Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Chronicles 25

1 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 prophecy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals; and the number of the workmen , according to their service, was;

Both of the Civil and Sacred Host: to wit, all the Princes of Israel, with the Priests and the Levites, whom David gathered together, ch▪ 23. 2. for this very end that in their Presence and with their Approbation and Consent all these things might be established; who are here fitly called the Captains of the Host; for the Princes were, under David, the Chief Captains or Commanders of the Militia or Trained Bands of the Kingdom; and as the Levites are called an Host, and the Lords Host, Numb. 4. 23. and, elsewhere because of their Number and Order in Holy Ministrations; so these Priests and Levites were the Captains and Governours of the rest.

i. e. Distributed them into their several Ranks and Orders: Which, though chiefly done by David as a Prophet, and by Divine Direction, as hath been oft observed, yet is here imputed in part to the Captains of the Host, because it was done with their Concurrence and Approbation.

i. e. To the Service of God under the Conduct and Command of these Persons.

i. e. Praise God by singing the Psalms of David, (of which see on ch. 16. 7.) and other sacred Songs made by themselves, who were Prophets in some sort, or by other Prophets or Holy Men of God. Or this Action of theirs is called prophecying, because it had been formerly performed by the Prophets and the Sons of the Prophets: of which see 1 Sam. 10. 5. & 19. 20. 2 King. 3. 15. 1 Chron. 15. 19.

Of the Persons employed in this Sacred Work.

Marginal references: Ch. 6. 33, 39. 2 Chr. 29. 30.; ver. 5.; 2 Chr▪ 35. 15.

2 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 .

i. e. Under his Oversight and Direction.

In such Manner and Order as David appointed.

Marginal references: Otherwise called Iesharelah, ver. 14.; Heb. by the hands of the king.

3 Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun ; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshajah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp to give thanks and to praise the LORD.

Or, his sons, (the construct Form being used before the absolute, of which there are Examples in Scripture) Ieduthun, called by his Fathers Name: Otherwise they are not six; unless either Ieduthun their Father be included in that Number: or Shimei mentioned v. 17. be one of them, as many Learned Men think. See the like, 1 Chron. 24. 23.

Marginal references: Or, Izri, ver. 11.; with Shimei mentioned ver. 17.

5 All these were the sons of Heman the kings seer in the words of God , to lift up the horn . And God gave to Heman fourteen sons, and three daughters.

Or, Prophet, which is the same thing, 1 Sam. 9. 9. Either he was a Prophet as well as a Singer: or he is thus called because he prophesied in the sence designed, v. 1. And he is called the kings seer, either because the King took special Delight in him: or because he fiequently attended upon the King in his Palace, executing his Sacred Office there, while the rest were constantly employed in the Tabernacle.

i. e. To sing such Divine Songs as were inspired by God to the Prophets or Holy Men of God.

Either 1. Metaphorically, to extol and praise God for exalting the horn, (i. e. the Power and Kingdom) of David; of which Phrase see Psal. 92. 10. & 132. 17. Or rather 2. properly, to praise God with the sound of a Trumpet (as was usual, as 2 Chron. 5. 12. & 13. 12.) or some other Musical Instrument made of Horn, which being a Martial kind of Musick, might be most grateful to Davids Martial Spirit: though he was also skilled in other Instruments of Musick which he used in the House of God, as is expressed in the next Verse.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 word]

6 All these were under the hands of their father, [illegible: 1+ letters]or song in the house of God, with cymbals, psalteries and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the kings order, to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman .

i. e. Under his Direction, as v. 2.

Heb. by the hands of the King, and of Asaph, Ieduthun, and Heman, i. e. According to the Kings Appointment, and under the Conduct of Asaph, Ieduthun, and Heman.

Marginal references: Heb. by the hands of the king.

7 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 .

Who were so skilful that they were able to teach others.

Which together with their Scholars make up the 4000 mentioned ch. 23. 5.

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

i. e. A Ward, or Rank, or Course of Levites answerable to one of the Priests, upon whom the Levites were to wait in their holy Ministrations, ch. 23. 28.

Without any respect to their difrent Ages or Abilities.

9 Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph , the second to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and his sons were twelve.

i. e. For the Family of Asaph, of which Ioseph was. Here that Clause, he, his sons, and his brethren were twelve, is to be understood, as it is expressed in all the following verses, otherwise they do not make up that number of 288. mentioned v. 7.

Heb. he: which word being here expresly, is rightly understood and supplied in the rest.