4 And he appointed H5414 certain of the Levites H3881 to minister H8334 before H6440 the ark H727 of the LORD, H3068 and to record, H2142 and to thank H3034 and praise H1984 the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel: H3478
5 Asaph H623 the chief, H7218 and next H4932 to him Zechariah, H2148 Jeiel, H3273 and Shemiramoth, H8070 and Jehiel, H3171 and Mattithiah, H4993 and Eliab, H446 and Benaiah, H1141 and Obededom: H5654 and Jeiel H3273 with psalteries H5035 H3627 and with harps; H3658 but Asaph H623 made a sound H8085 with cymbals; H4700
6 Benaiah H1141 also and Jahaziel H3166 the priests H3548 with trumpets H2689 continually H8548 before H6440 the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of God. H430
7 Then on that day H3117 David H1732 delivered H5414 first H7218 this psalm to thank H3034 the LORD H3068 into the hand H3027 of Asaph H623 and his brethren. H251
8 Give thanks H3034 unto the LORD, H3068 call H7121 upon his name, H8034 make known H3045 his deeds H5949 among the people. H5971
9 Sing H7891 unto him, sing psalms H2167 unto him, talk H7878 ye of all his wondrous H6381 works.
10 Glory H1984 ye in his holy H6944 name: H8034 let the heart H3820 of them rejoice H8055 that seek H1245 the LORD. H3068
11 Seek H1875 the LORD H3068 and his strength, H5797 seek H1245 his face H6440 continually. H8548
12 Remember H2142 his marvellous H6381 works that he hath done, H6213 his wonders, H4159 and the judgments H4941 of his mouth; H6310
13 O ye seed H2233 of Israel H3478 his servant, H5650 ye children H1121 of Jacob, H3290 his chosen ones. H972
14 He is the LORD H3068 our God; H430 his judgments H4941 are in all the earth. H776
15 Be ye mindful H2142 always H5769 of his covenant; H1285 the word H1697 which he commanded H6680 to a thousand H505 generations; H1755
16 Even of the covenant which he made H3772 with Abraham, H85 and of his oath H7621 unto Isaac; H3327
17 And hath confirmed H5975 the same to Jacob H3290 for a law, H2706 and to Israel H3478 for an everlasting H5769 covenant, H1285
18 Saying, H559 Unto thee will I give H5414 the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 the lot H2256 of your inheritance; H5159
19 When ye were but few, H4557 H4962 even a few, H4592 and strangers H1481 in it.
20 And when they went H1980 from nation H1471 to nation, H1471 and from one kingdom H4467 to another H312 people; H5971
21 He suffered H3240 no man H376 to do them wrong: H6231 yea, he reproved H3198 kings H4428 for their sakes,
22 Saying, Touch H5060 not mine anointed, H4899 and do my prophets H5030 no harm. H7489
23 Sing H7891 unto the LORD, H3068 all the earth; H776 shew forth H1319 from day H3117 to day H3117 his salvation. H3444
24 Declare H5608 his glory H3519 among the heathen; H1471 his marvellous works H6381 among all nations. H5971
25 For great H1419 is the LORD, H3068 and greatly H3966 to be praised: H1984 he also is to be feared H3372 above all gods. H430
26 For all the gods H430 of the people H5971 are idols: H457 but the LORD H3068 made H6213 the heavens. H8064
27 Glory H1935 and honour H1926 are in his presence; H6440 strength H5797 and gladness H2304 are in his place. H4725
28 Give H3051 unto the LORD, H3068 ye kindreds H4940 of the people, H5971 give H3051 unto the LORD H3068 glory H3519 and strength. H5797
29 Give H3051 unto the LORD H3068 the glory H3519 due unto his name: H8034 bring H5375 an offering, H4503 and come H935 before H6440 him: worship H7812 the LORD H3068 in the beauty H1927 of holiness. H6944
30 Fear H2342 before H6440 him, all the earth: H776 the world H8398 also shall be stable, H3559 that it be not moved. H4131
31 Let the heavens H8064 be glad, H8055 and let the earth H776 rejoice: H1523 and let men say H559 among the nations, H1471 The LORD H3068 reigneth. H4427
32 Let the sea H3220 roar, H7481 and the fulness H4393 thereof: let the fields H7704 rejoice, H5970 and all that is therein.
33 Then shall the trees H6086 of the wood H3293 sing out H7442 at the presence H6440 of the LORD, H3068 because he cometh H935 to judge H8199 the earth. H776
34 O give thanks H3034 unto the LORD; H3068 for he is good; H2896 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769
35 And say H559 ye, Save H3467 us, O God H430 of our salvation, H3468 and gather us together, H6908 and deliver H5337 us from the heathen, H1471 that we may give thanks H3034 to thy holy H6944 name, H8034 and glory H7623 in thy praise. H8416
36 Blessed H1288 be the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 for ever H5769 and ever. H5769 And all the people H5971 said, H559 Amen, H543 and praised H1984 the LORD. H3068
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Chronicles 16
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 16 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 16
1Ch 16:1-6. David's Festival Sacrifice and Liberality to the People.
2. 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 (De 12:7).
3. 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.
4-6. he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord—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 were chosen for the service from the list (1Ch 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 again was 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.
5. Jeiel—the same as Aziel (1Ch 15:20).
6. Benaiah also and Jahaziel—The name of the former is mentioned among the priests (1Ch 15:24), but not the latter. The office assigned to them was that of blowing trumpets at regular intervals before the ark and in the tabernacle.
1Ch 16:7-43. His Psalm of Thanksgiving.
7. 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 (1Ch 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 Ps 96:1-13; 105:1-15; 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. Abounding, as it does, with the liveliest ascriptions of praise to God for the revelation of His glorious character and the display of His marvellous works and containing, as it does, so many pointed allusions to the origin, privileges, and peculiar destiny of the chosen people, it was admirably calculated to animate the devotions and call forth the gratitude of the assembled multitude.
36. all the people said, Amen—(Compare Ps 72:19, 20; 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].
37-42. So he left there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord Asaph and his brethren, &c.—The sequel of the chapter describes the appointment of the sacred musicians and their respective duties.
38. Obed-edom with their brethren—Hosah, mentioned at the close of the verse, and a great number besides (see on 1Ch 26:1).
to be porters—doorkeepers.
39, 40. And Zadok … before the tabernacle … at Gibeon—While the above-mentioned officers under the superintendence of Abiathar, were appointed to officiate in Jerusalem, whither 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.
40. continually morning and evening—as the law enjoined (Ex 29:38; Nu 28:3, 6).
and do according to all that is written in the law—(See Nu 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 Hosah served as doorkeepers, and 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.