He set the Levites in Yahweh’s house with cymbals, with stringed instruments, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet; for the commandment was from Yahweh by his prophets. The Levites stood with David’s instruments, and the priests with the trumpets. Hezekiah commanded them to offer the burnt offering on the altar. When the burnt offering began, Yahweh’s song also began, along with the trumpets and David king of Israel’s instruments. All the assembly worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded. All this continued until the burnt offering was finished.
Parallel Translations
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He set the Levites in Yahweh’s house with cymbals, with stringed instruments, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet; for the commandment was from Yahweh by his prophets.
The Levites stood with David’s instruments, and the priests with the trumpets.
Hezekiah commanded them to offer the burnt offering on the altar. When the burnt offering began, Yahweh’s song also began, along with the trumpets and David king of Israel’s instruments.
All the assembly worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded. All this continued until the burnt offering was finished.
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And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets.
And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.
And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel.
And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.
Show all 3 translations
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And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet; for the commandment was of the LORD by His prophets.
And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.
And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt-offering upon the altar. And when the burnt-offering began, the song of the LORD began also, and the trumpets, together with the instruments of David king of Israel.
And all the congregation prostrated themselves, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; all this continued until the burnt-offering was finished.
Cross-references (37)
- 2 Chronicles 8:14 (v25) He appointed, according to the ordinance of David his father, the divisions of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their…
- 1 Chronicles 23:5 (vv25–26) four thousand were doorkeepers, and four thousand praised Yahweh with the instruments which I made for giving praise.”
- 2 Chronicles 23:18 (v27) Jehoiada appointed the officers of Yahweh’s house under the hand of the Levitical priests, whom David had distributed in Yahweh’s house, to…
- 1 Chronicles 15:24 (v26) Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, blew the trumpets before God’s ark; and Obed-Edom and…
- 2 Samuel 24:11 (v25) When David rose up in the morning, Yahweh’s word came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying,
Show all 36 cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 9:33 (v25) These are the singers, heads of fathers’ households of the Levites, who lived in the rooms and were free from other service; for they were…
- 1 Chronicles 15:16-22 (v25) David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers with instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and…
- 1 Chronicles 16:4-5 (v25) He appointed some of the Levites to minister before Yahweh’s ark, and to commemorate, to thank, and to praise Yahweh, the God of Israel:…
- 1 Chronicles 16:42 (v25) and with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should sound aloud, and with instruments for the songs of God;…
- 1 Chronicles 25:1-7 (v25) Moreover, David and the captains of the army set apart for the service certain of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who…
- 2 Chronicles 35:15 (v25) The singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer; and…
- Amos 6:5 (v26) who strum on the strings of a harp; who invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;
- Numbers 10:8 (v26) “The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. This shall be to you for a statute forever throughout your generations.
- Numbers 10:10 (v26) “Also in the day of your gladness, and in your set feasts, and in the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your…
- Joshua 6:4-9 (v26) Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day, you shall march around the city seven times, and…
- 1 Chronicles 16:6 (v26) with Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually, before the ark of the covenant of God.
- 2 Chronicles 5:12-13 (v26) also the Levites who were the singers, all of them, even Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and their brothers, arrayed in fine linen,…
- 2 Chronicles 7:3 (v27) All the children of Israel looked on, when the fire came down, and Yahweh’s glory was on the house. They bowed themselves with their faces…
- 2 Chronicles 20:21 (v27) When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to Yahweh, and give praise in holy array, as they go out…
- 2 Chronicles 30:12 (v25) Also the hand of God came on Judah to give them one heart, to do the commandment of the king and of the princes by Yahweh’s word.
- Psalms 68:24-26 (v28) They have seen your processions, God, even the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary. The singers went before, the minstrels…
- Psalms 81:3 (v26) Blow the trumpet at the New Moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.
- Psalms 87:7 (v26) Those who sing as well as those who dance say, “All my springs are in you.”
- Psalms 89:15 (v28) Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you. They walk in the light of your presence, Yahweh.
- Psalms 98:5-6 (v26) Sing praises to Yahweh with the harp, with the harp and the voice of melody. With trumpets and sound of the ram’s horn, make a joyful noise…
- Psalms 136:1 (v27) Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good; for his loving kindness endures forever.
- Psalms 137:3-4 (v27) For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs. Those who tormented us demanded songs of joy: “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”…
- Psalms 150:3-5 (v26) Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet! Praise him with harp and lyre! Praise him with tambourine and dancing! Praise him with…
- Isaiah 38:20 (v26) Yahweh will save me. Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments all the days of our life in Yahweh’s house.
