seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
1 Chronicles 6:31 These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the Lord after the ark came to rest there. 32 They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them.
33 Here are the men who served, together with their sons:
From the Kohathites:
Heman, the musician,
the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,
34 the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham,
the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,
35 the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah,
the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,
36 the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel,
the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,
37 the son of Tahath, the son of Assir,
the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,
38 the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath,
the son of Levi, the son of Israel;
39 and Heman’s associate Asaph, who served at his right hand:
Asaph son of Berekiah, the son of Shimea,
40 the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah,[g]
the son of Malkijah, 41 the son of Ethni,
the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,
42 the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah,
the son of Shimei, 43 the son of Jahath,
the son of Gershon, the son of Levi;
44 and from their associates, the Merarites, at his left hand:
Ethan son of Kishi, the son of Abdi,
the son of Malluk, 45 the son of Hashabiah,
the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,
46 the son of Amzi, the son of Bani,
the son of Shemer, 47 the son of Mahli,
the son of Mushi, the son of Merari,
the son of Levi.
33 Here are the men who served, together with their sons:
From the Kohathites:
Heman, the musician,
the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,
34 the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham,
the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,
35 the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah,
the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,
36 the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel,
the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,
37 the son of Tahath, the son of Assir,
the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,
38 the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath,
the son of Levi, the son of Israel;
39 and Heman’s associate Asaph, who served at his right hand:
Asaph son of Berekiah, the son of Shimea,
40 the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah,[g]
the son of Malkijah, 41 the son of Ethni,
the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,
42 the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah,
the son of Shimei, 43 the son of Jahath,
the son of Gershon, the son of Levi;
44 and from their associates, the Merarites, at his left hand:
Ethan son of Kishi, the son of Abdi,
the son of Malluk, 45 the son of Hashabiah,
the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,
46 the son of Amzi, the son of Bani,
the son of Shemer, 47 the son of Mahli,
the son of Mushi, the son of Merari,
the son of Levi.
g. 1 Chronicles 6:40 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts, one Septuagint manuscript and Syriac Maaseiah
Well, might as well start with the easy English commentary.
King David brought God’s ark from the house of Obed-Edom (2 Samuel 6:12). He brought it up to Jerusalem. He put it in a special tent. That tent was the LORD’s house until Solomon built the temple. It was the place where people would come to worship. They brought their sacrifices there and the priests burned them on the altar outside. But only the priests would go inside the holy tent or the temple building.
God’s ark was a wooden box. Gold covered the wood on both the inside and the outside of the box (Exodus 25:10). In it, there was the book of the law that God gave to Moses. Also in the box were Aaron’s stick and a gold jar with the bread that God gave to Israel in the desert (Hebrews 9:4). The ark was in the most holy place in the tent and later in the most holy place in the temple. Only the chief priest would enter that room. And he would only enter it on one special day each year.
Then David chose the men who would lead the music at the tent. They were responsible for the music in the worship of God. He chose some men to play instruments of music. He chose other men to praise the LORD in song.
The three chief singers were Heman, Asaph and Ethan. Heman was a grandson of Samuel. Asaph was not a brother of Heman because he was not from the same family. But they both came from the same ancestor Levi. The term ‘brother’ here means a partner as a singer (verse 39). Later in this book, Ethan has the name of Jeduthun. Their names appear in the titles of some Psalms (see Psalms 73 to 89).
The rest of the Levites also served in and round the LORD’s house. Some of them guarded the gates. Some of them took care of the equipment of the tent. Other Levites helped the priests. They killed the animals and prepared them for the priests.
God’s ark was a wooden box. Gold covered the wood on both the inside and the outside of the box (Exodus 25:10). In it, there was the book of the law that God gave to Moses. Also in the box were Aaron’s stick and a gold jar with the bread that God gave to Israel in the desert (Hebrews 9:4). The ark was in the most holy place in the tent and later in the most holy place in the temple. Only the chief priest would enter that room. And he would only enter it on one special day each year.
