of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the doorkeepers. 19So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed, with cymbals of brass to sound aloud; 20and Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries set to Alamoth; 21and Mattithiah, and Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps set to the Sheminith, to lead. 22And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was over [1]the song: he instructed about [1]the song, because
Cp. Ps. lxxxix. (title). He is apparently called Jeduthun in xxv. 1—6. See also the note on xvi. 41.
18—24. These verses present several obscurities which can hardly be explained except by the supposition that the original text of the Chronicler has been added to by a later writer with intricate results. Several reconstructions are possible, the most plausible being that of Curtis which is followed in these notes.
18. their brethren of the second degree] Read rather their twelve brethren: twelve being the number of names from Zechariah to Mikneiah. The last two, Obed-edom and Jeiel, were "doorkeepers," not "singers," although they were mistakenly supposed to belong to the list of singers by the author of vv. 19—21 (see further regarding Obed-edom the note on xvi. 38).
Ben] This word, which means "son," is an error. Read probably Bani.
the doorkeepers] See the notes on ix. 17.
19—21. Probably an addition interpolated by someone interested in the detailed organisation of the Levitical choirs. The names are taken from ver. 18, except that Ben is omitted, and a new name Azaziah is added at the end of the list. Since Obed-edom and Jeiel are included among the singers here, the reading "of the second degree" (which is regarded above as an error for an original "twelve": a slight change in Heb.) must have been found in the text of ver. 18 which the interpolator used.
to sound aloud] The cymbals mark the time for the other instruments.
20. set to Alamoth] an obscure phrase, its musical significance being uncertain; cp. Ps. xlvi. (title), R.V.
21. set to the Sheminith] As in the case of Alamoth, the precise musical significance of Sheminith is obscure. Cp. Ps. vi. (title, R.V. mg.).
22. was over the song] The Heb. word (massa) here twice rendered
- ↑ Or, the carrying of the ark Heb. the lifting up.
