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Selected Verse: 1 Chronicles 25:8 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
1Ch 25:8 |
Strong Concordance |
And they cast [05307] lots [01486], ward [04931] against [05980] ward, as well the small [06996] as the great [01419], the teacher [0995] as the scholar [08527]. |
|
King James |
And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
THEIR DIVISION BY LOT INTO FOUR AND TWENTY ORDERS. (1Ch. 25:8-31)
they cast lots, ward against ward--"Ward" is an old English word for "division" or "company." The lot was cast to determine the precedence of the classes or divisions over which the musical leaders presided; and, in order to secure an impartial arrangement of their order, the master and his assistants, the teacher and his scholars, in each class or company took part in this solemn casting of lots. In the first catalogue given in this chapter the courses are classed according to their employment as musicians. In the second, they are arranged in the order of their service. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
As well the small as the great - Compare Ch1 24:31. The lot was not applied indiscriminately to all the 24 courses, but was only used to settle which course of Asaph, which of Jeduthun, and which of Heman, should on each occasion be taken. Asaph was given the precedence over his brethren, and his four courses were assigned the first, and then each alternate place. Jeduthun took rank next, and received alternate places, first with Asaph, and then with Heman, until his courses were exhausted. After this, all the later places fell necessarily to Heman, whose courses continue without interruption from the 15th. |
Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
They cast lots, משׁמרת גּורלות, κλήρους ἐφημερίων (lxx), by which the משׁמרת, the waiting upon the service, was fixed, that is, the order of their succession in the official service. לעמּת is variously translated. As no name follows, R. Shel. and Kimchi would repeat the preceding משׁמרת: one class as the other; and this is supported by Ch1 26:16 and Neh 12:24, and by the fact that in Ch1 17:5, after ממּשׁכּן, the words משׁכּן אל have been dropped out. But according to the accentuation משׁמרת belongs to גּורלות, and so the proposed completion is at once disposed of. Besides this, however, the thought "class like class" does not appear quite suitable, as the classes were only formed by the lots, and so were not in existence so as to be able to cast lots. We therefore, with Ewald, 360, a, and Berth., hold the clause כּגּדול כּקּטן to be the genitive belonging to לעמּת, since עמּת is in Ecc 5:15 also connected with a clause: "in the manner of, as the small, so the great," i.e., the small and the great, the older as the younger. This is further defined by "the skilled as the scholars." From these words it is manifest that not merely the 288 cast lots, for these were כּל־מבין (Ch1 25:7), but also the other 3712 Levites appointed for the service of the singers; whence it further follows that only the 288 who were divided by lot into twenty-four classes, each numbering twelve persons, were thoroughly skilled in singing and playing, and the scholars were so distributed to them that each class received an equal number of them, whom they had to educate and train. These, then, were probably trained up for and employed in the temple music according to their progress in their education, so that the ἐφημερία which had at any time charge of the service consisted not only of the twelve skilled musicians, but also of a number of scholars who assisted in singing and playing under their direction. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Ward - A course of Levites answerable to one of the priests, upon whom the Levites were to wait in their holy ministrations, Ch1 23:28. The scholar - Without any respect to their different ages or abilities. |
31 These likewise cast [05307] lots [01486] over against [05980] their brethren [0251] the sons [01121] of Aaron [0175] in the presence [06440] of David [01732] the king [04428], and Zadok [06659], and Ahimelech [0288], and the chief [07218] of the fathers [01] of the priests [03548] and Levites [03881], even the principal [07218] fathers [01] over against [05980] their younger [06996] brethren [0251].
7 So the number [04557] of them, with their brethren [0251] that were instructed [03925] in the songs [07892] of the LORD [03068], even all that were cunning [0995], was two hundred [03967] fourscore [08084] and eight [08083].
15 As he came forth [03318] of his mother's [0517] womb [0990], naked [06174] shall he return [07725] to go [03212] as he came [0935], and shall take [05375] nothing [03972] of his labour [05999], which he may carry away [03212] in his hand [03027].
5 For I have not dwelt in [03427] an house [01004] since the day [03117] that I brought up [05927] Israel [03478] unto this day [03117]; but have gone from tent [0168] to tent [0168], and from one tabernacle [04908] to another.
24 And the chief [07218] of the Levites [03881]: Hashabiah [02811], Sherebiah [08274], and Jeshua [03442] the son [01121] of Kadmiel [06934], with their brethren [0251] over against them, to praise [01984] and to give thanks [03034], according to the commandment [04687] of David [01732] the man [0376] of God [0430], ward [04929] over against [05980] ward [04929].
16 To Shuppim [08206] and Hosah [02621] the lot came forth westward [04628], with the gate [08179] Shallecheth [07996], by the causeway [04546] of the going up [05927], ward [04929] against [05980] ward [04929].
28 Because their office [04612] was to wait [03027] on the sons [01121] of Aaron [0175] for the service [05656] of the house [01004] of the LORD [03068], in the courts [02691], and in the chambers [03957], and in the purifying [02893] of all holy things [06944], and the work [04639] of the service [05656] of the house [01004] of God [0430];