Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Chronicles 16:42
And with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun [were] porters.
42. and with them etc.] The words with them are probably repeated in error from 1Ch 16:41. Render, And Heman and Jeduthun had trumpets and cymbals. For trumpets cp. 1Ch 15:24 (note).
make a sound, and with musical instruments of God ] R.V. sound aloud, and with instruments for the songs of God; 1Ch 23:5 ; 2Ch 7:6; 2Ch 29:27 (all R.V.).
sons of Jeduthun ] Cp. 1Ch 16:38.
were porters ] R.V. to be at the gate. David’s organisation of the doorkeepers is given in 1Ch 26:1-19.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 42. Musical instruments of God.] Ad canendum Deo, “to sing to God.” – Vulgate. , “of the sons of God.” – Septuagint. The Syriac is remarkable: “These were upright men who did not sing unto God with instruments of music, nor with drums, nor with listra, nor with straight nor crooked pipes, nor with cymbals; but they sang before the Lord Almighty with a joyous mouth, and with a pure and holy prayer, and with innocence and integrity.” The Arabic is nearly the same. None of the versions understand the words keley shir haelohim as implying instruments of music of God, but instruments employed in the song of God, or to praise God; as also the Targum. Query, Did God ever ordain instruments of music to be used in his worship? Can they be used in Christian assemblies according to the spirit of Christianity? Has Jesus Christ, or his apostles, ever commanded or sanctioned the use of them? Were they ever used any where in the apostolic Church? Does the use of them at present, in Christian congregations, ever increase the spirit of devotion? Does it ever appear that bands of musicians, either in their collective or individual capacity, are more spiritual, or as spiritual, as the other parts of the Church of Christ? Is there less pride, self-will, stubbornness, insubordination, lightness, and frivolity, among such persons, than among the other professors of Christianity found in the same religious society? Is it ever remarked or known that musicians in the house of God have attained to any depth of piety, or superior soundness of understanding, in the things of God? Is it ever found that those Churches and Christian societies which have and use instruments of music in Divine worship are more holy, or as holy, as those societies which do not use them? And is it always found that the ministers which affect and recommend them to be used in the worship of Almighty God, are the most spiritual men, and the most spiritual and useful preachers? Can mere sounds, no matter how melodious, where no word nor sentiment is or can be uttered, be considered as giving praise to God? Is it possible that pipes or strings of any kind can give God praise? Can God be pleased with sounds which are emitted by no sentient being, and have in themselves no meaning? If these questions cannot be answered in the affirmative: then, query, Is not the introduction of such instruments into the worship of God antichristian, and calculated to debase and ultimately ruin the spirit and influence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? And should not all who wish well to the spread and establishment of pure and undefiled religion, lift up their hand, their influence, and their voice against them? The argument from their use in the Jewish service is futile in the extreme when applied to Christianity.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Musical instruments of God, i.e. appointed and appropriated to the worship and honour of God.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And with them Heman and Jeduthun, with trumpets and cymbals,…. Or with them were the trumpets and cymbals, as Kimchi; or, as Piscator supplies it, with them he “left” the trumpets and cymbals:
for those that should make a sound; by striking upon them:
and with musical instruments of God; sacred ones, such as were devoted to his service, as psalteries and harps; the Syriac and Arabic versions carry the sense of the words quite differently, that these men did not sing with those musical instruments, but with a pleasant voice, and with pure and acceptable prayers, in humility and uprightness, glorified God:
and the sons of Jeduthun were porters; at the tabernacle in Gibeon.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
were porters = were for the gate.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
trumpets: 2Ch 29:25-28, Psa 150:3-6
musical instruments: 1Ch 25:6, Psa 84:10
porters: Heb. for the gate
Reciprocal: Num 10:10 – in the day 1Sa 10:5 – a psaltery 1Ch 2:6 – Heman 1Ch 6:33 – Heman 1Ch 13:8 – with harps 1Ch 15:16 – the singers 1Ch 15:19 – General 1Ch 23:5 – praised 1Ch 25:1 – harps 1Ch 25:3 – Jeduthun 1Ch 25:4 – Heman 2Ch 5:12 – the Levites 2Ch 7:6 – the Levites 2Ch 8:14 – the Levites 2Ch 20:19 – Levites 2Ch 34:13 – porters 2Ch 35:15 – according Ezr 3:10 – trumpets Neh 12:27 – thanksgivings Psa 47:5 – sound Psa 65:1 – in Sion Psa 81:3 – Blow Psa 149:3 – with the timbrel
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ch 16:42. With musical instruments of God Appropriated to the worship of God; not such as they used on other occasions. Between common mirth and holy joy, there is a vast difference; and the limits and distances between them must be carefully kept up.