Bible Commentaries

1 CHRONICLES CHAPTER 16

David’s festival sacrifice and alms. The psalm of thanksgiving sung by a choir, and the people said, Amen, 1 Chronicles 16:1-36. Ministers, porters, priests, and musicians appointed to attend the ark continually, 1 Chronicles 16:37-43.

Of these three first verses, See Poole "2 Samuel 6:17", &c.

David delivered first this psalm; whereby it is implied, that after this he delivered many other psalms successively into their hands, to be sung by them to the praise of God in his public service. See 2 Samuel 23:1 2 Chronicles 29:30. As for the matter of this psalm, I shall defer the explication of it till I come to the Book of Psalms, where we shall find it in the same words, in Psa 96 Psa 105.

Deliver us from the heathen: this might seem an improper and unseasonable prayer for David’s time, when the Israelites were not yet scattered amongst the heathen, but indeed it was not so; partly because they had already been sadly divided by a civil war among themselves; and though they were now externally and visibly united under David, yet he might justly think that there were some who yet retained in their hearts their old leaven, their hatred of him, and their affection to Saul, which might hereafter break forth when occasion was offered, as it did, 2 Samuel 16:8; and therefore he justly prays that they may be gathered and united together in hearty love, as well as in outward show: and partly because this psalm or prayer was made by David for the use of the church, not only in that present time, but in future ages, in which David foresaw by the Spirit of prophecy, or by consideration of those ancient and sacred predictions, Deu 31, Deu 32, that the Israelites would one time or other forsake God, and for their apostacy be dispersed among the heathens, when they should have great and particular need of this prayer.

i.e. He appointed them their work and station there.

Or, door-keepers, as the same Hebrew word is rendered, 1 Chronicles 15:23,24; of which see the note on 1 Chronicles 15:23.

Zadok the priest; not the high priest, but the second and the chief priest at Gibeon, where the famous tabernacle and altar made by Moses still were, 1 Chronicles 21:29 2 Chronicles 1:3; where also the ordinary sacrifices were offered, and the stated and public worship of God was performed, as it here follows, for which the priests were placed there; as the extraordinary worship was before the ark upon great occasions, as when God was consulted, which was to be done before the ark and by the high priest, Exodus 28:12,20,21,22, who now was Abiathar; who therefore abode here with the ark, when Zadok was left at Gibeon.

Who were expressed by name; so exceeding careful was this good king of God’s worship, that he would have no person employed in it but such as he appointed to it, and were meant for it.

Musical instruments of God, i.e. appointed and appropriated to the worship and honour of God.