Reference: Heman
American
1. A celebrated sage, of the tribe of Judah. The period of his life is unknown, 1Ki 4:31.
2. A Kohathite Levite, to whom as a chief musicians of the temple of the eighty-eighty Psalm is inscribed, 1Ch 6:33; 16:41-42.
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Easton
faithful. (1.) 1Ki 4:31; 1Ch 2:6, a son of Zerah, noted for his wisdom. (2.) Grandson of Samuel (1Ch 6:33; 15:17), to whom the 88th Psalm probably was inscribed. He was one of the "seers" named in 2Ch 29:14,30, and took a leading part in the administration of the sacred services.
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Fausets
1. 1Ch 2:6; 1Ki 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 (1Ch 6:31-38,44). 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" (1Ch 15:16-22; 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).
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Hastings
There appear at first to be three different men of this name in the OT. 1. A legendary wise man whose wisdom Solomon excelled (1Ki 4:31). 2. A son (or clan) of Zerah of the tribe of Judah (1Ch 2:6), probably also alluded to in the title of Ps 88 as Heman the Ezrahite, Ezrah being another form of Zerah. 3. A Korahite singer of the time of David, said to be the son of Joel the son of Samuel (1Ch 6:33; cf. also 1Ch 15:17,19; 16:41; 25:1-6). As Chronicles in a number of cases confuses the genealogy of Judah with that of Levi (cf., e.g., 1Ch 2:42-43 with 1Ch 6:2), and as the wise men of 1Ki 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 Ps 88 makes Heman both an Ezrahite (Judahite) and a Korahite (Levite).
George A. Barton.
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Morish
He'man
1. Son of Zerah, or Mahol: he was renowned for his wisdom, which, however, was surpassed by that of Solomon. 1 Kings 4:31; 1Ch 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. 1Ch 6:33; 15:17,19; 16:41-42; 25:1-6; 2Ch 5:12; 29:14; 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.
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Smith
He'man
(faithful)
1. Son of Zerah.
2. Son of Joel and grandson of Samuel the prophet, a Kohathite. He is called "the singer," rather the musician,
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.
The 88th Psalm is ascribed to him. (B.C. 1014.)