The Divisions of the Musicians

251 And David and the heads of the host separate for service, of the sons of Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun, who are prophesying with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals, and the number of the workmen is according to their service. 2 Of sons of Asaph: Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asharelah, sons of Asaph, 'are' by the side of Asaph, who is prophesying by the side of the king. 3 Of Jeduthun: sons of Jeduthun, Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, Shisshah, 'are' by the side of their father Jeduthun; with a harp he is prophesying, for giving of thanks and of praise to Jehovah. 4 Of Heman: sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth; 5 all these 'are' sons of Heman—seer of the king in the things of God—to lift up a horn; and God giveth to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6 All these 'are' by the side of their father in the song of the house of Jehovah, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God; by the side of the king 'are' Asaph, and Jeduthun, and Heman. 7 And their number, with their brethren—taught in the song of Jehovah, all who are intelligent—is two hundred, eighty and eight.

8 And they cause to fall lots—charge over-against 'charge', as well the small as the great, the intelligent with the learner. 9 And the first lot goeth out for Asaph to Joseph; 'to' Gedaliah the second; he, and his brethren and his sons, twelve; 10 the third 'to' Zaccur, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 11 the fourth to Izri, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 12 the fifth 'to' Nethaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 13 the sixth 'to' Bukkiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 14 the seventh 'to' Jesharelah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 15 the eighth 'to' Jeshaiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 16 the ninth 'to' Mattaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 17 the tenth 'to' Shimei, his sons and his brethren, twelve: 18 eleventh 'to' Azareel, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 19 the twelfth 'to' Hashabiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 20 at the thirteenth 'to' Shubael, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 21 at the fourteenth 'to' Mattithiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 22 at the fifteenth 'to' Jeremoth, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 23 at the sixteenth 'to' Hananiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 24 at the seventeenth 'to' Joshbekashah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 25 at the eighteenth 'to' Hanani, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 26 at the nineteenth 'to' Mallothi, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 27 at the twentieth 'to' Eliathah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 28 at the one and twentieth 'to' Hothir, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 29 at the two and twentieth 'to' Giddalti, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 30 at the three and twentieth 'to' Mahazioth, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 31 at the four and twentieth 'to' Romamti-Ezer, his sons and his brethren, twelve.

The Porters and Overseers

261 For the courses of the gatekeepers: of the Korhites 'is' Meshelemiah son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph; 2 and to Meshelemiah 'are' sons, Zechariah the first-born, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, 3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh. 4 And to Obed-Edom 'are' sons, Shemaiah the first-born, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth, 5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth, for God hath blessed him. 6 And to Shemaiah his son have sons been born, who are ruling throughout the house of their father, for they 'are' mighty of valour. 7 Sons of Shemaiah 'are' Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad; his brethren 'are' sons of valour, Elihu and Semachiah, 8 all these 'are' of the sons of Obed-Edom; they, and their sons, and their brethren, men of valour with might for service, 'are' sixty and two of Obed-Edom. 9 And to Meshelemiah 'are' sons and brethren, sons of valour, eighteen; 10 and to Hosah, of the sons of Merari, 'are' sons: Shimri the head (though he was not first-born, yet his father setteth him for head), 11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth; all the sons and brethren of Hosah 'are' thirteen. 12 According to these 'are' the courses of the gatekeepers; to the heads of the mighty ones 'are' charges over-against their brethren, to minister in the house of Jehovah, 13 and they cause to fall lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for gate and gate. 14 And the lot falleth eastward to Shelemiah; and 'for' Zechariah his son—a counsellor with understanding—they cause to fall lots, and his lot goeth out northward: 15 to Obed-Edom southward, and to his sons, the house of the gatherings; 16 to Shuppim and to Hosah to the west, with the gate Shallecheth, in the highway, the ascent, charge over-against charge; 17 to the east the Levites 'are' six; to the north daily four, to the south daily four, and to the gatherings two by two, 18 at Parbar, to the west, 'are' four at the highway, two at Parbar. 19 These are the courses of the gatekeepers, of the sons of the Korhite, and of the sons of Merari.

20 And of the Levites, Ahijah 'is' over the treasures of the house of God, even for the treasures of the holy things. 21 Sons of Laadan: sons of the Gershonite, of Laadan, heads of the fathers of Laadan the Gershonite: Jehieli. 22 Sons of Jehieli: Zetham, and Joel his brother, over the treasures of the house of Jehovah, 23 for the Amramite, for the Izharite, for the Hebronite, for the Uzzielite. 24 And Shebuel son of Gershom, son of Moses, 'is' president over the treasures. 25 And his brethren, of Eliezer, 'are' Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son. 26 This Shelomith and his brethren 'are' over all the treasures of the holy things, that David the king, and heads of the fathers, even heads of thousands, and of hundreds, and heads of the host, sanctified; 27 from the battles, even from the spoil they sanctified to strengthen the house of Jehovah; 28 and all that Samuel the seer, and Saul son of Kish, and Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah sanctified, every one sanctifying 'any thing—it is' by the side of Shelomith and his brethren.

29 Of the Izharite, Chenaniah and his sons 'are' for the outward work over Israel, for officers and for judges. 30 Of the Hebronite, Hashabiah and his brethren, sons of valour, a thousand and seven hundred, 'are' over the inspection of Israel, beyond the Jordan westward, for all the work of Jehovah, and for the service of the king. 31 Of the Hebronite, Jerijah 'is' the head, of the Hebronite, according to his generations, for the fathers—in the fortieth year of the reign of David they have been sought out, and there are found among them mighty ones of valour, in Jazer of Gilead— 32 and his brethren, sons of valour, two thousand and seven hundred, 'are' heads of the fathers, and king David appointeth them over the Reubenite, and the Gadite, and the half of the tribe of Manasseh, for every matter of God and matter of the king.

The Officers of the Kingdom

271 And the sons of Israel, after their number, heads of the fathers, and princes of the thousands and of the hundreds, and their officers, those serving the king in any matter of the courses, that are coming in and going out month by month, throughout all months of the year—'are' in each course twenty and four thousand. 2 Over the first course, for the first month, 'is' Jashobeam son of Zabdiel, and on his course 'are' twenty and four thousand; 3 of the sons of Perez 'is' the head of all princes of the hosts for the first month. 4 And over the course of the second month 'is' Dodai the Ahohite, and his course, and Mikloth 'is' the president, and on his course 'are' twenty and four thousand. 5 Head of the third host, for the third month, 'is' Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the head priest, and on his course 'are' twenty and four thousand. 6 This Benaiah 'is' a mighty one of the thirty, and over the thirty, and 'in' his course 'is' Ammizabad his son. 7 The fourth, for the fourth month, 'is' Asahel brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him, and on his course 'are' twenty and four thousand. 8 The fifth, for the fifth month, 'is' the prince Shamhuth the Izrahite, and on his course 'are' twenty and four thousand. 9 The sixth, for the sixth month, 'is' Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, and on his course 'are' twenty and four thousand. 10 The seventh, for the seventh month, 'is' Helez the Pelonite, of the sons of Ephraim, and on his course 'are' twenty and four thousand. 11 The eighth, for the eighth month, 'is' Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhite, and on his course 'are' twenty and four thousand. 12 The ninth, for the ninth month, 'is' Abiezer the Antothite, of the Benjamite, and on his course 'are' twenty and four thousand. 13 The tenth, for the tenth month, 'is' Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhite, and on his course 'are' twenty and four thousand. 14 Eleventh, for the eleventh month, 'is' Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the sons of Ephraim, and on his course 'are' twenty and four thousand. 15 The twelfth, for the twelfth month, 'is' Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel, and on his course 'are' twenty and four thousand.

