They cast lots for their duties, young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil.
Parallel translations
- WEB They cast lots for their offices, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the student.
- KJV And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.
- NKJV And they cast lots for their duty, the small as well as the great, the teacher with the student.
- NASB They cast lots for their duties, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the pupil.
- NLT The musicians were appointed to their term of service by means of sacred lots, without regard to whether they were young or old, teacher or student.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They cast lots for their duties, with small and great, teacher and student, all treated alike. Service assignments were made impartially before God.
Overview
As with the priests and Levites, the musicians' rotation was set by lot, removing favoritism so that experienced and novice alike received their appointed turn. The equal treatment of teacher and student reflects that all serve the same Lord and that no role is too small in His house. This humility before God's ordering anticipates the gospel truth that in Christ distinctions of rank give way to shared standing as His servants (Gal 3:28).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 1 Chr 26:13They cast lots for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.
- Prov 16:33The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
- Neh 12:24The 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.
- 1 Chr 24:5Thus 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 Chr 15:22Chenaniah the head Levite was the director of the music because he was highly skilled.
- 1 Chr 26:16The 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.
- 1 Chr 24:31As 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.
- Lev 16:8After Aaron casts lots for the two goats, one for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat,
- 2 Chr 23:13And she looked out 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!”
- 1 Sam 14:41–42So 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.
- Acts 1:26Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
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