1 Chronicles 25:23 kjv
The sixteenth to Hananiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
1 Chronicles 25:23 nkjv
the sixteenth for Hananiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
1 Chronicles 25:23 niv
the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and relatives ? 12
1 Chronicles 25:23 esv
to the sixteenth, to Hananiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
1 Chronicles 25:23 nlt
The sixteenth lot fell to Hananiah and twelve of his sons and relatives.
1 Chronicles 25 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 3:6-7 | "Bring the tribe of Levi near and set them before Aaron... to serve him." | Levitical role in Tabernacle/Temple service. |
| Num 8:14 | "Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the people of Israel." | Consecration and separation of Levites. |
| 1 Chron 6:31-32 | "These are the men whom David set over the service of song in the house of the Lord... and ministered before the tabernacle..." | David organizing temple music service. |
| 1 Chron 9:33 | "And these are the singers, the heads of fathers’ households of the Levites, dwelling in the chambers... for they were on duty day and night..." | Singers on duty continually. |
| 1 Chron 23:3-5 | "Levites from thirty years old and upward... numbered thirty-eight thousand... of these twenty-four thousand were to oversee the work... and four thousand were gatekeepers; and four thousand praised the Lord with the instruments..." | Census and distribution of Levitical duties. |
| 1 Chron 24:3 | "David, with Zadok and Ahimelech, divided them according to their offices." | Organization of priestly duties by divisions. |
| 1 Chron 25:1 | "David and the commanders of the army set apart for the service some of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who prophesied with lyres, harps, and cymbals..." | Introduction to the musicians' divisions. |
| 1 Chron 25:7 | "The number of them along with their relatives... who were trained in singing for the Lord, all of them master craftsmen, was 288." | Total skilled musicians for all divisions. |
| 2 Chron 5:12 | "The Levites, who were the singers, all of them, Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun... clothed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, standing east of the altar, and with them 120 priests blowing trumpets..." | Musicians' role in Solomon's Temple dedication. |
| 2 Chron 29:26-28 | "The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. Then Hezekiah commanded them to offer the burnt offering... the song to the Lord began..." | Revival of worship with music in Hezekiah's reign. |
| Neh 11:22 | "The director of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi... of the sons of Asaph, the singers, for the service of the house of God." | Continuation of organized singers in post-exilic Jerusalem. |
| Neh 12:46-47 | "In the days of David and Asaph of old there were directors of singers... all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah gave portions for the singers and gatekeepers..." | Historical precedent for funding temple musicians. |
| Ps 33:2 | "Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings." | Exhortation to praise God with musical instruments. |
| Ps 150:3-5 | "Praise Him with trumpet sound... Praise Him with harp and lyre!... Praise Him with resounding cymbals..." | Calls to praise God with all kinds of instruments. |
| Col 3:16 | "Let the word of Christ dwell richly in you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs..." | New Testament emphasis on worship through song. |
| Eph 5:19 | "Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart..." | NT call to congregational singing and heart worship. |
| 1 Cor 14:33 | "For God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints." | Principle of divine order applies to worship. |
| 1 Cor 14:40 | "But all things should be done decently and in order." | Application of order to all aspects of church life, including worship. |
| Josh 24:15 | "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." | Family involvement in dedicated service to God. |
| 2 Tim 2:2 | "And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." | Principle of generational transfer of service and knowledge. |
1 Chronicles 25 verses
1 Chronicles 25 23 Meaning
This verse details the twenty-third division of temple musicians, which was headed by Mahazioth. It specifies that this division comprised Mahazioth, his sons, and his brethren (relatives), totaling twelve individuals. This highlights David's comprehensive organization of the Levitical temple service, ensuring a perpetual and ordered system of worship and praise through music.
