New Living Translation
2 Chronicles 34:12
12The workers served faithfully under the leadership of Jahath and Obadiah, Levites of the Merarite clan, and Zechariah and Meshullam, Levites of the Kohathite clan. Other Levites, all of whom were skilled musicians,
2 Chronicles 34:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)The workers labored faithfully. Over them to direct them were Jahath and Obadiah, Levites descended from Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, descended from Kohath. The Levites—all who were skilled in playing musical instruments—
- English Standard Version (ESV)And the men did the work faithfully. Over them were set Jahath and Obadiah the Levites, of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to have oversight. The Levites, all who were skillful with instruments of music,
- New King James Version (NKJV)And the men did the work faithfully. Their overseers were Jahath and Obadiah the Levites, of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to supervise. Others of the Levites, all of whom were skillful with instruments of music,
Context of 2 Chronicles 34:12
10He entrusted the money to the men assigned to supervise the restoration of the Lord’s Temple. Then they paid the workers who did the repairs and renovation of the Temple. 11They hired carpenters and builders, who purchased finished stone for the walls and timber for the rafters and beams. They restored what earlier kings of Judah had allowed to fall into ruin. The workers served faithfully under the leadership of Jahath and Obadiah, Levites of the Merarite clan, and Zechariah and Meshullam, Levites of the Kohathite clan. Other Levites, all of whom were skilled musicians, 13were put in charge of the laborers of the various trades. Still others assisted as secretaries, officials, and gatekeepers. 14While they were bringing out the money collected at the Lord’s Temple, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that was written by Moses.
Read all of 2 Chronicles 342 Chronicles 34:12 word by word
וְהָאֲנָשִׁים֩ עֹשִׂ֨ים בֶּאֱמוּנָ֜ה בַּמְּלָאכָ֗ה וַעֲלֵיהֶ֣ם׀ מֻ֠פְקָדִים יַ֣חַת וְעֹבַדְיָ֤הוּ הַלְוִיִּם֙ מִן־בְּנֵ֣י מְרָרִ֔י וּזְכַרְיָ֧ה וּמְשֻׁלָּ֛ם מִן־בְּנֵ֥י הַקְּהָתִ֖ים לְנַצֵּ֑חַ וְהַ֨לְוִיִּ֔ם כָּל־מֵבִ֖ין בִּכְלֵי־שִֽׁיר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- didעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- the workמְלָאכָהmelâ'kâh · workH4399
- faithfullyאֱמוּנָה'ĕmûnâh 'ĕmûnâh · faithfulnessH530
- and the overseersנָצַחnâtsach · to conductH5329
- Jahathיַ֫חַתyachath · JahathH3189
- and Obadiahעֹבַדְיָ֫הוּ‛ôbadyâh ‛ôbadyâhû · ObadiahH5662
- the Levitesלֵוִיlêvîyîy lêvîy · LeviH3881
- of the sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of Merariמְרָרִיmerârîy · MerariH4847
- and Zechariahזְכַרְיָהוּzekaryâh zekaryâhû · ZechariahH2148
- and Meshullamמְשֻׁלָּםmeshûllâm · MeshullamH4918
- of the sons of the Kohathitesקְהָתִיqŏhâthîy · KohathiteH6956
- forwardפָּקַדpâqad · to reckon: overseerH6485
- all that could skillבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
- of instrumentsכְּלִיkelîy · article/utensilH3627
- of musickשִׁירshîyr shîyrâh · songH7892
Cross-references for 2 Chronicles 34:12
- 2 Chronicles 31:12the people faithfully brought all the gifts, tithes, and other items dedicated for use in the Temple. Conaniah the Levite was put in charge, assisted by his brother Shimei.
- 2 Kings 12:15No accounting of this money was required from the construction supervisors, because they were honest and trustworthy men.
- 2 Kings 22:7But don’t require the construction supervisors to keep account of the money they receive, for they are honest and trustworthy men.”
- Nehemiah 7:2I gave the responsibility of governing Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah, the commander of the fortress, for he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.
- Proverbs 28:20The trustworthy person will get a rich reward, but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble.
- 1 Corinthians 4:2Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.
- 1 Chronicles 6:31David assigned the following men to lead the music at the house of the Lord after the Ark was placed there.
- 1 Chronicles 15:16David also ordered the Levite leaders to appoint a choir of Levites who were singers and musicians to sing joyful songs to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and cymbals.
- 1 Chronicles 16:4David appointed the following Levites to lead the people in worship before the Ark of the Lord—to invoke his blessings, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel.
- 1 Chronicles 23:5Another 4,000 will work as gatekeepers, and 4,000 will praise the Lord with the musical instruments I have made.”
- 1 Chronicles 25:1David and the army commanders then appointed men from the families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to proclaim God’s messages to the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. Here is a list of their names and their work:
Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 34:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12All that could skill of instruments of music - Did the musicians play on their several instruments to encourage and enliven the workmen? Is not this a probable case from their mention here? If this were really the case, instrumental music was never better applied in any thing that refers to the worship of God. It is fabled of Orpheus, a most celebrated musician, that such was the enchanting harmony of his lyre, that he built the city of Thebes by it: the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-13The fact that musicians supervised the construction shows the importance of Levites leading this work. Other ancient texts mention that music was often part of construction projects.Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Chronicles 34:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 34
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries