_fourteen sons_] Corresponding with the fourteen names given in verse 4. ⁷And the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in singing unto the LORD, even all that were skilful, was two hundred fourscore and eight. =7.= _two hundred fourscore and eight_] The number corresponds with the twenty-four courses of twelve members each about to be enumerated. =8‒31.= THE ALLOTMENT OF THE COURSES. ⁸And they cast lots for their charges¹, all alike, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar. ¹ Or, _ward against_ ward, _as well_ &c. =8.= _for their charges, all alike_] _charges_, i.e. duties. The Hebrew text is faulty, but the Revised Version rendering probably represents the right reading. _the teacher as the scholar_] LXX. τελείων καὶ μανθανόντων (i.e. _the initiated and the learners_). For a similar inclusive phrase compare the Arabic “he that giveth to hear and he that heareth,” and see further references in Driver, Deuteronomy (International _Crititcal Commentary_), p. 376. Instead of “the teacher” we may render “the skilful” as in verse 7; the Hebrew word is the same. It is to be noted that we have here twenty-four courses of singers corresponding with the twenty-four courses of the priests. ⁹Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah; he and his brethren and sons were twelve: ¹⁰the third to Zaccur, his sons and his brethren, twelve: =9.= _for Asaph_] A comparison of verses 9‒31 with verses 2‒4 shows that the first, third, fifth and seventh lots fell to Asaph, the second, fourth, eighth, tenth, twelfth and fourteenth to Jeduthun, and the rest (fourteen in number) to Heman. ¹¹the fourth to Izri, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ¹²the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ¹³the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve: =11.= _Izri_] See note on _Zeri_, verse 3. ¹⁴the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ¹⁵the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ¹⁶the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve: =14.= _Jesharelah_] Compare verse 2. ¹⁷the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brethren, twelve: =17.= _Shimei_] Not mentioned in the present text of verses 2‒4; see note on _Jeshaiah_, verse 3. ¹⁸the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ¹⁹the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve: =18.= _Azarel_] Called _Uzziel_, verse 4. ²⁰for the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his brethren, twelve: ²¹for the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve: =20.= _Shubael_] Called _Shebuel_, verse 4.