1 Chronicles 16
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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.
1. the tent] Cp. 1 Chronicles 15:1, note.

they offered] In 2 Samuel 6:17, David offered. The Chronicler associates the elders with David as in 1 Chronicles 15:26.

burnt sacrifices] R.V. burnt offerings (as 1 Chronicles 16:2). Cp. Leviticus 1:1-9.

peace offerings] The “peace offering” (Heb. shelem) was a thank-offering or an offering made in expiation of a vow; cp. Proverbs 7:14.

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.
2. blessed the people] Cp. 2 Chronicles 6:3.

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.
3. a loaf of bread] A flat round cake such as is still made in Egypt is meant.

a good piece of flesh] R.V. a portion of flesh (mg. “of wine”). The meaning of the Heb. word is unknown. Of flesh is rightly in italics here as in 2 Samuel 6:19.

a flagon of wine] R.V. a cake of raisins. Cp. Isaiah 16:7 (R.V.) where the same Heb. word is used.

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:
4–6 (cp. 1 Chronicles 16:37-38). David’s Arrangements for Ministration before the Ark

4. to record] R.V. to celebrate. The literal meaning is to call to mind; cp. 1 Chronicles 16:12 (remember). Cp. Psalms 38, 70 (titles).

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;
5. Asaph] Cp. 1 Chronicles 15:17, note.

but Asaph made a sound with cymbals] R.V. and Asaph with cymbals, sounding aloud. Cp. 1 Chronicles 15:16; 1 Chronicles 15:19.

Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.
6. Benaiah also and Jahaziel] Two priests for the two trumpets.

Benaiah] In 1 Chronicles 27:5-6 a Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest (R.V.) is mentioned who is identified with the Benaiah who was one of the thirty heroes (1 Chronicles 11:24-25). Cp. also 1 Chronicles 12:17.

Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.
7–36. The Psalm of Praise

7. David delivered first this psalm to thank the Lord into the hand etc.] R.V. did David first ordain to give thanks unto the LORD, by the hand etc. The psalm which follows consists of Psalm 105:1-15; Psalm 96:1 b Psalm 96:13 a, Psalm 106:1; Psalm 106:47-48.

Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.
8–22 (= Psalm 105:1-15)

8. his deeds among the people] R.V. his doings among the peoples.

Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.
9. sing psalms] R.V. sing praises.

talk you] R.V. mg. Meditate ye. Meditation leads to fresh proclamation.

wondrous works] R.V. marvellous works (cp. 1 Chronicles 16:12), i.e. works beyond man’s expectation; cp. Genesis 18:14, Is anything too hard (wonderful, R.V. mg.) for the Lord?

Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.
11. and his strength] Perhaps (altering the points only of the Heb. word) and be ye strong. So LXX. καὶ ἰσχύσατε (in Psalm 105:4 καὶ κραταιώθητε). A promise is sometimes expressed in Heb. by the imperative.

Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
12. his wonders] i.e. the plagues of Egypt; Psalm 105:27-36.

of his mouth] Deuteronomy 4:33; Deuteronomy 4:36.

O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
13. of Israel] Psalm 105:6, of Abraham.

He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
14. His judgements are in all the earth] Cp. 1 Chronicles 16:20-22.

Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;
15. Be ye mindful] Read (with Psalm 105:8) He hath remembered. Cp. Exodus 24:3-8; Exodus 34:10-27.

Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac;
And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,
17. for a law] R.V. for a statute. The same Heb. word is translated decree in Psalm 2:7.

Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance;
18. the lot] The Heb. word (“hebel”) means a portion not assigned by lot but measured by line; cp. R.V. mg. Canaan is co-extensive with Israel’s inheritance.

inheritance] All nations receive an inheritance from God; Deuteronomy 32:8.

When ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it.
19. when ye were] Psalm 105:12 when they were.

strangers] R.V. sojourners. The patriarchs were not simply strangers, but strangers who made a long sojourn in Canaan.

And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people;
20. kingdom … people] The “kingdom” is Egypt (Genesis 12); the “people” the Canaanite and Perizzite (Genesis 13).

He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,
21. he reproved kings] Genesis 20:3-7.

Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
22. mine anointed] R.V. mine anointed ones; LXX. τῶν χριστῶν μου.

my prophets] Genesis 20:7.

Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.
23–33 (= Psalm 96:1-13)

23. Sing unto the Lord] In Psalm 96:1-2 this burden is thrice repeated; in Chron. it is once given. Note that 23 b corresponds with 2 b of the Ps.

Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations.
24. the heathen … all nations] R.V. the nations … all the peoples.

For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods.
25. to be feared above all gods] i.e. to be feared as being above all “that are called gods,” these being “things of nought” (1 Chronicles 16:26, R.V. mg.). The real existence of false gods is not assumed.

