Moreover, David and the captains of the army set apart for the service certain of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who were to prophesy with harps, with stringed instruments, and with cymbals. The number of those who did the work according to their service was:
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 1. Army; the chief magistrates of the state and of the church. Tirinus. Calmet. 24:6, 31.—The priests, and so forth were all divided into twenty-four classes, each having twelve masters to preside, verse 7. Calmet.—Idithun, or Ethan. Calmet. 6:44 and 15:19. Worthington. 3 Kennicott. 4:31.—The twenty-four sons of these three, who were chief musicians under David and Solomon, presided over the bands: eleven other inferior masters helped to instruct the rest, verse 9.—Prophecy, or play on instruments.—Harps. “Kinnor” means also the “guitar.” Calmet.—Vulg. has, lyras. Calmet. 15:16.—Psalteries. Hebrew “nebalim.” Menochius.—The Jews pretend that the singers were inspired commonly, when they sounded forth God’s praises in the temple, as Eliseus was, 4 Kennicott. 3:15. Lyran. E.—But they may be said to prophesy, because they sung the composition of the prophets. Worthington.—According. Hebrew “and the number of the workmen, (or experienced musicians) according to their service, was.” Bible.—The chiefs of the twenty-four bands were carefully selected.