Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Chronicles 25:4
Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, [and] Mahazioth:
4. Heman ] See 1Ch 15:17, note.
Uzziel ] In 1Ch 25:18 “Azarel.” (R.V.) The variation between the two words when written with Hebrew consonants is small. Cp. note on 2Ch 26:1 (“Uzziah” and “Azariah”).
Shebuel ] In 1Ch 25:20 “Shubael.”
Jerimoth ] In 1Ch 25:22 “Jeremoth.”
Hananiah, Hanani ] Most Hebrew names are significant, and many can be used as mottoes. In this place the Chronicler (or the authority from whom he drew the list) has so arranged the names as to suggest a sentence (extending to the end of the verse) which runs somewhat as follows: Have mercy upon me, O Lord, have mercy upon me; I have magnified and exalted [ thy ] help; I spake of it sitting in affliction; grant us still [ thy ] visions.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Of Heman: the sons of Heman,…. The third chief singer:
Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel; the same with Azareel, 1Ch 25:18
Shebuel; called Shubael, 1Ch 25:20
and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth; in all fourteen, to whom came the sixth, ninth, eleventh, fifteenth, sixteenth, eighteenth, twentieth, twenty second, twenty fourth, seventeenth, nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty third lots, 1Ch 25:13.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Fourteen sons of Heman are enumerated. is one name, cf. 31, although is without doubt to be supplied also after . Probably also is to be supplied in thought after the names. , I made full, and , increased.
(Note: On these names Ewald ways, ausf. Lehrb. der Hebr. Sprache, 274, S. 672, der 7 Ausg.: “ It is thought that the utterance of a great prophet is to be found cut up into names of near relatives, when the words,
‘I have given great and lofty help,
I have to fulness spoken oracles,’
which manifestly form a verse, and may have been the commencement of a famed ancient oracle, are found transferred to the five musical sons of Heman, Giddalti(ezer), Romamtiezer, Mallothi, Hothir, and Machazioth. ” )
Heman is called in 1Ch 25:5 the seer of the king in the words of God, because he, along with his gift of song, was endowed also with the prophetic gift, and as seer made known to the king revelations of God. In 2Ch 35:15 the same thing is predicated also of Jeduthun, and in the same sense the prophet Gad is called in 1Ch 21:9 David’s seer. the Masoretes have connected with the preceding, by placing Athnach under the , and the phrase has been wholly misunderstood by the Rabbins and Christian commentators. Berth., e.g., connects it with , and translates, “to sound loud upon horns, according to the divine command,” referring to 2Ch 29:15, where, however, both meaning and accentuation forbid us to connect with what follows. This interpretation of the words is thoroughly wrong, not only because the Levites under Heman’s direction did not blow horns, the horn not being one of the instruments played by the Levites in connection with the worship, but also because on linguistic grounds it is objectionable. .el never has the signification to blow the horn; for to elevate the horn signifies everywhere to heighten the power of any one, or unfold, show power; cf. 1Sa 2:10; Lam 2:17; Psa 148:14; Psa 89:18; Psa 92:11, etc. That is the meaning of the phrase here, and the words are to be connected, according to their sense, with what follows: “to elevate the horn,” i.e., to give power, God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters; i.e., to make Heman’s race mighty for the praise of God, God gave him so many sons and daughters.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(4) Of Heman.Rather, To Reman: the sons of Heman were, &c. Fourteen names of Hemanite leaders are given. Curiously enough, the last six, excluding the peculiar Joshbekashah, form, as they stand, a complete poetical couplet, which may be rendered:
God has come; I have exalted and extolled the help;
I have spoken abundance of visions.
Such words are very suitable in the mouth of a seer, as Heman is called in the next verse, but the arrangement of the names in this order is perhaps only a mnemonic device
Uzziel.Power of God (Exo. 6:18); called Azareel in 1Ch. 25:18 ( God hath helped, 1Ch. 12:6). The words differ in Hebrew by one letter only. The Syriac has Uzziel (Azael) in both places. But the difference appears in the LXX. and Vulg.
Shebuel.In 1Ch. 25:20, Shubael, which the LXX. reads in both places. The Syriac and Vulg. keep the distinction. (Comp. 1Ch. 24:20.)
Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer.That is, perhaps, Giddalti-ezer and Romamti-ezer. But in 1Ch. 25:29 Giddalti occurs again without any such addition, and the name as it stands may be compared with Mallothi. The two verbs, giddalt and romamt, occur together in Isa. 1:2 : 1 have nourished and brought up.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Giddalti. The fact that the meanings of these six names form a complete sentence in Hebrew is no more proof that this is a mistaken “obscure and ancient prayer”, than that the chronicler has strung together a list of six names in order to form a sentence. What it shows is that Heman, in naming his sons, did so with this set purpose, as parents have often done since his day. The supposed prayer would read: “I have magnified, and I have raised up help; Sitting in trouble, I have spoken many oracles. “
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Heman: 1Ch 6:33, 1Ch 15:17, 1Ch 15:19, 1Ch 16:41, 1Ch 16:42, Psa 88:1, *title
Bukkiah: 1Ch 25:13
Mattaniah: 1Ch 25:16
Uzziel: 1Ch 25:18, Azareel, 1Ch 24:24
Shebuel: 1Ch 25:20, 1Ch 24:20, Shubael
Jerimoth: 1Ch 25:22, 1Ch 24:30
Hananiah: 1Ch 25:23
Hanani: 1Ch 25:25
Eliathah: 1Ch 25:27
Giddalti: 1Ch 25:29
Romamtiezer: 1Ch 25:31
Joshbekashah: 1Ch 25:24
Mallothi: 1Ch 25:26
Hothir: 1Ch 25:28, 1Ch 25:30
Reciprocal: Num 3:18 – General Num 3:19 – General 1Ch 2:6 – Heman