1 Chronicles16
New International Version
1They brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God.
2After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.
3Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each Israelite man and woman.
4He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to extol, thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel:
5Asaph was the chief, and next to him in rank were Zechariah, then Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals,
6and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.
7That day David first appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise to the Lord in this manner:
8Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
9Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.
10Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
11Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.
12Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
13you his servants, the descendants of Israel, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
14He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
15He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
16the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.
17He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
18“To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit.”
19When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it,
20they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.
21He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings:
22“Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.”
23Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day.
24Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
25For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.
26For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.
27Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place.
28Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, 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 the splendor of his holiness.
30Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.
31Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
32Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!
33Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.
34Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
35Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.”
36Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”
37David left Asaph and his associates before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister there regularly, according to each day’s requirements.
38He also left Obed-Edom and his sixty-eight associates to minister with them. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were gatekeepers.
39David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the Lord at the high place in Gibeon
40to present burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, in accordance with everything written in the Law of the Lord, which he had given Israel.
41With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord, “for his love endures forever.”
42Heman and Jeduthun were responsible for the sounding of the trumpets and cymbals and for the playing of the other instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were stationed at the gate.
43Then all the people left, each for their own home, and David returned home to bless his family.
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