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.
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 massâ — 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 massâ, “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 (yâsar); or an imperfect of a different verb — was prince over, superintendent of (sârar).
He was skilful. — Comp. 1 Chronicles 25:7; 2 Chronicles 34:12.