With the appointment of Heman, Asaph, and Ethan as the chief musicians, each of the three main Levitical families are represented (1 Chronicles 15:5–7; 1 Chronicles 6:31–48).1 The chief of these was Heman, son of Joel (and grandson of Samuel (1 Chronicles 6:28, 1 Chronicles 6:33; 1 Samuel 8:22). With Heman were Asaph the son of Berechiah, and Ethan the son of Kushaiah (or Kishi; 1 Chronicles 6:44). These three were given the task of sounding the loud bronze cymbals (1 Chronicles 15:19). The three leaders are followed by eleven assistants and two doorkeepers (1 Chronicles 15:18). 1 Chronicles 15:19–25 records precisely the same personnel, with the addition of two more leaders (Azaziah and Kenaniah), two more gatekeepers (Berechiah and Elkanah), and seven priests assigned to blow trumpets (1 Chronicles 15:24). The Levites are also grouped according to the instruments they played. Eight of the musicians played lyres according to alamoth, probably a musical term (see the title to Psalm 46:1–11). Six others played harps set to sheminith, also a musical term (see the title to Psalm 6:1–10; Psalm 12:1–8).2
Kenaniah/Chenaniah3 (1 Chronicles 15:22, 1 Chronicles 15:27) is another leader, but his position is not immediately obvious. Though not listed in 1 Chronicles 15:11 with the Levitical leaders, he is still designated the head Levite.
His musical function was director of music,
or literally responsible for the lifting.
This lifting may refer, on the one hand, to lifting the voice in song or to giving a prophetic utterance; on the other hand, it could signify lifting
in the sense of carrying, if the ark were in mind (2 Chronicles 35:3). The term again appears in 1 Chronicles 15:27: Chenaniah the leader of the music [or the lifting] of the singers,
thus making it clear that he was chief in the area of raising the voice in song.4 Interestingly, Hicks observes, Chronicles notes the giftedness (skill) of Chenaniah as the reason for his appointment (1 Chronicles 15:22; literally, for he understood it
). Leaders recognize the giftedness of their people and assign them appropriate tasks. God gifts his people to serve, and leaders must empower that service.5
Two pairs of Levites are assigned as gatekeepers/doorkeepers to protect the ark: Berekiah and Elkanah, and the harp musicians Obed-Edom and Jehiah (probably a variant of Jeiel; 1 Chronicles 15:18), probably with two of them going before the ark (1 Chronicles 15:23) and two behind it (1 Chronicles 15:24). Sandwiched between them was a contingent of seven priests who were to blow the trumpets (1 Chronicles 15:24).6 Trumpeting was solely a priestly function (Numbers 10:2; Numbers 29:1; Joshua 6:6). The Chronicler’s enclosing, as it were, of the priests by the gatekeepers would appear to be an important arrangement for the protection of the sanctity of the ark from any violation of God's instructions.
Obed-edom (1 Chronicles 15:18, 1 Chronicles 15:21, 1 Chronicles 15:24) is most probably identical with Obed-edom the Gittite (1 Chronicles 15:25; 1 Chronicles 13:13–14; 1 Chronicles 26:4–8). If the identification is accepted, it seems that the term Levite
could have a functional as well as a genealogical sense, at least during the monarchy. Such a liberal attitude was less popular in postexilic times.7 Obed-edom was, in his hereditary position, a gatekeeper (1 Chronicles 15:18). But in recognition of his faithful care for the ark during the preceding three months (1 Chronicles 13:14; see also the attendant risk, 1 Chronicles 13:12), he was honoured with a place among the lyre players, and his post was subsequently made permanent (1 Chronicles 16:5, 1 Chronicles 16:38).8
17 So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brothers Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari, their brothers, Ethan the son of Kushaiah;