16 And over the tribes of Israel: Of the Reubenite, a leader 'is' Eliezer son of Zichri; of the Simeonite, Shephatiah son of Maachah; 17 of the Levite, Hashabiah son of Kemuel; of the Aaronite, Zadok; 18 of Judah, Elihu, of the brethren of David; of Issachar, Omri son of Michael; 19 of Zebulun, Ishmaiah son of Obadiah; of Naphtali, Jerimoth son of Azriel; 20 of the sons of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Azaziah; of the half of the tribe of Manasseh, Joel son of Pedaiah; 21 of the half of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo son of Zechariah; of Benjamin, Jaasiel son of Abner; of Dan, Azareel son of Jeroham: 22 these 'are' heads of the tribes of Israel. 23 And David hath not taken up their number from a son of twenty years and under, for Jehovah said to multiply Israel as the stars of the heavens. 24 Joab son of Zeruiah hath begun to number—and hath not finished—and there is for this wrath against Israel, and the number hath not gone up in the account of the Chronicles of king David. 25 And over the treasures of the king 'is' Azmaveth son of Adiel; and over the treasures in the field, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the towers, 'is' Jehonathan son of Uzziah; 26 and over workmen of the field for the service of the ground 'is' Ezri son of Chelub; 27 and over the vineyards 'is' Shimei the Ramathite; and over what 'is' in the vineyards for the treasures of wine 'is' Zabdi the Shiphmite; 28 and over the olives, and the sycamores, that 'are' in the low country, 'is' Baal-Hanan the Gederite; and over the treasures of oil 'is' Joash; 29 and over the herds that are feeding in Sharon 'is' Shitrai the Sharonite; and over the herds in the valleys 'is' Shaphat son of Adlai; 30 and over the camels 'is' Obil the Ishmeelite; and over the asses 'is' Jehdeiah the Meronothite; 31 and over the flock 'is' Jaziz the Hagerite; all these 'are' heads of the substance that king David hath. 32 And Jonathan, uncle of David, 'is' counsellor, a man of understanding, he is also a scribe; and Jehiel son of Hachmoni 'is' with the sons of the king; 33 and Ahithophel 'is' counsellor to the king; and Hushai the Archite 'is' the friend of the king; 34 and after Ahithophel 'is' Jehoiada son of Benaiah, and Abiathar; and the head of the host of the king 'is' Joab.

Jesus Heals the Man Born Blind

91 And passing by, he saw a man blind from birth, 2 and his disciples asked him, saying, 'Rabbi, who did sin, this one or his parents, that he should be born blind?' 3 Jesus answered, 'Neither did this one sin nor his parents, but that the works of God may be manifested in him; 4 it behoveth me to be working the works of Him who sent me while it is day; night doth come, when no one is able to work:— 5 when I am in the world, I am a light of the world.' 6 These things saying, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and rubbed the clay on the eyes of the blind man, and said to him, 7 'Go away, wash at the pool of Siloam,' which is, interpreted, Sent. He went away, therefore, and did wash, and came seeing;

8 the neighbours, therefore, and those seeing him before, that he was blind, said, 'Is not this he who is sitting and begging?' 9 others said—'This is he;' and others—'He is like to him;' he himself said,—'I am 'he'.' 10 They said, therefore, to him, 'How were thine eyes opened?' 11 he answered and said, 'A man called Jesus made clay, and rubbed my eyes, and said to me, Go away to the pool of Siloam, and wash; and having gone away and having washed, I received sight;' 12 they said, therefore, to him, 'Where is that one?' he saith, 'I have not known.'

