SEV Biblia, Chapter 34:12
Y estos varones trabajaban con fidelidad en la obra; y eran sus gobernadores Jahat y Abdías, levitas de los hijos de Merari; y Zacarías y Mesulam de los hijos de Coat, para que activasen la obra ; y de los levitas, todos los entendidos en instrumentos de música.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 34:12
Verse 12. All 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 stones and timbers danced to his melody; and by the power of his harmony rose up, and took their respective places in the different parts of the wall that was to defend the city! This is fable; but as all fable is a representation of truth, where is the truth and fact to which this refers? How long has this question lain unanswered! But have we not the answer now? It is known in general, that the cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii were overwhelmed by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius, about the seventy-ninth year of the Christian era. It is also known that, in sinking for wells, the workmen of the king of Naples lighted on houses, &c., of those overwhelmed cities; that excavations have been carried on, and are now in the act of being carried on, which are bringing daily to view various utensils, pictures, and books, which have escaped the influence of the burning lava; and that some of those parchment volumes have been unrolled, and facsimiles of them engraved and published; and that our late Prince Regent, afterwards George IV., king of Great Britain, expended considerable sums of money annually in searching for, unrolling, and deciphering those rolls. This I record to his great credit as the lover of science and literature. Now, among the books that have been unrolled and published, is a Greek Treatise on Music, by Philodemus; and here we have the truth represented which lay hidden under the fables of Orpheus and Amphion. This latter was a skillful harper, who was frequently employed by the Theban workmen to play to them while engaged in their labour, and for which they rewarded him out of the proceeds of that labour. So powerful and pleasing was his music, that they went lightly and comfortably through their work; and time and labour passed on without tedium or fatigue; and the walls and towers were speedily raised. This, by a metaphor, was attributed to the dulcet sounds of his harp; and poetry seized on and embellished it, and mythology incorporated it with her fabulous system. Orpheus is the same. By his skill in music he drew stones and trees after him, i.e., he presided over and encouraged the workmen by his skill in music. Yet how simple and natural is the representation given by this ancient Greek writer of such matters! See Philodemus, Col. viii. and ix. Orpheus, and Amphion, by their music, moved the workmen to diligence and activity, and lessened and alleviated their toil. May we not suppose, then, that skillful musicians among the Levites did exercise their art among the workmen who were employed in the repairs of the house of the Lord? May I be allowed a gentle transition? Is it not the power and harmony of the grace of Jesus Christ in the Gospel, that convert, change, and purify the souls of men, and prepare them for and place them in that part of the house of God, the New Jerusalem? A most beautiful and chaste allusion to this fact and fable is made by an eminent poet, while praying for his own success as a Christian minister, who uses all his skill as a poet and musician for the glory of God:- Thy own musician, Lord, inspire, And may my consecrated lyre Repeat the psalmist's part! His Son and thine reveal in me, And fill with sacred melody The fibres of my heart. So shall I charm the listening throng, And draw the LIVING STONES along By Jesus' tuneful name.
The living stones shall dance, shall rise, And FORM a CITY in the skies, The New Jerusalem.
CHARLES WESLEY.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 12. And the men did that work faithfully , etc.] The labouring men, as also their inspectors, (see 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 some think, on their instruments of music, while the men were at work, that they might go on in it the more pleasantly and cheerfully.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Josiah's good reign in Judah.
--As the years of infancy cannot be useful to our fellow-creatures, ou earliest youth should be dedicated to God, that we may not waste any of the remaining short space of life. Happy and wise are those who see the Lord and prepare for usefulness at an early age, when others ar pursuing sinful pleasures, contracting bad habits, and forming ruinou connexions. Who can express the anguish prevented by early piety, an its blessed effects? Diligent self-examination and watchfulness wil convince us of the deceitfulness and wickedness of our own hearts, an the sinfulness of our lives. We are here encouraged to humble ourselve before God, and to seek unto him, as Josiah did. And believers are her taught, not to fear death, but to welcome it, when it takes them awa from the evil to come. Nothing hastens the ruin of a people, nor ripen them for it, more than their disregard of the attempts made for their reformation. Be not deceived, God is not mocked. The current and tid of affections only turns at the command of Him who raises up those tha are dead in trespasses and sins. We behold peculiar loveliness, in the grace the Lord bestows on those, who in tender years seek to know an to love the Saviour. Hath Jesus, the Day-spring from on high, visite you? Can you trace your knowledge of this light and life of man, lik Josiah, from your youth? Oh the unspeakable happiness of becomin acquainted with Jesus from our earliest years __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
והאנשׁים 582 עשׂים 6213 באמונה 530 במלאכה 4399 ועליהם 5921 מפקדים 6485 יחת 3189 ועבדיהו 5662 הלוים 3881 מן 4480 בני 1121 מררי 4847 וזכריה 2148 ומשׁלם 4918 מן 4480 בני 1121 הקהתים 6956 לנצח 5329 והלוים 3881 כל 3605 מבין 995 בכלי 3627 שׁיר׃ 7892
