(22) Rather, And Chenaniah, captain (i.e., conductor) of the Levites in bearing (that is, the sacred vessels), was conducting the bearing, because he was skilled--scil., in the traditional regulations connected with bearing the Ark duly and rightly.
Chief of the Levites.--Not one of the six princes (1 Chronicles 15:5-10), or heads of houses, but president of the carriage of the Ark.
Was for song.--So the LXX., which reads "leader of the songs;" but the Syriac has "bore the burden daily" and although the word massa--i.e., "lifting up," or "bearing"--might mean "lifting up the voice," (1) the context is against that meaning here, for Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were conductors of the singing and music; (2) Chenaniah is nowhere else associated with music (see Note on 1 Chronicles 26:29); (3) the word massa, "bearing," has the sense we have given it when used in relation to Levites (Numbers 4:19; 2 Chronicles 35:3).
He instructed.--The Hebrew has an ambiguous form, which may be an infinitive--instructing, correcting (y?sar); or an imperfect of a different verb--was prince over, superintendent of (s?rar).
Verse 22. - For song. There is considerable diversity of opinion as to the meaning of this word. Some think its meaning to be "in the carrying (בַּמַּשָּׂא)" i.e. of the ark. Its exact position here seems not unfavourable to such interpretation. On the other hand, its position in ver. 27 seems conclusively to point to the translation of the Septuagint and of our Authorized Version in this place as the correct one. Dr. Murphy, however, to escape this, thinks "with the singers" in ver. 27 to be a "copyist's inadvertent repetition."
15:1-24 Wise and good men may be guilty of oversights, which they will correct, as soon as they are aware of them. David does not try to justify what had been done amiss, nor to lay the blame on others; but he owns himself guilty, with others, of not seeking God in due order
And Chenaniah chief of the Levites was for song,.... But the chief for the song were Heman, Asaph, and Ethan; rather
for the burden, as the Targum; for the lifting up and bearing the ark:
he instructed about the song; or about the taking up and bearing the burden, the ark; directing when to take it up, and how far to go with it, and then rest:
because he was skilful; a wise and prudent man in all things, and so proper to direct in this business.
Chenaniah.--1 Chronicles 15:27, and 1 Chronicles 26:29.
Chief of the Levites.--Not one of the six princes (1 Chronicles 15:5-10), or heads of houses, but president of the carriage of the Ark.
Was for song.--So the LXX., which reads "leader of the songs;" but the Syriac has "bore the burden daily" and although the word massa--i.e., "lifting up," or "bearing"--might mean "lifting up the voice," (1) the context is against that meaning here, for Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were conductors of the singing and music; (2) Chenaniah is nowhere else associated with music (see Note on 1 Chronicles 26:29); (3) the word massa, "bearing," has the sense we have given it when used in relation to Levites (Numbers 4:19; 2 Chronicles 35:3).
He instructed.--The Hebrew has an ambiguous form, which may be an infinitive--instructing, correcting (y?sar); or an imperfect of a different verb--was prince over, superintendent of (s?rar).
He was skilful.--Comp. 1 Chronicles 25:7; 2 Chronicles 34:12.
for the burden, as the Targum; for the lifting up and bearing the ark:
he instructed about the song; or about the taking up and bearing the burden, the ark; directing when to take it up, and how far to go with it, and then rest:
because he was skilful; a wise and prudent man in all things, and so proper to direct in this business.