1 Chronicles 16
PATseven times between the house of Obed-Edom and the city of David, and let their heart rcjoico -who seek his favour as their chiefest good.
1 Chronicles 16:1
*JO 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 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. The Targum translates it, in the name of the Word of the Lord. Which shews that interpreter took the Word to be Jehovah.
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. These three verses have been explained upon 2 Sam. vi. 17 — 19. (See there.)
1 Chronicles 16:4
And he appointed certain of the Levites. In their courses. To minister before the ark of the Lord, and to record, and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israeli] To declare unto the people, the wonderful works God had done for Israel (for that is to record), and to give him thanks, and to extol his almighty goodness, and all his glorious perfections. As none could sacrifice but the priests of the seed of Aaron; so none could minister in the temple but the Levites: which was unalterably established by the law of God. But it was in the power of their king to assign the priests or Levites several functions in the service of God, as Grotius observes from this place. They were appointed to be singers, with instruments of music, by the prophets, as we are told in 2 Chron. xxix. 25. and David, as a prophet, not as a king, appointed this Divine service, xxiii.2. But the application of persons to their several places is every where ascribed to king David, and afterward to Solomon; and Jehoshaptiat, who was no prophet, ordered the priests and Levites to go and teach the people. So David here appointed who should sing, who should be porters, and discharge other duties. (See De Imper. Sum. Potest, circa Sacra, cap. 10, p. 270. edit. Paris.)]
1 Chronicles 16:5
Asaph the chief. Some of whose Divine composures we have in the book of Psalms. And next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed- Edom: and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps:: but* Asaph made a sound with cymbals.] By whom all the rest were directed to take their several parts in this service.
1 Chronicles 16:6
Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God. At the morning and evening service these priests attended with trumpets, as the Levites did with other musical instruments.
1 Chronicles 16:7
Tlien on that day David delivered first this psalm. Or, as it may be plainly translated out of the Hebrew, Tliis David appointed (or ordained) in the first place at that time; viz. that God should be praised by Asaph and his colleagues in the manner following. Which solemn Service began on the day when he brought up the ark, and ever after was continued. To thank the Lord, into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.] To give him thanks (as Conradus Pellicanus well glosses) for all his benefits he had bestowed on his people Israel, and which he intended to bestow upon all the people of this world by his son Christ. Ver.8. Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among thepeoplei] Out of Psal. xcvi. and cv. which, I suppose, David had made before this time, he now composed one hymn to be daily used in the Divine service: wherein the Divine perfections are admirably set forth, that the people might be excited to his fear, love, and obedience. I have sufficiently explained the sense of every verse in my paraphrase upon the Psalms: but shall here touch upon them again, out of that good and truly great man now mentioned, who thus glosses upon this verse: 0. ye ministers and worshippers of the’ Most Highy celebrate with heart and voice all the benefits you have re-. ceived from him the fountain of all good; and if you suffer any evil, or want any thing, pray to him for relief; and being taught by happy experience how good he is, proclaim it to all the world, and teach them, that all things depend upon his pleasure and order.
1 Chronicles 16:9
Sing tmto him, sing psalms unto him, talk you of all his wondrous works. Praise him with heart and voice; declare his wonderful works, wherein he hath testified his omnipotence, and his wisdom to be faithful.
1 Chronicles 16:10
Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. Look upon this as your highest happiness, and make your boast of it, that he is your God:
1 Chronicles 16:11
Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face contimially. Being sensible of your own weakness, depend upon his power for help: and seek his clemency and mercy with humble prayer on all occasions. The ark is called God’s strength in other places, 2 Chron. vi. 41. Psal.lxxviiL 01. and therefore here they are exhorted to fall down before it and implore his mercy.
1 Chronicles 16:12
Remember his marvellous ivorks that he Jtath done. For the preservation of his people, and the punishment of their enemies. ], His wonders, and the judgments of his mouth] He would have them reflect upon the plagues of Egypt, which came upon them in a wonderful manner, at the command of Moses. Or, perhaps, he means by judgments the laws he gave them at Mount Sinai, (Exod. xxi. 1.)
1 Chronicles 16:13
O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones. This is your duty, as you are the offspring of a most faithful servant of his: O ye posterity of Jacob, whom God hath chosen for his people; not for. youT merits, but out of his free love to one that loved him.
1 Chronicles 16:14
He is the Lord our God; his judgments arein all the earth. The great Lord of all things, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is our God: w r ho rules the ^vyhole world by his providence.
1 Chronicles 16:15
Be ye mindful always of his covenant, the m wqrd that he commanded to a thousand generations. Never forget his most gracious covenant, wherein he promises to be ever propitious to you, if you keep his law. Ver. 1G. Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac] This covenant he made with your fathers, and confirmed it with an oath, that it should never fail.
1 Chronicles 16:17
And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant. And what he. first promised to Abraham, and confirmed to Isaac by a solemn oath, he established to Jacob by an inviolable law, to endure for ever. (See Gen. xvii.l, 2. xxii. 1G, &c. xxvi. 3. xxviii. 13.)
1 Chronicles 16:18
Saying, Unto thee ivill I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance. He gave him an undoubted title to that good land; and afterward put his posterity into actual possession of it
1 Chronicles 16:19
Wlien ye were but few, evenafew,and strangers in it. Remember your former condition, when you were the smallest of all nations, poor and little esteemed; were, strangers in the land, w T hich now you enjoy.
