Heman
The King's Seer and Leader of Praise
Heman was a Levite from the descendants of Korah and one of the three main singers appointed by King David to lead worship in the tabernacle. He was called 'the king's seer' and was known for his wisdom. He is also traditionally associated with Psalm 88 and was the father of fourteen sons and three daughters.
Familie
Schlüsselereignisse
Appointed as Music Leader by David
King David appointed Heman along with Asaph and Jeduthun to lead the worship and music ministry at the Lord's tabernacle.
16These are the men whom David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD, after the ark came to rest there.
וְאֵ֗לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֶעֱמִ֥יד דָּוִ֛יד עַל־יְדֵי־שִׁ֖יר בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה מִמְּנ֖וֹחַ הָאָרֽוֹן׃
17They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, until Solomon built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, and they carried out their service according to the order laid down for them.
וַיִּהְי֨וּ מְשָׁרְתִ֜ים לִפְנֵ֨י מִשְׁכַּ֤ן אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵד֙ בַּשִּׁ֔יר עַד־בְּנ֧וֹת שְׁלֹמֹ֛ה אֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהוָ֖ה בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וַיַּעַמְד֥וּ כְמִשְׁפָּטָ֖ם עַל־עֲבוֹדָתָֽם׃
18These are the men who served, together with their sons. From the Kohathites: Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,
וְאֵ֥לֶּה הָעֹמְדִ֖ים וּבְנֵיהֶ֑ם מִבְּנֵי֙ הַקְּהָתִ֔י הֵימָן֙ הַמְשׁוֹרֵ֔ר בֶּן־יוֹאֵ֖ל בֶּן־שְׁמוּאֵֽל׃
19the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,
בֶּן־אֶלְקָנָה֙ בֶּן־יְרֹחָ֔ם בֶּן־אֱלִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־תּֽוֹחַ׃
20the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,
בֶּן־*ציף **צוּף֙ בֶּן־אֶלְקָנָ֔ה בֶּן־מַ֖חַת בֶּן־עֲמָשָֽׂי׃
21the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,
בֶּן־אֶלְקָנָה֙ בֶּן־יוֹאֵ֔ל בֶּן־עֲזַרְיָ֖ה בֶּן־צְפַנְיָֽה׃
22the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,
בֶּן־תַּ֙חַת֙ בֶּן־אַסִּ֔יר בֶּן־אֶבְיָסָ֖ף בֶּן־קֹֽרַח׃
23the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.
בֶּן־יִצְהָ֣ר בֶּן־קְהָ֔ת בֶּן־לֵוִ֖י בֶּן־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
24His brother Asaph, who stood at his right hand: Asaph the son of Berechiah, the son of Shimea,
וְאָחִ֣יו אָסָ֔ף הָעֹמֵ֖ד עַל־יְמִינ֑וֹ אָסָ֥ף בֶּן־בֶּרֶכְיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־שִׁמְעָֽא׃
25the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchijah,
בֶּן־מִיכָאֵ֥ל בֶּן־בַּעֲשֵׂיָ֖ה בֶּן־מַלְכִּיָּֽה׃
26the son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,
בֶּן־אֶתְנִ֥י בֶן־זֶ֖רַח בֶּן־עֲדָיָֽה׃
27the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei,
בֶּן־אֵיתָ֥ן בֶּן־זִמָּ֖ה בֶּן־שִׁמְעִֽי׃
28the son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.
בֶּן־יַ֥חַת בֶּן־גֵּרְשֹׁ֖ם בֶּן־לֵוִֽי׃ ס
29On the left stood their kinsmen, the sons of Merari: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,
וּבְנֵ֧י מְרָרִ֛י אֲחֵיהֶ֖ם עַֽל־הַשְּׂמֹ֑אול אֵיתָן֙ בֶּן־קִישִׁ֔י בֶּן־עַבְדִּ֖י בֶּן־מַלּֽוּךְ׃
30the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,
בֶּן־חֲשַׁבְיָ֥ה בֶן־אֲמַצְיָ֖ה בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּֽה׃
31the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer,
בֶּן־אַמְצִ֥י בֶן־בָּנִ֖י בֶּן־שָֽׁמֶר׃
32the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.
