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英語原文
David, having settled the courses of these Levites that were to attend the priests in their ministrations, proceeds, in this chapter, to put those into a method that were appointed to be singers and musicians in the temple. Here is, I. The persons that were to be employed, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun (1Ch 25:1), their sons (1Ch 25:2-6), and other skilful persons, 1Ch 25:7. II. The order in which they were to attend determined by lot, 1Ch 25:8-31.
1-31
The Courses of the Singers (1015 BC)
歌う者の組（紀元前1015年）
¹ さらにダビデと軍勢の隊長たちは、アサフ、ヘマン、エドトンの子らの奉仕のために、立琴、琴、シンバルで預言する者を分けた。その奉仕に従う働き手の数は次の通り。
² アサフの子ら。ザクル、ヨセフ、ネタニヤ、アサレラ。アサフの手の下にあるアサフの子ら。王の定めに従って預言した。
³ エドトンについて。エドトンの子ら。ゲダリヤ、ゼリ、イシャヤ、ハシャビヤ、マッティテヤの六人。その父エドトンの手の下に。彼は感謝し、主を賛美するために立琴で預言した。
⁴ ヘマンについて。ヘマンの子ら。ブッキヤ、マッタニヤ、ウジエル、シェブエル、エリモテ、ハナニヤ、ハナニ、エリアタ、ギッダルテ、ロマムテ・エゼル、ヨシュベカシャ、マロテ、ホティル、マハジオテ。
⁵ これらは皆、神のことばにおける王の先見者ヘマンの子らであった。角を高く上げるため。神はヘマンに十四人の子と三人の娘を与えられた。
⁶ これらは皆、主の家で歌のためにその父の手の下にあった。神の家の奉仕のために、王のアサフ、エドトン、ヘマンへの定めに従って、シンバル、琴、立琴で。
⁷ このようにその数は、主の歌において教えられたその兄弟たちと共に、すべての熟練した者は二百八十八人であった。
観察せよ。
I. 神の賛美を歌うことはここで預言すると呼ばれる（1Ch 25:1-3）。この奉仕に用いられたすべての者が神の幻の誉れを受けたわけではなく、来るべき事を予告できたわけではないから。ヘマンは確かに神のことばにおける王の先見者と言われる（1Ch 25:5）。しかし彼らが歌った詩篇は預言者たちによって作られ、その多くは預言的であった。教会の徳を高めることが、神の栄光と同様に意図された。サムエルの時代、神の賛美を歌うことは預言するという名で通った（1Sa 10:5、19:20）。そしておそらくそれがパウロが預言と呼ぶもの（1Co 11:4、14:24）において意図されている。
II. これはここで奉仕と呼ばれ、そこに用いられる者は働き手と呼ばれる（1Ch 25:1）。神を賛美することに用いられることが最大の自由と喜びでないわけではない。天とは何か。しかしそれは、それを業とすること、そして内にあるすべてをそれに向けて奮い立たせることが私たちの務めであることを示す。そして私たちの現在の腐敗と弱さの状態において、それは労苦と闘争なしにはなされるべきように行われない。私たちの心をこのわざに連れて来、保つために、また内にあるすべてを従事させるために、心に痛みを取らなければならない。
III. ここではその管理体制の気質に従って、多様な楽器、立琴、琴、シンバル（1Ch 25:1,6）が用いられ、ここに角を高く上げる者（1Ch 25:5）、すなわち管楽器を用いる者がいた。今そのような音楽の合奏を神の礼拝に持ち込むことはだれも主張しない。しかしそのような合奏を自らの娯楽のために用いる者は、かつてそれらが神聖なものであった時があったという考慮によって、それらを常に不道徳や不敬なものから自由に保つ義務があると感じるべき。そしてその時それらを一般の用に持ち込んだ者たちは正当に罪とされた（Am 6:5）。彼らはダビデのように音楽の楽器を自分たちのために発明した。
