Jeduthun

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

JEDITTHUN; ("who gives praises".)  1 Chronicles 16:38; Psalm 39, 62, 77, titles, implying that these psalms were to be sung by Jeduthun's choir;  Nehemiah 11:17. Jeduthun presided over a choir under David. "The sons of Jeduthun" had the office to "prophesy with the harp, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord" ( 1 Chronicles 25:1;  1 Chronicles 25:3). He wasa Merarite Levite, along with the Kohathite Heman and the Gershonite Asaph directing the music of the sanctuary; 4,000 in all, divided into courses, "praising the Lord with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith" ( 1 Chronicles 23:5-6). Identical with Ethan the Merarite ( 1 Chronicles 6:44;  1 Chronicles 15:17;  1 Chronicles 15:19); for as there was one Kohathite and one Gershonite, head of musicians, so there would be only one Merarite head. (See Ethan .)

That Jeduthun was a Merarite appears from Hosah his son ( 1 Chronicles 16:38;  1 Chronicles 16:42) being a Merarite ( 1 Chronicles 26:10). Compare also  1 Chronicles 15:17;  1 Chronicles 15:19 with  1 Chronicles 16:41-42;  1 Chronicles 25:1;  1 Chronicles 25:3;  1 Chronicles 25:6;  2 Chronicles 35:15, where he is called the "king's seer," i.e. being under the Spirit's influence. He sounded the cymbals of brass, marking time, while those under him played the harp ( Psalms 150:5). The trumpets were peculiar to the priests. Asaph and his brethren ministered before the ark at Jerusalem, Jeduthun and Heman "before the tabernacle of Jehovah in the high place at Gibeon." His sons were six of them prophesiers with the harp, and two of them, Obed Edom and Hosah, gatekeepers.

Jeduthun's singers with Asaph's and Heman's (namely, their sons and brethren), arrayed in white linen, officiated at the E. end of the altar, having cymbals, psalteries, and harps, at the dedication of Solomon's temple; and it was "when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord," with trumpets, cymbals, and instruments accompanying the voices praising the Lord "for He is good, for His mercy endureth for ever," that the house of the Lord was filled with the cloud of glory ( 2 Chronicles 5:13-14; compare  2 Chronicles 20:21-22). Praise is a most effective way of obtaining God's help. In Hezekiah's reign ( 2 Chronicles 29:13-14), again in Josiah's ( 2 Chronicles 35:15), lastly under Nehemiah ( Nehemiah 11:17), Jeduthun's choir or descendants officiated in the sanctuary music.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Jed'uthun. (Praising). A Levite, of the family of Merari, is probably the same as Ethan . Compare  1 Chronicles 15:17;  1 Chronicles 15:19 with  1 Chronicles 16:41-42;  1 Chronicles 25:1;  1 Chronicles 25:3;  1 Chronicles 25:6;  2 Chronicles 35:15. His office was generally to preside over the music of the Temple service, Jeduthun's name stands at the head of the 39th, 62nd and 77th Psalms,  Psalms 39:1;  Psalms 62:1;  Psalms 77:1, indicating, probably, that they were to be sung, by his choir. (B.C. 1014).

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

a Levite of Merari's family, and one of the four great masters of music belonging to the temple,  1 Chronicles 16:38;  1 Chronicles 16:41-42;  1 Chronicles 15:17; Psalms 89, title. He is the same as Ethan. Some of the Psalms are said to have been composed by him; such as the eighty-ninth, thirty-ninth, sixty-second, seventy-seventh; all of which go under his name. Some believe, that David, having composed these Psalms, gave them to Jeduthun and his company to sing; and that this is the reason of their going by this name. But there are some Psalms which have the name of Jeduthun, that seem to have been composed either during the captivity, or after it; and consequently the name of Jeduthun prefixed to them, can signify nothing else, but that some of his descendants, and of Jeduthun's class, composed them long after the death of the famous Jeduthun, one of their ancestors.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Jeduthun ( Je-Dû'Thun or Jĕd'U-Thŭn ), Praising. A Levite of the family of Merari probably the same as Ethan. Compare  1 Chronicles 15:17;  1 Chronicles 15:19, with  1 Chronicles 16:41-42;  1 Chronicles 25:1;  1 Chronicles 25:3;  1 Chronicles 25:6;  2 Chronicles 35:15. His office was generally to preside over the music of the temple service. Jeduthun's name stands at the head of the 39th, 62d, and 77th Psalms.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

