1 Chronicles 25:7

_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._ No JFB commentary on this verse....

Verse 1 Chronicles 25:7. _TWO HUNDRED FOURSCORE AND EIGHT._] That it twelve classes of _twenty-four_ Levites each; for _two hundred and_ _eighty-eight_ divided by _twelve_ quotes _twenty-four_....

WITH THEIR BRETHREN - i. e., “with others of the tribe of Levi.” Each son of Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman, was at the head of a band of twelve skilled musicians, consisting partly of his own sons, partly of Levites belonging to other families 1 Chronicles 25:9. The 24 band-leaders, together with their bands, formed a body of 288 persons (24 x 12 =288) Besides these, we hear of there being above 3,700 singers, who were probably divided, like the trained musicians, into 24 courses, which must have contained about 155 each 1 Chronicles 23:5....

EXPOSITION 1 CHRONICLES 25:1 The families of the three chiefs in song. 1 CHRONICLES 25:1 The twenty-four courses of those who were to be engaged in the temple service as singers and musicians fill up this chapter. They are to be taken from the three great families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun. For THE CAPTAINS OF THE HOST, as designating those who superintended the order of temple worship, see 1 Chronicles 22:17; 1Ch 23:2; 1 Chronicles 24:6; as also...

SO THE NUMBER OF THEM, WITH THEIR BRETHREN,.... Who each of them had twelve with them, as after reckoned: THAT WERE INSTRUCTED IN THE SONGS OF THE LORD; taught how to sing them: [EVEN] ALL THAT WERE CUNNING; expert and well skilled in the science of singing: WAS TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY EIGHT; for there being twenty four classes answerable to those of the priests, and twelve in each class, twelve times twenty four makes two hundred and eighty eight....

4. THE SINGERS AND MUSICIANS OF THE TEMPLE CHAPTER 25 _ 1. Sons of Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman (1 Chronicles 25:1)_ 2. Their division by Lot into twenty-four (1 Chronicles 25:8) As we have seen before, Asaph, Jeduthun (Ethan) and Heman were the master leaders in song and music; their service was eminently spiritual, for we read “they should prophesy.” Heman especially is called the king's seer in the words of God. This is a significant expression. How much there is in what is termed “worship”, which has nothing whatever of the words of God in it. In most of the songs used in our times there is little of the words of God and many contain unscriptural and sentimental phrases. Israel's worship in song and music was to be spiritual, prophesying and in the words

THE TEMPLE SINGERS AND MUSICIANS. The musicians, according to the Chronicler, also consisted of twenty-four courses. 1 Chronicles 25:1. Asaph... HEMAN. JEDUTHUN: see note on 1 Chronicles 15:17. WHO SHOULD PROPHESY WITH HARPS...: according to the Chronicler the Temple musician ranked with the prophet; but he had authority for doing so, since it is evident from 1 Samuel 10:5 f. that the playing of musical instruments was associated with the prophetic office. In 2 Chronicles 20:14 it is said that the spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, one of the sons of Asaph....

SONGS OF THE LORD. Not of man. CUNNING. skilful. See note on 1 Chronicles 22:15. TWO HUNDRED FOURSCORE AND EIGHT. (288. 24. 12.) Twelve (the number of Governmental perfection) is. factor in all that pertains to government. Compare 1 Chronicles 27:1. See App-10....

_in the songs of the Lord_ R.V. IN SINGING UNTO THE LORD. _cunning_ R.V. SKILFUL; as 1 Chronicles 15:22, where the same Heb. word is used. _two hundred fourscore and eight_ The number corresponds with the twenty-four courses of twelve members each about to be enumerated....

WAS TWO HUNDRED FOURSCORE AND EIGHT— That is, after the classes were appointed from the sons of Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman, as well as from those which each one introduced into his class: for the sons of those three, when David appointed the classes of the singers, were no more than twenty-four....