The Chronicler displays so much interest in the liturgical worship of the Temple that it is very probable that he was himself a member of the musical guilds. There is no reason to question the importance of the musicians in the Temple worship of the late post-exilic period. But the development of their organisation and duties was certainly a gradual process, and did not, as the Chronicler here represents, spring into being, full-grown, in the days of David. Three classes—the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun (= Ethan) had come to be clearly recognised. They are here regarded as divided into twenty-four courses (like the Levites and Priests), but that this even in the Chronicler’s time represents not an actuality but an ideal is suggested by the artificial character of the names which conclude the list—see verse 4, note on Hananiah.
¹Moreover David and the captains of the host separated for the service certain of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of them that did the work according to their service was:
1. Moreover David] Render, And David.
separated] compare xxiii. 13, note.
who should prophesy] i.e. sing and praise in the manner of the prophets, compare 1 Samuel x. 5. There is no reference to the predictive power or the higher spiritual activities of the great prophets. Nevertheless the term serves, and is intended, to invest the office of the musicians with a greater honour than that of the ministrant Levites.
psalteries] See xiii. 8, note.
²of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asharelah[¹], the sons of Asaph; under the hand of Asaph, who prophesied after the order[²] of the king.
[¹] In verse 14, Jesharelah.
[²] Hebrew by the hands of the king.
2. Asaph] See xv. 17, note.