For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
26. the people] R.V. the peoples.

made the heavens] Cp. Jeremiah 10:11, The gods that have not made the heavens … shall perish from the earth.

Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.
27. Glory and honour] R.V. Honour and majesty.

are in his presence] R.V. are before him, i.e. are His, belong to Him as His attributes. Perhaps also before him refers to God’s abode in heaven, while the parallel expression in his place (Psalm 96:6, in his sanctuary) refers to His temple on earth.

strength and gladness] Psalm 96:6, strength and beauty. The reference seems to be to the strength and gladness (or beauty) which God bestows on Israel (Psalm 68:35; Isaiah 61:3).

in his place] Read with Psalm 96:6, in his sanctuary. Cp. the two preceding notes.

Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
28. of the people] R.V. of the peoples. An expectation that the Gentiles will turn to the worship of the true God is expressed not rarely in the Psalms; cp. Psalm 22:27; Psalm 68:31-32.

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
29. before him] Psalm 96:8, into his courts.

worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness] Render, worship the LORD for the majesty of [his] holiness. God’s beauty (majesty) is His holiness. To translate (as R.V. mg.) in holy array, attributing the beauty of holiness to the worshipper is no doubt wrong; cp. 2 Chronicles 20:21.

Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.
30. Fear] R.V. Tremble.

the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved] In Psalm 96:10 this clause is preceded by the words. Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth, and followed by the words. He shall judge the people righteously.

shall be stable] R.V. is established.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.
31. and let men say] Psalm 96:10, say [ye]. The clause is displaced in Chron.; cp. note on 1 Chronicles 16:30.

The Lord reigneth] i.e. the Lord is claiming His kingdom over the earth by coming to judge the earth; cp. 1 Chronicles 16:33. Contrast Habakkuk 1:14, where the prophet complains that Jehovah is not asserting Himself as ruler of men.

Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein.
Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth.
33. to judge the earth] The joy with which the coming judgement is greeted arises from the fact that the Hebrews regarded a judge as a champion of the oppressed and not as a pedantic interpreter of statutes.

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
34–36 (= Psalm 106:1; Psalm 106:47-48)

34. his mercy endureth for ever] Cp. Exodus 20:6, “shewing mercy unto a thousand generations of them that Jove me” (R.V. mg.).

And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise.
35. gather us together] From this prayer one would judge that Psalms 106 is not Davidic but post-exilic; and such no doubt is the case.

the heathen] R.V. the nations.

that we may give thanks … And glory] R.V. to give thanks … And to triumph (as Psalm 106:47).

Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD.
36. said, Amen, and praised the Lord] Render, said, Amen, and, Praise to the LORD!

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:
37–43. The Service before the Ark and the Service at Gibeon

As Zadok alone is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 16:39 as “before the tabernacle,” Abiathar (Ahimelech) the other highpriest may have been in charge of the ark. Cp. 1 Chronicles 15:11, note.

The Deuteronomic law that there should be one sanctuary only was not yet recognised even by kings of a religious reputation. In 1 Kings 3. Solomon is said to have sacrificed at Gibeon (1 Chronicles 16:4) and before the ark at Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 16:15).

And Obededom with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obededom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be porters:
38. Obed-edom with their brethren] Probably one or more names are missing after Obed-edom. LXX. however has καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ, i.e. and his brethren.

porters] R.V. doorkeepers. See the notes on 1 Chronicles 9:17.

And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon,
39. the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place that was at Gibeon] See prefatory note to ch. 13.

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;
40. the altar of the burnt offering] 2 Chronicles 1:5-6.

morning and evening] Exodus 29:38-39 (= Numbers 28:3-4).

And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever;
41. Jeduthun] Psalms 39, 62, 77 (titles). In 1 Chronicles 6:33-47; 1 Chronicles 15:17; 1 Chronicles 15:19 the names of the leading singers are given as Heman, Asaph and Ethan; in 1 Chronicles 16:41; 1 Chronicles 25:1 ff. however Jeduthun seems to take the place of Ethan. Probably there was a variation in the tradition as to the third name, two families competing each for the honour of its own ancestor.

to give thanks] Cp. 1 Chronicles 16:34.

And with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were porters.
42. and with them etc.] The words with them are probably repeated in error from 1 Chronicles 16:41. Render, And Heman and Jeduthun had trumpets and cymbals. For trumpets cp. 1 Chronicles 15:24 (note).

make a sound, and with musical instruments of God] R.V. sound aloud, and with instruments for the songs of God; 1 Chronicles 23:5; 2 Chronicles 7:6; 2 Chronicles 29:27 (all R.V.).

sons of Jeduthun] Cp. 1 Chronicles 16:38.

were porters] R.V. to be at the gate. David’s organisation of the doorkeepers is given in 1 Chronicles 26:1-19.

And all the people departed every man to his house: and David returned to bless his house.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.

Bible Hub
1 Chronicles 15
Top of Page
Top of Page