IV. 神の栄光と誉れがこの神殿の音楽のすべてにおいて、声楽であれ器楽であれ、主として意図された。感謝し、主を賛美するために歌う者が用いられた（1Ch 25:3）。主の歌において教えられた（1Ch 25:7）のであった。すなわち主の家での歌のために（1Ch 25:6）。これは福音教会において詩篇歌唱を永続させる意図に一致する。すなわち心で主に向かって声と共に旋律を奏でる（Eph 5:19）。
V. 王の定めもまた注目される（1Ch 25:2、また1Ch 25:6）。これらの事においてダビデは確かに預言者として行動した。しかし古代と現代の神の制度の正当で規則正しい遵守のために配慮したことは、権威にあるすべて者がその力を宗教の促進とキリストの律法の執行のために用いる模範である。彼らにこのように善のための神の奉仕者であらせよう。
VI. 父祖たちがこの奉仕において議長であった。アサフ、ヘマン、エドトン（1Ch 25:1）。そして子らはその父の手の下にあった（1Ch 25:2,3,6）。これは両親にその子らを、実際にすべての年長者がその年下の者を、神の奉仕において、特に彼を賛美することにおいて訓練する良い模範を与える。それ以上に必要で、次の世代に伝えるに値する私たちのわざの部分はない。また年下の者に年長の者に服従する（その経験と観察が指導に適している）良い模範を与える。そしてできる限りその手の下でなすことをする。おそらくヘマン、アサフ、エドトンはサムエルの下で育ち、彼が創設者であり議長であった預言者の学校で教育を受けた。その時は生徒、今は師となる。名高くなりたい者は早く始め、準備のために時間を取らなければならない。神の賛美を歌うというこの良いわざをサムエルは復興させ、始めた。しかしここに現れる完全さにそれがもたらされるのを見る前に生きた。ソロモンはダビデが始めたものを完成させる。同様にダビデはサムエルが始めたものを完成させる。すべての者がその日に、神とその教会のためにできることをしよう。望むほど遠くまで運べなくても。彼らが去った後、神は石から他の者を起こし、その土台の上に建て、頂石をもたらすことができる。
VII. これら三人の偉大な者の子ら以外にも、その兄弟と呼ばれる者（おそらく個人の合奏で彼らと加わる習慣があったから）がいた。彼らは主の歌において教えられ、熟練していた（1Ch 25:7）。彼らは皆レビ人で、数は288人であった。さて、
1. これらは良い数であり、神の家の奉仕を保つのに十分な数であった。彼らは皆その召されたわざに熟練していたから。ダビデ王が神聖な詩と音楽にこれほど没頭していた時、他の多くの者、そのための才能を持つすべての者が、その方向に学びと努力を向けた。信心の演習を評判にもたらす者は宗教に大いなる良い奉仕をする。
2. しかしこれらはダビデがこのように主を賛美するために任命した4000人に比べれば少数であった（1Ch 23:5）。288人、しかも一つの組に十二人ずつだけがこの奉仕に分けられた時、残りのすべてはどこにいたのか。おそらく残りのすべてはこれと同じ数の組に分けられ、これらが導くように従うべきであった。あるいはおそらくこれらは主の家での歌のために（1Ch 25:6）、その家の中庭で礼拝するだれもが加われる者であり。残りは王国全体に配置され、この良いわざにおいて国の会衆で議長を務めるために。モーセの手によって制定された犠牲は一つの場所でしかささげられなかったが、ダビデによって書かれた詩篇はどこででも歌われた（1Ti 2:8）。
⁸ 彼らはくじを引いた。小さい者も大きい者も、教える者も学ぶ者も同様に、組に向かって組に。
⁹ 第一のくじはアサフのためにヨセフに。第二はゲダリヤに。彼とその兄弟と子らは十二人。
¹⁰ 第三はザクルに。彼、その子ら、その兄弟たちは十二人。
¹¹ 第四はイズリに。彼、その子ら、その兄弟たちは十二人。
¹² 第五はネタニヤに。彼、その子ら、その兄弟たちは十二人。
¹³ 第六はブッキヤに。彼、その子ら、その兄弟たちは十二人。
¹⁴ 第七はイェシャレラに。彼、その子ら、その兄弟たちは十二人。
¹⁵ 第八はイシャヤに。彼、その子ら、その兄弟たちは十二人。
¹⁶ 第九はマッタニヤに。彼、その子ら、その兄弟たちは十二人。
¹⁷ 第十はシメイに。彼、その子ら、その兄弟たちは十二人。
¹⁸ 第十一はアザレエルに。彼、その子ら、その兄弟たちは十二人。
¹⁹ 第十二はハシャビヤに。彼、その子ら、その兄弟たちは十二人。
²⁰ 第十三はシュアエルに。彼、その子ら、その兄弟たちは十二人。
²¹ 第十四はマッティテヤに。彼、その子ら、その兄弟たちは十二人。
²² 第十五はエリモテに。彼、その子ら、その兄弟たちは十二人。
²³ 第十六はハナニヤに。彼、その子ら、その兄弟たちは十二人。
