Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Chronicles 25:5
All 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.
5. the king’s seer ] This title is given to Gad in 1Ch 21:9, and to Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun, all three in 2Ch 35:15 (LXX. not Heb.).
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” (cp. 2Ch 29:15 “by the words of the Lord”).
to lift up the horn ] i.e. to make loud blasts upon the horn.
fourteen sons ] Corresponding with the fourteen names given in 1Ch 25:4.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
To lift up the horn – Some take this literally, and consider that Heman and his sons played on the born in the musical services; but there is no other evidence that the horn was so employed. Perhaps the most probable explanation is that it has been transferred from the next clause, where (as here) it followed the word God, with the sense that God, to exalt Hemans horn (or, increase his dignity), gave him fourteen sons and three daughters.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 5. To lift up the horn] “The horn of prophecy,” says Jarchi; “to sound with the trumpet in the words of prophecy before the Lord.”-T.
Three daughters.] These also were employed among the singers.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The kings seer, or prophet, which is the same thing, 1Sa 9:9. Either he was a prophet as well as a singer; or he is thus called because he prophesied in the sense designed, 1Ch 25:1. And he is called the kings seer, either because the king took special delight in him, or because he frequently attended upon the king in his palace, executing his sacred office there, while the rest were constantly employed in the tabernacle. In the words of God, i.e. to sing such Divine songs as were inspired by God to the prophets or holy men of God. To lift up the horn; either,
1. Metaphorically, to extol and praise God for exalting
the horn (i.e. the power and kingdom) of David; of which phrase see Psa 92:10; Psa 132:17. Or rather,
2. Properly, to praise God with the sound of a trumpet, (as was usual, as 2Ch 5:12; 13:12) or some other musical instrument made of horn, which being a martial kind of music, might be most grateful to Davids martial spirit; though he was also skilled in other instruments of music, which he used in the house of God, as is expressed in the next verse.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. Heman the king’s seerThetitle of “seer” or “prophet of David” is alsogiven to Gad (1Ch 21:9), and toJeduthun (2Ch 29:14; 2Ch 29:15),in the words (Margin, “matters”) of God.
to lift up the hornthatis, to blow loudly in the worship of God; or perhaps it means nothingmore than that he presided over the wind instruments, as Jeduthunover the harp. Heman had been appointed at first to serve at Gibeon(1Ch 16:41). But hisdestination seems to have been changed at a subsequent period.
God gave to Heman fourteensons and three daughtersThe daughters are mentioned, solelybecause from their musical taste and talents they formed part of thechoir (Ps 68:25).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
All these were the sons of Heman, the king’s seer,…. The prophet of the king, as the Targum, who was frequently with him, assisting him
in the words of God: in divine things:
to lift up the horn; to blow with the hornpipe or trumpet, and to magnify and set forth the greatness of the kingdom of Israel, and especially of the King Messiah, the horn of salvation, that would be raised up in the house of David:
and God gave to Heman fourteen sons; whose names are before mentioned:
and three daughters; of whom we have no more account, only may observe, that both are the gifts of God, and an heritage from him, Ps 127:3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(5) All these were the sons of Heman.Literally, Were sons to Heman.
The kings seer in the words of God.Or, in the things of God, in Divine (that is, liturgical) matters. Heman was a prophet as well as a minstrel. (For the connection between music and prophecy, comp. 1Sa. 10:5-6; 2Ki. 3:15; Exo. 15:20.) Comp. also Note on 1Ch. 25:1, above.
Seer.Heb., hzh. Literally, gazer. The word rendered seer in 1Ch. 26:28 and 1Sa. 9:9 is different (rh). Gad was called Davids seer (1Ch. 21:9); so also Jeduthun is the kings seer (2Ch. 35:15).
To lift up the horn.That is, according to Bertheau, to blow the horns loudly. With this he connects the preceding phrase, which he renders by Gods commands. (Comp. 2Ch. 29:15.) But the horn does not appear elsewhere among the instruments of the Temple musicians, and the phrase to lift up the horn of a person is a well-known Hebrew metaphor. (Comp. 1Sa. 2:10 : May he give strength to his king, and lift up the horn of his anointed.) Thus it seems that the meaning is that God gave all these sonsi.e., proficient disciplesto Heman in order to strengthen him for his work by providing him with a strong body of able assistants.
