McClintock Biblical Encyclopedia: Jeduthun

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McClintock Biblical Encyclopedia: Jeduthun


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(Hebrew Yeduthun', éãåּúåּï or éְãֻúåּï ; also éְãַéúåּï , Yedithun', in 1Ch_16:38; Neh_11:17; Psalms 30, 77, titles; lauder; Sept. ‘ Éééïõᾷ , but ‘ ÉôÓï ')5 in 1Ch_9:16), a Levite of Merari's family, and one of the four great masters of the Temple music appointed by David (1Ch_16:41-42; 1Ch_25:1, etc.). B.C. 1014. From a comparison of 1Ch_15:17; 1Ch_15:19, with 1Ch_16:41-42; 1Ch_25:1; 1Ch_25:3; 1Ch_25:6; 2Ch_35:15, some infer that he was identical with ETHAN SEE ETHAN (q.v.). In 2Ch_35:15, he bears the title of “the king's seer.” His sons sometimes appear as exercising the same office (1Ch_25:1; 1Ch_25:3), at others as door-keepers of the sacred edifice (1Ch_16:42). His name is also put for his descendants (Jeduthunites, a “sons of Jeduthun”), who occur later as singers and players on instruments (2Ch_35:15; Neh_11:17). In the latter signification it occurs in the superscriptions to Psalms 39, 62, 77; but Aben- Ezra supposes it to denote here a species of song, and Jarchi a musical instrument. The form of the phrase ( òִì éְãֻúåּï , “upon Jeduthun”) favors the latter interpretation (Gesenius, Thes. Heb. p. — 569), indicating a kind of instrumental music, or perhaps a style or tune of performance (Ewald, ieb. Poesie p. 176) invented or introduced by Jeduthun; a conclusion strengthened by finding a phrase indicative of authorship ( ìַéãåּúåּï , “to Jeduthun,” i.e. composed by him); ascribed in a similar connection (Psalms 39, title), since he is elsewhere recognized as an inspired character (2Ch_35:15). SEE MUSICIAN.