They cast lots for their duties, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the 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.
- BSB They cast lots for their duties, young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil.
- NKJV And they cast lots for their duty, the small as well as the great, the teacher with the student.
- 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, the small as well as the great, according to their fathers’ houses, for every gate.
- Prov 16:33The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh.
- Neh 12:24The chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers close to them, to praise and give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch next to watch.
- 1 Chr 24:5Thus were they divided impartially by drawing lots; for there were princes of the sanctuary, and princes of God, both of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.
- 1 Chr 15:22Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was over the singing. He taught the singers, because he was skillful.
- 1 Chr 26:16To Shuppim and Hosah westward, by the gate of Shallecheth, at the causeway that goes up, watchman opposite watchman.
- 1 Chr 24:31These likewise cast lots even as their brothers the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites; the fathers’ households of the chief even as those of his younger brother.
- Lev 16:8Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats; one lot for Yahweh, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
- 2 Chr 23:13Then she looked, and, behold, the king stood by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpets by the king. All the people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets. The singers also played musical instruments, and led the singing of praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes, and said, “Treason! treason!”
- 1 Sam 14:41–42Therefore Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, “Show the right.” Jonathan and Saul were chosen, but the people escaped.
- Acts 1:26They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles.
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