1 Chronicles 25
PATthe king. But the word prophecy is of very large extent; signifying sometimes, as 1 said before, nothing more, but singing divinely-inspired hymns. Thus Miriam is called a prophetess, (Exod. xv. 20.) because she led up the women to praise God, with timbrels and dances. And, indeed, music and singing were in ancient times had in such esteem and veneration, that they who excelled in this faculty were looked upon as persons divinely moved. So Quintilian observes, as a known truth, lib. i. Instit. cap. 10. " Quis ignorat, musicen tantum jam illis antiquis temporibus non studii modo, verum etiam venerationis habuissc, ut iidem musici, et vates judicarentur." Who is so ignorant as not to know that music, in those ancient times, was?iot only so much studied, but had in such veneration, that the same men, who were musicians, were accounted prophets and wise men?
1 Chronicles 25:1
MOREOVER David, and the captains of the host. It is absurd to think, that the commanders in war meddled with ordering the tribe of Levi, and the service of the temple. Therefore by the host we are to understand (as our Mr. Thorndike well observes) the companies of priests, that waited upon the service of God at the temple: the captains of whom (i. e. the chief leaders), together with David, divided the singers, as they had done the priests, (chap. xxiv. 3. 6, 7.) Though elsewhere, (chap, xxiii. 6.) David alone is mentioned to have done it. (Rites of the Church, p. 230.)., Separated to the service.] Of God in the temple. Of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun.] These were the chief persons among the Levites, whose families were separated to the following service. Who should prophesy.] Sing psalms, which David and other prophets composed. For these young men were not prophets, as their fathers were; but are said to prophesy, because they sung in the service of God those Divine prophetical hymns, which were composed by their fathers, who were men divinely inspired. Thus the Talmudists say, in Bava-Bathra, cap. 1. that all the hymns we find in the Bible were made by Adam/ Melchisedec, Abraham, Moses, Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and David: who collected them into one volume. But this is a foolish tradition, and very new. With harps, and psalteries, and with cymbals.] There were also pipes, or hautboys, used upon several occasions, together with the trumpets. The difference between these three here mentioned is better described by Dr. Lightfoot out of Josephus, than by any I have met withal; who observes, that the other Israelites, if allied to the priests by marriage, might, if they had skill, join in this instrumental music; but none besides the Levites in the vocal. See his Temple Service, chap. 7. sect. 2. where he likewise notes what psalms were to be sung every day of the week. And this was the first office of the Levites; the two other are explained in the two following chapters. And the number of the workmen, according to the service, was.] It had better be translated, the number of the men of the ministry (i. e. of those who ministered in singing and playing or/ instruments), according to their service, v:as, as follows.
1 Chronicles 25:2
Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarclah, the sons of Asaph, under the hands of Asaph. Under his government, as their precentor: or, who taught and instructed them in singing and music. Which prophesied according to the order of the king.] The Targum understand this, as if Asaph prophesied by’ the Holy Ghost, and was constituted the head of tliese by 4F
1 Chronicles 25:3
OfJeduthun: the sons of Jeduthxtn, Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun. Hero are but five named: but it appears afterward (ver; 17. when the lots were cast) there was another, whose name was Shimci: avIio being now very young, and not yet able either to sing or to play, is not named in this verse. But, that he might be instructed and learn both, he is chosen to be the head of a course, when he should be fit for it. * Thus D. Kimchi explains this matter. Who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the Lord.’] The harp was a most noble instrument, -in which Jeduthun seems to be peculiarly skilled, and therewith praised God; which is called prophesying. *
1 Chronicles 25:4
OfHeman: the sons oflleman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Ilanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.] He had the most numerous issue of these three; and they all had families w T ho’were employed in this service.
1 Chronicles 25:5
All these tvere the sons ofHeman the king’s seer. He was a prophet, in whose company the king delighted: and with whomhe advised in difficult affairs. In the words of God.’] Especially in Divine matters. To lift up the horn.’] In the temple they used also wind music: which many think to have been trumpets made of horn: but the priests only blew with trumpets in the temple, while the Levites sung to those other instruments. Therefore others understand this, of the hymns they sung to magnify the power, greatness, and exaltation of David’s kingdom: or rather, of the kingdom of the Messiah, whom Zachary in his song (Luko i. G9.) calls the horn of salvation. For the power of any thing in Scripture is expressed by a horn; in which lies the strength of some creatures. And from these words Victorinus Strigelius gathers, that Heman was David’s seer in politic affairs, which belonged to the confirmation and settlement of his kingdom: " Cornu cnim significat regimen et regnum;" for a horn signifies government and kingdom. But the first sense seems to me to be most natural, that at stated times they blew aloud with trumi>cts made of horns: for such, I suppose, they might use, though the priests only could blow with the silver trumpets. And thus the famous Bochartus interprets these words, at set times to blow aloud tvith trumpets made of horns; in his preface to his Hicrozoicon. And God gave to Ileman fourteen sons and three daughters.] Some have fancied there arc fifteen mentioned in the foregoing verse: but the Jows look upon Romamti-ezer as ononamc; and so we take it: whichis justified by ver. 31. Ver. G. All these tvere 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.] The whole number of these was four-and-twenty, who, under their several fathers, Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman, regulated the choir in their singing and music: being the instructors and governors of those who were under them. It is likely they set the psalms to music which David composed: or, if he himself modulated them, they sung them in the tunes he directed, with the musical-instruments here mentioned. According to the king’s order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.] These were prophets, w r ho composed many of the songs, whiich their sons Sung by their direction: as appears from 2 Chron. xxix. 10. where it -is said they sung praises, " inthe words of David and Asaph the seer."
