*H Moreover David and the chief officers of the army separated for the ministry the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Idithun: to prophesy with harps, and with psalteries, and with cymbals according to their number serving in their appointed office.
Ver. 1. Army; the chief magistrates of the state and of the church. T. C. xxiv. 6. 31. — The priests, &c. were all divided into twenty-four classes, each having twelve masters to preside, v. 7. C. — Idithun, or Ethan. C. vi. 44. and xv. 19. W. 3 K. iv. 31. — The twenty-four sons of these three, who were chief musicians under David and Solomon, presided over the bands: eleven other inferior masters helped to instruct the rest, v. 9. — Prophesy, or play on instruments. — Harps. "Kinnor" means also the "guitar." C. — Vulg. has, lyras. C. xv. 16. — Psalteries. Heb. "nebalim." M. — The Jews pretend that the singers were inspired commonly, when they sounded forth God's praises in the temple, as Eliseus was, 4 K. iii. 15. Lyran. E. — But they may be said to prophesy, because they sung the composition of the prophets. W. — According. Heb. "and the number of the workmen, (or experienced musicians) according to their service, was." H. — The chiefs of the twenty-four bands were carefully selected.
*H Of the sons of Asaph: Zacchur, and Joseph, and Nathania, and Asarela, sons of Asaph: under the hand of Asaph prophesying near the king.
Ver. 2. King, who sat in a separate tribune. Asaph presided in the royal city, at court, and in the tabernacle, while some of the singers were fixed at Gabaon. C. xvi. 7. 37. and 41. C. — Heb. may signify, "at the king's command." Pagnin. — He sometimes condescended to direct the singers, v. 6. H.
*H And of Idithun: the sons of Idithun, Godolias, Sori, Jeseias, and Hasabias, and Mathathias, under the hand of their father Idithun, who prophesied with a harp to give thanks and to praise the Lord.
Ver. 3. Of Idithun; or, altering the punctuation, (D.) "Now the sons of Idithun were Idithun, the first-born, Godolias (H.) Sori, or Isari, v. 11. Thus, the number six, will be complete: otherwise we much acknowledge that Idithun, the father, is counted with his children; or that a name is lost, perhaps that of Semeias, (v. 17. C.) as Sept. Alex. has Semei before Hasabias. H. — Harp, (kinnor.) This was the distinctive instrument of this band, as the horn was of Heman's. C.
*H All these were the sons of Heman the seer of the king in the words of God, to lift up the horn: and God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
Ver. 5. Seer; a title usually given to the real prophets, who foresee future things. M. — Gad has this title. 2 Par. xxiv. 11. But Heman's office was to proclaim the words of God, with the sound of the horn. This musician had formerly been fixed at Gabaon. C. xvi. 41. C. — To lift up the horn, or to sing those psalms, which regarded the kingdom of David, and of Christ, as others were composed for the instruction of the people. T. — Daughters. These are specified, only because they joined with their brethren, in singing in the temple. Abul. q. 14. M. — At least, we find that there were bands of young women, in the solemn procession. H. C. xv. 20. Ps. lxvii. 26. C.
*H All these under their father's hand were distributed to sing in the temple of the Lord, with cymbals, and psalteries and harps, for the service of the house of the Lord near the king: to wit, Asaph, and Idithun, and Heman.
Ver. 6. Near. Heb. "under the hand of the king," who presided over a band of musicians, as well as Asaph; (C.) or he directed all, particularly giving his instructions to Asaph, &c. — To wit in not in Heb. "by the order of the king to Asaph." H.
*H And the number of them with their brethren, that taught the song of the Lord, all the teachers, were two hundred and eighty-eight.
Ver. 7. Eight, comprising the twenty-four princes, and the eleven secondary masters of each of the bands, or twelve times twenty-four, v. 1.
*H And they cast lots by their courses, the elder equally with the younger, the learned and the unlearned together.
Ver. 8. Unlearned. Heb. and Sept. "the scholars." H. — After the singers had been distributed into twenty-four classes, pretty equal in number, lots decided which of them should serve first, (M.) as had been done with the priests. C. xxiv. 31. See C. xxvi. 13.
*H And the first lot came forth to Joseph, who was of Asaph. The second to Godolias, to him and his sons, and his brethren twelve.
Ver. 9. Asaph. Add, "to him, and (H.) to his sons, and his brethren, twelve," who taught the rest. Unless these twelve be admitted, (T.) as in the sequel, (H.) the number 288 will not be found, v. 7. T. — Sept. is very confused: "And the first (entire) lot of his sons and brethren came out to Asaph, of Joseph, Godolias: the second Enia, his brethren, and his sons, twelve." Heb. "the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph; the second to," &c. Prot. In all the subsequent verses they read, "he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve." Why Asaph should be mentioned any more than Idithun or Heman, does not appear. Their children are placed indiscriminately by lot. H.
*H The seventh to Isreela, to his sons and his brethren twelve.
Ver. 14. Isreela; probably Oziel, v. 4. C.