And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.
Parallel translations
- WEB Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was over the singing. He taught the singers, because he was skillful.
- BSB Chenaniah the head Levite was the director of the music because he was highly skilled.
- NKJV Chenaniah, leader of the Levites, was instructor in charge of the music, because he was skillful;
- NASB Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was in charge of the singing; he gave instruction in singing because he was skillful.
- NLT Kenaniah, the head Levite, was chosen as the choir leader because of his skill.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Chenaniah, a skilled Levite, was appointed to lead the singing as Israel brought the ark to Jerusalem. Worship was to be ordered and done well, not casually.
Overview
As David organizes the ark's procession, he sets capable Levites over the music, with Chenaniah directing because of his skill and ability to instruct. Scripture treats musical worship as a serious vocation requiring competence and training, not mere enthusiasm. The deliberate care given to praising God anticipates the temple worship and reminds believers that God is worthy of our best efforts.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- 1 Chr 15:16And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.
- 1 Chr 25:7–8So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.
- 1 Chr 15:27And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen.
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The genealogies and the everlasting covenant with David trace the single thread of promise running through the generations straight to the Christ in whom the line reaches its goal.
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Original language
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