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing

13 They bring him to the Pharisees who once 'was' blind, 14 and it was a sabbath when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. 15 Again, therefore, the Pharisees also were asking him how he received sight, and he said to them, 'Clay he did put upon my eyes, and I did wash—and I see.' 16 Of the Pharisees, therefore, certain said, 'This man is not from God, because the sabbath he doth not keep;' others said, 'How is a man—a sinful one—able to do such signs?' and there was a division among them. 17 They said to the blind man again, 'Thou—what dost thou say of him—that he opened thine eyes?' 18 and he said—'He is a prophet.' The Jews, therefore, did not believe concerning him that he was blind and did receive sight, till that they called the parents of him who received sight, 19 and they asked them, saying, 'Is your son, of whom ye say that he was born blind? how then now doth he see?' 20 His parents answered them and said, 'We have known that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 and how he now seeth, we have not known; or who opened his eyes, we have not known; himself is of age, ask him; he himself shall speak concerning himself.' 22 These things said his parents, because they were afraid of the Jews, for already had the Jews agreed together, that if any one may confess him—Christ, he may be put out of the synagogue; 23 because of this his parents said—'He is of age, ask him.'

Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 9:1-23

Commentary on John 9:1-7

(Read John 9:1-7)

Christ cured many who were blind by disease or accident; here he cured one born blind. Thus he showed his power to help in the most desperate cases, and the work of his grace upon the souls of sinners, which gives sight to those blind by nature. This poor man could not see Christ, but Christ saw him. And if we know or apprehend anything of Christ, it is because we were first known of him. Christ says of uncommon calamities, that they are not always to be looked on as special punishments of sin; sometimes they are for the glory of God, and to manifest his works. Our life is our day, in which it concerns us to do the work of the day. We must be busy, and not waste day-time; it will be time to rest when our day is done, for it is but a day. The approach of death should quicken us to improve all our opportunities of doing and getting good. What good we have an opportunity to do, we should do quickly. And he that will never do a good work till there is nothing to be objected against, will leave many a good work for ever undone, Ecclesiastes 11:4. Christ magnified his power, in making a blind man to see, doing that which one would think more likely to make a seeing man blind. Human reason cannot judge of the Lord's methods; he uses means and instruments that men despise. Those that would be healed by Christ must be ruled by him. He came back from the pool wondering and wondered at; he came seeing. This represents the benefits in attending on ordinances of Christ's appointment; souls go weak, and come away strengthened; go doubting, and come away satisfied; go mourning, and come away rejoicing; go blind, and come away seeing.

Commentary on John 9:8-12

(Read John 9:8-12)

Those whose eyes are opened, and whose hearts are cleansed by grace, being known to be the same person, but widely different in character, live as monuments to the Redeemer's glory, and recommend his grace to all who desire the same precious salvation. It is good to observe the way and method of God's works, and they will appear the more wonderful. Apply this spiritually. In the work of grace wrought upon the soul we see the change, but we see not the hand that makes it: the way of the Spirit is like that of the wind, which thou hearest the sound of, but canst not tell whence it comes, nor whither it goes.

Commentary on John 9:13-17

(Read John 9:13-17)

Christ not only worked miracles on the sabbath, but in such a manner as would give offence to the Jews, for he would not seem to yield to the scribes and Pharisees. Their zeal for mere rites consumed the substantial matters of religion; therefore Christ would not give place to them. Also, works of necessity and mercy are allowed, and the sabbath rest is to be kept, in order to the sabbath work. How many blind eyes have been opened by the preaching of the gospel on the Lord's day! how many impotent souls cured on that day! Much unrighteous and uncharitable judging comes from men's adding their own fancies to God's appointments. How perfect in wisdom and holiness was our Redeemer, when his enemies could find nothing against him, but the oft-refuted charge of breaking the sabbath! May we be enabled, by well-doing, to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

Commentary on John 9:18-23

(Read John 9:18-23)

The Pharisees vainly hoped to disprove this notable miracle. They expected a Messiah, but could not bear to think that this Jesus should be he, because his precepts were all contrary to their traditions, and because they expected a Messiah in outward pomp and splendour. The fear of man brings a snare, Proverbs 29:25, and often makes people deny and disown Christ and his truths and ways, and act against their consciences. The unlearned and poor, who are simple-hearted, readily draw proper inferences from the evidences of the light of the gospel; but those whose desires are another way, though ever learning, never come to the knowledge of the truth.