What explanation can be offered of this startling fact? It may be that the names are wholly artificial, invented by the Chronicler to fill out the desired twenty-four courses (see the head-note above), but the device is clumsy and the Chronicler was not likely to be bankrupt for names. Perhaps by a curious chance the original names bore some slight resemblance to a sentence such as the above, and the resemblance has at some time been perfected by a fanciful scribe.
⁵all these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. ⁶All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the Lord, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God; Asaph[¹], Jeduthun, and Heman being under the order of the king.
[¹] Or, after the order of the king, even Asaph &c.
5. the king’s seer] This title is given to Gad in xxi. 9, and to Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun, all three in 2 Chronicles xxxv. 15 (LXX. not Hebrew).
in the words of God] The exact meaning of this is uncertain; it may either mean “in Divine things” (i.e. arrangements for worship), or “by Divine appointment” (compare 2 Chronicles xxix. 15 “by the words of the Lord”).
to lift up the horn] i.e. to make loud blasts upon the horn; but a slightly different division of the Hebrew consonants should probably be made and the phrase connected with the following verse. Render therefore, To lift up the horn (i.e. to increase his power) God gave to Heman, etc.
fourteen sons] Corresponding with the fourteen names given in verse 4.
⁷And the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in singing unto the Lord, even all that were skilful, was two hundred fourscore and eight.
7. two hundred fourscore and eight] The number corresponds with the twenty-four courses of twelve members each about to be enumerated.
8–31.
The Allotment of the Courses.