(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 (Exodus 6:18); called "Azareel" in 1Chronicles 25:18 ( God hath helped, 1Chronicles 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 1Chronicles 25:20, "Shubael," which the LXX. reads in both places. The Syriac and Vulg. keep the distinction. (Comp. 1Chronicles 24:20.)

Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer.--That is, perhaps, Giddalti-ezer and Romamti-ezer. But in 1Chronicles 25:29 "Giddalti" occurs again without any such addition, and the name as it stands may be compared with "Mallothi." The two verbs, giddalti and romamti, occur together in Isaiah 1:2 : "1 have nourished and brought up."

Verse 4. - The two names Uzziel and Shebuel, in this verse, reappear respectively in vers. 18, 20, as Azareel and Shubael. It is remarkable that the ninth and tenth names of this list, with the twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth, when put together, run into two lines of verse, which may be translated, "These bestowed great and high help; I have abundantly uttered oracles." Ewald suggests that these may be the commencing lines of some ancient prophet's oracles (Ewald, 'Lehrbueh der H. Spr.,' § 274, S. 672, 7th edit., cited by Keil).

25:1-31 The singers and musicians. - David put those in order who were appointed to be singers and musicians in the temple. To prophesy, in this place, means praising God with great earnestness and devout affections, under the influences of the Holy Spirit. In raising these affections, poetry and music were employed. If the Spirit of God do not put life and fervour into our devotions, they will, however ordered, be a lifeless, worthless form.Of Heman: the sons of Heman,.... The third chief singer:

Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel; the same with Azareel, 1 Chronicles 25:18.

Shebuel; called Shubael, 1 Chronicles 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, 1 Chronicles 25:13.