1 Chronicles 25 - Clarke's commentary and critical notes on the Bible

Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was: David and the captains of the host - The chiefs of those who formed the several orders: not military captains.

Should prophesy - Should accompany their musical instruments with prayer and singing.

Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king. Which prophesied - Sung hymns and prayed. But the Targum understands this of prophesying in the proper sense of the term; and therefore says, "Who prophesied by the Holy Spirit." Jarchi is of the same opinion and quotes the case of Elisha, 2 Kings 3:15; While the minstrel played, the hand of the Lord [i.e., the spirit of prophecy] was upon him.

Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD. The sons of Jeduthun - six - That is, six with their father, otherwise, there are but five. Hence it is said, they were under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, etc.

Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth:

All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. To lift up the horn - "The horn of prophecy," says Jarchi; "to sound with the trumpet in the words of prophecy before the Lord." - T.

Three daughters - These also were employed among the singers.

All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.

So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight. Two hundred fourscore and eight - That it twelve classes of twenty-four Levites each; for two hundred and eighty-eight divided by twelve quotes twenty-four.

And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.

Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and sons were twelve: For Asaph to Joseph - His first-born.

The second to Gedaliah - The first-born of Jeduthun.

The third to Zaccur, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: The third to Zaccur - The first-born of Asaph.

The fourth to Izri, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: The fourth to Izri - The second son of Jeduthun.

The fifth to Nethaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: The fifth to Nethaniah - The third son of Asaph. Thus we find the lot did not run in any particular kind of order.

The sixth to Bukkiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The seventh to Jesharelah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: Jesharelah - Supposed to be the same with Uzziel, son of Heman.

The eighth to Jeshaiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The ninth to Mattaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The tenth to Shimei, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The eleventh to Azareel, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The twelfth to Hashabiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The thirteenth to Shubael, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The fourteenth to Mattithiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The fifteenth to Jeremoth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The sixteenth to Hananiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The seventeenth to Joshbekashah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The eighteenth to Hanani, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The nineteenth to Mallothi, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The twentieth to Eliathah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The one and twentieth to Hothir, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The two and twentieth to Giddalti, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The three and twentieth to Mahazioth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

The four and twentieth to Romamtiezer, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve. Romamti-ezer - Both these names belong to the same person. He is mentioned also 1 Chronicles 25:4.

With this immense parade of noise and show, (David's own invention), Christianity has nothing to do.

Commentary on the Bible, by Adam Clarke [1831].