1 Chronicles 25:7
So the number of them, with their brethren that tvere instructed in the songs of the Lord, even all that werb cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eighth. This was the whole number of those who were skilful in sinking", who, under the persons beforementioned, were distributed (as it here follows) into several courses, after the same manner that the’pridsts had been: with w T hom they were to attend in their order. For twelve of these singers, with $heir governor, came and waited every week; at the endof which they were succeeded by other twelve, till the course was finished: and then it bdgan again, where it did at first. Now twelve times twenty-tfour amount to two hundred fourscore and eight. It is no wonder that therewere so mkny of them found very skilful in singing and music: for David himself was a great musician and poet, and every one knows how much the inclination of the supreme governor serves to the promoting of arts among the people.
1 Chronicles 25:8
And they cast lots,tvard against ward. Being thus distributed into twenty-four courses, they cast lots, one course against another, which should wait first, and in order succeed one another. As well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.] So that they did not begin and succeed one another, according to the order of age, or of learning, but as God disposed them by their lot. The last words [the teacher as the scholar] the LXX. translate rtXdwv koI fiavSavovrwv, those that were perfect, and those that were learners. They were called perfect who were masters of their art> able to instruct others, who learnt of them.
1 Chronicles 25:9
Now, the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph. Who was not his eldest son$ (see ver. 2.) After the word Joseph, we are to supply the words that follow in the rest of these classes, who, with his brethren and soils, were twelve: otherwise the number of -two hundred fourscore and eight (ver. 7.) will not be complete. 1 - Tlie second to Gedaliah.] Who w r as the eldest son to Jeduthun, (ver. 3.) “’ Wlto, with his brethren and sons, were twelve.] These words, as Rasi observes, are to be referred to Joseph as well as Gedaliah: for he mentions them both, in one and the same verse; and therefore he only saith once with respect to both, he and his sons and brethren: whereby brethren is meant their kindred. <@> CHAP. XXVI.] THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES,
1 Chronicles 25:10
The third to Zaccar, he, his, sons and his brethren, were twelve. He was the eldest son. of Asaph, (ver. 2.) Ver. U. The fourth to Iiri,.&c] Called Zeri, ver. 3. who was the second son of Jeduthun.
1 Chronicles 25:12
Hie fifth to Nethaniah, &c. This lot fell upon the third son of Asaph, (ver. 2.)
1 Chronicles 25:13
The sixth toBukhiah, &c. Who was the eldest son of Heman, (ver. 4.)
1 Chronicles 25:14
TJie seventh to Jesharelah, &c. Called Asarelah, ver. 2. the youngest son of Asaph.
1 Chronicles 25:15
The eighth to Jeshaiah, &c. Who was the third son of Jeduthun, (ver. 3.)
1 Chronicles 25:16
The ninth to Mattaniah, &c. Who was the second son of Heman, (ver. 4.)
1 Chronicles 25:17
TJie tenth to Shimei, &c. The youngest son of Jeduthun, as I have noted upon ver. 3.
1 Chronicles 25:18
The eleventh to Azareel, &c. The third son of Heman, who is called Uzziel in the same verse.
1 Chronicles 25:19
The twelfth to Hashabiah, Sec. The fourth son of Jeduthun, (ver. 4.)
1 Chronicles 25:20
The thirteenth to Shubael, &c. The fourth son of Heman, called Shebuel, ver. 4.
1 Chronicles 25:21
TJie fourteenth to Mattithiah, &c. Who was the fifth son of Jeduthun, (ver. 3.)
1 Chronicles 25:22
Hie fifteenth to Jeremoth, &c. The fifth son of Heman, (ver. 4.) /
1 Chronicles 25:23
The sixteenth to Hananiah, &c. The next son of Heman.
1 Chronicles 25:24
The seventeenth’ is Joshbehashah, 8cc. Who was the eleventh son of Heman.
1 Chronicles 25:25
The eighteenth to Hanani. Who was the seventh son of Heman.
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Tlie nineteenth to Mallothi, &c. Who was the twelfth son of Heman.
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Tlie twentieth to Eliathah, &c. Who was the eighth son of Heman.
1 Chronicles 25:28
The one-and-twentieth to Hothir, Sec. Who was the thirteenth son of Heman.
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Tlie tiuo-and-twentieth to Giddalti, &c. Who was the ninth son of Heman.
1 Chronicles 25:30
The three-and-twentieth to Mahazioth, &c. Who was the youngest son of Heman.
1 Chronicles 25:31
The four-and-twentieth to Romamti-ezer, &c. The tenth son of Heman. Thus all things were disposed, for the preserving order, and avoiding all disputes about precedence: there being no respect had in this Divine distribution to their birth, but the younger in course preceded the elder.