Sometimes we think of the concept of
a minister of music as being a modern invention. However, if one aspect of Levite Music
Administration could be pointed out as most important it would be the office of
the "chief musician." In the
Bible the minister of music is called by several names.
The Book of Psalms refers to the
chief musician fifty-four times. The
words chief musician are translated from the Hebrew word natsach (5329) and mean to be eminent, to glitter from a distance
and to be superintendent. These
musicians were chosen to supervise the business of music making in the
Temple. Other names for these musicians
were: chief singer (natsach 5329) in Habakkuk 3:19; overseer (paqiyd 6496) in Nehemiah 12:42; principal (rosh 7218) A in Nehemiah 11:17, meaning
to be first, in rank or to be captain; chief (sar 8269) A of the Levites in I Chronicles 15:22, meaning a head
person or a master musician; and chief (rosh
7218) of the fathers of the Levites in I Chronicles 9:33. All of these names carry the meaning of a person
in charge that is a leader and has skill and one who is a responsible person.
Special note should be made of the
word natsach (5329). This term used in
the title of fifty-four of the Psalms connotes a person with great
charisma. This musician was to glitter
from afar. This person was to be a
powerful leader and an accomplished musician.
So, we can see that the chief musician was an eminent leader of music in
the Temple.
The Levite musicians were called or
separated for a particular service--that of leading music worship in the
Temple. I Chronicles 15:16 states,
"And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint (amad 5975) their brethren to be singers
with instruments of music, psalteries, and harps and cymbals, sounding, by
lifting up the voice with joy."
Verse seventeen goes on to mention the names of Heman, Asaph, and Ethan
(Jeduthun) who were chief musicians.
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