25:1 David and the army officers selected some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy as they played stringed instruments and cymbals. The following men were assigned this responsibility: 

 

Not only was David an outstanding prophet, commander. politician, and architect, but he was also “the sweet psalmist of Israel”. Before his death and before the temple was built, he not only organized the priestly duties, but he organized the music details of the temple as well. 

 

Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun were the chief musicians of David’s cabinet. These three musicians also sang prophetic songs, accompanied with musical instruments. God is a divine musician, meaning that he can create beautiful music that actually predicts the future.

 

25:2 From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were supervised by Asaph, who prophesied under the king’s supervision. 

 

The sons of Asaph will continue their music ministry in the future temple. The music of Israel was special, because it predicted the future. Many examples of prophetic music are found in the Psalms.

 

25: 3 From the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah—six in all, under supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied as he played a harp, giving thanks and praise to the Lord. 

 

The sons of Jeduthun also continued prophetic music in the temple.

 

25:4 From the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. 25:5 All these were the sons of Heman, the king’s prophet. God had promised him these sons in order to make him prestigious. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 

 

The sons of Heman continued the prophetic music in the temple.

 

25:6 All of these were under the supervision of their fathers; they were musicians in the Lord’s temple, playing cymbals and stringed instruments as they served in God’s temple. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the supervision of the king. 

 

The three musicians of David’s cabinet trained their sons to continue the prophetic music ministry in the temple.

 

25:7 They and their relatives, all of them skilled and trained to make music to the Lord, numbered two hundred eighty-eight.

 

There were 288 musicians who trained 4,000 other musicians for the temple music ministry. These 288 musicians were the conductors and music teachers of Israel.

 

Music is a powerful teaching tool. There are some older people who possess alzheimer's disease. They cannot remember their spouse's or children's names, but they can remember the lyrics of songs from their teenage years.

 

25:8 They cast lots to determine their responsibilities—oldest as well as youngest, teacher as well as student. 

 

Lots were cast so that there would be no favoritism among the priestly divisions. 

 

25:9 The first lot went to Asaph’s son Joseph and his relatives and sons—twelve in all, the second to Gedaliah and his relatives and sons—twelve in all, 25:10 the third to Zaccur and his sons and relatives—twelve in all, 25:11 the fourth to Izri and his sons and relatives—twelve in all, 25:12 the fifth to Nethaniah and his sons and relatives—twelve in all, 25:13 the sixth to Bukkiah and his sons and relatives—twelve in all, 25:14 the seventh to Jesharelah and his sons and relatives—twelve in all, 25:15 the eighth to Jeshaiah and his sons and relatives—twelve in all, 25:16 the ninth to Mattaniah and his sons and relatives—twelve in all, 25:17 the tenth to Shimei and his sons and relatives—twelve in all, 25:18 the eleventh to Azarel and his sons and relatives—twelve in all, 25:19 the twelfth to Hashabiah and his sons and relatives—twelve in all, 25:20 the thirteenth to Shubael and his sons and relatives—twelve in all, 25:21 the fourteenth to Mattithiah and his sons and relatives—twelve in all, 25:22 the fifteenth to Jerimoth and his sons and relatives—twelve in all, 25:23 the sixteenth to Hananiah and his sons and relatives—twelve in all, 25:24 the seventeenth to Joshbekashah and his sons and relatives—twelve in all, 25:25 the eighteenth to Hanani and his sons and relatives—twelve in all, 25:26 the nineteenth to Mallothi and his sons and relatives—twelve in all, 25:27 the twentieth to Eliathah and his sons and relatives—twelve in all, 25:28 the twenty-first to Hothir and his sons and relatives—twelve in all, 25:29 the twenty-second to Giddalti and his sons and relatives—twelve in all, 25:30 the twenty-third to Mahazioth and his sons and relatives—twelve in all, 25:31 the twenty-fourth to Romamti-Ezer and his sons and relatives—twelve in all. 

 

David was a supernatural organizer. He divided the Levitical musicians into a 48-week rotation which was similar to that of the Levite priests who served in the temple.