The Levites stood with the instruments of David: Stood with may be rendered “stood holding.” For the instruments of David, see the comments on 1 Chr 23.5. This phrase is ambiguous here. It may mean “the instruments that David had had made” (Parole de Vie) or “instruments like those that King David had used” (Good News Translation). The second sense is more probable since it is unlikely that David’s own instruments were still in working condition after three hundred years.

And the priests with the trumpets: The priests had been given the responsibility to sound the trumpets (see 1 Chr 15.24). For trumpets see the comments on 1 Chr 13.8.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .