Heman

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

HEMAN . There appear at first to be three different men of this name in the OT. 1. A legendary wise man whose wisdom Solomon excelled (  1 Kings 4:31 ). 2. A son (or clan) of Zerah of the tribe of Judah (  1 Chronicles 2:6 ), probably also alluded to in the title of   Psalms 88:1-18 as Heman the Ezrahite, Ezrah being another form of   Zechariah 3  Zechariah 3  Zechariah 3 . A Korahite singer of the time of David, said to be the son of Joel the son of Samuel (  1 Chronicles 6:33; cf. also 1Ch 15:17;   1 Chronicles 15:19 ,   1 Chronicles 16:41 ,   1 Chronicles 25:1-6 ). As Chronicles in a number of cases confuses the genealogy of Judah with that of Levi (cf., e.g. ,   1 Chronicles 2:42-43 with   1 Chronicles 6:2 ), and as the wise men of   1 Kings 4:31 are legendary, it is probable that the three Hemans are the same legendary ancestor of a clan celebrated for its music and wisdom. This view finds some support in the fact that the title of   Psalms 88:1-18 makes Heman both an Ezrahite (Judahite) and a Korahite (Levite).

George A. Barton.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

1.  1 Chronicles 2:6;  1 Kings 4:31. Probably the same as 2; though a Levite by birth he was reckoned in the family of Zerah, of Judah, as dwelling among them.

2. Grandson of Samuel; a Kohathite ( 1 Chronicles 6:31-38;  1 Chronicles 6:44). Colleague of Asaph and Ethan or Jeduthun ("the praise man") in arranging the vocal and instrumental music of the temple service, under David "after that the ark had rest" ( 1 Chronicles 15:16-22;  1 Chronicles 25:1-3). (See Asaph ; ETHAN.) Lord A. Hervey makes Heman 14th in descent from Levi. Called "the king's seer in the matters (words) of God, to lift up the horn," inheriting by God's gift the spirit of prophecy of his grandfather. Heman had 14 sons and three daughters.

The sons were each the head of one of the 25 wards of Levites, "instructed in the songs of the Lord." Heman the Kohathite probably, or his father, married an heiress of the house of Zerah (See Zerah , 1), and so, though by birth son of Joel, he is legally called the Ezrahite or son of Zerah in the title of Psalm 88, as Ethan is named the author in the title of Psalm 89, and other psalms have Asaph in the title. Not that Psalm 89, was actually by Heman; it was by "sons of Korah" who attributed the authorship to Heman by way of honour (Hengstenberg).

Morrish Bible Dictionary

1. Son of Zerah, or Mahol: he was renowned for his wisdom, which, however, was surpassed by that of Solomon.  1 Kings 4:31;  1 Chronicles 2:6 .

2. Son of Joel, a Kohathite: he was both a seer and chief of the musicians in the sanctuary under David. His fourteen sons were also musicians.  1 Chronicles 6:33;  1 Chronicles 15:17,19;  1 Chronicles 16:41,42;  1 Chronicles 25:1-6;  2 Chronicles 5:12;  2 Chronicles 29:14;  2 Chronicles 35:15 .  Psalm 88 is ascribed to Heman the Ezrahite, who some think to be the same person, but (as in the margin of the A.V.) it more probably refers to No. 1.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Grandson of Samuel ( 1 Chronicles 6:33;  15:17 ), to whom the 88th Psalm probably was inscribed. He was one of the "seers" named in  2 Chronicles 29:14,30 , and took a leading part in the administration of the sacred services.

Copyright Statement These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., DD Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography Information Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Heman'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/h/heman.html. 1897.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

He'man. (Faithful).

1. Son of Zerah.  1 Chronicles 2:6;  1 Kings 4:31.

2. Son of Joel, and grandson of Samuel, the prophet, a Kohathite. He is called, "the singer," rather the musician,  1 Chronicles 6:33, and was the first of the three Levites, to whom was committed the vocal and instrumental music of the Temple service, in the reign of David.  1 Chronicles 15:16-22. The 88th Psalm is ascribed to him. (B.C. 1014).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. A celebrated sage, of the tribe of Judah. The period of his life is unknown,  1 Kings 4:31 .

2. A Kohathite Levite, to whom as a chief musicians of the temple of the eighty-eighty Psalm is inscribed,  1 Chronicles 6:33;  16:41,42 .

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Genesis 36:22 Hemam  1 Kings 4:31 1 Chronicles 6:33 1 Chronicles 25:5 1 Kings 4:31 Psalm 88:1

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Heyman', הֵימָן , i. q. מְהֵימִן , ChlaId. Faithful; Sept. Αἰμάν or Αἱμάν , v.r. Ἀμάν , Ἀνάν , Αἰμουάμ , etc.), the name of two men.

1. A person named with three others celebrated for their wisdom, to which that of Solomon is compared ( 1 Kings 4:31), probably the same as the son of Zerah and grandson of Judah ( 1 Chronicles 2:6). B.C. post 1856; (See Ethan).

2. Son of Jobl, and grandson of Samuel, a Kohathite of the tribe of Levi, and one of the leaders of the Temple music as organized by David (1 Chronicles 6:33; 15:17; 16:41,42). B.C. 1014. This, probably, is the Heman to whom the 88th Psalm is ascribed. He had fourteen sons and three daughters ( 1 Chronicles 25:5), some of whom are enumerated in  1 Chronicles 25:4. Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun are termed "seers" in  2 Chronicles 29:14;  2 Chronicles 29:30;  2 Chronicles 35:15, which refers rather to their genius as sacred musicians than to their possessing the spirit of prophecy ( 1 Chronicles 15:19;  1 Chronicles 25:1; 2 Chronicles 5, 12), although there is not wanting evidence of their occasional inspiration. (See Asaph).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hē´man ( הימן , hēmān , "faithful"): The name of two men in the Old Testament.

(1) A musician and seer, a Levite, son of Joel and grandson of the prophet Samuel; of the family of the Kohathites ( 1 Chronicles 6:33 ), appointed by David as one of the leaders of the temple-singing ( 1 Chronicles 15:17;  2 Chronicles 5:12 ). He had 14 sons (and 3 daughters) who assisted their father in the chorus. Heman seems also to have been a man of spiritual power; is called "the king's seer in matters of God" ( 1 Chronicles 25:5;  2 Chronicles 35:15 ).

(2) One of the noted wise men prior to, or about, the time of Solomon. He was one of the three sons of Mahol ( 1 Kings 4:31 (  Hebrews 5:11 )); also called a son of Zerah ( 1 Chronicles 2:6 ).

 Psalm 88 is inscribed to Heman the Ezrahite, who is probably to be identified with the second son of Zerah.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Heman, 1

He´man, a person of the tribe of Judah, named with others celebrated for their wisdom, to which that of Solomon is compared . The considerations stated under Ethan will distinguish this Heman from the following, with whom he is sometimes confounded.

Heman, 2

Heman, a Kohathite of the tribe of Levi, and one of the leaders of the temple-music as organized by David . This, doubtless, is the Heman who Psalms 88 is ascribed.