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1 Chronicles 15:22

in 1 Chronicles 15

Chenaniah the head Levite was the director of the music because he was highly skilled.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was over the song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.

KJV

And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.

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This verse in 1 Chronicles 15

Commentary

6 notes on this verse
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.

This site's exposition

chief of the Levites, was

Chenaniah stands over the whole choir as master of the song, appointed for his skill rather than his descent; he is counted among neither the sons of Kohath, Merari nor Gershom named earlier in the chapter. Some readings, following the Targum, take for song to mean for the burden, the lifting and carrying of the ark itself, so that Chenaniah directed the procession's movement as much as its music. Both readings are held by the commentators without a settled choice between them.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

), for he was skilful in it, could sing well himself and instruct others. Note, As every man has received the gift, so he ought to minister the same, 1 Pet. iv.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

Chenaniah - he instructed about the song - This appears to have been the master singer; he gave the key and the time, for he presided במשא bemassa, in the elevation, probably meaning what is called pitching the tune, for he was skillful in music, and powerful in his voice, and well qualified to lead the band: be might have been precentor.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint . . . the singers with instruments--These eminent Levites were instructed to train the musicians and singers who were under them, for the solemn procession. The performers were ranged in three choirs or bands, and the names of the principal leaders are given (1Ch 15:17, 18, 21), with the instruments respectively used by each.
For song - See the margin. Hebraists are still at variance as to the meaning of this passage, some supposing elevation or, delivery of the voice, others elevation of the ark, to be intended.

The words behind it

9 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וּכְנַנְיָ֥הוּand Kenaniah

    ukhenanyahuH3663 →3 times

  • שַֽׂר־[the] leader of

    sar-H8269 →421 times

  • הַלְוִיִּ֖םthe Levites

    halviyimH3881 →291 times

  • בְּמַשָּׂ֑אin a lifting up

    bemasa'H4853 →66 times

  • יָסֹר֙an instructor

    yasorH3256 →

  • בַּמַּשָּׂ֔אin the lifting up

    bamasa'H4853 →66 times

  • כִּ֥יfor

    kiH3588 →4482 times

  • מֵבִ֖ין[was] a teacher

    mevinH995 →170 times

  • הֽוּא׃he

    hu'H1931 →1879 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

6 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

1 Chronicles 15:16David also told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers to lift up their voices with joy, accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals.2 works1 Chronicles 15:27Now David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah, the director of music for the singers. David also wore a linen ephod.2 works1 Chronicles 25:7–8Together with their relatives, who were all trained and skillful in the songs of the LORD, they numbered 288.2 works1 Chronicles 25:6All these were under the direction of their fathers for the music of the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the direction of the king.2 works1 Chronicles 25:8They cast lots for their duties, young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil.2 worksPsalms 33:3Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy.2 works

The walk

7 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    1 Chronicles 15:16

    David also told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers to lift up their voices with joy, accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals.

    it leads to

    • 1 Chronicles 13:8

      David and all the Israelites were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and on harps and lyres, with tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

    • 2 Chronicles 5:13

      The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: “For He…

    • 1 Chronicles 23:5

      4,000 are to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 are to praise the LORD with the instruments I have made for giving praise.”

    • Nehemiah 12:36

      and his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani—with the musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God. Ezra the scribe led the procession.

    • 1 Chronicles 16:42

      Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals for the music and instruments for the songs of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were stationed at the gate.

  • Through

    1 Chronicles 15:27

    Now David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah, the director of music for the singers.…

    it leads to

    • 1 Samuel 2:18

      Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD—a boy wearing a linen ephod.

    • 2 Samuel 6:14

      And David, wearing a linen ephod, danced with all his might before the LORD,

About 1 Chronicles

Cedars Are Cut Down for the Jerusalem Temple, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Cedars Are Cut Down for the Jerusalem Temple, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
1 Chronicles: the study guide →Read 1 Chronicles 15 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in 1 Chronicles 15 →