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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - 1 Chronicles 25:1 - 25:7
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Number and office of the Singers
v. 1. Moreover, David and the captains of the host, the princes of 1Ch_23:3; 1Ch_24:6, legislative and judicial officers, separated to the service of the sons of Asaph and of Heman and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, their playing being an expression of inspiration and enthusiasm, music tending to aid the feeling of exaltation, with psalteries, and with cymbals. And the number of the workmen, of the men engaged for this purpose, according to their service, was:
v. 2. of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah (or Jesharelah), the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king, literally, "by the hands of the king," under the personal direction of Asaph and the other masters.
v. 3. of Jeduthun: The sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, and Zeri (or Izri), and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, that is, including Shimei mentioned v. 17, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, working under his direction, who prophesied with a harp to give thanks and to praise the Lord. As it has been the practice of the prophets to rouse their prophetic spirit by the inspiring influence of music. so this became a custom in later times for the arousing of religious enthusiasm. Cf 2Ki_3:15.
v. 4. of Heman: The sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel (or Azareel), Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.
v. 5. All these were the sons of Heman, the king's seer in the words, the matters, of God, a mediator of divine Revelation s to the king, like Jeduthun, 2Ch_25:15, and Gad, 1Ch_21:9, to lift up the horn, since he was the special instructor and the leader in the wind instruments. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters, the fact that children are a gift of God being emphasized time and again in Holy Scripture.
v. 6. All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the Lord, the four sons of Asaph, the six of Jeduthun, and the fourteen of Heman, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, in charge of the liturgical part of divine worship, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.
v. 7. So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the Lord, the leaders among the musicians in the king's Tabernacle and in that at Gibeon, even all that were cunning, was two hundred four-score and eight. There were thus twenty-four classes, or choirs, of twelve musicians each, one class of skilful and experienced leaders being engaged for a week at a time, and having charge, in rotation, of those of the four thousand singer who were then on duty. Songs of praise, skillfully rendered in honor of the Lord, are a delight to Him, especially if the work is done systematically and in harmony.