seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
1 Chronicles 15:11 Then David summoned Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab the Levites. 12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate yourselves and bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. 13 It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.” 14 So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the Lord.
16 David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.
17 So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his relatives, Asaph son of Berekiah; and from their relatives the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah; 18 and with them their relatives next in rank: Zechariah,(b) Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel,[c] the gatekeepers.
19 The musicians Heman, Asaph and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; 20 Zechariah, Jaaziel,[d] Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah were to play the lyres according to alamoth,[e] 21 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah were to play the harps, directing according to sheminith.[f] 22 Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it.
23 Berekiah and Elkanah were to be doorkeepers for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer the priests were to blow trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also to be doorkeepers for the ark.
16 David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.
17 So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his relatives, Asaph son of Berekiah; and from their relatives the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah; 18 and with them their relatives next in rank: Zechariah,(b) Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel,[c] the gatekeepers.
19 The musicians Heman, Asaph and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; 20 Zechariah, Jaaziel,[d] Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah were to play the lyres according to alamoth,[e] 21 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah were to play the harps, directing according to sheminith.[f] 22 Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it.
23 Berekiah and Elkanah were to be doorkeepers for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer the priests were to blow trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also to be doorkeepers for the ark.
b. 1 Chronicles 15:18 Three Hebrew manuscripts and most Septuagint manuscripts (see also verse 20 and 16:5); most Hebrew manuscripts Zechariah son and or Zechariah, Ben and
c. 1 Chronicles 15:18 Hebrew; Septuagint (see also verse 21) Jeiel and Azaziah
d. 1 Chronicles 15:20 See verse 18; Hebrew Aziel, a variant of Jaaziel.
e. 1 Chronicles 15:20 Probably a musical term
f. 1 Chronicles 15:21 Probably a musical term
The easy English site has a lot to say about these verses.
Zadok and Abiathar were the two chief priests. Zadok was a descendant of Eleazar, who was a son of Aaron. Abiathar was a descendant of Ithamar, who was also a son of Aaron. David called for these two priests and the 6 leaders of the Levites.
David told the Levites to make themselves ready to worship God. They had to prepare themselves for this sacred task. They probably had to make special sacrifices. And they made preparations like the preparations in Exodus chapter 19. On that occasion, the people had to wash their bodies and their clothes. And they could not have sex for three days (Exodus 19:14-15 and 19:22). After these preparations, the Levites would be ready to carry the ark of God. And they would bring it to the place that David had prepared for it.
The first time, the Levites did not carry the ark of God. They had not asked God how to do it. They should not have put it on an ox cart. And Uzzah actually touched the ark. God’s law forbade anyone to do that.
This time the priests and Levites prepared themselves for the task. Then they carried the ark by its poles on their shoulders. This was the proper way to carry the ark of God (Numbers 4:5-15).
As David asked them, the Levites appointed their musicians. They would lead the people in songs of joy. They must bring the ark of God to Jerusalem with a glad procession.
Heman was the son of Joel and grandson of Samuel the prophet. With him were Asaph and Ethan. These three were the chief musicians in the time of David.
‘Alamoth’ was a kind of song or harmony in music. It was music for the female voices. So, these harps would sound like the voices of girls. The word alamoth is in the title of Psalm 46.
‘Sheminith’ means an 8th, a range of 8 sounds in music. It is the lowest sounds that men can sing. So, the lyres played the lower sounds while the harps played the higher sounds. Sheminith is in the titles of Psalms 6 and 12.
One of those who played the lyres was Obed-Edom. He had kept the ark of God in his house for the past three months. Also, he was a guard for the ark (verse 18).
7 priests would play silver trumpets in front of the ark. It seems that the sound of the trumpets was the signal to move. When the Israelite camp moved in the desert, the priests sounded the trumpets. When the people had to come together, the priests sounded the trumpets. When the army had to go to war, the signal was the sound of the trumpets. This was a rule that Moses gave to the Israelites (see Numbers 10:1-10)
David told the Levites to make themselves ready to worship God. They had to prepare themselves for this sacred task. They probably had to make special sacrifices. And they made preparations like the preparations in Exodus chapter 19. On that occasion, the people had to wash their bodies and their clothes. And they could not have sex for three days (Exodus 19:14-15 and 19:22). After these preparations, the Levites would be ready to carry the ark of God. And they would bring it to the place that David had prepared for it.
The first time, the Levites did not carry the ark of God. They had not asked God how to do it. They should not have put it on an ox cart. And Uzzah actually touched the ark. God’s law forbade anyone to do that.
This time the priests and Levites prepared themselves for the task. Then they carried the ark by its poles on their shoulders. This was the proper way to carry the ark of God (Numbers 4:5-15).
As David asked them, the Levites appointed their musicians. They would lead the people in songs of joy. They must bring the ark of God to Jerusalem with a glad procession.
Heman was the son of Joel and grandson of Samuel the prophet. With him were Asaph and Ethan. These three were the chief musicians in the time of David.
‘Alamoth’ was a kind of song or harmony in music. It was music for the female voices. So, these harps would sound like the voices of girls. The word alamoth is in the title of Psalm 46.
‘Sheminith’ means an 8th, a range of 8 sounds in music. It is the lowest sounds that men can sing. So, the lyres played the lower sounds while the harps played the higher sounds. Sheminith is in the titles of Psalms 6 and 12.
One of those who played the lyres was Obed-Edom. He had kept the ark of God in his house for the past three months. Also, he was a guard for the ark (verse 18).
7 priests would play silver trumpets in front of the ark. It seems that the sound of the trumpets was the signal to move. When the Israelite camp moved in the desert, the priests sounded the trumpets. When the people had to come together, the priests sounded the trumpets. When the army had to go to war, the signal was the sound of the trumpets. This was a rule that Moses gave to the Israelites (see Numbers 10:1-10)
I didn't know what to call this study.... I had "No Sex!" up there.... They had to get cleaned up and they couldn't have sex for three days..... and every movie I've ever seen shows the great quiet sex scene before the big fight, war, speech, or other big event. It was David who yelled at them and made them get back into the law... read the instructions for transportation of that box.... and get it right this time!
The other title I thought about using was "Two Part Harmony". I notice the description of two part harmony in these verses. According to the commentary.... they were playing instruments tuned to different pitches. Alamoth - Soprano and Sheminith - Alto. The Hallelujah chorus my high school choir sang definitely used that two part harmony..... I was an alto.
I think it odd that these verses discuss the need for abstinence from sex and musicians in the same chapter. I was married to a musician.... matter of fact.... I was married to a musician family. We'd be watching TV or having a conversation and someone would get up and grab an instrument.... for no reason... totally out of context.... and the rest would follow.... pretty soon.... I'd be in the middle of a concert.... Music and Sex go together.....
David had to get the priests' and musicians' back in the business at hand. He wanted that Ark brought to the place he set up for it. He wanted them to get out the instructions and whatever tools they needed.... poles, trumpets, and harps.... and get that Ark back to Jerusalem where it belonged.
