First a bit of background.

The exodus from Egypt to the promised land was led by Moses, Miriam and Aaron from the tribe of Levi. Korach was a cousin of them who raised a rebellion because he too wanted to be a priest. But he was burnt to death when trying to sacrifice on the altar. Nevertheless, his descendants were given the honor to guard the gates of the sanctuary (first the tabernacle of tents and later the temple of stone) and the management of its operations.

David assigned a descendant from Korach, Heman, as a worship leader in the sanctuary, together with two other Levites: Asaph and Jeduthun, together with their sons. The family of Heman, the Korachites, are credited with twelve psalms (42-49, 84-85, 87-88), with Heman mentioned as co-author of psalm 88. Another twelve psalms are attributed to Asaph (50 and 73-83). Jeduthun (assumed to be longer form of the name Ethan) is associated with psalms 39, 62 and 89; he is the recipient of psalm 77.

We have read the story of David from the books of Samuel and Kings. That story is retold later (after the Babylonian exile) in the books of Chronicles, but now from the perspective of the Levites, with far more interest in the operations of the temple and the role of the Korachites. Come read with me how David brings the sanctuary to Jerusalem and organizes its musicians (although I left out most of the many names mentioned in the text).

Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman, the Korachite

I Chronicles 13

After David had consulted with all his army commanders, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, he said to the community of Israel: “If you agree, and if the LORD our God gives us the go-ahead, let us send messengers to our relatives who remain in the various regions of Israel, as well as to the priests and Levites in their towns and surrounding pasturelands, and ask them to join us. I propose that we bring here the ark of our God, which we neglected in the days of Saul." The whole assembly agreed, for the people considered it right.

David summoned all Israel, from the border of Egypt to Lebo-Hamat, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim. Together with the Israelites, he went to Baalah, to Kiriath Jearim in Judah, to bring up the ark of God, the ark of the LORD, which has a special name, namely, "He who sits enthroned above the cherubim."

On a new cart, they drove the ark of God away from the house of Abinadab. The cart was driven by Uzzah and Ahio. David and the Israelites danced before God with all their might, accompanied by singing and music from lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. When they came to the place where Kidon threshed his grain, the oxen stumbled. Uzza reached out his hand to steady the ark. The LORD was angry with Uzza and punished him for reaching out his hand to the ark, so that he died there, in the presence of God. David was angry because the LORD had struck Uzza down. He named that place Perez-Uzza, and that is its name to this day.

Then David became afraid of God and wondered, "How can I ever bring the ark of God to me in Jerusalem?" He did not lead the ark back on the road to David's palace, but turned the cart aside to the house of Obed-Edom [a son of Jeduthun, 16:38]. The ark of God remained with Obed-Edom's family in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-Edom's family and all that he had.

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I Chronicles 15

David built a palace for himself in the City of David and prepared a place for the ark of God by setting up a tent for it. Then he declared that only the Levites could carry the ark of God, for the LORD had appointed them to carry his ark and serve him forever.
Then he gathered all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it. He summoned the descendants of Aaron and the Levites (...) and said to them, "You are the heads of the Levitical families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves and bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared. For because you were not there last time, the wrath of the LORD our God was unleashed against us. We did not consult the LORD as prescribed."
The priests and Levites consecrated themselves to carry the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. The Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded in the name of the LORD. David also commanded the heads of the Levite families to appoint their relatives who were skilled in singing, accompanied by musical instruments, harps, lyres, and cymbals.

The Levites appointed Heman, Asaph, and Ethan [or: Jeduthun]. They were assisted by their relatives, the gatekeepers. The singers Heman, Asaph, and Ethan played the bronze cymbals, one group of relatives played the harps tuned to a high pitch, and the others the lower-pitched lyres. One Levite, Kenaniah, was in charge of the procession; he was entrusted with this responsibility because of his expertise. Two others guarded the ark. The priests went before the ark of God, blowing trumpets.

So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of thousands set out to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-Edom with great celebration. And while the Levites carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD with God's help, seven bulls and seven rams were sacrificed. David was dressed in a linen ephod, as were the Levites who carried the ark, the singers, and Kenaniah, who led the procession of singers. David also wore a linen priestly robe. With shouts of joy and the sound of horns, all Israel brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD, while the trumpets and cymbals sounded and the harps and lyres played.

When the ark entered David's palace, Michal, Saul's daughter, was watching from her window. She saw King David dancing and leaping, and her heart was filled with contempt.

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I Chronicles 16

The ark of God was placed in the tent that David had set up, and burnt offerings and peace offerings were made to God. Afterward, David blessed the people in the name of the LORD. He distributed bread, dried dates, and raisins to all the Israelites, both men and women.

(...) On that day David commanded Asaph and his relatives to sing the praises of the LORD as follows:

“Praise the LORD, call out his name,
make known his deeds among the nations,
sing and play for him,
speak of his wonders,
boast of his holy name.
(...)
Say to the nations, "The LORD is king."
Let the sea roar, with all that lives in it,
let the fields rejoice and all that grows in them,
and let the trees sing for joy before the LORD,
for He is coming, as judge of the earth.
(...)

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from age to age."

And all the people answered, "Amen!" and "Praise the LORD!"

So David appointed Asaph and his relatives to minister daily before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, according to the regulations for each day. He entrusted the guard duty to Obed-Edom and Hosa and their relatives, sixty-eight gatekeepers; Obed-Edom was a son of Jeduthun.

Zadok and the other members of the priestly family were appointed to the tabernacle of the LORD at the high place of Gibeon. There they were to offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering every morning and evening, and to perform all the other duties prescribed in the law that the LORD had given to Israel. Heman and Jeduthun and other officially appointed persons were to praise the LORD there with the words, "His faithfulness endures forever." They, Heman and Jeduthun, kept the trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments used to make music for God. The sons of Jeduthun guarded the gate.

After this, everyone went home. David also went home to bless his family and servants.

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I Chronicles 25

The descendants of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun were exempted by David and the heads of worship from their regular duties in order to sing songs of praise accompanied by lyres, harps, and cymbals. Here is the list of the men who were assigned this task:

• From the family of Asaph: Zakkur, Joseph, Netaniah, and Asarelah, sons of Asaph. They accompanied Asaph when he sang the songs of praise according to the king's instructions.
• From the family of Jeduthun: Jeduthun's six sons Gedaliah, Seri, Isaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah. They accompanied their father Jeduthun when he sang to praise and glorify the LORD to the accompaniment of the lyre.
• From the family of Heman: Heman's sons Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Josbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. [And these are the Korachites].

Reflections

The Korachites were among the temple singers, like Asaph and Jeduthun whom we encountered in Psalm 77. They wrote many songs and some of these songs, like psalm 42/43, were included in the Book of Psalms, because they could have a wider significance. Even though psalms 77 and 42/43 are extremely personal, we are invited to learn from these personal experiences, to gain understanding in who we are as human beings and in who God can be for us.

Reflections 

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