LESSON 13: THE MUSICIANS, DOORKEEPERS,
AND STEWARDS OF THE TEMPLE TREASURY (1 CHR. 25-26)
CHAPTER 25
As he had
done on previous occasions, David gathered all of his counselors (captains of
the host) to assist in the appointments of the musicians and singers.[1]
This was not a military matter, but it did concern the princes, the heads of
tribes and other principal leaders. Three important families among the Hebrews
provided the personnel for the corps of musicians. Asaph was a Gershonite
Levite. Heman belonged to the Kohathite family. Jeduthun was a Merarite. In
these three men all of the tribe of Levi was represented. From these three
branches of the tribe of Levi a choir numbering two hundred and eighty-eight
was selected and trained (verse 7). The
specific assignment for the musicians was that they should prophesy with harps,
with psalteries, and with cymbals (verse 1). Their ministry is described as “prophesying.” Like the seventy
elders who assisted Moses by prophesying when Israel murmured against Jehovah
(Numbers 11:16-30), so these men
were to speak out for Jehovah, to declare His wonder through sacred music and
song. In like manner, Jeduthun’s six sons (verse 3), who with their father were master harpists “Prophesied in
giving thanks and praising Jehovah.” Heman’s fourteen sons (verse 4) were trained in the use of the horn
(or trumpet), These sons were under their father’s direction. Heman was also
regarded as a seer. Samuel filled this office at the time when Saul sought his
father’s lost asses (1 Samuel 9:9). The
seer was able by divine help to give direction to men. All of these men and
their sons were trained in “the words of God” (verse 5). Their music was useful only
in connection with the “word.”[2]
Some of
the psalms are attributed to Asaph (see Psalms 50, 73-83). Jeduthun’s name appears in the titles of some Psalms (see
Psalms 39, 62, 77). Several Psalms have the phrase
“for the chief musician’’ in their titles without naming the chief musician.
Music was considered to be a very important part of worship and those who
served in this manner were carefully trained (verse 7). The twenty-four named above were charged with the training and
employment of eleven others in each instance, making a total of two-hundred-eighty-eight
musicians. To determine particular appointments, the casting of lots were used.
Men with varying talents would serve in each of the twenty-four courses. Verses
9-31 list the details of the courses of the Levitical singers as they were
selected by casting the sacred lot. The student is impressed with the careful
attention given to these assignments. All of this was set up prior to David’s
death and before the construction of the Temple was begun.[3]
CHAPTER 26
The
Korahites, or the descendants of Korah, and certain descendants of Merari were
charged with the doorkeeping service at the Temple. 1 Chronicles 26:19 in
a summary statement distinguishes these men from other Levites. Verses 1-9 in chapter 26 list eight courses of doorkeepers which were directly related
to Korah. The name “Korah” means “baldness” and is well remembered in Hebrew
history because of the rebellion led by Korah against Moses and Aaron (Numbers,
chapter 16). Two hundred and
fifty princes representing all of Israel’s tribes joined Korah in challenging
the authority of Moses and Aaron. Jehovah prepared “a new thing” in the
earthquake which swallowed these men alive, Korah’s sons evidently were not involved
in the trouble, In Exodus 6:24 Korah’s sons are identified as Assir, Elkanah,
and Abiasaph. The Asaph in verse 1 is a shortened form of Abiasaph. Obed-edom
entered the history earlier when the ark of the covenant had been taken to his
house (2 Samuel 6:l0). He had an extensive family numbering sixty-two persons
in the register used by the chronicler. This number would include sons,
grandsons, and others. Obed-edom may well have been among the descendants of
Korah. He and his sons served in the south sector of the Temple and in the storehouse
(verse 15). Considering the nature of Korah’s sin and the divine judgment that
followed, it is remarkable that a place of service was reserved for his
descendants. Korah was of the Kohathite family of the Levites.
Some of
the doorkeepers were selected from among the Merarite Levites (verse 9). In
order to determine where each course would serve, the sacred lot was employed.
Nothing was left to chance and even such an ordinary matter as service at a
gate required Jehovah’s sanction. Each of the four sectors from which the
Temple could be approached was assigned to a responsible chief doorkeeper. The
daily watch at the east entrance required six Levites, while four were required
in each of the other sectors. The Temple would face toward the east. The main
entrance necessitated additional doorkeepers. While this might appear to be a
rather unimportant service, Psalm 84, a
psalm of the sons of Korah, beautifully expresses the attitude of these
Levites. Verse 10 of this Psalm says, “I had rather be a doorkeeper in the
house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.”[4]
The Temple
became the depository for much of the tangible wealth of Israel. When David had
defeated Goliath, the giant’s sword was laid up in the Tabernacle. Treasuries
and store rooms would be provided in the Temple in which the gold, silver, and
precious stones accumulated through Israel’s wars and commerce would be
deposited. When Israel went to war, pledges and vows would be made to Jehovah
with regard to spoil and prey if Jehovah would grant victory. When the victory
came, often tremendous wealth would be brought to the Temple. Verses 20-28 refer to the things so dedicated
by David and his captains. Israel at this time was in possession of things so
dedicated by Samuel, Saul, Abner, Joab and others. The act of dedication was
very sacred and involved an unconditional release of all claims on goods given
to Jehovah’s service. Goods or persons once dedicated could never be reclaimed
by the giver. The “spoil” had to do with any kind of useful goods taken in
battle. “Prey” was a term used to refer to any living thing taken by conquest,
such as persons or animals.[5]
Certain
Levites were assigned to attend to civil matters, “the outward business”, which
had no direct relationship to the Temple. The terms “officers and judges” are
used to detail the kind of secular service to be done. These men were chosen
from the Izharites and the Hebronites, the direct descendants of Kohath, the
son of Levi. Hashabiah, the Hebronite, was assigned 1,700 assistants and was charged with all of the territory west of
the Jordan River. Jerijah, the head of the Hebronite family, lived in the
village of Jazer in Gilead, east of the Jordan River. “The business of
Jehovah and the service of the king” were the principal considerations of these
men.[6]
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