1 Crônicas 25
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
1 Crônicas 25
NJB (LXX versing) Number and Services of Musicians The Musicians David Organizes the Musicians The Temple Musicians The Cantors 25:1-7 25:1-8 25:1-8 25:1 25:1 25:2 25:2 25:3 25:3 25:4-6 25:4-6a 25:6b-31 Divisions of Musicians 25:7 25:8 25:8 25:9-31 25:9-31 25:9-31 25:9-31 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS The Chronicler emphasizes the temple in Jerusalem the Levites' duties at the temple He was probably a Levite himself. Notice that music is designated "prophecy" (1 Chr. 25:1,2,3). This chapter documents the lineage of musicians going back to David, so as to give credibility to the descendants who returned from Babylonian exile (i.e., Cyrus' Decree, 539 B.C.). This information allowed them to serve the second temple in the post-exilic period. As 1 Chronicles 24 documented the 24 divisions of the priests and Levites, this chapter documents the 24 divisions of the musical families. Asaph Heman Jeduthun (or Ehtan)
1 Crônicas 25:1-7
25:1 "David" See item C. in Contextual Insights. ▣ "the commanders of the army" "the captains of the army" NRSV, JPSOA "the officers of the army" "the leaders of the Levites" "the religious officials" "the chief officers" "the commanders of the force" "the princes of the tribes" There is a question about two words. "the commanders" (BDB 978), which has a wide usage tribal leader (Peshitta) civil leader (REB) military leader (NASB) religious leader (TEV) "the army" (BDB 838) army (NASB, JPSOA) Levites (TEV, NJB) used of YHWH (see ) It seems that TEV and NJB fit best in this context. SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord OF HOSTS ▣ "set apart for the service" This VERB (BDB 95; KB 110; Hiphil IMPERFECT with waw) basically means "to divide" or "to separate." It is used in many senses. God in creation ‒ Gen. 1:4,6 sin causing a separation between humans and God ‒ Isa. 59:2 Israel set apart from other nations ‒ Lev. 20:24,26; Num. 16:9 Levites set apart for service ‒ Num. 8:14; Deut. 10:8; 1 Chr. 25:1 priests (sons of Aaron) set apart for service ‒ 1 Chr. 23:13 separating clean and unclean animals ‒ Lev. 20:25 ▣ "to prophesy" It is surprising that musical personnel are designated as "prophesying" (cf. 1 Chr. 25:1,2,3). Even the son of Heman is said to be the king's "seer." Music in worship was considered a divine act, as was revealing a message (1 Chr. 25:5, "according to the words of God"). Music revealed truths about God and His will! There was no theoretical distinction for Israel between the secular and the sacred. Life, all of life, was revealed and sacred! The Chronicler asserts a prophetic role to Levites several times. 2 Chr. 20:14-17 ‒ Jahaziel, a Levite prophesies 2 Chr. 29:30 ‒ Asaph, the seer 2 Chr. 34:30 is repeated in 2 Kgs. 23:2 where "prophet" replaces "Levites" 2 Chr. 35:15 ‒ Jeduthun the king's seer 2 Chr. 24:19-22 ‒ a priest acts as a prophet SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (OT) 25:2 "direction" This is literally "hands." This idiom is used in 1 Chr. 25:2,3, and 6 (twice). SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND ▣ "Asharelah" In 1 Chr. 25:14 the name is changed to "Jesharelah." 25:3 "Zeri" In 1 Chr. 25:11, the name is "Izri." ▣ "Shimei" The MT omits the name. The NASB follows the LXX. It does appear in 1 Chr. 25:17 and is necessary for the "six" of 1 Chr. 25:3. ▣ "in giving thanks and praising the Lord" These are parallel (hendiadys) and not separate aspects of worship (cf. 1 Chr. 16:4; 23:30; 2 Chr. 31:2; Ezra 3:11; Neh. 12:24,26). We praise God for Who He is and what He has done. Only then can we make requests in line with His character and His purpose for our lives! SPECIAL TOPIC: THANKSGIVING ▣ "the Lord" This is the covenant name for Israel's God, YHWH. SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, item D. 25:4 The NRSV; The New Oxford Annotated Bible, p. 531 (OT); AB, pp. 172-3; and The Jerusalem Bible, p. 525, all suggest that the nine names seem artificial and may reflect a series of phrases used in prayer (i.e., "Be gracious, O Lord, be gracious to me; You are my God, whom I magnify and exalt, my help when in trouble; I have fulfilled [or spoken], he has increased visions"). For exact names and lines of poetry, see Expositor's Bible Commentary, vol. 4, p. 425. ▣ "Uzziel" This name appears as "Azarel" in 1 Chr. 25:18. ▣ "Shebuel" This name appears as "Shubael" in 1 Chr. 25:20. ▣ "Jerimoth" This name appears as "Jeremoth" in 1 Chr. 25:22. 25:5 "the king's seer" Notice how prophecy and musical worship are linked. See full note at 1 Chr. 25:1. ▣ "exalt" The literal idiom is "lift up the horn." It can be understood in this context as exalting YHWH (JPSOA) YHWH exalting Heman (the usual usage, NASB, REB) Heman blowing the horn in worship or for worship (NJB) Heman exalting the king (LXX) If #2 is correct, then it reflects God's blessing on this man by his large number of children. SPECIAL TOPIC: HORNS USED BY ISRAEL 25:6 Because "three daughters" are mentioned at the end of 25:5, some scholars think 25:6 refers to their functioning in music ministry (singing or playing instruments; see Jewish Study Bible, p. 1758). 25:7 "288" This is such a small number compared to 1 Chr. 23:5 (i.e., 4,000) that this may refer only to the female singers (suggested in 1 Chr. 25:6).
1 Crônicas 25:8
25:8 "They cast lots" This is mentioned in 1 Chr. 24:5,31; 25:8; 26:13. It was a physical mechanism for determining God's will. SPECIAL TOPIC: URIM AND THUMMIM ▣ NASB, NRSV, NJB "pupil" "student" "beginners" LXX, JPSOA, REB "apprentice" "teacher" This term (BDB 541) appears only here in the OT. It is related to the VERB (BDB 540) "to learn." The lexicon BDB suggests "scholar," from its later Hebrew usage (Peshitta).