And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward over against ward.
The leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua (son of Kadmiel). They stood with their fellow Levites arranged in groups facing each other to sing praises and give thanks to God, following the instructions that David, the man of God, had given. One group would respond to another group.
The writer is describing how the Levite worship leaders organized themselves in groups to lead praise and thanksgiving, following the worship patterns that King David had established.
📚 Historical Context
This passage describes the reorganization of temple worship after the Jews returned from Babylonian exile and rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem. David had originally established the organized system of Levitical worship with musical groups and choirs. The phrase 'ward over against ward' refers to the antiphonal singing where groups would sing back and forth to each other, creating a rich, layered worship experience.
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