Bible Commentaries
1 Chronicles 25

Introduction

1 CHRONICLES CHAPTER 25

The number and offices of the singers out of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, 1 Chronicles 25:1-7. Their division by lot into twenty-four orders, 1 Chronicles 25:8-31

Verse 1

The captains of the host; both of the civil and sacred host, to wit, all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites, whom David gathered together, 1 Chronicles 23:2, for this very end, that in their presence, and with their approbation and consent, all these things might be established; who are here fitly called the captains of the host; for the princes were, under David, the chief captains or commanders of the militia or trained bands of the kingdom: and as the Levites are called a host, and the Lord’s host, Numbers 4:3, and elsewhere, because of their number and order in holy ministrations; so these priests and Levites were the captains and governors of the rest. Separated, i.e. distributed them into their several ranks and orders; which, though chiefly done by David as a prophet, and by Divine direction, as hath been oft observed, yet is here imputed in part to the captains of the host, because it was done with their concurrence and approbation. To the service of the sons of Asaph, &c, i.e. to the service of God under the conduct and command of these persons. Who should prophesy, i.e. praise God by singing the Psalms of David, (of which See Poole "1 Chronicles 16:7",) and other sacred songs made by themselves, who were prophets in some sort, or by other prophets or holy men of God. Or this action of theirs is called prophesying, because it had been formerly performed by the prophets; and the sons of the prophets; of which see 1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Samuel 19:20; 2 Kings 3:15; 1 Chronicles 15:19. The number of the workmen; of the persons employed in this sacred work.

Verse 2

Under the hands of Asaph, i.e. under his oversight and direction. According to the order of the king; in such manner and order as David appointed.

Verse 3

The sons of Jeduthun, or, his sons, (the construct form being used before the absolute, of which there are examples in Scripture,) Jeduthun, called by his father’s name; otherwise they are not six, unless either Jeduthun their father be included in that number, or Shimei, mentioned 1 Chronicles 25:17, be one of them, as many learned men think. See the like, 1 Chronicles 24:23.

Verse 5

The king’s seer, or prophet, which is the same thing, 1 Samuel 9:9. Either he was a prophet as well as a singer; or he is thus called because he prophesied in the sense designed, 1 Chronicles 25:1. And he is called the king’s seer, either because the king took special delight in him, or because he frequently attended upon the king in his palace, executing his sacred office there, while the rest were constantly employed in the tabernacle. In the words of God, i.e. to sing such Divine songs as were inspired by God to the prophets or holy men of God. To lift up the horn; either,

1. Metaphorically, to extol and praise God for exalting

the horn (i.e. the power and kingdom) of David; of which phrase see Psalms 92:10; Psalms 132:17. Or rather,

2. Properly, to praise God with the sound of a trumpet, (as was usual, as 2 Chronicles 5:12; 2 Chronicles 13:12) or some other musical instrument made of horn, which being a martial kind of music, might be most grateful to David’s martial spirit; though he was also skilled in other instruments of music, which he used in the house of God, as is expressed in the next verse.

Verse 6

Under the hands. i.e. under his direction, as 1 Chronicles 25:2.

According to the king’s order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman, Heb. by the hands of the king, and of Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman, i.e. according to the king’s appointment, and under the conduct of Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.

Verse 7

All that were cunning; who were so skilful that they were able to teach others.

Two hundred fourscore and eight; which, together with their scholars, make up the four thousand mentioned 1 Chronicles 23:5.

Verse 8

Ward against ward, i.e. a ward, or rank, or course of Levites answerable to one of the priests, upon whom the Levites were to wait in their holy ministrations, 1 Chronicles 23:28. As well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar, without any respect to their different ages or abilities.

Verse 9

For Asaph to Joseph, i.e. for the family of Asaph, of which Joseph was. Here that clause, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve, is to be understood, as it is expressed in all the following verses, otherwise they do not make up that number of two hundred and eighty-eight mentioned 1 Chronicles 25:7.

To Gedaliah, who, Heb. he; which word being here expressed, is rightly understood and supplied in the rest.