For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. Wiser than all men - i:e., all his contemporaries, either at home or abroad than Ethan-or Jeduthun of the family of Merari (1 Chronicles 6:44). Heman (1 Chronicles 15:17-19) - the chief of the temple musicians, and the king's seers (1 Chronicles 25:5); the other two are not known.
The sons of Mahol - either another name for Zerah (1 Chronicles 2:6) or, taking it as a common noun, signifying a dance, a chorus; "the sons of Mahol" signify persons eminently skilled in poetry and music. The regions south of Palestine, and bordering upon Egypt, were very celebrated for the sages who resided there; and even the Temanites in Idumaea were distinguished in this respect (Jeremiah 49:7; Obadiah 1:8). In fact, the whole spirit of refinement proceeded from the south. The wise woman employed by Joab was brought from Tekoah (2 Samuel 14:2); and the celebrated sages mentioned here (cf. 1 Chronicles 2:6) belonged to the tribe of Judah.