Tehillim 42 | The Psalms of the Sons of Korach

The second book of Tehillim opens with a sequence of psalms attributed to the sons of Korach. But who were these sons of Korach who composed psalms?

Several chapters of Divrei HaYamim contain detailed description of the musical organization established as part of the preparations for the building of the Temple. For example, it describes how David appointed the singers and musicians for their role: “David and the army officers singled out the sons of Asaf, Heiman, and Yedutun for service: they were to play in prophetic ecstasy on lyres, harps, and cymbals” (Divrei HaYamim I 25:1). These three names are familiar to us from psalms that bear their names.

In Chapter 6 of Divrei HaYamim I, we are given the lineage of Heiman, tracing back to Korach (6:18–22). Returning to Chapter 25, we find that the sons of Heiman — also descendants of Korach — are appointed to musical roles in the Temple: “God gave Heiman fourteen sons and three daughters. All these were charged by their father with the music of the House of the Lord, with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the House of God” (Divrei HaYamim I 25:5–6). From the existence of psalms bearing the names of Asaf, Heiman, Yedutun, and the “sons of Korach,” we can reasonably conclude that their role was not limited to musical performance — they also participated in composing psalms.

The first psalm in the sequence of the sons of Korach opens with a deep yearning for God: “As a deer pines for flowing streams, my soul pines for You, God.” The deer wanders along dry riverbeds — parched and barren, yearning for water. But the water does not come. The soul is thirsty and wonders when the flood will come to quench its thirst: “My soul thirsts for God, the living God — oh, when will I come and appear before God?” What will quench this great thirst is the return to the House of God: “Oh, the things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I would join the crowd and march along to the House of God with elated song and the hum of praise from the reveling throngs” (42:5). And indeed, the fact that this psalm of longing for the Temple was composed by those charged with its music adds a profound layer of meaning. thirst: “My soul thirsts for God, the living God — oh, when will I come and appear before God?” What will quench this great thirst is the return to the House of God: “Oh, the things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I would join the crowd and march along to the House of God with elated song and the hum of praise from the reveling throngs” (42:5). And indeed, the fact that this psalm of longing for the Temple was composed by those charged with its music adds a profound layer of meaning.