Bible Commentaries
1 Chronicles 16

Verse 1

So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God.

No JFB commentary on this verse.

Verse 2

And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.

He blessed the people in the name of the Lord. The king commended their zeal, supplicated the divine blessing upon them, and ordered the remains of the thank offerings, which had been profusely sacrificed during the procession, to be distributed in certain proportions to every individual, that the ceremonial might terminate with appropriate festivities (Deuteronomy 12:7).

Verse 3

And he dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine.

Flagon of wine. The two latter words are a supplement by our translators, and the former is, in other versions, rendered not a "flagon," but a 'cake'-a confection, as the Septuagint renders it-made of flour and honey (see the note at 2 Samuel 6:19).

Verse 4

And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel:

He appointed certain of the Levites to minister. No sooner was the ark deposited in its tent than the He appointed certain of the Levites to minister. No sooner was the ark deposited in its tent than the Levites who were to officiate in the choirs before it entered upon their duties-a select number of the musicians being chosen for the service from the list (1 Chronicles 15:19-21) of those who had taken a prominent part in the recent procession. The same arrangement was to be observed in their duties, now that the ark was again stationary: Asaph, with his associates, composing the first or principal company, played with cymbals; Zechariah and his colleagues, with whom were conjoined Jeiel and Obed-edom, forming the second company, used harps and similar instruments.

Verse 5

Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obededom: and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals;

Jeiel - is the same as Aziel, 1 Chronicles 15:20.

Verse 6

Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.

Benaiah also and Jahaziel. The name of the former is mentioned among the priests, 1 Chronicles 15:24, but not the latter. The office assigned to them was that of blowing the trumpets at regular intervals before the ark and in the tabernacle (cf. Wilkinson's 'Ancient Egyptians,' 2:, pp. 271-278).

Verse 7

Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.

Then on that day David delivered first this psalm. Among the other preparations for this solemn inauguration, the royal bard had composed a special hymn for the occasion. Doubtless it had been previously in the hands of Asaph and his assistants, but it was now publicly committed to them as they entered for the first time on the performance of their sacred duties. It occupies the greater part of this chapter (1 Chronicles 16:8-36), and seems to have been compiled from other psalms of David previously known to the Israelites, as the whole of it will be found with very slight variations in Psalms 96:1-13; Psalms 105:1-15; Psalms 106:47-48. In the form, however, in which it is given by the sacred historian, it seems to have been the first psalm given for use in the tabernacle service; and abounding, as it does, with the liveliest ascriptions of praise to God for the revelation of His glorious character and the display of His marvelous works-containing, as it does, so many pointed allusions to the origin, privileges, and special destiny of the chosen people-it was admirably calculated to animate the devotions and call forth the gratitude of the assembled multitude.

Verses 8-35

Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.

No JFB commentary on these verses.

Verse 36

Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD.

All the people said, Amen - (cf. Psalms 72:19-20; Psalms 106:48.) In the former the author of the doxology utters the amen himself, while in the latter the people are exhorted to say amen. This may arise from the fact that the latter psalm originally concluded with the injunction to say amen. But in this historical account of the festival, it was necessary to relate that the people obeyed this injunction on the occasion referred to, and therefore, the words "let them praise" were altered into "and they praised" (Bertheau).

Verse 37

So he left there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required:

So he left there ... The sequel of the chapter describes the appointment of the sacred musicians and their respective duties.

Verse 38

And Obededom with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obededom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be porters:

Obed-edom with their brethren - Hossah, mentioned at the close of the verse, and a great number besides (see the notes at 1 Chronicles 26:1-32).

To be porters - door-keepers.

Verse 39

And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon,

And Zadok ... before the tabernacle ... at Gibeon. While the officers above-mentioned, under the superintendence of Abiathar, were appointed to officiate in Jerusalem, where the ark had been brought, Zadok and the priests subordinate to him were stationed at Gibeon, to perform the sacred service before the ancient tabernacle which still remained there.

Verse 40

To offer burnt offerings unto the LORD upon the altar of the burnt offering continually morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the law of the LORD, which he commanded Israel;

Continually morning and evening - as the law enjoined (Exodus 29:38; Numbers 28:3; Numbers 28:6).

And to do according to all that is written in the law - (see Numbers 28:1-31). Thus, in the time of David, the worship was performed at two places, where the sacred things that had been transmitted from the age of Moses were preserved. Before the ark in Jerusalem, Asaph and his brethren officiated as singers, Obed-edom and Hassah served as door-keepers, Benaiah and Jahaziel blew the trumpets; while at the tabernacle and burnt offering in Gibeon Heman and Jeduthun presided over the sacred music, the sons of Jeduthun were door-keepers, and Zadok, with his suite of attendant priests, offered the sacrifices.