Verse 1
1 Chronicles 25:1. And captains
— All the princes of Israel,
with the priests and the
Levites, whom David gathered
together (1 Chronicles 23:2) for
this very end, that, 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 of the
militia of the kingdom; and as
the Levites are called a host,
and the Lord’s host, because of
their number and order in holy
ministrations, so these priests
and Levites were the captains
and governors of the rest.
Separated — Distributed them
into their several ranks: which,
though chiefly done by David as
a prophet, and by divine
direction, yet is imputed in
part to the captains of the
host, because it was done with
their concurrence and
approbation. The service — To
the service of God, under the
conduct of these persons. Who
should prophesy — Praise God by
singing the psalms of David, and
other sacred songs made by
themselves, who were prophets,
or by other prophets or holy men
of God. The number of the
workmen according to their
service — Although this sacred
work of praising God is here
termed service, and the persons
employed in it workmen, yet it
is the greatest liberty and
pleasure to be engaged in it.
But the expressions intimate
that it is our duty to make a
business of it, and stir up all
that is within us to it; and
that in our present state of
corruption and infirmity, it
will not be done, as it should
be done, without labour and
struggle. We must take pains
with our hearts to bring and
keep them to this work, and to
engage all that is within us in
it. It is probable, Heman, Asaph,
and Jeduthun were bred up under
Samuel, and had their education
in the schools of the prophets,
of which he was the founder and
president. Then they were
pupils, now they come to be
masters. Those that would be
eminent must begin early and
take time to prepare themselves.
This good work, of singing God’s
praises, Samuel revived and set
on foot, but lived not to see it
brought to the perfection in
which it appears here. Solomon
perfects what David began. So
David perfects what Samuel
began. Let each in their day do
what they can for God and his
church, though they cannot carry
it so far as they would; when
they are gone, God can out of
stones raise up others, who
shall build upon their
foundation, and bring forth the
top-stone.
Verse 2-3
1 Chronicles 25:2-3. Under the
hands of Asaph — Under his
oversight and direction.
According to the order of the
king — In such manner and order
as David appointed. The sons of
Jeduthun, six — Jeduthun, their
father, being included in that
number; or Shimei, mentioned 1
Chronicles 25:17.
Verse 5
1 Chronicles 25:5. The king’s
seer — Or prophet. Either he was
a prophet as well as a singer;
or he is thus called because he
prophesied, or praised God, in
the sense designed 1 Chronicles
25:1. And he is called the
king’s seer, because the king
took special delight in him; or
because he frequently attended
the king in his palace,
executing his sacred office
there, while the rest were
employed in the tabernacle. In
the words of God — To sing such
divine songs as were inspired by
God to the prophets or holy men
of God. To lift up the horn — To
praise God with the sound of a
trumpet, or some other musical
instrument made of horn, which,
being a martial kind of music,
might be most grateful to
David’s martial spirit: though
he was also skilled in other
instruments of music which he
used in the house of God.
Verse 7
1 Chronicles 25:7. All that were
cunning — Who were so skilful
that they were able to teach
others; and, together with their
scholars, made up the four
thousand mentioned 1 Chronicles
23:5.
Verse 8
1 Chronicles 25:8. Ward against
ward — A course of Levites
answerable to one of the
priests, upon whom the Levites
were to wait in their holy
ministrations, 1 Chronicles
23:28. As well the teacher as
the scholar — Without any
respect to their different ages
or abilities.
Verse 9
1 Chronicles 25:9. To Joseph —
For the family of Asaph, of
which Joseph 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 two hundred and
eighty-eight, mentioned 1
Chronicles 25:7. |