Then David chose the men who would lead the music at the tent. They were responsible for the music in the worship of God. He chose some men to play instruments of music. He chose other men to praise the LORD in song.
The three chief singers were Heman, Asaph and Ethan. Heman was a grandson of Samuel. Asaph was not a brother of Heman because he was not from the same family. But they both came from the same ancestor Levi. The term ‘brother’ here means a partner as a singer (verse 39). Later in this book, Ethan has the name of Jeduthun. Their names appear in the titles of some Psalms (see Psalms 73 to 89).
The rest of the Levites also served in and round the LORD’s house. Some of them guarded the gates. Some of them took care of the equipment of the tent. Other Levites helped the priests. They killed the animals and prepared them for the priests.
There were instruments and singers. David would throw his hands in the air just like he didn't care. He was so into music.... it embarrassed his wife. (2 Samuel 6:16) There was no organ or hymnal.
This review is from biblestudytools.com.
When the Levites were first ordained in the wilderness much of the work then appointed them lay in carrying and taking care of the tabernacle and the utensils of it, while they were in their march through the wilderness. In David’s time their number was increased; and, though the greater part of them was dispersed all the nation over, to teach the people the good knowledge of the Lord, yet those that attended the house of God were so numerous that there was not constant work for them all; and therefore David, by special commission and direction from God, new-modelled the Levites, as we shall find in the latter part of this book.
Here we are told what the work was which he assigned them.I. Singing-work, v. 31. David was raised up on high to be the sweet psalmist of Israel (2 Sa. 23:1 ), not only to pen psalms, but to appoint the singing of them in the house of the Lord (not so much because he was musical as because he was devout), and this he did after that the ark had rest.
While that was in captivity, obscure, and unsettled, the harps were hung upon the willow-trees: singing was then thought unseasonable (when the bridegroom is taken away they shall fast); but the harps being resumed, and the songs revived, at the bringing up of the ark, they were continued afterwards. For we should rejoice as much in the prolonging of our spiritual privileges as in the restoring of them. When the service of the ark was much superseded by its rest they had other work cut out for them (for Levites should never be idle) and were employed in the service of song.
Thus when the people of God come to the rest which remains for them above they shall take leave of all their burdens and be employed in everlasting songs. These singers kept up that service in the tabernacle till the temple was built, and then they waited on their office there, v. 32. When they came to that stately magnificent house they kept as close both to their office and to their order as they had done in the tabernacle. It is a pity that the preferment of the Levites should ever make them remiss in their business.
We have here an account of the three great masters who were employed in the service of the sacred song, with their respective families; for they waited with their children, that is, such as descended from them or were allied to them, v. 33. Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were the three that were appointed to this service, one of each of the three houses of the Levites, that there might be an equality in the distribution of this work and honour, and that every one might know his post, such an admirable order was there in this choir service.
Of the house of Kohath was Heman with his family (v. 33), a man of a sorrowful spirit, if it be the same Heman that penned the 88th psalm, and yet a singer. He was the grandson of Samuel the prophet, the son of Joel, of whom it is said that he walked not in the ways of Samuel; but it seems, though the son did not, the grandson did. Thus does the blessing entailed on the seed of the upright sometimes pass over one generation and fasten upon the next. And this Heman, though the grandson of that mighty prince, did not think it below him to be a precentor in the house of God. David himself was willing to be a door-keeper. Rather we may look upon this preferment of the grandson in the church as a recompense for the humble modest resignation which the grandfather made of his authority in the state. Many such ways God has of making up his people’s losses and balancing their disgraces. Perhaps David, in making Heman the chief, had some respect to his old friend Samuel.
