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: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:
1. David and the captains of the
host—that is, the princes (1 Chronicles 23:2;
1 Chronicles 24:6). It is probable that
the king was attended on the occasion of arranging the singers by the
same parties that are mentioned as having assisted him in regulating
the order of the priests and Levites.
Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king.
2. according to the order of the
king—Hebrew, "by the hands of the king," that
is, "according to the king's order," under the personal
superintendence of Asaph and his colleagues.
which prophesied—that
is, in this connection, played with instruments. This metaphorical
application of the term "prophecy" most probably originated
in the practice of the prophets, who endeavored to rouse their
prophetic spirit by the animating influence of music (see on ). It is said that Asaph did this "according to David's
order," because by royal appointment he officiated in the
tabernacle on Zion (), while other leaders of the sacred music were stationed
at Gibeon.
Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD.
Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth:
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.
5. Heman the king's seer—The
title of "seer" or "prophet of David" is also
given to Gad (1 Chronicles 21:9), and to
Jeduthun (2 Chronicles 29:14; 2 Chronicles 29:15),
in the words (Margin, "matters") of God.
to lift up the horn—that
is, to blow loudly in the worship of God; or perhaps it means nothing
more than that he presided over the wind instruments, as Jeduthun
over the harp. Heman had been appointed at first to serve at Gibeon
(1 Chronicles 16:41). But his
destination seems to have been changed at a subsequent period.
God gave to Heman fourteen
sons and three daughters—The daughters are mentioned, solely
because from their musical taste and talents they formed part of the
choir (Psalms 68:25).
All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.
6, 7. All these were under the hands
of their father—Asaph had four sons, Jeduthun six, and Heman
fourteen, equal to twenty-four; making the musicians with their
brethren the singers, an amount of two hundred eighty-eight. For,
like the priests and Levites, they were divided into twenty-four
courses of twelve men each, equal to two hundred eighty-eight, who
served a week in rotation; and these, half of whom officiated every
week with a proportionate number of assistants, were skilful and
experienced musicians, capable of leading and instructing the general
musical corps, which comprised no less than four thousand ().
. THEIR
DIVISION BY LOT
INTO FOUR AND
TWENTY ORDERS.
So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.
And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.
8. they cast lots, ward against
ward—"Ward" is an old English word for "division"
or "company." The lot was cast to determine the precedence
of the classes or divisions over which the musical leaders presided;
and, in order to secure an impartial arrangement of their order, the
master and his assistants, the teacher and his scholars, in each
class or company took part in this solemn casting of lots. In the
first catalogue given in this chapter the courses are classed
according to their employment as musicians. In the second, they are
arranged in the order of their service.
Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and sons were twelve:
The third to Zaccur, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The fourth to Izri, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The fifth to Nethaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The sixth to Bukkiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The seventh to Jesharelah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The eighth to Jeshaiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The ninth to Mattaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The tenth to Shimei, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The eleventh to Azareel, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The twelfth to Hashabiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The thirteenth to Shubael, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The fourteenth to Mattithiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The fifteenth to Jeremoth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The sixteenth to Hananiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The seventeenth to Joshbekashah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The eighteenth to Hanani, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The nineteenth to Mallothi, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The twentieth to Eliathah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The one and twentieth to Hothir, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The two and twentieth to Giddalti, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The three and twentieth to Mahazioth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The four and twentieth to Romamti-ezer, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve.