- Revelation 5:8-14 (v28) Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and…
- 2 Samuel 7:2-4 (v25) the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but God’s ark dwells within curtains.” Nathan said to the king,…
- 2 Samuel 12:1-7 (v25) Yahweh sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, “There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The rich…
- 1 Chronicles 21:9 (v25) Yahweh spoke to Gad, David’s seer, saying,
- 1 Chronicles 28:12 (v25) and the plans of all that he had by the Spirit, for the courts of Yahweh’s house, for all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of…
- 1 Chronicles 28:19 (v25) “All this”, David said, “I have been made to understand in writing from Yahweh’s hand, even all the works of this pattern.”
- 1 Chronicles 29:29 (v25) Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Samuel the seer, and in the history of Nathan…
36 distinct cross-references across this passage (37 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (13 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Private notes
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv25, 27 This thing was not appointed of man, but it…
This thing was not appointed of man, but it was the commandment of God.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv25–28 2Ch 29:25 And he set the Levites in the…
2Ch 29:25 And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet: for [so was] the commandment of the LORD by his prophets.
Ver. 25. According to the commandment of the Lord.] Heb., By the hand of the Lord, by the hand of his prophets; to note, say the Hebrews here, that precepts delivered by the prophets are the very precepts of God himself.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv25–28 And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon…
And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar,.... Which was wholly devoted to the Lord, and was an acknowledgment of his sovereignty over them, and of his goodness to them:
and when the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord began also with trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel; and this was done at the time of the pouring out of the drink offering, which always attended the burnt offering; for this is a rule with the Jews, that they do not say the song but over the drink offering (o).
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(o) T. Bab. Eracin, fol. 12. 1.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v27 The song - The psalms composed by David and…
The song - The psalms composed by David and Asaph. Even sorrow for sin must not put us out of tune for praising God. By faith we must even then rejoice in the Lord our righteousness, and our prayers and praises must attend with his offering, to be accepted only in the virtue of it.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On v25 Verse 25. With cymbals, with psalteries] Moses had not…
Verse 25. With cymbals, with psalteries] Moses had not appointed any musical instruments to be used in the divine worship; there was nothing of the kind under the first tabernacle. The trumpets or horns then used were not for song nor for praise, but as we use bells, i.e., to give notice to the congregation of what they were called to perform, c. But David did certainly introduce many instruments of music into God's worship, for which we have already seen he was solemnly reproved by the prophet Amos, Am 6:1-6. Here, however, the author of this book states he had the commandment of the prophet Nathan, and Gad the king's seer and this is stated to have been the commandment of the Lord by his prophets: but the Syriac and Arabic give this a different turn - "Hezekiah appointed the Levites in the house of the Lord, with instruments of music, and the sound of harps, and with the HYMNS of DAVID, and the HYMNS of GAD, the king's prophet, and of NATHAN, the king's prophet: for David sang the praises of the Lord his God, as from the mouth of the prophets." It was by the hand or commandment of the Lord and his prophets that the Levites should praise the Lord; for so the Hebrew text may be understood: and it was by the order of David that so many instruments of music should be introduced into the Divine service. But were it even evident, which it is not, either from this or any other place in the sacred writings, that instruments of music were prescribed by Divine authority under the law, could this be adduced with any semblance of reason, that they ought to be used in Christian worship? No: the whole spirit, soul, and genius of the Christian religion are against this: and those who know the Church of God best, and what constitutes its genuine spiritual state, know that these things have been introduced as a substitute for the life and power of religion; and that where they prevail most, there is least of the power of Christianity. Away with such portentous baubles from the worship of that infinite Spirit who requires his followers to worship him in spirit and in truth, for to no such worship are those instruments friendly. See the texts in the margin; also the use of the trumpets in the sanctuary, Nu 10:2, &c., and the notes there.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv27–28 2Ch 29:27. When the burnt-offering began, the song of…
2Ch 29:27. When the burnt-offering began, the song of the Lord began also — The psalms composed by David and Asaph, (2Ch 29:30,) with the musical instruments which God, by his prophets, had commanded to be used,
(2Ch 29:25,) and which had been long neglected. Even sorrow for sin must not put us out of tune for praising God. By faith we must even then rejoice in the Lord our righteousness, and our prayers and praises must ascend with his offering, to be accepted only in the virtue of it.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On v27 All had hitherto been preparatory. Now Hezekiah gave orders…
All had hitherto been preparatory. Now Hezekiah gave orders that “the burnt offering” - i. e. the daily morning sacrifice - should be offered upon the brass altar in front of the porch, thus restoring and reinstituting the regular temple-service. A burst of music gave notice to the people of the moment when the old worship recommenced.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv25, 27 Prophet. Moses had not required music, except on some…
Prophet. Moses had not required music, except on some occasions, Num. x. 10. But David acted by God’s authority. The institution was designed to promote piety, and a love for religious meetings. Such sacred ceremonies are not to be considered as human inventions, for it was, &c. They command our utmost respect. C.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv25–28 25. so was the commandment of the Lord by…
25. so was the commandment of the Lord by his prophets] Render, the commandment was by (through) the LORD, even by (through) his prophets. The Chronicler urges the point that David’s arrangements for Temple song were by inspiration; cp. 1Ch_28:19.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv25–28 (25) He set.—Stationed, appointed. Hezekiah restored the ancient choral…
(25) He set.—Stationed, appointed. Hezekiah restored the ancient choral worship as established by David (1Ch_23:5; 1Ch_23:25).
Psalteries.—Nĕbâlîm, a kind of harp; Greek, νάβλα. νάβλίον.
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Harps.—Kinnôrôth. Greek, κινύρα, a sort of lyre, or cittern, or guitar.
Gad . . . Nathan.—1Ch_29:29. This is the only place where the institution of the Levitical minstrelsy is ascribed to the injunctions of prophets; but the thing is probable in itself, considering that no important step, whether in civil or ecclesiastical matters, would be likely to be taken by an Israelite king without consulting the Divine will by means of the royal prophets, as we know, from the cuneiform documents, was the uniform practice with the Assyrian and Babylonian sovereigns. Moreover, prophecy was intimately connected with music. (See on 1Ch_25:1.)
For so was . . .—For by the hand of Jehovah was the commandment; to wit, by the hand of his prophets. David’s command was obeyed because it was Divine, having emanated from the prophets who represented Jehovah. (Comp. 2Ch_29:15, supra.)
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv25–27 (see 1Ch_16:4 1Ch_21:23:5 1Ch_25:1, 6 29:29; 2Ch_5:12)
(see 1Ch_16:4 1Ch_21:23:5 1Ch_25:1, 6 29:29; 2Ch_5:12)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v27 When the burnt offering began, then the song of…
2Ch_29:27
When the burnt offering began, then the song of the Lord began also.
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Sacrifice and song
This chapter contains a brief, graphic account of the great reformation which Hezekiah wrought in the beginning of his reign. The text is part of that account.
I. How often these two things--sacrifice and song--self-denial and joy--are associated. We see the union every, where.
1. In the home. When is the husband or wife so supremely happy as when by some deed of self-sacrifice he or she has made the other glad? When does the fathers heart sing for joy? Not when he has bent the stubborn will of the child, but when, by the sacrifice of some luxury he has made the little soul glad on its birthday.
2. In the best works of fiction, i.e., those which are most true to human nature who does not remember the half-sovereign which Tom Pinch, the poor half-starved clerk, concealed in a piece of paper and put into the hand of Martin Chuzzlewit at their parting? And who has not envied the feeling of happiness with which he returned to his bare home and grinding lot?
3. In the lives of Gods servants. The memorials of Robert and Mary Moffat, show what sacrifices they had to make in carrying on their work in Africa. They leave no doubt that they found a joy in them that the selfish and luxurious are seeking in vain.
4. In our own lives we have all experienced it.
II. They are indissolubly associated--joined together in the nature of things. Man cannot have the one without the other. Let there be no sacrifice and there will be no song, no self-denial and there will ere long be no joy. That is a law written broadly over human nature, attested by the widest experience, and recognised by Pro_11:24-25. It explains some of what seem to be the hardest sayings and most difficult demands of our Lord, as, e.g., Mat_16:24-25; Joh_12:24; and His question put to the two ambitious disciples (Mar_10:37-38). The lesson is clear. We all want happiness--that our joy may be full. But we cannot have it by aiming at it directly. Begin to sacrifice, to give to God what you really value; say, I will not offer unto the Lord my God that which doth cost me nothing. Give your money, interest, time, effort. Copy the example of Him who went about doing good, and pleased not Himself. Try to make lives brighter, homes happier, business more pure. Take up the cross. Then this bit of old-world history shall record your experience: When the burnt offering began, then the song of the Lord began also--a song which grew louder and mightier as the sacrifice went on, and never ended until the sacrifice itself came to an end. (J. Ogle.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv25, 27 the house of Yahweh
the house of Yahweh
The word "house" represents the temple. AT: "the temple of Yahweh" (See: Metonymy)
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cymbals
two thin, round metal plates that are hit together to make a loud sound. See how you translated this in 2 Chronicles 5:12. (See: Translate Unknowns)
arranging them by the command of David, Gad, the king's seer, and Nathan, the prophet
The word "command" can be translated with a verbal phrase. AT: "arranging the Levites as David, Gad, the king's seer, and Nathan, the prophet had commanded" (See: Abstract Nouns)
for the command was from Yahweh by means of his prophets
The word "command" can be translated with a verbal phrase. AT: "for Yahweh had commanded this through his prophets" (See: Abstract Nouns)
translationWords
harp
lute
David
Gad
prophet
Nathan
trumpet
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.