Jeduthun

Jed'uthun (Hebrew Yeduthun', ידוּתוּן or ידֻתוּן; also ידַיתוּן, Yedithun', in 1Ch 16:38; Ne 11:17; Ps 30; Ps 77, titles; lauder; Sept. 'Ιιιουᾷ, but 'ΙτΣο')5 in 1Ch 9:16), a Levite of Merari's family, and one of the four great masters of the Temple music appointed by David (1Ch 16:41-42; 1Ch 25:1, etc.). B.C. 1014. From a comparison of 1Ch 15:17,19, with 16:4i, 42; 25:1, 3, 6: 2Ch 35:15, some infer that he was identical with ETHAN SEE ETHAN (q.v.). In 2. Chronicles 35:15, he bears the title of "the king's seer." His sons sometimes appear as exercising the same office (1Ch 25:1,3), at others as door-keepers of the sacred edifice (1Ch 16:42). His name is also put for his descendants (Jeduthunites, a "sons of Jeduthun"), who occur later as singers and players on instruments (2Ch 35:15; Ne 11:17). In the latter signification it occurs in the superscriptions to Ps 39; Ps 62; Ps 77; but Aben- Ezra supposes it to denote here a species of song, and Jarchi a musical instrument. The form of the phrase (עִל ידֻתוּן, "upon Jeduthun") favors the latter interpretation (Gesenius, Thes. Heb. p. — 569), indicating a kind of instrumental music, or perhaps a style or tune of performance (Ewald, ieb. Poesie p. 176) invented or introduced by Jeduthun; a conclusion strengthened by finding a phrase indicative of authorship (לַידוּתוּן, "to Jeduthun," i.e. composed by him); ascribed in a similar connection (Psalm 39, title), since he is elsewhere recognized as an inspired character (2Ch 35:15). SEE MUSICIAN.