THE MUSICIANS According to some, the author of this book, having such care for the singers of praise, was most probably one of the singers in the temple (15” 16-22; 16: 4:-42; 2 Chronicles 15: 12-13; 29: 27-30; Ezra 3: 10; Nehemiah 12: 27). The persistence that the musicians had to be of the Levites appeared in (1 Chronicles 15-16); And the reference to the heads of the three families of the musicians came in (1 Chronicles 6: 31-47). Heman here was given prominence; while in (1 Chronicles 16) it was given only to Asaph. It is obvious that prominence among the three families of the musicians differed from one period to another after the return from captivity. The musicians were divided into 24 divisions, just like the priests and the Levites; each division had to work two weeks; with the confirmation that the temple should never be left without this service. Again he mentions the three families of the musicians: the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, The divisions of the singers, were known for their order and discipline, and were bound to the priests. Music was not considered as a secondary work in the Jewish liturgy; On the same level of the sacrifices; it was called “the sacrifice of praise”. Praise was an essential part in the worship of God, who brings joy to the hearts. While the Levites prepared the sacrifices, and the priests offered them, the musicians praised the Mighty God, to whom the sacrifices were offered. The first book of the chronicles, caring for the category of the singers among the Levites, dedicated a full chapter to them. The second book of the chronicles, likewise, cared for singing praise in the temple, and sometimes even on the battle field against the enemies, as Jehoshaphat did (2 Chronicles 20: 19). How beautiful was the verse: “They cast lots for their duty, the small as well as the great; the teacher with the student” (8). All honored one another; the great appreciates the zeal and swift movement of the minor, who cherishes the experience of the great. The teacher does not despise the student; who feels no jealousy toward the teacher, nor look at him as belonging to a backward generation of the past. 1- Heads of the musicians’ families 1 2- The sons of the heads of the musicians’ families 2 - 6 3- Skillful musicians 7 4- Casting lots to organize the service of the musicians in the temple 8 – 31 1- HEADS OF THE MUSICIANS’ FAMILIES: “Moreover David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, , and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals. And the number of the workmen according to their service was:” (1) “Those who should prophesy with harps, …” The book of the Chronicles was the only book to give the title of ‘prophet’ or ‘seer’ to the singers of praise in the temple. For the prophecy is not confined to revealing the future, but includes the singing of praise and preaching, as well. The author counts singing praise with the spirit of joy as a prophecy, for it presents to us the deposit of heaven. The use of this honorable title, namely, prophecy, to describe the ministry of singing praise in the sanctuary, is a warning against looking at it as a hobby. Indeed, not all who were engaged in this ministry have been honored by having divine visions, or by prophesying future events. It is said about Haman that he is “the king’s seer in the words of God” (5); But the psalms by which they sang praise were written by prophets, and several of them were prophesies, for the edification of the church, and glorifying God. Singing praise at the time of the prophet Samuel was called ‘prophesying’ (1 Samuel 10: 5; 19: 20). And probably that was what the apostle Paul meant by what he called ‘prophecy’ (1 Corinthians 11: 4; 14: 24). Speaking of Asaph, the author says, he “who prophesied according to the order of the king; And of Jeduthun, he says: “who prophesied with a harp to give thanks to, and praise the Lord” (2-3). And David, “the sweet psalmist of Israel” was called ‘a prophet” 1- THE SONS OF THE HEADS OF THE NUSICIANS’ FAMILIES: “Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah; the sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied according to the order of the king” (2) The fathers: Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, supervised this ministry (1); and the sons were under the direction of their fathers (2, 3, 6). This gives a role model to the fathers in how to raise their children, and instruct them on the ministry to God, and particularly to sing praise to His holy name; For nothing is more important or more honorable for the elders, than to transfer the talent to the generation to follow; And for the young to submit to the old, and to be guided by them, on account of that they have the experience and knowledge. It is most probable that Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, have been raised by Samuel in the schools of prophets that he established and headed . They were students, and now they are teachers. This very important task to praise the Lord, initiated by Samuel, was consummated