Commentaria in I Paralipomenon
Chapter 25
Synopsis of the Chapter.
The 24 classes of Levites deputed to singing, psalmody and playing the harp are enumerated.
1. So David and the captains of the army set apart 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 the office appointed to them. 2. Of the sons of Asaph: Zacchur, and Joseph, and Nathania, and Asarela, the sons of Asaph: under the hand of Asaph prophesying near the king. 3. And of Idithun: the sons of Idithun, Godolias, Sori, Jeseias, and Hasabias, and Mathathias, six, under the hand of their father Idithun, who prophesied with a harp over them that praised and gave thanks to the Lord. 4. And Heman also the sons of Heman: Bocciau, Mathaniau, Oziel, Subuel, and Jerimoth, Hananias, Hanani, Eliatha, Geddelthi, and Romemthiezer, and Jesbacassa, Mellothi, Othir, Mahazioth; 5. 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 Heman fourteen sons, and three daughters. 6. All were under the hand of their father for the singing in the temple of the Lord, distributed to play on cymbals, and psalteries, and harps, for the ministries of the house of the Lord, near the king: namely Asaph, and Idithun, and Heman. 7. And the number of them with their brethren, who taught the canticle of the Lord, all being teachers, was two hundred and eighty-eight. 8. And they cast lots for their turns alike, the greater as well as the lesser, the learned as well as the unlearned. 9. And the first lot came forth for Joseph, who was of Asaph. The second for Godolias, him and his sons, and his brethren, twelve. 10. The third for Zachur, his sons and his brethren, twelve. 11. The fourth for Isari, his sons and his brethren, twelve. 12. The fifth for Nathanias, his sons and his brethren, twelve. 13. The sixth for Bocciau, his sons and his brethren, twelve. 14. The seventh for Isreela, his sons and his brethren, twelve. 15. The eighth for Jesaias, his sons and his brethren, twelve. 16. The ninth for Mathanias, his sons and his brethren, twelve. 17. The tenth for Semei, his sons and his brethren, twelve. 18. The eleventh for Azareel, his sons and his brethren, twelve. 19. The twelfth for Hasabias, his sons and his brethren, twelve. 20. The thirteenth for Subael, his sons and his brethren, twelve. 21. The fourteenth for Mathathias, his sons and his brethren, twelve. 22. The fifteenth for Jerimoth, his sons and his brethren, twelve. 23. The sixteenth for Hananias, his sons and his brethren, twelve. 24. The seventeenth for Jesbacassa, his sons and his brethren, twelve. 25. The eighteenth for Hanani, his sons and his brethren, twelve. 26. The nineteenth for Mellothi, his sons and his brethren, twelve. 27. The twentieth for Eliatha, his sons and his brethren, twelve. 28. The twenty-first for Othir, his sons and his brethren, twelve. 29. The twenty-second for Geddelthi, his sons and his brethren, twelve. 30. The twenty-third for Mahazioth, his sons and his brethren, twelve. 31. The twenty-fourth for Romemthiezer, his sons and his brethren, twelve.
1. The captains of the army,—that is, the princes, both civil and ecclesiastical; for the whole people, both of laymen and of Levites, is called an army on account of its multitude; for they were many and closely packed, and arranged by orders as in battle lines, as soldiers are in an army. The magistrates of the Levites, chapter 24:6, are called “princes of the Sanctuary.”
To prophesy (that is, to sing and praise God) with harps, according to their number serving in the office appointed to them,—as if to say: each in his own turn sang in such number as were appointed for singing; for one more numerous family, constituting one order of singers, had more singers than one that contained fewer domestics in itself. In Hebrew it is men of work in their ministry, that is, diligent men, skilfully performing their office, as if to say: All these were most skilful musicians, says Vatablus.
Under the hand (under the rule and direction) of Asaph prophesying (singing the praises of God) near the king,—namely in the citadel of Sion before the ark, near the seat of David, where doubtless they themselves used to sit and take part in the praises of God. For it is likely that other singers were deputed to sing in the Tabernacle of Moses, which was in Gabaon; hence some, to include both, explain “near the king” thus, as if to say: According to the king’s prescription and distribution, that these should sing in Sion, those in Gabaon.
3. The sons of Idithun, Godolias, Sori, Jeseias, and Hasabias, and Mathathias, six.—Only five are enumerated here, as is clear to anyone counting them. The sixth is therefore lacking, whom it is likely to be “Semeias,” who is named in verse 17 in the tenth lot; for Semeias is not named among the sons of Asaph nor among the sons of Heman. He was therefore a son of Idithun; for the sons of these three are described here, as is clear from verse 1.
5. All these were the sons of Heman the seer of the king in the words of God.—Heman is called Seer, that is, prophet, that is, singer of the divine praises with David. “In the words of God,” that is, when the words of God, that is, the things and praises of God, were sung, as if to say: David in his court and at his table had his musicians, who sang profane songs for the king’s honourable recreation; but this Heman took care only that sacred songs should be sung in the Tabernacle, when David was occupied with the divine offices. “The words of God” therefore were psalms, hymns and canticles of the divine praises.
To lift up the horn,—that is, that by singing he might exalt the greatness, magnificence and immense majesty, wisdom, mercy, power, clemency and beneficence of God. So Abulensis. Secondly, and more precisely, as if to say: Heman took care that those psalms should be sung in which David prays, and foretells that the “horn,” that is, the kingdom, power and glory both of his own empire and of the antitype Christ, would be exalted. For this was most pleasing and most desired to David to hear. Hence he often treats in the psalms of this exaltation of the horn. Hence Vatablus translates thus: Who was the king’s seer in divine words that the horn might be raised; and explains it thus, as if to say: Heman prophesied of David that he would attain great fame and glory. For “horn” signifies dignity and glory, likewise strength and power, as if it were said, for exalting the royal dignity and power. For Asaph and Idithun sang other psalms, which pertained to instructing and consoling the people, and stirred them to piety and to praise God with them.
7. Who taught the canticle,—that is, “teachers,” as follows, who taught the rest to sing and play skilfully both with voice and with musical instruments.
skilled in singing and unskilled, teacher and disciple alike, as if to say: David distributed the singers into 24 classes, and gave to each class twelve masters skilled in music, who should teach the rest to sing, and direct and perfect them in singing. Wherefore these masters were in all 288, as was said in verse 7. For multiply 24 by 12, and the number 288 results.