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1 Chronicles 15:19

in 1 Chronicles 15

The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed, with cymbals of brass to sound aloud;

KJV

So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass;

This verse in 1 Chronicles 15

Commentary

4 notes on this verse
So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan,.... The three principal of them: these were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass; for as there were three sorts of musical instruments, 1Ch 15:16 these three chief singers had one of those instruments appropriated to them, one of which were the cymbals of brass, to which the apostle alludes, 1Co 13:1.

This site's exposition

appoint their relatives as singers

on 1 Chronicles 15:16-19

Three are named in Psalm titles: Asaph at Psalms 50 and 73 to 83, Heman at Psalm 88 and Ethan at Psalm 89. The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals, which John Gill ties to 1 Corinthians 13:1.

This site's exposition

Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were

The bronze cymbals belong to the three chiefs, who led the whole company. Gill notes that each of the three sorts of instrument in verse 16 had its own players, and the cymbals went to these three. 1 Chronicles 16:5 again gives Asaph the cymbals.

The record, by era

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint . . . the singers with instruments--These eminent Levites were instructed to train the musicians and singers who were under them, for the solemn procession. The performers were ranged in three choirs or bands, and the names of the principal leaders are given (1Ch 15:17, 18, 21), with the instruments respectively used by each.

How the passage was read

What the Jewish commentators add

And the singers: Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, etc. To make a resounding voice, they were appointed over those musical instruments.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on I Chronicles 15:19:1, via Sefaria, The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
And with them, their brethren the second in rank second in rank to them as gate sentries.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on I Chronicles 15:18:1, via Sefaria, The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg

This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.

Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.

The words behind it

7 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וְהַמְשֹׁ֣רְרִ֔יםand the singers

    vehamshorerimH7891 →86 times

  • הֵימָ֥ןHeman

    heimanH1968 →16 times

  • אָסָ֖ףAsaph

    ʾasafH623 →34 times

  • וְאֵיתָ֑ןand Ethan

    veeitanH387 →7 times

  • בִּמְצִלְתַּ֥יִםwith cymbals

    bimtziltayimH4700 →13 times

  • נְחֹ֖שֶׁתbronze

    nechoshetH5178 →140 times

  • לְהַשְׁמִֽיעַ׃[were] to sound aloud

    lehashmia'H8085 →1159 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    1 Chronicles 25:1

    Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list…

    it leads to

    • 1 Chronicles 6:39

      Heman’s kinsman was Asaph, who served at his right hand:

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • 1 Samuel 10:5

      After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded…

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • 1 Chronicles 6:33

      These are the men who served, together with their sons. From the Kohathites:

    • 2 Kings 3:15

      But now, bring me a harpist.” And while the harpist played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha

    • Nehemiah 12:27

      At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from all their homes and brought to Jerusalem to celebrate the joyous dedication with thanksgiving and singing, accompanied by cymbals, harps,…

  • Through

    1 Chronicles 13:8

    David and all the Israelites were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and on harps and lyres, with tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

    it leads to

    • 1 Chronicles 25:1–6

      Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list…

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Psalms 150:3–5

      Praise Him with the sound of the horn; praise Him with the harp and lyre.

  • Through

    1 Chronicles 25:6

    All these were under the direction of their fathers for the music of the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and…

    it leads to

    • 1 Chronicles 25:1–3

      Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list…

Where this verse is studied

About 1 Chronicles

King David Playing the Harp, Gerard van Honthorst, 1622. Public domain.
King David Playing the Harp, Gerard van Honthorst, 1622. Public domain.

This page draws on Berean Standard Bible, 1 Chronicles 16:5; Jamieson Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament.