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2 Chronicles 34:12

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Chronicles 34:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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 [others of] the Levites, all that were skilful with instruments of music.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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 [others of] the Levites, all that were skilful with instruments of music.
2 Chronicles 34:12 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Chronicles 34

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9And they came to Hilkiah the high priest, and delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites, the keepers of the threshold, had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin, and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
10And they delivered it into the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of Jehovah; and the workmen that wrought in the house of Jehovah gave it to mend and repair the house;
11even to the carpenters and to the builders gave they it, to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to make beams for the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.
12And 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 [others of] the Levites, all that were skilful with instruments of music.
13Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and set forward all that did the work in every manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.
14And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of Jehovah, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of Jehovah [given] by Moses.
15And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of Jehovah. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.
← 2 Chronicles 34:112 Chronicles 34:13 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the men did that work faithfully, etc.] The labouring men, as also their inspectors, (see <122207>2 Kings 22:7) and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; the third son of Levi: and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites; who had their name from Kohath, the second son of Levi: to set it forward; to urge and animate the men to their work, to keep them constant to it, and see that they did it well: and other of the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of music; these, when they were not employed in singing in the temple, attended this service, to look after the workmen at the repairs of it; and perhaps they might play, as…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Musick - All these here named, were skilful in instruments of musick. Which may be here mentioned, to intimate, that as they were skilful, so they were exercised in both employments, and did successively oversee the work, and praise God with their voices and instruments. 2 Chronicles 34:19”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“34:12-13 That musicians supervised the construction shows how important it was for Levites to be in charge of this work. Other ancient texts note that music was a common element of construction projects.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“faithfully: Ch2 31:12; Kg2 12:15, Kg2 22:7; Neh 7:2; Pro 28:20; Co1 4:2 all: 1Chr. 6:31-48, Ch1 15:16-22, Ch1 16:4, Ch1 16:5, Ch1 16:41, Ch1 23:5, 25:1-31 skill: The verb skill is now obsolete. the meaning is, "every one who is skilful, maiveen, on instruments of music. 2 Chronicles 34:13”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification