(6) All these were under the hands of their father . . . and harps.--Rather, All these were under the direction of their conductor in the music in the house of Jehovah, with cymbals, harps, and lutes, (See Notes on 1Chronicles 25:2-3.)

According to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.--Rather, under the directions of the king (and), Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun. The meaning is that the arrangement of the duties of the minstrels was accomplished by David with the assistance of the three chief musicians, just as, in the classification of the priests, the king had been helped by the chief priests Zadok and Ahimelech (1Chronicles 24:3).

All these.--That is, the twenty-four leading minstrels, enumerated in 1Chronicles 25:2-4. Each performed under the supervision of his own "father," i.e., director.

Verse 6. - This verse needs nothing except exact translation to make its meaning clear and consistent, All these (i.e. the names of vers. 2-4) were under the directions of their father, in the song of the house of the Lord, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, under the directions of the king, Asaph, and Jeduthun and Heman.

25:1-31 The singers and musicians. - David put those in order who were appointed to be singers and musicians in the temple. To prophesy, in this place, means praising God with great earnestness and devout affections, under the influences of the Holy Spirit. In raising these affections, poetry and music were employed. If the Spirit of God do not put life and fervour into our devotions, they will, however ordered, be a lifeless, worthless form.All these were under the hands of their father, for song in the house of the Lord,.... Instructed and directed by him in the performance of the service in the temple:

with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God; which were the three principal instruments of music used in the temple service:

according to the king's order, to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman; who ordered and directed them what to sing, what tunes to make use of, and what instruments to play upon to those tunes.