בֶּן־מַחְלִי֙ בֶּן־מוּשִׁ֔י בֶּן־מְרָרִ֖י בֶּן־לֵוִֽי׃ ס
33Their kinsmen the Levites were assigned to all the other service of the tabernacle, the house of God.
וַאֲחֵיהֶ֖ם הַלְוִיִּ֑ם נְתוּנִ֕ים לְכָ֨ל־עֲבוֹדַ֔ת מִשְׁכַּ֖ן בֵּ֥ית הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃
17So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from among his relatives, Asaph son of Berechiah; and from the sons of Merari, their relatives, Ethan son of Kushaiah;
וַיַּעֲמִ֣ידוּ הַלְוִיִּ֗ם אֵ֚ת הֵימָ֣ן בֶּן־יוֹאֵ֔ל וּמִ֨ן־אֶחָ֔יו אָסָ֖ף בֶּן־בֶּֽרֶכְיָ֑הוּ ס וּמִן־בְּנֵ֤י מְרָרִי֙ אֲחֵיהֶ֔ם אֵיתָ֖ן בֶּן־קֽוּשָׁיָֽהוּ׃
19The singers Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals;
וְהַמְשֹׁ֣רְרִ֔ים הֵימָ֥ן אָסָ֖ף וְאֵיתָ֑ן בִּמְצִלְתַּ֥יִם נְחֹ֖שֶׁת לְהַשְׁמִֽיעַ׃
The King's Seer
Heman was recognized as the king's seer in God's word, a prestigious position that testifies to his spiritual authority and prophetic gift.
1David and the commanders of the army set apart for service the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, who were to prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals. This was the number of the men who did this work according to their service:
וַיַּבְדֵּ֣ל דָּוִיד֩ וְשָׂרֵ֨י הַצָּבָ֜א לַעֲבֹדָ֗ה לִבְנֵ֤י אָסָף֙ וְהֵימָ֣ן וִֽידוּת֔וּן *הנביאים **הַֽנִּבְּאִ֛ים בְּכִנֹּר֥וֹת בִּנְבָלִ֖ים וּבִמְצִלְתָּ֑יִם וַֽיְהִי֙ מִסְפָּרָ֔ם אַנְשֵׁ֥י מְלָאכָ֖ה לַעֲבֹדָתָֽם׃
4Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.
לְהֵימָ֑ן בְּנֵ֣י הֵימָ֡ן בֻּקִּיָּ֡הוּ מַתַּנְיָ֡הוּ עֻ֠זִּיאֵל שְׁבוּאֵ֨ל וִֽירִימ֜וֹת חֲנַנְיָ֣ה חֲנָ֗נִי אֱלִיאָ֤תָה גִדַּ֙לְתִּי֙ וְרֹמַ֣מְתִּי עֶ֔זֶר יָשְׁבְּקָ֣שָׁה מַלּ֔וֹתִי הוֹתִ֖יר מַחֲזִיאֽוֹת׃
5All these were sons of Heman, the king's seer, according to God's promise to raise up his strength. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
כָּל־אֵ֨לֶּה בָנִ֜ים לְהֵימָ֗ן חֹזֵ֥ה הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ בְּדִבְרֵ֥י הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים לְהָרִ֣ים קָ֑רֶן וַיִּתֵּ֨ן הָאֱלֹהִ֜ים לְהֵימָ֗ן בָּנִ֛ים אַרְבָּעָ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר וּבָנ֥וֹת שָׁלֽוֹשׁ׃
6All of them were under the direction of their father for the music in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman served under the king's direction.
כָּל־אֵ֣לֶּה עַל־יְדֵי֩ אֲבִיהֶ֨ם בַּשִּׁ֜יר בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֗ה בִּמְצִלְתַּ֙יִם֙ נְבָלִ֣ים וְכִנֹּר֔וֹת לַעֲבֹדַ֖ת בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים עַ֚ל יְדֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ ס אָסָ֥ף וִידוּת֖וּן וְהֵימָֽן׃
Heman's Fourteen Sons and Three Daughters
God blessed Heman with fourteen sons and three daughters. All the sons served under their father's leadership in the musical service of the temple.
4Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.
לְהֵימָ֑ן בְּנֵ֣י הֵימָ֡ן בֻּקִּיָּ֡הוּ מַתַּנְיָ֡הוּ עֻ֠זִּיאֵל שְׁבוּאֵ֨ל וִֽירִימ֜וֹת חֲנַנְיָ֣ה חֲנָ֗נִי אֱלִיאָ֤תָה גִדַּ֙לְתִּי֙ וְרֹמַ֣מְתִּי עֶ֔זֶר יָשְׁבְּקָ֣שָׁה מַלּ֔וֹתִי הוֹתִ֖יר מַחֲזִיאֽוֹת׃
5All these were sons of Heman, the king's seer, according to God's promise to raise up his strength. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
כָּל־אֵ֨לֶּה בָנִ֜ים לְהֵימָ֗ן חֹזֵ֥ה הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ בְּדִבְרֵ֥י הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים לְהָרִ֣ים קָ֑רֶן וַיִּתֵּ֨ן הָאֱלֹהִ֜ים לְהֵימָ֗ן בָּנִ֛ים אַרְבָּעָ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר וּבָנ֥וֹת שָׁלֽוֹשׁ׃
6All of them were under the direction of their father for the music in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman served under the king's direction.
כָּל־אֵ֣לֶּה עַל־יְדֵי֩ אֲבִיהֶ֨ם בַּשִּׁ֜יר בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֗ה בִּמְצִלְתַּ֙יִם֙ נְבָלִ֣ים וְכִנֹּר֔וֹת לַעֲבֹדַ֖ת בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים עַ֚ל יְדֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ ס אָסָ֥ף וִידוּת֖וּן וְהֵימָֽן׃
Organization of the Music Departments
Heman and his sons were assigned to service groups by lot, together with the sons of Asaph and Jeduthun for temple service, totaling 24 divisions.
1David and the commanders of the army set apart for service the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, who were to prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals. This was the number of the men who did this work according to their service:
וַיַּבְדֵּ֣ל דָּוִיד֩ וְשָׂרֵ֨י הַצָּבָ֜א לַעֲבֹדָ֗ה לִבְנֵ֤י אָסָף֙ וְהֵימָ֣ן וִֽידוּת֔וּן *הנביאים **הַֽנִּבְּאִ֛ים בְּכִנֹּר֥וֹת בִּנְבָלִ֖ים וּבִמְצִלְתָּ֑יִם וַֽיְהִי֙ מִסְפָּרָ֔ם אַנְשֵׁ֥י מְלָאכָ֖ה לַעֲבֹדָתָֽם׃
2Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, sons of Asaph, under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied at the king's command.
לִבְנֵ֣י אָסָ֗ף זַכּ֧וּר וְיוֹסֵ֛ף וּנְתַנְיָ֥ה וַאֲשַׂרְאֵ֖לָה בְּנֵ֣י אָסָ֑ף עַ֚ל יַד־אָסָ֔ף הַנִּבָּ֖א עַל־יְדֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
3Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah — six in all — under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the lyre, giving thanks and praise to the LORD.
לִידוּת֑וּן בְּנֵ֣י יְדוּת֡וּן גְּדַלְיָ֡הוּ וּצְרִ֡י וִֽ֠ישַׁעְיָהוּ חֲשַׁבְיָ֨הוּ וּמַתִּתְיָ֜הוּ שִׁשָּׁ֗ה עַל֩ יְדֵ֨י אֲבִיהֶ֤ם יְדוּתוּן֙ בַּכִּנּ֔וֹר הַנִּבָּ֕א עַל־הֹד֥וֹת וְהַלֵּ֖ל לַיהוָֽה׃ ס
4Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.