by David, then by Solomon. I wish all do their best for the sake of ministering to God and the church, even if they do not live long enough to see the ultimate fruits of their endeavor; As after their departure, God is able ‘to set out of the stones’ those who can consummate the work they initiated. “Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp to give thanks and praise to the Lord” (3) To glorify and honor God; “to give thanks and praise to the Lord” (3) were the main purpose of using the music in the temple, whether by voice or by musical instruments; which conforms to the continuation of the tradition in the church of Christ, namely, of “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5: 19) “Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, and Mahazioth” (4) “All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer in the words of God, to exalt his horn. For God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters” (5) “All these were under the direction of their father for the music in the house of the Lord, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthum, and Heman, were under the authority of the king” (6) “Under the authority of the king” (2 and 6). David as a prophet cared to organize and to put in order the old and the new divine ministry, which was a role model for everyone of authority, to use it to spread the worship and the teachings of the Lord Christ. 3- SKILLFUL MUSICIANS: “So the number of them with their brethren who were instructed in the songs of the Lord, all who were skillful, was two hundred and eighty-eight” (7) Beside the sons of those great men, there were other Levites they called their brethren, probably on account of their longing to join their ranks; those who learned how to praise the Lord, and became skillful in it. Their number reached 288 singers, and musicians who played music on cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps (6-7): Although this number of skillful musicians were large enough to minister in the house of the Lord; following the lead of king David who was always preoccupied with writing divine poetry and psalms to praise the Lord, yet it was however small, compared to the 4000 whom David appointed to praise the Lord (1 Chronicles 23: 5). … Where have the rest gone? They have probably been distributed all over the kingdom to supervise this ministry everywhere. For, although sacrifices, according to the law of Moses, were offered only in one place; the psalms of David could be sung everywhere. 4- CASTING LOTS TO ORGANIZE THE SERVICE OF THE MUSICIANS IN THE TEMPLE: “And they cast lots for their duty, the small as well as the great, the teacher with the student” (8) Twenty-four persons were mentioned at the beginning of this book, the sons of three great men: Asaphj, Heman, and Jeduthun. Although Ethan was the third (6: 44); yet he probably died before establishing this system, and was replaced by Jeduthun, or probably Ethan and Jeduthun were two names of one and the same person. According to the will of God, Asaph had four sons; and Jeduthun had six sons, (five of whom were mentioned in verse 3, but it is assumed that ‘Shimei; mentioned in verse 17 was the fifth); and Heman had 14 sons, the total to be 24 sons (2, 4), qualified and called for service. But now the question was by what order will they serve? That was established by casting lots to avoid any tendency to competition on the priority, which is a sin that easily could dwell upon many. The lot was cast without partiality to divide them into 24 divisions, on the same level, the small as well as the great, the teacher with the student, regardless of the age, or the grade they had in their study of music. Everything was left to the ordinance of God (8), before whom all are equal, without any consideration of priority or discernment (See Mathew 20: 23). He often raised the younger over the older. The singers were divided into 24 divisions to conform to the 24 divisions of the Levites (24: 7-18). . “Now the first lot for Asaph came out for Joseph, the second for Gedaliah, him with his brethren, and sons, twelve” (9) “the third for Zaccur, his sons and his brethren, twelve” (10) “the fourth for Jizri, his sons and his brethren, twelve” (11) “the fifth for Nethaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve” (12) “the sixth for Bukkiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve” (13) “the seventh for Jesharelah, his sons and his brethren, twelve” (14) “the eighth for Jeshaiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve” (15) “the ninth for Mattaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve” (16) “the tenth for Shimei, his sons and his brethren, twelve” (17) “the eleventh for Azarel, his sons and his brethren, twelve” (18) “the twelfth for Hashabiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve” (19) “the thirteenth for Shubael, his sons and his brethren, twelve” (20) “the fourteenth for Mattithiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve” (21) “the fifteenth for Jeremoth, his sons and his