1The number and offices of the singers: 8their division by lot into four and twenty orders.
1MOREOVER David and 1the 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: 2and the number of the workmen according to their service was:
1 That is, the heads of the Levites, for, in the law the Levites, in regard of their multitudes and employment in spiritual administration, were likewise called an host, Num. 4:23. But understand such an host as were to heed the worship of God, and spiritual matters; therefore in the wilderness they had their camp near the tabernacle, Numbers 3. Now the captains or heads of this spiritual host were the priests, and among the common Levites the heads of the paternal houses of Gershon, Kohath and Merari, with whose advice, and in the presence of them, David, as being a prophet with them, has made this ecclesiastical institution.
2 Hebr. and their number was men of the work for their service, (men of the work); that is, men who are suitable for the work.
2Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and 3Asarelah, the sons of Asaph 4under the hands of Asaph, which 5prophesied 6according to the order of the king.
3 He is called Jesharelah in verse 14.
4 That is, according to the conduct, instruction, ordinance, etc.
5 That is, praised God by the singing of psalms and spiritual songs made by David and other prophets, playing them also upon musical instruments. Thus the word prophesying is also taken in verse 3, etc.; 1 Sam. 19:20, and more elsewhere.
6 The king made and composed the psalms and spiritual songs which the singers did sing, who dealt herein as a prophet. See 1 Chron. 23 on verse 6.
3Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and 7Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, 8six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD.
7 He is called Izri in verse 11.
8 Understand herewith also Shimei, from verse 17. He must necessarily be included with them, else there would be but five mentioned.
4Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, 9Uzziel, 10Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth:
9 He is called Azareel in verse 18.
10Shubael in verse 20.
5All these were the sons of Heman the king’s 11seer 12in the words of God, 13to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman 14fourteen sons and three daughters.
11 That is, prophet. See 1 Sam. 9:9.
12 Or, in the things of God.
13 That is, according to the opinion of some, to sing the psalms which contain the promises of God concerning the kingdom of David, and of Jesus Christ. Whose power and glory are signified by the horn.
14 Their names were mentioned in verse 4.
6All 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, 15according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.
15 See verse 2.
7So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all 16that were cunning, was 17two hundred fourscore and eight.
16 Hebr. understanding ones, or, giving understanding; that is, teachers, who taught others (namely, their disciples or scholars) to sing and understand the psalms.
17 These two hundred fourscore and eight, being added to the number of their disciples or scholars and mentioned in 1 Chron. 23:5, make up together four thousand.
8¶And 18they cast lots, ward against ward, 19as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.
18 Namely, to know what order they were to follow in the administration of their office.
19 Hebr. so the small, as the great, as the teacher, also he that is taught. The meaning is, that the lot was cast between the four and twenty singing-masters, who are hereafter named, and each had their scholars under them. In the casting of lots there will be had no regard to the greatness or smallness of the one or the other singing-master, but they cast lots promiscuously one among another. Some think that this is to be understood of the smallness or greatness of the tribes.
9Now the first lot came forth for 20Asaph to 21Joseph: the second to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and sons were twelve:
20 That is, the family of Asaph.
21 This Joseph was for the house of Asaph. And although the number, of those who were under Joseph, is not here expressed, yet it is credible, while it is affirmed of all the rest that they with their sons and brethren, that is, kinsmen, were twelve, the same is likewise to be understood of Joseph.
10The third to Zaccur, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
11The fourth to Izri, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
12The fifth to Nethaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
13The sixth to Bukkiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
14The seventh to Jesharelah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
15The eighth to Jeshaiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
16The ninth to Mattaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
17The tenth to Shimei, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
18The eleventh to Azareel, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
19The twelfth to Hashabiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
20The thirteenth to Shubael, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
21The fourteenth to Mattithiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
22The fifteenth to Jeremoth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
23The sixteenth to Hananiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
24The seventeenth to Joshbekashah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
25The eighteenth to Hanani, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
26The nineteenth to Mallothi, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
27The twentieth to Eliathah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
28The one and twentieth to Hothir, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
29The two and twentieth to Giddalti, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
30The three and twentieth to Mahazioth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
31The four and twentieth to Romamti-ezer, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve.