Heman

From Bible Encyclopedia

hē´man (הימן, hēmān, “faithful”):

The name of two men in the Old Testament.

(1) A musician and seer, a Levite, son of Joel and grandson of the prophet Samuel; of the family of the Kohathites (1 Chronicles 6:33), appointed by David as one of the leaders of the temple-singing (1 Chronicles 15:17; 2 Chronicles 5:12), to whom the 88th Psalm probably was inscribed. He was one of the “seers” named in 2 Chronicles 29:14, 2 Chronicles 29:30, and took a leading part in the administration of the sacred services. He had 14 sons (and 3 daughters) who assisted their father in the chorus. Heman seems also to have been a man of spiritual power; is called “the king's seer in matters of God” (1 Chronicles 25:5; 2 Chronicles 35:15).

(2) One of the noted wise men prior to, or about, the time of Solomon. He was one of the three sons of Mahol (1 Kings 4:31 (Hebrew Bible 5:11)); also called a son of Zerah (1 Chronicles 2:6), noted for his wisdom.

Psalms 88 is inscribed to Heman the Ezrahite, who is probably to be identified with the second son of Zerah.