“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 prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:”
Army; the chief magistrates of the state and of the church. (Tirinus) (Chap. xxiv. 6, 31.) — The priests, &c., were all divided into twenty-four classes, each having twelve masters to preside, ver. 7. (Calmet) — Idithun, or Ethan, chap vi. 44., and xv. 19., (Worthington) and 3 Kings iv. 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, ver. 9. — Prophesy, or play on instruments. — Harps. “Kinnor” means also the “guitar.” (Calmet) — Vulgate has, lyras, chap. xv. 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 Kings iii. 15. (Lyranus; Estius) — 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.” (Haydock) — The chiefs of the twenty-four bands were carefully selected.
“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. Asarelah: otherwise called Jesharelah according: Heb. by the hands of the king”
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, chap. xvi. 7, 37, and 41. (Calmet) — Hebrew may signify, “at the king’s command.[“] (Pagnin) — He sometimes condescended to direct the singers, ver. 6. (Haydock)
“Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD. Zeri: or, Izri”
Of Idithun; or, altering the punctuation, (Du Hamel) “Now the sons of Idithun were Idithun, the first-born, Godolias (Haydock) Sori, or Isari, ver. 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, (ver. 17.; Calmet) as [the] Alexandrian Septuagint has Semei before Hasabias. (Haydock) — Harp, (kinnor.) This was the distinctive instrument of this band, as the horn was of Heman’s. (Calmet)
“All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. words: or, matters”
Seer; a title usually given to the real prophets, who foresee future things. (Menochius) — Gad has this title, 2 Paralipomenon xxiv. 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, chap. xvi. 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. (Abulensis, q. 14.) (Menochius) — At least, we find that there were bands of young women, in the solemn procession. (Haydock) (Chap. xv. 20., and Psalm lxvii. 26.) (Calmet)
“All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman. according: Heb. by the hands of the king”
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, &c. — To wit in not in Hebrew, “by the order of the king to Asaph.” (Haydock)
“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.”
Eight, comprising the twenty-four princes, and the eleven secondary masters of each of the bands, or twelve times twenty-four, ver. 1.
“And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.”
Unlearned. Hebrew and Septuagint, “the scholars.” (Haydock) — After the singers had been distributed into twenty-four classes, pretty equal in number, lots decided which of them should serve first, (Menochius) as had been done with the priests, chap. xxiv. 31. See chap. xxvi. 13.
“Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and sons were twelve :”
Asaph. Add, “to him, and (Haydock) to his sons, and his brethren, twelve,” who taught the rest. Unless these twelve be admitted, (Tirinus) as in the sequel, (Haydock) the number 288 will not be found, ver. 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,” &c. (Protestants) 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. (Haydock)
“The seventh to Jesharelah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve :”
Isreela; probably Oziel, ver. 4. (Calmet)