Who was Jeduthun in the Bible?

Son of Berechiah, a Levite, and one of David's chief musicians; he is also called the king's seer. Ps. 39, Ps. 62, and Ps. 77 are inscribed to him. Some of his descendants assisted in the service of song and some returned from exile. 1 Chr. 16:38, 41, 42; 1 Chr. 25:1-6; 2 Chr. 5:12; 2 Chr. 35:15; Neh. 11:17.

Like the priests and the Levites, the singers were divided by lot, designated by God's free choice. Nothing was left to the will of man: that is of all importance. The Lord's Anointed orders and the Lord decides. As for the Levites, here lots are cast for their charges, “the small as well as the great, the teacher with the scholar” (v. 8).

Moreover, it is under the king's direction that Asaph; Heman, David's seer in the words of God; and Jeduthun prophesy with sacred instruments — whether it be to celebrate and praise the Lord, or whether it be to exalt His power. This is one proof, among many others, that the Psalms are an inspired collection, whose character is prophetic.

In verses 9-31 we find the different courses of singers chosen by lot and in connection with their three leaders. Asaph has only four courses of twelve men each. Jeduthun has six courses, Heman has fourteen; in all twenty-four courses composed of 288 persons. They correspond to the courses of the priesthood. Heman, “the king's seer in the words of God, to exalt his power,” has the largest number of sons. His functions correspond to the glory of the kingdom, announced by prophecy and established by the word of God.

In 1 Chronicles 25 we have the service of song. "Moreover, David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals." It is called "prophesying" because it so directly brought in God, which is the emphatic meaning of prophesying. "And the number of the workmen according to their service was" — so and so. There were twenty-four courses of the singers. Now, this was another remarkable change. In the tabernacle, song was not the characteristic feature, but sacrifice; but in the temple in the day of glory, the song of triumph is the new and suitable feature. It is not but what the sacrifices abide, as we find; and so they will be on the earth — no longer, as they were, mere legal offerings, but commemorations — commemorations of the great sacrifice, no doubt. God will condescend to use for an earthly people an earthly sign. The heavenly people need none. That is the reason why we have no sacrifices now — because we see what the sacrifice of Christ is in the mind of heaven. We enjoy heaven's estimate of Christ. Hence, as there is no sacrifice in heaven, we have none; but, when the earth comes in, the earthly people will have earthly sacrifices.

In Chronicles we look forward beyond this scene, to the kingdom and the glory. “And these are they whom David set over the service of song, in the house of the Lord, after the ark had rest, &c … And these are they that waited with their children: Of the sons of the Kohathites; Heman a singer, the son of Joel (or Vashni), the son of Shemuel (Samuel), the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham. And the genealogy is now traced downwards to Korah. Yes, the highly privileged Heman, the leader of the songs of the Lord, was grandson to Samuel. And we may read further of Heman and his brethren in 1 Chronicles 25, how David separated them to this happy service of praise, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthan. Here we read how they prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the Lord. (Verses 2, 3.) And now are recounted the names of the great-grandsons of Samuel: “And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.” (Ver. 5.) All these were under the hands of their Father for song, in the house of God, according to the King’s order to Asaph, Jeduthan, and Heman.” The number of them is given in twice 144, that were instructed in the songs of the Lord. (Ver. 7.) Now of the sons of Heman, the grandson of Samuel, you will count sixteen, and each of their families counted twelve — or, in all, of this highest honoured family of praise, out of 288, there are 192 of the family of Samuel, of the family of Korah, saved from going down into the pit. (Num. 16 and 26:9-11.).

The importance of song as part of the service to be rendered to God is seen in the particular care taken that the leaders in that choir should have a sort of double witness or attestation of their right to the name of Levi, and therefore of their qualification to be leaders of song, and to the privileges of the Levitical tribe. Of the sons of Kohath, Heman; of Gershom, Asaph; and of Merari, Ethan. These had been included in the general list of descendants (16–19) now the genealogy of each is traced backward to Levi (1 Chron. 6:33-47). There is no such care manifested for any other branch of Levitical service. Why such particular care about the singers? Because none must be allowed to sing, but those who have the right. And who now have the right to sing? Redemption gives the right. Should there be songs for slaves? Whether to a willing or a groaning slave, deliverance must first come, and in that comes the appointment to sing. The care with which God by David assigns the service of song to these three leaders has a meaning for the church now, where all are, or should be, singers, making melody in the heart.

On the right hand of Heman and his sons were Asaph and his sons, of the family of Gershom (1 Chr. 6:39). The sons of Asaph were “under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied at the direction of the king” (1 Chr. 25:2). Asaph’s ministry was prophetical, and in its present application brings “edification, exhortation, and comfort” to the saints, for “he that prophesies edifies the church” (1 Cor. 14:3-4). This did not proceed from Asaph, but was under the direction of the king. How blessed when there is prophecy in the assembly of God under the direction of our exalted Head, our Lord Jesus Christ. Where there is true prophetical ministry, that brings the mind of God to the saints, and gives them the sense that they are in the presence of the Lord, there will be a special note of praise, such as is represented by that of the sons of Asaph, who were under his direction.

On the left hand were the sons of Merari, with Ethan as the leader, or Jeduthun as he is called in 1 Chronicles 25:3, “who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the Lord.” Thanksgiving had its own place in the service of song under David, and it mingled with the praises of Jeduthun and his sons; and the giving of thanks should have a very real place in the praises of the saints today, even as exhorted in Colossians 1:12, “Giving thanks to the Father, which has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” Many other Scriptures of the New Testament show the prominent place that thanksgiving has in the assembly of God.

1 For d the chief-Musician, to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

But even in this sad story of failure and repeated failure, there is a bright side. Samuel's eldest son was Joel (1 Sam. 8:1) and he is especially mentioned in connection with the failure of Samuel's sons. But in 1 Chronicles 6:33, we find that Joel's eldest son, Heman, held a most honoured place as one of the Singers, and in 1 Chronicles 25:1 we find him linked with Asaph and Jeduthun "who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals;" and in verse 4 we find fourteen sons of Heman, "all these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the Lord."

After having placed the ark in the Holy Place, the priests came out (v. 1 1), and the Levites who were singers under Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun were stationed at the east of the bronze altar, clothed in white linen, having various stringed instruments, and with them 120 priests with trumpets (V. 12).

Leader of the singers at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem. Neh. 12:42.