1 Chronicles16
New American Standard
1And they brought in the ark of God and placed it inside the tent which David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.
2When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.
3Then he distributed to everyone of Israel, both men and women, to everyone a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a raisin cake.
4He appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to celebrate and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel:
5Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with musical instruments, harps, and lyres; also Asaph played loud-sounding cymbals,
6and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blew trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.
7Then on that day David first assigned Asaph and his relatives to give thanks to the Lord.
8Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; Make His deeds known among the peoples.
9Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders.
10Boast in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be joyful.
11Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually.
12Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth,
13You descendants of Israel His servant, Sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!
14He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth.
15Remember His covenant forever, The word which He commanded to a thousand generations,
16The covenant which He made with Abraham, And His oath to Isaac.
17He also confirmed it to Jacob as a statute, To Israel as an everlasting covenant,
18Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan, As the portion of your inheritance.”
19When they were only a few in number, Very few, and strangers in it,
20And they wandered from nation to nation, And from one kingdom to another people,
21He allowed no one to oppress them, And He rebuked kings for their sakes, saying,
22“Do not touch My anointed ones, And do not harm My prophets.”
23Sing to the Lord, all the earth; Proclaim good news of His salvation from day to day.
24Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
25For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all gods.
26For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens.
27Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and joy are in His place.
28Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
29Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him; Worship the Lord in holy attire.
30Tremble before Him, all the earth; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.
31Let the heavens be joyful, and the earth rejoice; And let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
32Let the sea roar, and everything it contains; Let the field rejoice, and everything that is in it.
33Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy in the presence of the Lord; For He is coming to judge the earth.
34Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His faithfulness is everlasting.
35Then say, “Save us, God of our salvation, And gather us and save us from the nations, To give thanks to Your holy name, And glory in Your praise.”
36Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, From everlasting to everlasting! Then all the people said, “Amen,” and praised the Lord.
37So he left Asaph and his relatives there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required,
38and Obed-edom with his sixty-eight relatives; Obed-edom, the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah as gatekeepers.
39He left Zadok the priest and his relatives the priests before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place which was at Gibeon,
40to offer burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening, even according to everything that is written in the Law of the Lord, which He commanded Israel.
41With them were Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name, to give thanks to the Lord, because His kindness is everlasting.
42And with them were Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those who were to play them, and with instruments for the songs of God, and the sons of Jeduthun for the gate.
43Then all the people departed, each to his house; and David returned to bless his household.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Chronicles 16.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The solemnity with which the ark was fixed. (1–6). David's psalm of praise. (7–36). Setting in order the worship of God. (37–43).
vv1-6
Though God's word and ordinances may be clouded and eclipsed for a time, they shall shine out of obscurity. This was but a tent, a humble dwelling, yet this was the tabernacle which David, in his psalms, often speaks of with so much affection. David showed himself generous to his subjects, as he had found God gracious to him. Those whose hearts are enlarged with holy joy, should show it by being open-handed.
vv7-36
Let God be glorified in our praises. Let others be edified and taught, that strangers to him may be led to adore him. Let us ourselves triumph and trust in God. Those that give glory to God's name are allowed to glory in it. Let the everlasting covenant be the great matter of our joy his people of old, be remembered by us with thankfulness to him. Show forth from day to day his salvation, his promised salvation by Christ. We have reason to celebrate that from day to day; for we daily receive the benefit, and it is a subject that can never be exhausted. In the midst of praises, we must not forget to pray for the servants of God in distress.
vv37-43
The worship of God ought to be the work of every day. David put it into order. At Jerusalem, where the ark was, Asaph and his brethren were to minister before the ark continually, with songs of praise. No sacrifices were offered there, nor incense burnt, because the altars were not there; but David's prayers were directed as incense, and the lifting up of his hands as the evening sacrifice. So early did spiritual worship take place of ceremonial. Yet the ceremonial worship, being of Divine institution, must by no means be omitted; therefore at Gibeon, at the altars, the priests attended; for their work was to sacrifice and burn incense; and that they did continually, morning and evening, according to the law of Moses. As the ceremonies were types of the mediation of Christ, the observance of them was of great consequence. The attendance of his appointed ministers is right in itself, and encourages the people.
Key Words
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
אָרוֹן: a box
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
יָצַג: to place permanently
תָּוֶךְ: a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre
אֹהֶל: a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
נָטָה: to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application
קָרַב: to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
Cross References
1 Chronicles 16The psalm David delivers here (v. 8-22) is verbatim the opening of Psalm 105.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The next major movement of David's song (v. 23-33) corresponds directly to Psalm 96.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The prayer 'Save us, O God... gather us together' is a direct quotation of Psalm 106:47.
Supported by JFB
The parallel historical account of setting up the ark in the tent and sacrificing.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The concluding doxology and the people's 'Amen' directly mirrors Psalm 106:48.
Supported by JFB
Identical verbal warning: 'Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.'
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Zadok's offerings at Gibeon were to fulfill the morning and evening sacrifice law of Moses.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Cross-references the specific appointments of Asaph, Zechariah, and Jeiel to their musical instruments.
Supported by JFB
Confirms the tabernacle of the Lord remained at Gibeon while the ark was in Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Links to the everlasting covenant with Abraham mentioned in David's psalm.
Supported by Matthew Henry
God's historical warning to Abimelech regarding Abraham, illustrating 'do my prophets no harm.'
Supported by Matthew Poole
The parallel account where David returns to bless his own household after blessing Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Illustrates God reproving Pharaoh for Sarah's sake when the patriarchs were strangers.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God's warning to Laban in a dream, showing how He suffered no man to do them wrong.
Supported by Matthew Poole