לְהֵימָ֑ן בְּנֵ֣י הֵימָ֡ן בֻּקִּיָּ֡הוּ מַתַּנְיָ֡הוּ עֻ֠זִּיאֵל שְׁבוּאֵ֨ל וִֽירִימ֜וֹת חֲנַנְיָ֣ה חֲנָ֗נִי אֱלִיאָ֤תָה גִדַּ֙לְתִּי֙ וְרֹמַ֣מְתִּי עֶ֔זֶר יָשְׁבְּקָ֣שָׁה מַלּ֔וֹתִי הוֹתִ֖יר מַחֲזִיאֽוֹת׃
5All these were sons of Heman, the king's seer, according to God's promise to raise up his strength. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
כָּל־אֵ֨לֶּה בָנִ֜ים לְהֵימָ֗ן חֹזֵ֥ה הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ בְּדִבְרֵ֥י הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים לְהָרִ֣ים קָ֑רֶן וַיִּתֵּ֨ן הָאֱלֹהִ֜ים לְהֵימָ֗ן בָּנִ֛ים אַרְבָּעָ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר וּבָנ֥וֹת שָׁלֽוֹשׁ׃
6All of them were under the direction of their father for the music in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman served under the king's direction.
כָּל־אֵ֣לֶּה עַל־יְדֵי֩ אֲבִיהֶ֨ם בַּשִּׁ֜יר בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֗ה בִּמְצִלְתַּ֙יִם֙ נְבָלִ֣ים וְכִנֹּר֔וֹת לַעֲבֹדַ֖ת בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים עַ֚ל יְדֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ ס אָסָ֥ף וִידוּת֖וּן וְהֵימָֽן׃
7Their number, together with their kinsmen trained in singing to the LORD — all of them skilled — was two hundred eighty-eight.
וַיְהִ֤י מִסְפָּרָם֙ עִם־אֲחֵיהֶ֔ם מְלֻמְּדֵי־שִׁ֖יר לַיהוָ֑ה כָּל־הַ֨מֵּבִ֔ין מָאתַ֖יִם שְׁמוֹנִ֥ים וּשְׁמוֹנָֽה׃
8They cast lots for their duties, small and great alike, teacher along with pupil.
וַיַּפִּ֜ילוּ גּוֹרָל֣וֹת מִשְׁמֶ֗רֶת לְעֻמַּת֙ כַּקָּטֹ֣ן כַּגָּד֔וֹל מֵבִ֖ין עִם־תַּלְמִֽיד׃ פ
Psalm 88 – Heman's Prayer in Distress
Psalm 88 is attributed to the Ezrahite Heman and is one of the darkest lament psalms in the Bible, a deep prayer from a man in great suffering who still turns to God.
1A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choirmaster: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.
שִׁ֥יר מִזְמ֗וֹר לִבְנֵ֫י קֹ֥רַח לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ עַל־מָחֲלַ֣ת לְעַנּ֑וֹת מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל לְהֵימָ֥ן הָאֶזְרָחִֽי׃
2LORD, God of my salvation, by day I cry out, by night I come before you.
יְ֭הוָה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יְשׁוּעָתִ֑י יוֹם־צָעַ֖קְתִּי בַלַּ֣יְלָה נֶגְדֶּֽךָ׃
3Let my prayer reach your presence; turn your ear to my cry.
תָּב֣וֹא לְ֭פָנֶיךָ תְּפִלָּתִ֑י הַטֵּֽה־אָ֝זְנְךָ֗ לְרִנָּתִֽי׃
4For my soul is full of troubles, and my life has come to the edge of Sheol.* [*Sheol: the realm of the dead]
כִּֽי־שָֽׂבְעָ֣ה בְרָע֣וֹת נַפְשִׁ֑י וְחַיַּ֗י לִשְׁא֥וֹל הִגִּֽיעוּ׃
5I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I have become like a man with no strength left,
נֶ֭חְשַׁבְתִּי עִם־י֣וֹרְדֵי ב֑וֹר הָ֝יִ֗יתִי כְּגֶ֣בֶר אֵֽין־אֱיָֽל׃
6set loose among the dead, like the slain who lie in the tomb, whom you remember no more, cut off from your hand.