1 Chronicles 25 23 Context
First Chronicles chapter 25 provides an exhaustive list of the 24 divisions of temple musicians established by King David, along with their assigned responsibilities and the results of their lot-casting for service rotation. These musicians, drawn from the Levitical clans of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, were dedicated to prophesying with various musical instruments in the Lord's house. Each of the 24 divisions, headed by a principal musician (often a son of Asaph, Heman, or Jeduthun), comprised a total of twelve individuals: the head, his sons, and his brethren (relatives), summing up to 288 master musicians in total across all divisions (v. 7). This meticulous organization was part of David's comprehensive plan for the functioning of the temple worship even before its construction by Solomon, emphasizing the paramount importance of structured praise and music in Israel's relationship with God. The historical and cultural context reflects the role of the Levites in ancient Israel, not just as priests or temple guardians, but significantly as musicians and worship leaders. This highly organized system stands in contrast to chaotic, self-directed forms of pagan worship.
1 Chronicles 25 23 Word analysis
- The twenty-third: This specifies the ordinal position within a meticulously ordered system. The total of 24 divisions reflects a full yearly cycle of temple service, ensuring continuous worship. It points to a divine blueprint for order in the House of God.
- to Mahazioth: (Hebrew: מַחֲזִיאוֹת, Maḥăziʼōwṯ). The name means "visions" or "my visions." This is significant for a leader in worship and prophecy through music. It could imply a spiritual sensitivity or a calling to receive divine revelation to guide praise. In ancient Israel, prophetic utterances often accompanied musical performance.
- his sons: This indicates the hereditary nature of the Levitical service, emphasizing the importance of family involvement and the passing down of spiritual legacy and skills from generation to generation. It secures continuity in temple functions.
- and his brethren: Refers to his relatives, extending the family unit beyond direct offspring to include other male kin from the larger family or clan unit assigned to his leadership. This highlights the communal and familial aspect of service in ancient Israel.
- twelve: This consistent number for each division (head, sons, and brethren) signifies a standard unit for service. The number twelve in the Bible often symbolizes completeness, divine order, and governmental perfection, resonating with the twelve tribes of Israel, twelve apostles, etc. It ensures uniformity and sufficiency for each rotational turn of duty.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "The twenty-third to Mahazioth": Identifies a specific individual leading one of the 24 shifts. Mahazioth, whose name suggests "visions," led a division directly involved in divine inspiration through music. This organizational detail underscores that every leader, regardless of the numerical order, had a vital, God-ordained role.
- "his sons, and his brethren, twelve": This phrase succinctly defines the composition of the worship division. It demonstrates the communal, family-oriented structure of service. It wasn't just individuals but whole households and extended families consecrated to temple duties, contributing their collective musical talents under a designated leader, ensuring strength and continuity. The number twelve confirms a complete, ready-to-serve contingent.
1 Chronicles 25 23 Bonus section
The chronicler's extensive detailing of the temple personnel, even down to each individual leader in various service rotations, served a critical purpose for the post-exilic community. It affirmed their heritage, demonstrating the unbroken lineage and divine authorization of the Levitical roles. This reassured the returnees that the patterns for temple service were ancient, sacred, and commanded by God through King David, establishing continuity with their past despite the exile. It also provided a clear blueprint for re-establishing proper worship, showing the importance of faithful and orderly service for their restoration. The name Mahazioth, meaning "visions," might also subtly imply that the spiritual insights and guidance (prophecy) from the sanctuary were entrusted to those who would see them through musical inspiration, thus keeping the "visions" alive and audible for the community.
1 Chronicles 25 23 Commentary
First Chronicles 25:23, though seemingly a simple administrative detail, reveals profound principles about worship and service in God's kingdom. It emphasizes David's meticulous divine organization, ensuring that worship was not left to chance but was structured, dedicated, and sustained. The inclusion of Mahazioth's name ("visions") for a music leader suggests a spiritual depth inherent in the service, implying that music was a vehicle for divine encounter and prophecy. The familial composition ("his sons, and his brethren") highlights the hereditary nature of Levitical duty, reinforcing the idea of a family legacy in serving God, and also ensures the transmission of skills and reverence through generations. The precise number "twelve" underscores the divine order and completeness of each division, illustrating that even seemingly small units contribute to a larger, divinely orchestrated purpose. This pattern foreshadows the New Testament call for decency and order in worship, reminding believers that dedicated, structured service and heartfelt worship are essential to honor God.