1 Chronicles 25:3

3 Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the lyre in thanksgiving and praise to the Lord.

1 Chronicles 25:3 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 25:3

Of Jeduthun
Or Ethan, the sons of Jeduthun:

Gedaliah and Zeri;
called Izri, ( 1 Chronicles 25:11 ) ,

and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six;
whereas five only are mentioned; it may be thought that Shimei, ( 1 Chronicles 25:17 ) is the sixth, he not being mentioned elsewhere; it is a tradition of the Jews, that his mother was now with child of him, and it being foreseen by the Holy Spirit that he would be the chief of a course, the number six is given, as Jarchi observes; but rather, as Kimchi, he was young, and not fit to sing, yet was chosen the head of a course, until he was grown up and fit for it; to these six came up the second, fourth, eighth, twelfth, fourteenth, and tenth lots, ( 1 Chronicles 25:9 1 Chronicles 25:11 1 Chronicles 25:15 1 Chronicles 25:21 1 Chronicles 25:17 ) and these

[were] under the hands of their father Jeduthun;
to instruct and direct them, and appoint their service to them:

who prophesied with a harp;
or sung a prophetic psalm or hymn on that:

to give thanks, and to praise the Lord;
for what he had done and promised, and foretold he would do for his people.

1 Chronicles 25:3 In-Context

1 David and the officers of the army also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals. The list of those who did the work and of their duties was:
2 Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, sons of Asaph, under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king.
3 Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the lyre in thanksgiving and praise to the Lord.
4 Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth.
5 All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer, according to the promise of God to exalt him; for God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. One Ms: Gk: MT lacks [Shimei]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.