Singer living at the time of United Monarchy
Heman, a Levite, was a chief musician appointed by David to lead worship in the tabernacle.
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Heman was a prominent Levite and musician during the reign of King David. He was a descendant of Kohath, one of the sons of Levi (1Ch.6.33). Heman, along with Asaph and Ethan, was appointed by David to lead the music and worship in the tabernacle (1Ch.15.17,19; 16.41,42). He was known for his skill in playing the cymbal (1Ch.16.42). Heman had fourteen sons and three daughters, all of whom were under his direction in providing music for the house of the Lord (1Ch.25.1,4-6). During the reign of Solomon, Heman and his fellow musicians participated in the dedication of the temple (2Ch.5.12). Later, during the reigns of Hezekiah and Josiah, Heman's descendants continued to serve as musicians in the temple (2Ch.29.14; 35.15). Heman's significant role in the tabernacle and temple worship highlights the importance of music in Israelite worship. (1Ch.6.33; 15.17,19; 16.41,42; 25.1,4-6; 2Ch.5.12; 29.14; 35.15).
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12 verses in 2 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H1968
These are the men who served, together with their sons. From the Kohathites: Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,
So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his brothers, Asaph son of Berechiah; from their brothers the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah;
The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals.
With them were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the LORD, for “His loving devotion endures forever.”
Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals for the music and instruments for the songs of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were stationed at the gate.
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 of the men who performed this service:
From the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.
All these sons of Heman the kingʼs seer were given him through the promises of God to exalt him, for God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
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 Heman were under the direction of the king.
all the Levitical singers—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps, and lyres, accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets.
Jehiel and Shimei from the Hemanites; and Shemaiah and Uzziel from the Jeduthunites.
The singers, the descendants of Asaph, were at their stations according to the command of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the kingʼs seer. And the gatekeepers at each gate did not need to leave their posts, because their fellow Levites made preparations for them.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.