1 Chronicles16
World English Bible · Public Domain
1They brought in God’s ark, and set it in the middle of the tent that 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 Yahweh’s name.
3He gave to everyone of Israel, both man and woman, to everyone a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins.
4He appointed some of the Levites to minister before Yahweh’s ark, and to commemorate, to thank, and to praise Yahweh, the God of Israel:
5Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, with stringed instruments and with harps; and Asaph with cymbals, sounding aloud;
6with Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually, before the ark of the covenant of God.
7Then on that day David first ordained giving of thanks to Yahweh by the hand of Asaph and his brothers.
8Oh give thanks to Yahweh. Call on his name. Make what he has done known among the peoples.
9Sing to him. Sing praises to him. Tell of all his marvelous works.
10Glory in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.
11Seek Yahweh and his strength. Seek his face forever more.
12Remember his marvelous works that he has done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,
13you offspring of Israel his servant, you children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
14He is Yahweh 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, his oath to Isaac.
17He confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,
18saying, “I will give you the land of Canaan, The lot of your inheritance,”
19when you were but a few men in number, yes, very few, and foreigners in it.
20They went about from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people.
21He allowed no man to do them wrong. Yes, he reproved kings for their sakes,
22“Don’t touch my anointed ones! Do my prophets no harm!”
23Sing to Yahweh, all the earth! Display his salvation from day to day.
24Declare his glory among the nations, and his marvelous works among all the peoples.
25For great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised. He also is to be feared above all gods.
26For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but Yahweh made the heavens.
27Honor and majesty are before him. Strength and gladness are in his place.
28Ascribe to Yahweh, you families of the peoples, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength!
29Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come before him. Worship Yahweh in holy array.
30Tremble before him, all the earth. The world also is established that it can’t be moved.
31Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice! Let them say among the nations, “Yahweh reigns!”
32Let the sea roar, and its fullness! Let the field exult, and all that is in it!
33Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before Yahweh, for he comes to judge the earth.
34Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
35Say, “Save us, God of our salvation! Gather us together and deliver us from the nations, to give thanks to your holy name, to triumph in your praise.”
36Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting. All the people said, “Amen,” and praised Yahweh.
37So he left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required;
38and Obed-Edom with their sixty-eight relatives; Obed-Edom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be doorkeepers;
39and Zadok the priest and his brothers the priests, before Yahweh’s tabernacle in the high place that was at Gibeon,
40to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening, even according to all that is written in Yahweh’s law, which he commanded to Israel;
41and with them Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen, who were mentioned by name, to give thanks to Yahweh, because his loving kindness endures forever;
42and with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should sound aloud, and with instruments for the songs of God, and the sons of Jeduthun to be at the gate.
43All the people departed, each man to his house; and David returned to bless his house.
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