:24

Shebuel: 1 Chronicles 25:20, 1 Chronicles 24:20, Shubael

Jerimoth: 1 Chronicles 25:22, 1 Chronicles 24:30

Hananiah: 1 Chronicles 25:23

Hanani: 1 Chronicles 25:25

Eliathah: 1 Chronicles 25:27

Giddalti: 1 Chronicles 25:29

Romamtiezer: 1 Chronicles 25:31

Joshbekashah: 1 Chronicles 25:24

Mallothi: 1 Chronicles 25:26

Hothir: 1 Chronicles 25:28, 1 Chronicles 25:30

Reciprocal: Numbers 3:18 - General Numbers 3:19 - General 1 Chronicles 2:6 - Heman

Verse 5

the king's seer: 1 Chronicles 21:9, 1 Samuel 9:9

words: or, matters

to lift up: This may denote that he presided over those who used wind instruments.

God gave: 1 Chronicles 28:5, Genesis 33:5, Psalms 127:3, Isaiah 8:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 48:9 - my sons 2 Samuel 15:27 - a seer 1 Chronicles 2:6 - Heman

Verse 6

under the hands: 1 Chronicles 25:2, 1 Chronicles 25:3

for song: 1 Chronicles 25:1-3, 1 Chronicles 15:22, 1 Chronicles 23:5, Psalms 68:25, Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16

according to the king's order: Heb. by the hands of the king, 1 Chronicles 25:2, *marg.

Asaph: 1 Chronicles 25:1-4

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 2:6 - Heman 1 Chronicles 6:44 - Ethan 1 Chronicles 9:16 - Obadiah 1 Chronicles 15:19 - General 1 Chronicles 15:21 - harps 1 Chronicles 16:42 - musical instruments 2 Chronicles 5:12 - Asaph 2 Chronicles 20:28 - with psalteries 2 Chronicles 29:14 - Jeduthun Nehemiah 12:27 - out Psalms 33:2 - Praise Psalms 92:3 - instrument Psalms 149:3 - with the timbrel Psalms 150:5 - the loud cymbals Ecclesiastes 2:8 - musical instruments

Verse 7

two hundred: These two hundred and eighty-eight, being twenty-four courses of twelve each, were more skilful than the other Levites; and being placed under the twenty-four sons of the chief singers, they had the four thousand before mentioned divided among them, to officiate by courses, according to their instructions. 1 Chronicles 23:5.

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 6:32 - and then 1 Chronicles 15:21 - harps 1 Chronicles 15:22 - he instructed Psalms 33:3 - play Colossians 3:16 - and spiritual

Verse 8

cast lots: 1 Chronicles 24:5, Leviticus 16:8, 1 Samuel 14:41, 1 Samuel 14:42, Proverbs 16:33, Acts 1:26

ward against ward: 1 Chronicles 24:31, 1 Chronicles 26:13, 1 Chronicles 26:16, Nehemiah 12:24

the teacher: Even among the twenty-four leaders, some were more expert than others; some were teachers, and others were scholars; but every one was taken by the solemn casting of lots, without any regard to these distinctions. Thus all things were disposed for the preserving of order, and avoiding all disputes about precedence: there being no respect had, in this divine distribution, to birth, but the younger in course preceded the elder. 1 Chronicles 15:22, 2 Chronicles 23:13

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 26:12 - wards 2 Chronicles 31:15 - as well Nehemiah 10:34 - cast Malachi 2:12 - the master and the scholar

Verse 9

Joseph: 1 Chronicles 25:2

the second: Dr. Geddes, chiefly on the authority of the Arabic, adds, "who with his sons and brethren were twelve.

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 25:3 - Gedaliah Nehemiah 10:34 - cast

Verse 10

Zaccur: 1 Chronicles 25:2

Verse 11

Izri: יצרי [Strong's H3339], Izri, seems to be called צרי [Strong's H6874], Zeri, by the apheresis of י, yood. 1 Chronicles 25:3, Zeri

Verse 12

Nethaniah: 1 Chronicles 25:2

Verse 13

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 25:4 - Bukkiah

Verse 14

Jesharelah: This variation rises from the mutation of א, aleph, and י, yood; the word being written in the parallel passage אשראלה [Strong's H841], Asarelah, and here, ישראלה [Strong's H3480], Jesarelah. 1 Chronicles 25:2, Asarelah

Verse 15

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 25:3 - Jeshaiah

Verse 16

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 25:4 - Mattaniah

Verse 17

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 25:3 - six

Verse 18

Azareel: Probably this person was called by both names; or Uzziel may be a mistake for Azareel. In the Syriac and Arabic, the name is nearly the same in both places. 1 Chronicles 25:4, Uzziel

Verse 19

Hashabiah: 1 Chronicles 25:3

Verse 20

Shubael: 1 Chronicles 25:4, Shebuel

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 23:16 - Shebuel

Verse 21

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 25:3 - Mattithiah

Verse 22

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 25:4 - Jerimoth

Verse 23

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 25:4 - Hananiah

Verse 24

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 25:4 - Joshbekashah

Verse 25

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 25:4 - Hanani

Verse 26

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 25:4 - Mallothi

Verse 27

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 25:4 - Eliathah

Verse 28

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 25:4 - Hothir

Verse 29

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 25:4 - Giddalti

Verse 30

Mahazioth: i.e. vision of a sign, 1 Chronicles 25:4

Verse 31

Romamtiezer: i.e. I have exalted help, 1 Chronicles 25:4