²⁴ 第十七はヨシュベカシャに。彼、その子ら、その兄弟たちは十二人。
²⁵ 第十八はハナニに。彼、その子ら、その兄弟たちは十二人。
²⁶ 第十九はマロテに。彼、その子ら、その兄弟たちは十二人。
²⁷ 第二十はエリアタに。彼、その子ら、その兄弟たちは十二人。
²⁸ 第二十一はホティルに。彼、その子ら、その兄弟たちは十二人。
²⁹ 第二十二はギッダルテに。彼、その子ら、その兄弟たちは十二人。
³⁰ 第二十三はマハジオテに。彼、その子ら、その兄弟たちは十二人。
³¹ 第二十四はロマムテ・エゼルに。彼、その子ら、その兄弟たちは十二人。
本章の初めに、アサフ、ヘマン、エドトンの三人の偉大な者の子らとして二十四人が名を挙げられている。エタンが第三であった（1Ch 6:44）が、おそらく彼は確立が完成する前に死に、エドトンがその代わりにはいった。[あるいはおそらくエタンとエドトンは同じ人の二つの名であった。]これら三人について摂理はこう配列した。アサフに四人の子、エドトンに六人[1Ch 25:3には五人だけが言及される。1Ch 25:17に言及されるシメイが第六であったと考えられる]、ヘマンに十四人。合わせて二十四人（1Ch 25:2-4で名を挙げられた）。皆奉仕に適格であり、それに召された。しかし問題は、どのような順序で奉仕しなければならないかであった。これはくじによって決定された。優位のための争いを防ぐために。優位のための争いは、他の点では良い人である多くの者に最もつきやすい罪である。
I. くじは公平に投げられた。彼らは二十四の組に、一つの組に十二人、二列に、一列に十二の組に置かれ、こうして組に向かって組にくじを引いた。すべてを同じ平準に置いて。小さい者も大きい者も、教える者も学ぶ者も。彼らはその年齢、その地位、音楽学校で取った学位に従わなかった。しかし神に委ねられた（1Ch 25:8）。小さい者も大きい者も、教える者も学ぶ者も、神の前に同じように立つ。神は私たちの区別と優位の規則に従われない。Mt 20:23を見よ。
II. 神はご随意にそれを決定された。おそらくそれぞれの者の功績を考慮して。それは年齢の年長や出生の優先よりもはるかに重要である。前の一覧と比較しよう。
1. ヨセフはアサフの第二子。2. ゲダリヤはエドトンの長子。3. ザクルはアサフの長子。4. イズリはエドトンの次。5. ネタニヤはアサフの第三。6. ブッキヤはヘマンの長子。7. イェシャレラはアサフの末子。8. イシャヤはエドトンの第三。9. マッタニヤはヘマンの次。10. シメイはエドトンの末子。11. アザレエルはヘマンの第三。12. ハシャビヤはエドトンの第四。13. シュアエルはヘマンの第四。14. マッティテヤはエドトンの第五。15. エリモテはヘマンの第五。16. ハナニヤはヘマンの第六。17. ヨシュベカシャはヘマンの第十一。18. ハナニはヘマンの第七。19. マロテはヘマンの第十二。20. エリアタはヘマンの第八。21. ホティルはヘマンの第十三。22. ギッダルテはヘマンの第九。23. マハジオテはヘマンの第十四。そして最後に、ロマムテ・エゼルはヘマンの第十。
神がある者を増し、年上の者の前に年下の者を優先されたを見よ。
III. これらの各々はその合唱団に十二人の数を持った。その子らとその兄弟たちと呼ばれる。彼らを子らのように観察し、兄弟たちのように同意したから。おそらく十二人、ある者は声のために、他の者は楽器のために、合奏を構成した。一つの心と一つの口で神に栄光を帰することを学ぼう。それが最良の合奏である。
英語原文
The Courses of the Singers (1015 BC)
¹ Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:
² Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king.
³ Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD.
⁴ Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth:
⁵ All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
⁶ All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.
⁷ So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.
