Lives of Scripture

Heman was a Kohathite Levite, grandson of the prophet Samuel through his son Joel (1 Chronicles 6:33), whom David appointed as one of three chief musicians -- alongside Asaph and Jeduthun -- over the service of song before the ark once it was brought to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 15:16-19; 16:41-42). Under David's later organization of temple worship, Heman's fourteen sons and three daughters were numbered among the trained musicians, and 1 Chronicles 25:5 calls Heman "the king's seer in the words of God, to exalt his horn," crediting him with a role combining musical leadership with something like prophetic insight in composing for worship. His family's musical service continued into the next generation: Heman is named among those who ministered at Hezekiah's temple reforms (2 Chronicles 29:14) and at Josiah's Passover celebration (2 Chronicles 35:15). The title of Psalm 88 -- one of the Psalter's darkest laments, ending without resolution, "darkness is my closest friend" -- attributes the song to "Heman the Ezrahite," though whether this is the same Heman or the distinct wise man of that name from Judah's tribe of Zerah is not settled by the text. Whatever the precise relationship, the Chronicler presents Heman's decades of appointed service as central, structural work in shaping how Israel worshiped God in song.