The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum The Role of the Choir

Peter,

From my own investigation of the Hebrew natsach and from various other sources, e.g., Keil & Delitzsch commentary on the Psalms, J.A. Alexander commentary on the Psalms, etc., I believe the KJV, ASV, WEB and most other translations correctly translate the word as "Chief Musician", vs. the ESV as "Choirmaster". Keil, as might be expected, is much more thorough in discussing the use of the term as it is found in the Hebrew. I would recommend this section to your reading.

Basically, the majority of commentators see this term as one that designates one who is "over", i.e., having authority over others, e.g., in the building of the Temple. And more specifically, it can designate one whose duty it was to arrange and train the Levite choristers which most always required musical accompaniment, which it seems was predominantly with stringed instruments (cf. Hab 3:19). This same phraseology appears in some 55 Psalms and can also be found in several other books of the OT, e.g., 1 Kings, 1 Chronicles, Isaiah and Ezra. Thus, "Choirmaster" doesn't fit. But "Music Director/Chief Musician" expresses the idea much more accurately. Again, in the OT worship, the music was performed along with the general congregational singing of the songs and not apart from it as is the general practice today.

This leaves the final question, although doubtless there are many more which could be asked, is this position of "Chief Musician" one which is perpetual or one which was restricted to the OT temple worship? Is there any indication in the NT that in the worship of God was to include Levitical singers and one who trains and directs them? I'll leave that to everyone else's investigation and conclusion.