The Musicians

25 David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph,^(A) Heman^(B) and Jeduthun^(C) for the ministry of prophesying,^(D) accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals.^(E) Here is the list of the men^(F) who performed this service:^(G)

¹² These divisions of the gatekeepers, through their leaders, had duties for ministering^(A) in the temple of the Lord, just as their relatives had. ¹³ Lots^(B) were cast for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.

¹⁴ The lot for the East Gate^(C) fell to Shelemiah.^[a] Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah,^(D) a wise counselor, and the lot for the North Gate fell to him. ¹⁵ The lot for the South Gate fell to Obed-Edom,^(E) and the lot for the storehouse fell to his sons. ¹⁶ The lots for the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the upper road fell to Shuppim and Hosah.

Guard was alongside of guard: ¹⁷ There were six Levites a day on the east, four a day on the north, four a day on the south and two at a time at the storehouse. ¹⁸ As for the court^[b] to the west, there were four at the road and two at the court^[c] itself.

¹⁹ These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah and Merari.^(F)

³⁰ King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed down and worshiped.

⁴⁶ For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph,^(A) there had been directors for the musicians and for the songs of praise^(B) and thanksgiving to God.