Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Chronicles 15:22

"And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was over the song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful." — 1 Chronicles 15:22 (ASV)

Rather, And Chenaniah, captain (that is, conductor) of the Levites in bearing (that is, the sacred vessels), was conducting the bearing, because he was skilled—namely, in the traditional regulations connected with bearing the Ark duly and rightly.

Chenaniah.—1 Chronicles 15:27 and 1 Chronicles 26:29.

Chief of the Levites.—Not one of the six princes (1 Chronicles 15:5–10), or heads of houses, but president of the carriage of the Ark.

Was for song.—So the Septuagint, which reads “leader of the songs;” but the Syriac has “bore the burden daily.” And although the word massâ—that is, “lifting up,” or “bearing”—might mean “lifting up the voice”:

1. The context is against that meaning here, for Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were conductors of the singing and music.
2. Chenaniah is nowhere else associated with music (see Note on 1 Chronicles 26:29).
3. The word massâ, “bearing,” has the sense we have given it when used in relation to Levites (Numbers 4:19; 2 Chronicles 35:3).

He instructed.—The Hebrew has an ambiguous form, which may be an infinitive—instructing, correcting (yâsar); or an imperfect of a different verb—was prince over, superintendent of (sârar).

He was skilful.—Compare 1 Chronicles 25:7; 2 Chronicles 34:12.