And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them [were] Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set [it] forward; and [other of] the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of musick.
Ver. 12. The men did the work faithfully.] As in the presence of God: to whom if men would but do eye-service, it were well: but a faithful servant is a rare bird.
All that could skill of instruments of music.] This was then a great praise; and haply they used their skill in the hearing of the workmen, to cheer them up: as Amphion did those that built the walls of Thebes; the poets feign, that by his sweet music he drew together the stones of those walls. Alexander Aphrodisaeus gives this reason, why porters go singing under their burdens: because their minds being delighted with the sweetness of their music, the body may feel the less weight under the burden. a
a Probl. 1, Num 78.