Of the house of Gershom was Asaph, called his brother, because in the same office and of the same tribe, though of another family. He was posted on Heman’s right hand in the choir, v. 39. Several of the psalms bear his name, being either penned by him or tuned by him as the chief musician. It is plain that he was the penman of some psalms; for we read of those that praised the Lord in the words of David and of Asaph. He was a seer as well as a singer, 2 Chr. 29:30 . His pedigree is traced up here, through names utterly unknown, as high as Levi, v. 39-43.
Of the house of Merari was Ethan (v. 44), who was appointed to Heman’s left hand. His pedigree is also traced up to Levi, v. 47.
Here we are told what the work was which he assigned them.I. Singing-work, v. 31. David was raised up on high to be the sweet psalmist of Israel (2 Sa. 23:1 ), not only to pen psalms, but to appoint the singing of them in the house of the Lord (not so much because he was musical as because he was devout), and this he did after that the ark had rest.
While that was in captivity, obscure, and unsettled, the harps were hung upon the willow-trees: singing was then thought unseasonable (when the bridegroom is taken away they shall fast); but the harps being resumed, and the songs revived, at the bringing up of the ark, they were continued afterwards. For we should rejoice as much in the prolonging of our spiritual privileges as in the restoring of them. When the service of the ark was much superseded by its rest they had other work cut out for them (for Levites should never be idle) and were employed in the service of song.
Thus when the people of God come to the rest which remains for them above they shall take leave of all their burdens and be employed in everlasting songs. These singers kept up that service in the tabernacle till the temple was built, and then they waited on their office there, v. 32. When they came to that stately magnificent house they kept as close both to their office and to their order as they had done in the tabernacle. It is a pity that the preferment of the Levites should ever make them remiss in their business.
We have here an account of the three great masters who were employed in the service of the sacred song, with their respective families; for they waited with their children, that is, such as descended from them or were allied to them, v. 33. Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were the three that were appointed to this service, one of each of the three houses of the Levites, that there might be an equality in the distribution of this work and honour, and that every one might know his post, such an admirable order was there in this choir service.
Of the house of Kohath was Heman with his family (v. 33), a man of a sorrowful spirit, if it be the same Heman that penned the 88th psalm, and yet a singer. He was the grandson of Samuel the prophet, the son of Joel, of whom it is said that he walked not in the ways of Samuel; but it seems, though the son did not, the grandson did. Thus does the blessing entailed on the seed of the upright sometimes pass over one generation and fasten upon the next. And this Heman, though the grandson of that mighty prince, did not think it below him to be a precentor in the house of God. David himself was willing to be a door-keeper. Rather we may look upon this preferment of the grandson in the church as a recompense for the humble modest resignation which the grandfather made of his authority in the state. Many such ways God has of making up his people’s losses and balancing their disgraces. Perhaps David, in making Heman the chief, had some respect to his old friend Samuel.
Of the house of Gershom was Asaph, called his brother, because in the same office and of the same tribe, though of another family. He was posted on Heman’s right hand in the choir, v. 39. Several of the psalms bear his name, being either penned by him or tuned by him as the chief musician. It is plain that he was the penman of some psalms; for we read of those that praised the Lord in the words of David and of Asaph. He was a seer as well as a singer, 2 Chr. 29:30 . His pedigree is traced up here, through names utterly unknown, as high as Levi, v. 39-43.
Of the house of Merari was Ethan (v. 44), who was appointed to Heman’s left hand. His pedigree is also traced up to Levi, v. 47.
When they weren't working on something else assigned as their duties.... they were to provide music. They wrote songs [Psalms] and celebrated the good stuff..... and apparently they sang the blues too.... lamenting their losses and balancing their disgraces.
David danced with a total lack of abandon, apparently. He embarrassed his wife with his music and gyrations. He must have been a real Elvis..... for his time.... It's fitting that he should appoint the band for the Temple.
Heman, Asaph, and Ethan are listed here as the trio..... I wonder if they will stay out of trouble. A lot of musicians are lured away by the glory..... it's hard not to adore being adored.
