Chanters

CHANTERS, or Singing-men. In the Temple of Jerusalem there was a great number of Levites, who were imployed in singing the Praises of God, and in playing upon Instruments before his Altar. In the reign of David there were four thousand Singing-men, with their Heads and Presidents. Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun were Masters of the Musick belonging to the Temple in the Reigns of David and Solomon. Asaph had four Sons, Jeduthun six, and Heman fourteen. These four and twenty Levites, the Sons of the three principal Musick Masters, were set at the head of four and twenty Companies of Singers. Each of these had eleven Masters of an inferior Order under him, who presided over other Singers, and instructed them: Those of Kohath’s Family were placed in the middle of the Temple, those of Merari’s on the left, and those of Gershon’s on the right. They seem to have been farther distinguish’d by the Instruments of Musick which they used. The Sons of Jeduthun played on the Kinnor or Harp, those of Asaph on the Nabal or Psaltery; and those of He man on the Mislothaim, which was a sort of Bell.

The Chanters and Levites, who were employed in singing, playing upon Instruments, and other Functions of the Temple, had no habits distinct from the rest of the People. Nevertheless, in the Ceremony of removing the Ark to the Temple of 2 Chr. v. 12.Jerusalem built by Solomon, the Chanters appeared dressed in Tunicks of Byssus or fine Linnen. Josephus¹ remarks, that in King Agrippa’s time, they obtained the favour from this Prince of wearing a Linnen Robe in the Temple like the Priests. Agrippa believed it would be for the Honour of his Reign, to signalize it by so considerable a change as this. The other Levites imployed in different Exercises under the Command of the Priests in the Temple, procured likewise permission to learn to sing, to the end that they might enjoy the same Privileges with their Brethren. This was contrary to the Laws of God, says Josephus, which were never violated with impunity.

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