JEDUTHUN . An unintelligible name having to do with the music or the musicians of the Temple. According to   1 Chronicles 25:1 etc., it was the name of one of the three musical guilds, and it appears in some passages to mask the name Ethan . Jeduthun ( Jedithun ) occurs in the headings of   Psalms 39:1-13;   Psalms 62:1-12;   Psalms 77:1-20 , and appears to refer to an instrument or to a tune. But in our ignorance of Hebrew music it is impossible to do more than guess what Jeduthun really meant.

W. F. Cobb.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Son of Berechiah, a Levite, and one of David's chief musicians; he is also called the king's seer.  Psalm 39 ,  Psalm 62 , and  Psalm 77 are inscribed to him. Some of his descendants assisted in the service of song and some returned from exile.   1 Chronicles 16:38,41,42;  1 Chronicles 25:1-6;  2 Chronicles 5:12;  2 Chronicles 35:15;  Nehemiah 11:17 .

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A Levite, one of the directors of music at the temple,  1 Chronicles 16:38-42 . His descendants held the same office,  2 Chronicles 35:15   Nehemiah 11:7; and the name of one of them appears in the title of  Psalm 39:1-13   62:1-12   77:1-20 . See Asaph .

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 1 Chronicles 16:41,42 25:1-6 2 Chronicles 35:15  Nehemiah 11:17 1 Chronicles 15:17,19 Psalm 3962,62

Holman Bible Dictionary

 1 Chronicles 25:1 1 Chronicles 15:17 1 Chronicles 25:3  2 Chronicles 35:15  1 Chronicles 16:37-42

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Hebrew Yeduthun', ידוּתוּן or יְדֻתוּן ; also יְדַיתוּן , Yedithun', in  1 Chronicles 16:38;  Nehemiah 11:17; Psalms 30, 77, titles; Lauder; Sept. ‘ Ιιιουᾷ , but ‘ Ιτσο ' )5 in  1 Chronicles 9:16), a Levite of Merari's family, and one of the four great masters of the Temple music appointed by David ( 1 Chronicles 16:41-42;  1 Chronicles 25:1, etc.). B.C. 1014. From a comparison of  1 Chronicles 15:17;  1 Chronicles 15:19, with  1 Chronicles 16:41-42;  1 Chronicles 25:1;  1 Chronicles 25:3;  1 Chronicles 25:6;  2 Chronicles 35:15, some infer that he was identical with ETHAN (See Ethan) (q.v.). In  2 Chronicles 35:15, he bears the title of "the king's seer." His sons sometimes appear as exercising the same office ( 1 Chronicles 25:1;  1 Chronicles 25:3), at others as door-keepers of the sacred edifice ( 1 Chronicles 16:42). His name is also put for his descendants (Jeduthunites, a "sons of Jeduthun"), who occur later as singers and players on instruments ( 2 Chronicles 35:15;  Nehemiah 11:17). In the latter signification it occurs in the superscriptions to Psalms 39, 62, 77; but Aben- Ezra supposes it to denote here a species of song, and Jarchi a musical instrument. The form of the phrase ( עִל יְדֻתוּן , "upon Jeduthun") favors the latter interpretation (Gesenius, Thes. Heb. p. — 569), indicating a kind of instrumental music, or perhaps a style or tune of performance (Ewald, Ieb. Poesie p. 176) invented or introduced by Jeduthun; a conclusion strengthened by finding a phrase indicative of authorship ( לַידוּתוּן , "To Jeduthun," i.e. composed By him); ascribed in a similar connection (Psalms 39, title), since he is elsewhere recognized as an inspired character ( 2 Chronicles 35:15). (See Musician).

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Jed´uthun (praise-giver), a Levite of Merari's family, and one of the four great masters of the temple music . This name is also put for his descendants, who occur later as singers and players on instruments .