brethren, twelve” (22) “the sixteenth for Hananiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve” (23) “the seventeenth for Joshbekashah, his son and his brethren, twelve” (24) “the eighteenth for Hanani, his sons and his brethren, twelve” (25) “the nineteenth for Mallothi, his sons and his brethren, twelve” (26) the twentieth for Eliathah, his sons and his brethren, twelve” (27) “the twenty-first for hothir, his sons and his brethren, twelve” (28) “the twenty-second for Giddalti, his sons and his brethren, twelve” (29) “the twenty-third forMahazioth, his sons and his brethren, twelve” (30) “the twenty-fourth forRomamti-Ezer, his ons and his brethren, twelve” (31) OF THE SAYINGS OF THE FATHERS CONCERNING THE MUSIC: According to St. John Chrysostom, together with many of the fathers of the church, like St. (Mar) Jacob El-Serougi, man is a musical being, and music has its living role in man’s life since his childhood until the last breath in his life, whatever is his age, position, or education. Proclaiming the role of the spirit of discernment in the life of the true believer, St. John Chrysostom says that drawing the soul to a certain kind of music separates the children of God from those of the devil. + We need to learn music to give sweetness and purity to our behavior … Refraining from music is wrong. + We are trained for peace and not for war. While war needs great preparations, peace and love, are two tranquil sisters who need no weapons, nor huge expenses. While many peoples use military music to stir up the spirit of war, the Christians use the Word of God as a tool for peace. + I may call him ‘educated’, who puts the truth in everything he does. In geometry, music, language, and even in philosophy itself, he chooses what is of benefit, according to faith. (St. Clement of Alexandria) + A harp cannot give music by itself, and stays mute and silent, unless someone plays on it with his fingers to wake up music in it, The string of the harp is the soul, which stays silent, until you, O Lord, strike on it to produce exalted sound of music to glorify You. You are in no need for the glorification of the earthly creatures, but it is mankind who are in need for You, O Rich One. (St. (Mar) Jacob El-Serougi) + Nothing provides the soul with wings, takes it up from the earth, rids it from the bonds of the body, and teach it to despise the temporal things, like singing praise with the right tunes. + The soul by nature is sensitive to music. To deny the demons the ability to inspire the ungodly songs in men, God set the psalms to protect them; for they are attractive and of benefit at the same time. By the spiritual songs, the soul set forth, together with the lips by the grace of the Holy Spirit. (St. John Chrysostom) Abusing music: St. Clement warns us against abusing music, so we would be like the male deer that could be drawn to fall into nets set by hunters, by the sound of flute; or like the female horses that are stirred up by music to help inseminate them. According to him, the Holy Spirit discerns between the music that stirs up corruption, and the music played by the Holy Spirit when the church sings praise to God. The main tool of music is man himself, who is truly a musical instrument for peace, when all the other musical instruments are for war and battle; that kindle the feelings toward lusts, bearing arms, or to stir up anger and hate. + The only musical instrument for the sake of peace is the Lord, the Word, Himself, whom it is befitting of us to use to praise God (the Father); after whom, we no more need to use the classical musical instruments used by those who have no fear of the Lord in their hearts, which they use in their carnivals and meetings, to wake up their pervert minds by their tunes. … Let our senses be in harmony with the divine law. + It is befitting of us to refrain from singing the songs of corruption, but to confine ourselves to sing praise to God, according to the psalm: “Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp” (Psalm 149: 3). + it is befitting of us to refrain as much as we can, from those loose songs that seduce man toward corruption; when the serious respectable tunes, take the effect of wine away from its drinker, and bring him back to reason. (St. Clement of Alexandria) --------------------------- AN INSPIRATION FROM 1 CHRONICLES 25. GRANT ME, O LORD, THE SPIRIT OF JOY AND PRAISE + Grant me to keep Your commandment; “My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe My ways” (Proverb 23: 26) What kind of heart You seek other than the heavenly heart? That knows nothing but the spirit of joy and praise; It is Your pleasure, for all to become exultant in You. + Let me, together with the heads of the musical families, Deliver to the generation to come, the spirit of inner exultation; Grant me to be faithful in this concern; To let the generations to come experience the deposit of heaven; + My depths desire to see all mankind like the angels of God; To see all attached to You, O Source of joy.
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