בַּמֵּתִ֗ים חָ֫פְשִׁ֥י כְּמ֤וֹ חֲלָלִ֨ים ׀ שֹׁ֥כְבֵי קֶ֗בֶר אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹ֣א זְכַרְתָּ֣ם ע֑וֹד וְ֝הֵ֗מָּה מִיָּדְךָ֥ נִגְזָֽרוּ׃
7You have laid me in the lowest pit, in dark places, in the depths.
שַׁ֭תַּנִי בְּב֣וֹר תַּחְתִּיּ֑וֹת בְּ֝מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗ים בִּמְצֹלֽוֹת׃
8Your wrath lies heavy upon me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. Selah
עָ֭לַי סָמְכָ֣ה חֲמָתֶ֑ךָ וְכָל־מִ֝שְׁבָּרֶ֗יךָ עִנִּ֥יתָ סֶּֽלָה׃
9You have driven my friends far from me; you have made me a horror to them. I am shut in and cannot escape.
הִרְחַ֥קְתָּ מְיֻדָּעַ֗י מִ֫מֶּ֥נִּי שַׁתַּ֣נִי תוֹעֵב֣וֹת לָ֑מוֹ כָּ֝לֻ֗א וְלֹ֣א אֵצֵֽא׃
10My eyes are worn out from affliction. I call to you, LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you.
עֵינִ֥י דָאֲבָ֗ה מִנִּ֫י עֹ֥נִי קְרָאתִ֣יךָ יְהוָ֣ה בְּכָל־י֑וֹם שִׁטַּ֖חְתִּי אֵלֶ֣יךָ כַפָּֽי׃
11Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the departed rise up to praise you? Selah
הֲלַמֵּתִ֥ים תַּעֲשֶׂה־פֶּ֑לֶא אִם־רְ֝פָאִ֗ים יָק֤וּמוּ ׀ יוֹד֬וּךָ סֶּֽלָה׃
12Is your mercy declared in the grave, your faithfulness in the place of ruin?
הַיְסֻפַּ֣ר בַּקֶּ֣בֶר חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ אֱ֝מֽוּנָתְךָ֗ בָּאֲבַדּֽוֹן׃
13Are your wonders known in the darkness, your righteousness in the land of oblivion?
הֲיִוָּדַ֣ע בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ פִּלְאֶ֑ךָ וְ֝צִדְקָתְךָ֗ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ נְשִׁיָּֽה׃
14But I cry to you for help, LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ אֵלֶ֣יךָ יְהוָ֣ה שִׁוַּ֑עְתִּי וּ֝בַבֹּ֗קֶר תְּֽפִלָּתִ֥י תְקַדְּמֶֽךָּ׃
15Why, LORD, do you reject me? Why do you hide your face from me?
לָמָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה תִּזְנַ֣ח נַפְשִׁ֑י תַּסְתִּ֖יר פָּנֶ֣יךָ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃
16From my youth I have been afflicted and close to death; I have borne your terrors, and I am at my wits' end.
עָ֘נִ֤י אֲנִ֣י וְגֹוֵ֣עַ מִנֹּ֑עַר נָשָׂ֖אתִי אֵמֶ֣יךָ אָפֽוּנָה׃
17Your burning anger has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me.
עָ֭לַי עָבְר֣וּ חֲרוֹנֶ֑יךָ בִּ֝עוּתֶ֗יךָ צִמְּתוּתֻֽנִי׃
18All day long they surround me like water; together they close in on me.
סַבּ֣וּנִי כַ֭מַּיִם כָּל־הַיּ֑וֹם הִקִּ֖יפוּ עָלַ֣י יָֽחַד׃
Heman's Wisdom Compared with Solomon's
Heman is mentioned as one of the famous wise men, but Solomon's wisdom surpassed his. This shows that Heman was recognized for his great wisdom in Israel.