References (36)
Also Asaph, a singer like Heman, who stood on his right side, son of Berechiah, son of Shima,
and also Bakbakkai, Cheresh (meaning "mute") and Galal, as well as Mattaniah, son of Mic., son of Zikri, son of Asaph,
The Levites then appointed Heman, the son of Joel, and from among his brothers, Asaph, the son of Berechiah, and from among their brothers, the children of Merari, Eitan, the son of Kushaiah,
The singers Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals.
Asaph as leader, followed by Zechariah, and also Jehiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jehiel with lyres and harps. Asaph was to play the cymbals.
[This psalm, verses 8-36, is compiled from the contents of several different psalms. Verses 8-22 (from ), verses 23-33 (from ), (from ) and verses 35-36 (from ).]
On that day, David gave this song of praise to the Lord (Yahweh) to Asaph and his brothers for the first time:
David left Asaph and his brothers there [in Jerusalem] before the ark of the covenant of the Lord (Yahweh) to serve before the ark according to the regulations for each day.
David and the commanders set apart the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to serve as prophets with harps, lyres, and cymbals. This is the list of those men who were appointed to this service
Of the sons of Asaph:
Zaccur, Joseph, Netaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph, under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied at the king's command.
All of them were under their father's leadership in singing in the house of the Lord (Yahweh) to the sound of cymbals, lyres, and harps in the service of God's house. They were under the leadership of the king, Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.
The first lot came out for Asaph and fell on Joseph.
The second was Gedaliah, he himself with his brothers and sons, twelve in all,
As for the divisions of the gatekeepers, Meshelemiah, the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph, was in charge of the gatekeepers.
The Levites, all the singers—Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, with their sons and brothers—stood east of the altar, dressed in white linen, with cymbals, lyres, and harps, and with them 120 priests blowing trumpets.
Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly.
of the family of Elizaphan
Shimri and Jeiel,
of the family of Asaph
Zechariah and Mattaniah,
And King Hezekiah and the princes commanded the Levites to praise the Lord with the words of David and the seer Asaph, and they sang praises with joy, bowing down and worshipping.
The singers, the descendants of Asaph, stood in their places, as David, Asaph, Heman, and the king's seer Jeduthun had commanded, and the gatekeepers stood at their gates. They did not need to leave their service, because their brothers the Levites cooked for them.
The singers:
The sons of Asaph: 128
When the craftsmen had laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord (Yahweh), they set up the priests in their robes and with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord (Yahweh) according to the instructions of David, king of Israel.
The singers:
The sons of Asaph: 148
Next, Mattaniah, son of Micah son of Sabdi, son of Asaph, the choir director who led the singing during prayer, Bakbukja, the one of his brothers who was next in line after him, and Abda, son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jedutun.
The leaders among the Levites in Jerusalem in the work of the house of God were Ussi, son of Bani, son of Hashabja, son of Mattaniah, son of Mic, of the sons of Asaph, the singers.
and some of the sons of the priests with trumpets, followed by Zechariah, son of Jonathan, son of Shemaiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micaiah, son of Zaccur, son of Asaph,
Long ago, in the days of David and Asaph [who wrote many of the psalms, see ; ], there were leaders of the singers, and they sang songs of praise and thanksgiving to God (Elohim).
God (El), Lord of Lords (Elohim Yahweh) [God of gods – the mighty God],
has spoken and called (named) the earth
from the rising of the sun to its setting [from east to west – across the whole earth].
[It was through speaking that everything came into being in creation; here we are reminded of how God's speech is creative. The combination of God's names El Elohim Yahweh is unusual, see also verses 14 and 22.]
Yes (truly), God (Elohim) is good to Israel,
to those who have pure hearts.
Why, God (Elohim), have you forsaken us (it seems) forever?
[The word in Hebrew expresses more of a feeling than a fact of very long, endless time]
Why is your fierce anger turned against your flock (herd of small livestock) at pasture?
[The first section begins and ends with the question "why," see .]
[The congregation:]
We have thanked (praised, honored, and acknowledged) you, God (Elohim),
we have thanked (praised, honored, and acknowledged),
and your name was near (in a personal way, like a friendship),
our lips have recounted (counted – Hebr. safar) your wonderful deeds.
God (Elohim) is known in Judah,
in Israel his name is great.
My voice [is] to God (Elohim) and I cry out;
my voice [is] to God (Elohim)
that he may listen to (turn his ear to) me.
Listen (turn your ears), my people, to my teaching (Hebr. Torah),
hear (incline your ears to) the words from my mouth.
God (Elohim),
the nations have invaded your inheritance,
defiled your holy temple, and laid Jerusalem in ruins.
Listen (turn your ear—hear), O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph's flock (herd of small livestock),
you who sit enthroned above the cherubim [mercy seat, see ], appear in splendor (shine forth, radiate clearly).
Sing (raise loud triumphant shouts) to God (Elohim), our strength.
Shout (in victory, make noise with shouts and battle cries) to the God (Elohim) of Jacob.
God (Elohim) [judge of the universe] stands in the assembly of gods [the heavenly court],
amidst the gods (elohim) he holds judgment.
[In the compound word "assembly of gods," literally "in God's assembly," the most general word for god, Hebr. El, is used. It can describe God, see , idols, or powerful people, often judges. The meaning here seems to be a heavenly court before a gathered divine committee, see ; ; , a scene that is also described in Ugaritic texts such as the Legend of Keret. Paul also describes a spiritual hierarchy, see ; . See also and . Anything that takes God's place is an idol, see . The Hebrew preposition qerev, translated as "among," requires that the second elohim be translated in the plural: "among the gods."]
God (Elohim),
do not be silent,
do not be quiet
and do not be inactive,
God (El).