And three daughters.The mention of three daughters is interesting, as an indication that women sustained a part in the service of song. (Comp. Exo. 15:20; Jdg. 11:34; 1Sa. 18:6.) The Syriac omits the whole verse.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. Heman the king’s seer in the words of God Besides his musical talent, Heman had also the gift of revelation, to make known to the king the things of God. Asaph and Jeduthun were also seers. 2Ch 29:30; 2Ch 35:15.
To lift up the horn The expression is obscure as it stands in the present text. Some understand it of the use of the horn in the musical service, but as the horn is not named among the instruments used by these Levites, some of the best expositors connect the phrase with what follows, and explain it in the metaphorical sense of increasing one’s power. For this sense of the words comp. 1Sa 2:10; Psa 148:14; Lam 2:17. So, to increase Heman’s power and honour God “ gave” him “fourteen sons and three daughters.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ch 25:5. To lift up the horn To celebrate the praises; Houbigant. For there is no example in Scripture, says he, of such an expression as lifting up the horn, for any thing in music. Some, however, think that it means to blow aloud with trumpets made of horns.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
“Handfuls of Purpose,”
For All Gleaners
“And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.” 1Ch 25:5 .
We mistake if we think that the sons and the daughters belonged to Heman alone. Heman himself would have taken a false estimate of the occasion if he had called these sons and daughters his own in any sense of proprietorship and right of destiny. It is only in a secondary sense that the child belongs to the human father; the father himself is a child, and every child is God’s. Blessed and beautiful indeed is the dispensation by which even secondary ownership may become inspired with sacrificial love, a love that would give itself away to save the object on which its solicitudes are fastened. We must come to Job’s state of mind if we would rightly accept the dispensations of Providence. Job did not say that the property and the children were all his own, and that he had indefeasible rights to them; he recognised the higher proprietorship, and was thus enabled to say, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Think of every child being a gift of God, a special, direct, immediate presentation from heaven, as a man might cull a flower and give it to a friend, or take a lamb of the flock and present it to some one who would love it and cherish it for the owner’s sake. This is the right view of children; they are God’s gifts; parents are God’s trustees; we are to hear what the mother of Moses heard when the daughter of Pharaoh spake to her saying, “Take this child away and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages.” This is God’s charge to parents: Take this child; it is mine, keep it in my name, train it for my service, instruct it in my law, and when I send for it yield it to me as to an owner who has the right of claim. The religious interpretation of life always enlarges daily blessings, family mercies, household comforts. Let a man think that he himself has earned his bread, and has a right to it, without consulting any power, high or low, and the feast will be but a poor satisfaction even of natural hunger: but let a man see in every loaf God’s whole system of growth and ministry and sustenance, a condensation of divine providence, and a special gift of divine affection, and instantly the hunger of his soul will be satisfied, and his home will glow as with the presence of holy angels. It is not enough to recognise Providence in some general way, as giving other people their children, and giving other people their blessings: a direct and special application of the law must be made by every man, and must be recognised in every house; then we shall have earnest piety, rational devotion, consecration to God founded upon fact and indisputable evidence.
Fuente: The People’s Bible by Joseph Parker
1Ch 25:5 All 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.
Ver. 5. The king’s seer.] And, as some think, a psalmographer.
To lift up the horn.
a Vatab.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the words of God. Not the words of man. None but Divine words used in Divine worship.
God. Hebrew. Elohim.(with Art.) = the [true] God. App-4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the king’s seer: 1Ch 21:9, 1Sa 9:9
words: or, matters
to lift up: This may denote that he presided over those who used wind instruments.
God gave: 1Ch 28:5, Gen 33:5, Psa 127:3, Isa 8:18
Reciprocal: Gen 48:9 – my sons 2Sa 15:27 – a seer 1Ch 2:6 – Heman
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ch 25:5. The kings seer Or prophet. Either he was a prophet as well as a singer; or he is thus called because he prophesied, or praised God, in the sense designed 1Ch 25:1. And he is called the kings seer, because the king took special delight in him; or because he frequently attended the king in his palace, executing his sacred office there, while the rest were employed in the tabernacle. In the words of God To sing such divine songs as were inspired by God to the prophets or holy men of God. To lift up the horn To praise God with the sound of a trumpet, or some other musical instrument made of horn, which, being a martial kind of music, might be most grateful to Davids martial spirit: though he was also skilled in other instruments of music which he used in the house of God.