Code in 1 Chronicles 25

[Jayme_Dansereau]

Hello. I am a new member.

I have a question for anyone that reads the Bible seriously.

Are there any commentaries out there that deal with the 24 Singers in 1 Chronicles 25. I have noticed that the lots with which these 24 singers are cast displays a pattern when matched up with their order under their fathers names earlier in the chapter.

The pattern is 4 odds, 1,3,7,9; six evens and so on.

Is there anyone who knows of this and why it is there?

 

[Fidelis]

The NAB footnotes read:

[2-31] This list of twenty-four classes of temple singers balances the list of the twenty-four classes of priests (1 Chron 24:4-19). The last nine names in 1 Chron 25:4 which seem to form a special group, appear to have been originally fragments or incipits of hymns. With some slight changes in the vocalization, the names would mean: “Have mercy on me, O LORD,” “Have mercy on me,” “You are my God,” “I magnify,” “I extol the help of . . . ,” “Sitting in adversity,” “I have fulfilled,” “He made abundant,” and “Visions.”

The Haydock says:

Ver. 8. Unlearned. Hebrew and Septuagint, “the scholars.” (Haydock) — After the singers had been distributed into twenty-four classes, pretty equal in number, lots decided which of then should serve first, (Menochius) as had been done with the priests, chap. xxiv. 31. See chap. xxvi. 13.

Ver. 9. Asaph. Add, “to him, and (Haydock) to his sons, and his brethren, twelve,” who taught the rest. Unless these twelve be admitted, (Tirinus) as in the sequel, (Haydock) the number 288 will not be found, ver. 7. (Tirinus) — Septuagint is very confused: “And the first (entire) lot of his sons and brethren came out to Asaph, of Joseph, Godolias: the second Enia, his brethren, and his sons, twelve.” Hebrew, “the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph; the second to,” &c. (Protestants) In all the subsequent verses they read, “he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve.” Why Asaph should be mentioned any more than Idithun or Heman, does not appear. Their children are placed indiscriminately by lot. (Haydock)

This may not help you directly, but at least it tells you what two of the most commonly used Catholic commentaries do or do not say.