Duties of the Musicians

1David and the army commanders then appointed men from the families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to proclaim God’s messages to the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. Here is a list of their names and their work:

2From the sons of Asaph, there were Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. They worked under the direction of their father, Asaph, who proclaimed God’s messages by the king’s orders.

3From the sons of Jeduthun, there were Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei,a Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six in all. They worked under the direction of their father, Jeduthun, who proclaimed God’s messages to the accompaniment of the lyre, offering thanks and praise to the LORD.

4From the sons of Heman, there were Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael,b Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. 5All these were the sons of Heman, the king’s seer, for God had honored him with fourteen sons and three daughters.

6All these men were under the direction of their fathers as they made music at the house of the LORD. Their responsibilities included the playing of cymbals, harps, and lyres at the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman reported directly to the king. 7They and their families were all trained in making music before the LORD, and each of them—288 in all—was an accomplished musician. 8The musicians were appointed to their term of service by means of sacred lots, without regard to whether they were young or old, teacher or student.

9The first lot fell to Joseph of the Asaph clan and twelve of his sons and relatives.c

The second lot fell to Gedaliah and twelve of his sons and relatives.

10The third lot fell to Zaccur and twelve of his sons and relatives.

11The fourth lot fell to Zerid and twelve of his sons and relatives.

12The fifth lot fell to Nethaniah and twelve of his sons and relatives.

13The sixth lot fell to Bukkiah and twelve of his sons and relatives.

14The seventh lot fell to Asarelahe and twelve of his sons and relatives.

15The eighth lot fell to Jeshaiah and twelve of his sons and relatives.

16The ninth lot fell to Mattaniah and twelve of his sons and relatives.

17The tenth lot fell to Shimei and twelve of his sons and relatives.

18The eleventh lot fell to Uzzielf and twelve of his sons and relatives.

19The twelfth lot fell to Hashabiah and twelve of his sons and relatives.

20The thirteenth lot fell to Shubael and twelve of his sons and relatives.

21The fourteenth lot fell to Mattithiah and twelve of his sons and relatives.

22The fifteenth lot fell to Jerimothg and twelve of his sons and relatives.

23The sixteenth lot fell to Hananiah and twelve of his sons and relatives.

24The seventeenth lot fell to Joshbekashahh and twelve of his sons and relatives.

25The eighteenth lot fell to Hanani and twelve of his sons and relatives.

26The nineteenth lot fell to Mallothi and twelve of his sons and relatives.

27The twentieth lot fell to Eliathah and twelve of his sons and relatives.

28The twenty-first lot fell to Hothir and twelve of his sons and relatives.

29The twenty-second lot fell to Giddalti and twelve of his sons and relatives.

30The twenty-third lot fell to Mahazioth and twelve of his sons and relatives.

31The twenty-fourth lot fell to Romamti-ezer and twelve of his sons and relatives.