Who was Heman the Ezrahite in the Psalms?

Answer

Heman the Ezrahite is identified as the author of Psalm 88 in the Old Testament. The title of this psalm indicates, “A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth. A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.” This title suggests that Heman belonged to “the sons of Korah,” signifying his lineage from the family of Korah, and that he likely served as both a songwriter and musician. Heman collaborated closely with King David and is also recognized as a seer in 1 Chronicles 25:5.

Another individual named Heman is referenced in 1 Chronicles 2:5, but he hails from the tribe of Judah and is distinct from the Heman mentioned in Psalms. The Heman in Psalm 88 is a Levite whose genealogy is detailed in 1 Chronicles 6:33: “From the Kohathites: Heman, the musician, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel.”

Heman was the grandson of Samuel, the last judge of Israel who anointed King Saul and King David. Furthermore, Heman is listed as one of the three principal musicians appointed by King David “for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres, and cymbals” «Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was: », (1 Chronicles 25:1).

Heman’s family was renowned and is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 25:4–6: “As for Heman, from his sons: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael, and Jerimoth; Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-Ezer; Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. (All these were sons of Heman the king’s seer. They were given to him through the promises of God to exalt him. God blessed Heman with fourteen sons and three daughters.) All these men served under their father’s direction for the music of the temple of the Lord.

David, with cymbals, lyres, and harps, for the ministry at the house of God.” His musical family of fourteen sons and three daughters was prominent during the reign of King David.

Heman and his family were also present when the ark of the covenant was brought to Jerusalem: “All the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps, and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets” «also the Levites who were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them a hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:) », (2 Chronicles 5:12). Heman and the other Levites were formally dressed, sang, and played instruments at this time.

It seems that Heman was still serving during the time of King Solomon, son of David. Heman was considered very wise. Solomon, the wisest of all, was compared to Heman: “He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman” «For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. », (1 Kings 4:31).

The musician and sage Heman served in Israel as a Levite, a seer, a songwriter, a godly father, and a man of influence during the time of David and Solomon. Today, his only known song is Psalm 88, a song of one passionate for God: “Lord, you are the God who saves me; / day and night I cry out to you” «O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: », (Psalm 88:1).

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