Observe, I. Singing the praises of God is here called prophesying (1Ch 25:1-3), not that all those who were employed in this service were honoured with the visions of God, or could foretel things to come. Heman indeed is said to be the king's seer in the words of God (1Ch 25:5); but the psalms they sang were composed by the prophets, and many of them were prophetical; and the edification of the church was intended in it, as well as the glory of God. In Samuel's time singing the praises of God went by the name of prophesying (1Sa 10:5,19:20), and perhaps that is intended in what St. Paul calls prophesying, 1Co 11:4,14:24.
II. This is here called a service, and the persons employed in it workmen, 1Ch 25:1. Not but that it is the greatest liberty and pleasure to be employed in praising God: what is heaven but that? But it intimates that it is our duty to make a business of it, and stir up all that is within us to it; and that, in our present state of corruption and infirmity, it will not be done as it should be done without labour and struggle. We must take pains with our hearts to bring them, and keep them, to this work, and to engage all that is within us.
III. Here were, in compliance with the temper of that dispensation, a great variety of musical instruments used, harps, psalteries, cymbals (1Ch 25:1,6), and here was one that lifted up the horn (1Ch 25:5), that is, used wind-music. The bringing of such concerts of music into the worship of God now is what none pretend to. But those who use such concerts for their own entertainment should feel themselves obliged to preserve them always free from any thing that savours of immorality or profaneness, by this consideration, that time was when they were sacred; and then those were justly condemned who brought them into common use, Am 6:5. They invented to themselves instruments of music like David.
IV. The glory and honour of God were principally intended in all this temple-music, whether vocal or instrumental. It was to give thanks, and praise the Lord, that the singers were employed, 1Ch 25:3. It was in the songs of the Lord that they were instructed (1Ch 25:7), that is, for songs in the house of the Lord, 1Ch 25:6. This agrees with the intention of the perpetuating of psalmody in the gospel-church, which is to make melody with the heart, in conjunction with the voice, unto the Lord, Eph 5:19.
V. The order of the king is likewise taken notice of, 1Ch 25:2 and again 1Ch 25:6. In those matters indeed David acted as a prophet; but his taking care for the due and regular observance of divine institutions, both ancient and modern, is an example to all in authority to use their power for the promoting of religion, and the enforcing of the laws of Christ. Let them thus be ministers of God for good.
VI. The fathers presided in this service, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun (1Ch 25:1), and the children were under the hands of their father, 1Ch 25:2,3,6. This gives a good example to parents to train up their children, and indeed to all seniors to instruct their juniors in the service of God, and particularly in praising him, than which there is no part of our work more necessary or more worthy to be transmitted to the succeeding generations. It gives also an example to the younger to submit themselves to the elder (whose experience and observation fit them for direction), and, as far as may be, to do what they do under their hand. It is probable that Heman, Asaph, and Jeduthun, were bred up under Samuel, and had their education in the schools of the prophets which he was the founder and president of; then they were pupils, now they came to be masters. Those that would be eminent must begin early, and take time to prepare themselves. This good work of singing God's praises Samuel revived, and set on foot, but lived not to see it brought to the perfection it appears in here. Solomon perfects what David began, so David perfects what Samuel began. Let all, in their day, do what they can for God and his church, though they cannot carry it so far as they would; when they are gone God can out of stones raise up others who shall build upon their foundation and bring forth the top-stone.
VII. There were others also, besides the sons of these three great men, who are called their brethren (probably because they had been wont to join with them in their private concerts), who were instructed in the songs of the Lord, and were cunning or well skilled therein, 1Ch 25:7. They were all Levites and were in number 288. Now, 1. These were a good number, and a competent number to keep up the service in the house of God; for they were all skilful in the work to which they were called. When David the king was so much addicted to divine poesy and music many others, all that had a genius for it, applied their studies and endeavours that way. Those do religion a great deal of good service that bring the exercises of devotion into reputation. 2. Yet these were but a small number in comparison with the 4000 whom David appointed thus to praise the Lord, 1Ch 23:5. Where were all the rest when only 288, and those but by twelve in a course, were separated to this service? It is probable that all the rest were divided into as many courses, and were to follow as these led. Or, perhaps, these were for songs in the house of the Lord (1Ch 25:6), with whom any that worshipped in the courts of that house might join; and the rest were disposed of, all the kingdom over, to preside in the country congregations, in this good work: for, though the sacrifices instituted by the hand of Moses might be offered but at one place, the psalms penned by David might be sung every where, 1Ti 2:8.
