Study Desk

For the service, David and the army commanders selected some of the descendants of Asaf, of Heman and of Y'dutun to prophesy with lyres, lutes and cymbals. The list of those doing this work, according to the type of work performed was:

Whether great or small, teacher or talmid, they cast lots for their term of duty.

The first lot for Asaf fell to Yosef, the second to G'dalyah; he, his brothers and his sons numbered twelve;

‘Ammi'el the sixth, Yissakhar the seventh, and Pe‘ultai the eighth; for God blessed him.

These were all from the sons of ‘Oved-Edom, they and their sons and brothers, men of ability and strength for service, sixty-two from ‘Oved-Edom.

Hosah, from the descendants of M'rari, had sons: Shimri the chief, for although he was not the firstborn, nevertheless his father made him the chief;

Great or small, they cast lots according to their clans for every gate.

The lot for the east gate fell to Shelemyahu. Then they cast lots for his son Z'kharyahu, a sensible adviser, and he was allotted the north gate.

For the east there were six L'vi'im, for the north four a day, for the south four a day, for the Storehouse two and two,

while for the courtyard to the west there were four at the highway and two at the courtyard itself.

Of the L'vi'im, Achiyah was responsible for the stores in the house of God and the stores of holy articles.

King David appointed 2,700 of his kinsmen, valiant men and clan leaders, as overseers over the Re'uveni, the Gadi and the half-tribe of the M'nashi for every matter pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king.

The people of Isra'el, registered according to their clan leaders, were drafted for army duty under captains of thousands and of hundreds, and officers serving the king, in divisions of 24,000 each, for month-long terms of duty covering all the months of the year.

Over the first division, for the first month, was Yashov‘am the son of Zavdi'el; there were 24,000 in his division.

Over the division for the second month was Dodai the Achochi; Miklot was the chief officer of his division; there were 24,000 in his division.

The third army commander, for the third month, was B'nayah the son of Y'hoyada the chief cohen; there were 24,000 in his division.

The fourth commander, for the fourth month, was ‘Asah'el the brother of Yo'av, with Z'vadyah his son after him; there were 24,000 in his division.

The fifth commander, for the fifth month, was Shamhut from Yizrach; there were 24,000 in his division.

The sixth commander, for the sixth month, was ‘Ira the son of ‘Ikesh from T'koa; there were 24,000 in his division.

The seventh commander, for the seventh month, was Heletz the P'loni, from the descendants of Efrayim; there were 24,000 in his division.