1 Chronicles 16:5

Asaph was the chief, Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They were to play the harps and lyres, while Asaph sounded the cymbals

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Chronicler records David’s administrative arrangement of Levitical musicians as worship services are being organized before the ark. The narrative shifts from David’s initial appointment of ministers to the specific roster of performers and their designated roles.

The words — אָסָ֥ף ('a.Saf) names Asaph, and הָ/רֹ֖אשׁ (ha./Rosh) literally means [was] the chief, establishing his primary leadership role among the appointed musicians.

The thread — 1 Chronicles 6:39 traces Asaph’s lineage, 1 Chronicles 15:16 records David’s command to appoint singers, and 1 Chronicles 25:1 describes the formal setting apart of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun for prophetic musical service.

Why it lands — The text specifies exact names and instrumental assignments, requiring the reader to recognize that corporate worship in Israel was structured through designated personnel rather than spontaneous participation.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

אָסָ֥ף'a.SafAsaph הָרֹ֖אשׁha./Rosh[was] the/ chief וּמִשְׁנֵ֣הוּu./mish.Ne./huand/ [was] second/ his זְכַרְיָ֑הze.khar.YahZechariah יְעִיאֵ֡לye.'i.'ElJeiel וּשְׁמִֽירָמ֡וֹתu./she.mi.ra.Motand/ Shemiramoth וִֽיחִיאֵ֡לvi./chi.'Eland/ Jehiel וּמַתִּתְיָ֡הu./ma.tit.Yahand/ Mattithiah וֶאֱלִיאָ֡בve./'e.li.'Avand/ Eliab וּבְנָיָהוּ֩u./ve.na.ya.Huand/ Benaiah וְעֹבֵ֨דve./'o.Vedand/ Obed-אֱדֹ֜ם'e.DomEdom וִֽיעִיאֵ֗לvi./'i.'Eland/ Jeiel בִּכְלֵ֤יbi/kh.Leiwith/ instruments of נְבָלִים֙ne.va.Limlyres וּבְכִנֹּר֔וֹתu./ve./khi.no.Rotand/ with/ harps וְאָסָ֖ףve./'a.Safand/ Asaph בַּֽמְצִלְתַּ֥יִםba/m.tzil.Ta.yimwith <the>/ cymbals מַשְׁמִֽיעַ׃mash.Mi.a'[was] sounding aloud

King James Version

Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed–edom: and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals;

Cross-references

1 Chronicles 6:39 Heman’s kinsman was Asaph, who served at his right hand: Asaph the son of Berechiah, the son of Shimea,
1 Chronicles 15:16 David also told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers to lift up their voices with joy, accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals.
1 Chronicles 25:1 Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list of the men who performed this service:
2 Chronicles 29:25 Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres according to the command of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet. For the command had come from the LORD through His prophets.

People named

AsaphObed-edomZechariahBenaiahMattithiahJeielEliabJaazielJehielShemiramoth