📖WEB · 1 Chronicles 25:6
What does 1 Chronicles 25:6 mean?
"All these were under the hands of their father for song in Yahweh’s house, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps, for the service of God’s house; Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman being under the order of the king."
— 1 Chronicles 25:6 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
Of Jeduthun; the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising Yahweh with the harp.
Of Heman; the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.
All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
All these were under the hands of their father for song in Yahweh’s house, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps, for the service of God’s house; Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman being under the order of the king.
The number of them, with their brothers who were instructed in singing to Yahweh, even all who were skillful, was two hundred eighty-eight.
They cast lots for their offices, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the student.
Now the first lot came out for Asaph to Joseph; the second to Gedaliah, he and his brothers and sons were twelve;
Explanation
This verse comes at the close of a list naming the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, the three chief musicians appointed by King David to lead worship in Israel. In plain language, it says that all these sons served under the direction of their own fathers, using cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps, to provide music for the house of the Lord. It also notes that the three fathers themselves — Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman — were not acting independently but were under the authority of the king, David.
The historical setting is David's preparation for the temple that his son Solomon would build. Since David himself could not build the temple, he spent his final years organizing everything needed for its future operation: priests, gatekeepers, treasurers, and musicians. First Chronicles 25 specifically records how David set apart 288 skilled musicians, descendants of these three Levite families, into twenty-four groups for structured, rotating service. The Chronicler, writing after the Babylonian exile to a returning community rebuilding its worship life, includes this detail to show
Compare translations
Go deeper with ScriptureCompanion AI
Ask questions about any verse, follow reading plans, write personal prayers, and track your daily habit — all grounded in verified scripture text.