Bible Commentaries

1 Chronicles 16:1 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.

Ver. l. And they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings] Those pointed them to Christ, freeing them from their sins, both from the crime and from the curse: these taught them thankfulness for Christ, and all benefits in and by him.

1 Chronicles 16:2 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.

Ver. 2. In the name of the Lord,] i.e., From Jehovah, the fountain and bestower of all good. Or, By the name of the Lord; i.e., by naming the Lord, the proper object of prayers and praises.

1 Chronicles 16:3 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].

Ver. 3. And he dealt to every one of Israel.] Clemency and liberality are kingly virtues. See 2 Samuel 6:19.

A good piece of flesh.] Of roast beef, as some gather from the notation of the word here used.

1 Chronicles 16:4 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:

Ver. 4. And to record.] Or, To declare and publish.

And to thank and praise.] God is good, and so is the object of praise. He also doeth good, and so is the object of thanks.

1 Chronicles 16:5 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;

Ver. 5. Asaph the chief.] Yet in other places Heman is set before him. [1 Chronicles 6:33; 1 Chronicles 6:39; 1 Chronicles 15:16-17]

1 Chronicles 16:6 Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.

Ver. 6. Continually.] That is, Constantly at set hours.

1 Chronicles 16:7 Then on that day David delivered first [this psalm] to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.

Ver. 7. David delivered.] David, "the sweet psalmist of Israel." [2 Samuel 23:1]

1 Chronicles 16:8 Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.

Ver. 8. Call upon his name.] This psalm was sung in times of any great joy, as may be gathered from Isaiah 12:4.

1 Chronicles 16:9 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.

Ver. 9-11], {See Trapp on "Psalms 105:1"} {See Trapp on "Psalms 105:2"} {See Trapp on "Psalms 105:3"} &c.

1 Chronicles 16:23 Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.

Ver. 23. Sing unto the Lord.] See Psalms 96:1, &c {See Trapp on "Psalms 96:1"} &c

1 Chronicles 16:34 O give thanks unto the LORD for [he is] good; for his mercy [endureth] for ever.

Ver. 34. O give thanks to the Lord.] See on Psalms 107:1.

1 Chronicles 16:35 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.

Ver. 35. Save us, O God of our salvation.] Pitch upon fit attributes in prayer: this will both strengthen faith and excite affection.

That we may give thanks.] Which we both pray that we may, and promise that we will do.

1 Chronicles 16:37 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:

Ver. 37. As every day’s work required.] Or, To do every day what he did on one day: for we must continue thankful.

1 Chronicles 16:38 And Obededom with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obededom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah [to be] porters:

Ver. 38. And Obededom.] That is, Obededom and Hosan.

1 Chronicles 16:39 And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that [was] at Gibeon,

Ver. 39. That was at Gibeon.] For hither was the tabernacle brought, after that brutish slaughter of the priests by Saul at Nob. [1 Samuel 22:11-19]

1 Chronicles 16:43 And all the people departed every man to his house: and David returned to bless his house.

Ver. 43. And David returned to bless his house.] See on 2 Samuel 6:20.