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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 25:1-7

Observe, I. Singing the praises of God is here called prophesying (1 Chron. 25:1-3), not that all those who were employed in this service were honoured with the visions of God, or could foretel things to come. Heman indeed is said to be the king's seer in the words of God (1 Chron. 25:5); but the psalms they sang were composed by the prophets, and many of them were prophetical; and the edification of the church was intended in it, as well as the glory of God. In Samuel's time singing the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 25:8-31

Twenty-four persons are named in the beginning of this chapter as sons of those three great men, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun. Ethan was the third (1 Chron. 6:44), but probably he was dead before the establishment was perfected and Jeduthun came in his room. [Or perhaps Ethan and Jeduthun were two names for the same person.] Of these three Providence so ordered it that Asaph had four sons, Jeduthun six [only five are mentioned 1 Chron. 25:3; Shimei, mentioned 1 Chron. 25:17; is supposed to have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 25:6

All these were under the hands of their father, for song in the house of the Lord ,.... Instructed and directed by him in the performance of the service in the temple: with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God ; which were the three principal instruments of music used in the temple service: according to the king's order, to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman ; who ordered and directed them what to sing, what tunes to make use of, and what instruments to play... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 25:7

So the number of them, with their brethren ,.... Who each of them had twelve with them, as after reckoned: that were instructed in the songs of the Lord ; taught how to sing them: even all that were cunning ; expert and well skilled in the science of singing: was two hundred and eighty eight ; for there being twenty four classes answerable to those of the priests, and twelve in each class, twelve times twenty four makes two hundred and eighty eight. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 25:8

And they cast lots, ward against ward ,.... That is, which ward or course of the singers should answer to and attend on the first ward or course of the priests in their weekly service, and which the second, and so on: as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar ; no regard was had to the age of a person, his being the firstborn or a younger brother, or to his office and station, whether as a teacher or a learner in the science of singing; he was made the head of a course,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 25:9-31

Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph ,.... His second son to the preference of the firstborn, 1 Chronicles 25:2 , the second to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and sons were twelve : and which must also be understood of Joseph, and supplied to him; for those being both in one verse, as Jarchi observes, it is but once mentioned, but must be supplied, or otherwise the number of two hundred and eighty eight could not be made up; the same is observed of all the other lots and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Chronicles 25:7

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. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Chronicles 25:9

For Asaph to Joseph - His first-born. The second to Gedaliah - The first-born of Jeduthun. read more

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