Jesharelah

Levitical Choir Director

The divided kingdomPriestc. 900–800 BC

Jesharelah (Jesjohaja) was one of the sons of Asaph and served as leader of one of the 24 musical groups that King David organized for temple service. He was a Levite responsible for praise and worship in the house of the Lord. His name is mentioned in connection with the seventh lot drawn for the temple music ministry.

Family

FatherAsaph SiblingSakkur SiblingJoseph (son of Asaph)SiblingNethaniah SiblingAsarela

Key events

Appointment as Choir Director

Jesharelah was appointed leader of the seventh of the 24 musical groups that served in the temple, following a lot drawn under King David.

1 Chr 25:2 Show in context →

2Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, sons of Asaph, under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied at the king's command.

לִבְנֵ֣י אָסָ֗ף זַכּ֧וּר וְיוֹסֵ֛ף וּנְתַנְיָ֥ה וַאֲשַׂרְאֵ֖לָה בְּנֵ֣י אָסָ֑ף עַ֚ל יַד־אָסָ֔ף הַנִּבָּ֖א עַל־יְדֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ ‬

1 Chr 25:14 Show in context →

14the seventh to Jesarelah, his sons and his brothers — twelve;

הַשְּׁבִעִ֣י יְשַׂרְאֵ֔לָה בָּנָ֥יו וְאֶחָ֖יו שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָֽׂר׃ ‬

The Sons of Asaph in Temple Service

Jeshoshah was among the sons of Asaph who prophesied with harps, lyres, and cymbals under the king's leadership as part of organized worship.

1 Chr 25:1 Show in context →

1David and the commanders of the army set apart for service the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, who were to prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals. This was the number of the men who did this work according to their service:

וַיַּבְדֵּ֣ל דָּוִיד֩ וְשָׂרֵ֨י הַצָּבָ֜א לַעֲבֹדָ֗ה לִבְנֵ֤י אָסָף֙ וְהֵימָ֣ן וִֽידוּת֔וּן *הנביאים **הַֽנִּבְּאִ֛ים בְּכִנֹּר֥וֹת בִּנְבָלִ֖ים וּבִמְצִלְתָּ֑יִם וַֽיְהִי֙ מִסְפָּרָ֔ם אַנְשֵׁ֥י מְלָאכָ֖ה לַעֲבֹדָתָֽם׃ ‬

1 Chr 25:2 Show in context →

2Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, sons of Asaph, under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied at the king's command.

1 Chr 25:3 Show in context →

3Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah — six in all — under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the lyre, giving thanks and praise to the LORD.

לִידוּת֑וּן בְּנֵ֣י יְדוּת֡וּן גְּדַלְיָ֡הוּ וּצְרִ֡י וִֽ֠ישַׁעְיָהוּ חֲשַׁבְיָ֨הוּ וּמַתִּתְיָ֜הוּ שִׁשָּׁ֗ה עַל֩ יְדֵ֨י אֲבִיהֶ֤ם יְדוּתוּן֙ בַּכִּנּ֔וֹר הַנִּבָּ֕א עַל־הֹד֥וֹת וְהַלֵּ֖ל לַיהוָֽה׃ ס ‬

Organizing the Temple Music

David and the commanders set apart the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun for service, and Jeshoshah received his assigned role among the 288 trained musicians.

1 Chr 25:1 Show in context →

1 Chr 25:7 Show in context →

7Their number, together with their kinsmen trained in singing to the LORD — all of them skilled — was two hundred eighty-eight.

וַיְהִ֤י מִסְפָּרָם֙ עִם־אֲחֵיהֶ֔ם מְלֻמְּדֵי־שִׁ֖יר לַיהוָ֑ה כָּל־הַ֨מֵּבִ֔ין מָאתַ֖יִם שְׁמוֹנִ֥ים וּשְׁמוֹנָֽה׃ ‬

1 Chr 25:8 Show in context →

8They cast lots for their duties, small and great alike, teacher along with pupil.

וַיַּפִּ֜ילוּ גּוֹרָל֣וֹת מִשְׁמֶ֗רֶת לְעֻמַּת֙ כַּקָּטֹ֣ן כַּגָּד֔וֹל מֵבִ֖ין עִם־תַּלְמִֽיד׃ פ ‬

Casting Lots for Service Order

The seventh lot fell to Jeshoshah, and his group consisted of twelve members—his sons and brothers—who were to serve in the temple.