Worshipers Appointed for the Father's Service
Singers are conscripted for our Father's service like soldiers: 288 trained musicians under Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman, whose playing is called prophesying. Their shifts are drawn by lot too, teacher and pupil alike — skill sets the standard, but chance sets the schedule.
25 1 David and the army commanders set apart sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun for service, who prophesied with lyres, harps, and cymbals. Their numbers, by task, were: 2 Sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, Asharelah — under Asaph's direction, prophesying under the king's direction. 3 Jeduthun's sons: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, Mattithiah—six, guided by their father Jeduthun, prophesied with the lyre, thanking and praising our Father. 4 Of Heman, sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth. 5 All these were sons of Heman, the king's seer, given through our Father's words to lift Heman up. Our Father gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6 All these were under their father's direction for song in the house of our Father, with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the house of our Father; Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the king's direction. 7 Their number, with their kin trained to sing to our Father — all skilled — was 288. 8 And they cast lots for their duties, small and great alike, teacher and pupil alike.
9 The first lot came out for Asaph, to Joseph; the second, Gedaliah with his brothers and sons, twelve. 10 the third to Zaccur, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 11 the fourth to Izri, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 12 the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 13 the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 14 the seventh to Jesarelah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 15 the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 16 the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 17 the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 18 the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 19 the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 20 the thirteenth to Shubael, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 21 the fourteenth to Mattithiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 22 the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 23 the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 24 the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 25 the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 26 the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 27 the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 28 the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 29 the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 30 the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 31 the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
