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.
1 Chronicles
Verse 2. King, who sat in a separate tribune. Asaph presided in the royal city, at court, and in the tabernacle, while some of the singers were fixed at Gabaon. Calmet. 16:7, 37 and 41. Calmet.—Hebrew may signify, “at the king’s command. Pagnin.—He sometimes condescended to direct the singers, verse 6. Bible.
1 Chronicles
Verse 3. Of Idithun; or, altering the punctuation, ( D.) “Now the sons of Idithun, the first-born, Godolias ( Bible.) Sori, or Isari, verse 11. Thus, the number six, will be complete: otherwise we much acknowledge that Idithun, the father, is counted with his children; or that a name is lost, perhaps that of Semeias, (verse 17. Calmet.) as Septuagint Alex. has Semei before Hasabias. Bible.—Harp, (kinnor.) This was the distinctive instrument of this band, as the horn was of Heman’s. Calmet.
1 Chronicles
Verse 5. Seer; a title usually given to the real prophets, who foresee future things. Menochius.—Gad has this title. 2 Chronicles 24:11. But Heman’s office was to proclaim the words of God, with the sound of the horn. This musician had formerly been fixed at Gabaon, Calmet. 16:41. Calmet.—To lift up the horn, or to sing those psalms, which regarded the kingdom of David, and of Christ, as others were composed for the instruction of the people. Tirinus.—Daughters. These are specified, only because they joined with their brethren, in singing in the temple. Abul. q. 14. Menochius.—At least, we find that there were bands of young women, in the solemn procession. Bible. Calmet. 15:20, Psalms 67:26. Calmet.
1 Chronicles
Verse 6. Near. Hebrew “under the hand of the king,” who presided over a band of musicians, as well as Asaph; ( Calmet.) or he directed all, particularly giving his instructions to Asaph, and so forth—To wit in not in Hebrew “by the order of the king to Asaph.” Bible.
1 Chronicles
Verse 7. Eight, comprising the twenty-four princes, and the eleven secondary masters of each of the bands, or twelve times twenty-four, verse 1.
1 Chronicles
Verse 8. Unlearned. Hebrew and Septuagint “the scholars.” Bible.—After the singers had been distributed into twenty-four classes, pretty equal in number, lots decided which of then should serve first, ( Menochius.) as had been done with the priests. Calmet. 24:31. See Calmet. 26:13.
1 Chronicles
Verse 9. Asaph. Add, “to him, and ( Bible.) to his sons, and his brethren, twelve,” who taught the rest. Unless these twelve be admitted, ( Tirinus.) as in the sequel, ( Bible.) the number 288 will not be found, verse 7. Tirinus.—Septuagint is very confused: “And the first (entire) lot of his sons and brethren came out to Asaph, of Joseph, Godolias: the second Enia, his brethren, and his sons, twelve.” Hebrew “the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph; the second to,” and so forth Prot. In all the subsequent verses they read, “he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve.” Why Asaph should be mentioned any more than Idithun or Heman, does not appear. Their children are placed indiscriminately by lot. Bible.