Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 25:8
They cast lots for their duties, young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The Chronicler records the administrative division of temple musicians following David’s organization of the 288 trained singers and instrumentalists. This verse describes the moment when service assignments were determined among the entire musical corps.
The words — The text uses גּוֹרָל֣וֹת (goralot), meaning “lots,” and מִשְׁמֶ֗רֶת (mishmeret), meaning “duty” or “watch.” These terms denote the method and purpose of the assignment process.
The thread — The practice of casting lots for sacred assignments appears in 1 Chronicles 26:13 for gatekeepers, while Proverbs 16:33 and Leviticus 16:8 frame the lot as an instrument of divine decision in priestly and leadership contexts.
Why it lands — The text states that service roles were distributed by lot regardless of age or rank, including teachers and pupils. It requires the reader to acknowledge that sacred work is allocated by divine sovereignty rather than human preference or seniority.
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
King James Version
And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 26:13 They cast lots for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.
- Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
- Leviticus 16:8 After Aaron casts lots for the two goats, one for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat,
- 1 Samuel 14:41 So Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Why have You not answered Your servant this day? If the fault is with me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the fault is with the men of Israel, respond with Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were selected, but the people were cleared of the charge.
- 1 Chronicles 15:22 Chenaniah the head Levite was the director of the music because he was highly skilled.
- 1 Chronicles 24:5 Thus they were divided by lot, for there were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God among both Eleazar’s and Ithamar’s descendants.
- 1 Chronicles 24:31 As their brothers the descendants of Aaron did, they also cast lots in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the families of the priests and Levites—the family heads and their younger brothers alike.
- 1 Chronicles 26:16 The lots for the West Gate and the Shallecheth Gate on the ascending highway fell to Shuppim and Hosah. There were guards stationed at every watch.
- 2 Chronicles 23:13 And she looked and saw the king standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, while the singers with musical instruments were leading the praises. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason, treason!”
- Nehemiah 12:24 The leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel, along with their associates, who stood across from them to give praise and thanksgiving as one section alternated with the other, as prescribed by David the man of God.