⁸ And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.
⁹ Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and sons were twelve:
¹⁰ The third to Zaccur, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
¹¹ The fourth to Izri, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
¹² The fifth to Nethaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
¹³ The sixth to Bukkiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
¹⁴ The seventh to Jesharelah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
¹⁵ The eighth to Jeshaiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
¹⁶ The ninth to Mattaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
¹⁷ The tenth to Shimei, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
¹⁸ The eleventh to Azareel, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
¹⁹ The twelfth to Hashabiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
²⁰ The thirteenth to Shubael, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
²¹ The fourteenth to Mattithiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
²² The fifteenth to Jeremoth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
²³ The sixteenth to Hananiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
²⁴ The seventeenth to Joshbekashah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
²⁵ The eighteenth to Hanani, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
²⁶ The nineteenth to Mallothi, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
²⁷ The twentieth to Eliathah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
²⁸ The one and twentieth to Hothir, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
²⁹ The two and twentieth to Giddalti, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
³⁰ The three and twentieth to Mahazioth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
³¹ The four and twentieth to Romamti-ezer, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve.
Twenty-four persons are named in the beginning of this chapter as sons of those three great men, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun. Ethan was the third (1Ch 6:44), but probably he was dead before the establishment was perfected and Jeduthun came in his room. [Or perhaps Ethan and Jeduthun were two names for the same person.] Of these three Providence so ordered it that Asaph had four sons, Jeduthun six [only five are mentioned 1Ch 25:3; Shimei, mentioned 1Ch 25:17, is supposed to have been the sixth], and Heman fourteen, in all twenty-four (who were named, 1Ch 25:2-4), who were all qualified for the service and called to it. But the question was, In what order must they serve? This was determined by lot, to prevent strife for precedency, a sin which most easily besets many that otherwise are good people.
I. The lot was thrown impartially. They were placed in twenty-four companies, twelve in a company, in two rows, twelve companies in a row, and so they cast lots, ward against ward, putting them all upon a level, small and great, teacher and scholar. They did not go according to their age, or according to their standing, or the degrees they had taken in the music-schools; but it was referred to God, 1Ch 25:8. Small and great, teachers and scholars, stand alike before God, who goes not according to our rules of distinction and precedency. See Mt 20:23.
II. God determined it as he pleased, taking account, it is probable, of the respective merits of the persons, which are of much more importance than seniority of age or priority of birth. Let us compare them with the preceding catalogue and we shall find that, 1. Josephus was the second son of Asaph. 2. Gedaliah the eldest son of Jeduthun. 3. Zaccur the eldest of Asaph. 4. Izri the second of Jeduthun. 5. Nethaniah the third of Asaph. 6. Bukkiah the eldest of Heman. 7. Jesharelah the youngest of Asaph. 8. Jeshaiah the third of Jeduthun. 9. Mattaniah the second of Heman. 10. Shimei the youngest of Jeduthun. 11. Azareel the third of Heman. 12. Hashabiah the fourth of Jeduthun. 13. Shubael the fourth of Heman. 14. Mattithiah the fifth of Jeduthun. 15. Jeremoth the fifth of Heman. 16. Hananiah the sixth of Heman. 17. Joshbekashah the eleventh of Heman. 18. Hanani the seventh of Heman. 19. Mallothi the twelfth of Heman. 20. Eliathah the eighth of Heman. 21. Hothir the thirteenth of Heman. 22. Giddalti the ninth of Heman. 23. Mehazioth the fourteenth of Heman. And, lastly, Romamti-ezer, the tenth of Heman. See how God increased some and preferred the younger before the elder.
III. Each of these had in his chorus the number of twelve, called their sons and their brethren, because they observed them as sons, and concurred with them as brethren. Probably twelve, some for the voice and others for the instrument, made up the concert. Let us learn with one mind and one mouth to glorify God, and that will be the best concert.
ダビデは祭司の奉仕に仕えるこれらのレビ人の組を定めた後、本章において、神殿で歌う者、奏楽者として任命された者たちを整える。ここに、
I. 用いられるべき人々。アサフ、ヘマン、エドトン（1Ch 25:1）、その子ら（1Ch 25:2-6）、および他の熟練した人々。1Ch 25:7。
II. くじによって決められた、彼らが仕える順序。1Ch 25:8-31。