1 Chronicles 16:20
And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people. When, you wandered up and down, from one country to another: having no settled dwelling-place.
1 Chronicles 16:21
lie suffered no man to do them wrong. Though they were in danger to be oppressed by those who had not the fear of God before their eyes, yet they were safe every where under the Divine protection. Yea, he reproved kings for their sakes.] When great princes did but attempt to offer any violence to them, he presently made them feel his hand against them. In Seder Olara llabba they say, that thus far they sung in the morning.
1 Chronicles 16:22
Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets ho harm. So that they durst notso much as touch them, but used them as if they had been kings and lords of the land. " So precious were you in his eyes, as if to do them the least harm had been the crime of treason against the Divine Majesty/’ Grotius thinks they are called God’s anointed, becauso they had in their family jus reginm j and therefore Nicolaus JDamascenus and Justin call, them kings. Kimchi more plainly translates the word anointed,, my great men, or princes: for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were honoured by kings,.Abimelech and Pharaoh, as if they had been anointed kings. Whence the cjiilcjren of Heth say to Abraham, Thou a,rt a prince of God, that is, a great prince, in the midst of us, (Gen. xxiii.G.);St. Jerome thinks, that all the Israelites when they came out of Egypt were called God’s anointed, because, they were under his special protection, by the cloud that covered them; as Cyrus. w r as callqd his anointed, because he was ^chosen by him to a special office, to be the deliverer of his people, and restore them to their own land.
1 Chronicles 16:23
Sing unto the Lord, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation. Let not only the Israelites praise him, but all the people of the earth acknowledge their great Creator; proclaim his promised salvation by Christ, without intermission… Here began, the song between the two evenings (if we may believe the Jews in Seder Olam Rabba) unto those words, (yer.. 3G.) Let all the people say, AmenSs^ y
1 Chronicles 16:24
Declare his glory’ among the heathen; hismarveUoxts works among all nations. Let them spread his fame among all nations, and celebrate every where his astonishing /works. v>i
1 Chronicles 16:25
For. great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: he also. is to be feared above all gods. He is the great Creator of all things, and the Donor of all good, who therefpre cannot be sufficiently magnified and praised: and pone ought to share with him in his w r orship and service. Ver. 2G. For all the gods of the people are idols: but the Lord made the heavens.] For all the gods which the heathen worship are empty names, who can do nothing: it is the Lord God of Israel who made the sun, moon, and stars (w T hich the gentiles worship), and therefore only is to be adored.
1 Chronicles 16:27
And David tvas clothed with a robe of fine linen. Pure white garments were proper (as Grotius here notes) in Divine ministrations. And Kimchi thinks, that the Levites, who bare the ark, and the singers, being thus clothed upon this solemn occasion, David being musical, and bearing his part among them, chose to appear in the very same habit. Just, saith he, as, among Christians, their kings and princes, when they go in procession with the clergy, are clothed like them. And by this, perhaps, may be understood what Michal meant when she found fault with David for uncovering himself: which does not signify that he appeared naked, but put off his royal robes, and put on those that did not belong to him. But it must be confessed, that fine linen was the apparel of kings and great men. And all the Levites that bare the ark, and Chenaniah the master of the song, with the singers.] These were all clothed in fine linen. David also had upon him an ephod of linen.] Which was an honorary, vestment allowed to those who were not Levites, as I have shewn upon 1 Sam. ii. 18. (See my notes there, and upon 2 Sam. vi. 14.) Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.],To him only we ought to ascribe glory, honour, and power: in him alone we ought to confide, to him we ought to cleave, and in his clemency and favour perpetually rejoice. i \
1 Chronicles 16:28
Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.] See upon 2 Sam. vL 15.. Give unto the Lord, ye kindreds of the people, give tinto the. Lord glory and strength.] Let not his worship be confined to the people of Israel, but let all sorts of people, from one end of the world to the other, acknowledge him to be the great God, who governs the whole > world.
1 Chronicles 16:29
Arid it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, that Michal, the daughter of Saul, looking out at a window, saw king David dancing and playing; and she despised him in her heart.] And expressed as much, when he came to his house, in words of great contempt. (See 2 Sam. vi. 1G. 20.) She was a proud woman, and it is likely had no great sense of religion, which urthe reign of Saul (as we read before, xiii. 3.) was much neglected. Give mito the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.] Acknowledge all his glorious attributes, wherein he excels all beings: offer unto him the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; prostrate yourselves before him in the humblest manner, and adore his most holy and gracious majesty.
1 Chronicles 16:30
Fear before him, all the earth. Let all the in- CHAP. XVI.] THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. habitants of the earth tremble before him, and humble themselves unto him. Tlie world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.] For if they humbly submit themselves to his gospel, and implore his grace, he will amend the world, and confirm them in all that is good; and not suffer so many nations to wander in such labyrinths of error.
1 Chronicles 16:31
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigneth. Let all the inhabitants in heaven and earth be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will not only be known in Judea, but most gloriously reign in all nations.
1 Chronicles 16:32
Let th£ sea roar, and the fulness thereof. By the fulness of it, is meant its swelling to the very top of the banks, as Bochartus observes. Let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein.
1 Chronicles 16:33
Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the Lord, because he cometh to judge the earth. These two verses he thus paraphrases, " Let the vast sea, and all that live in the waters triumph; let the dry land, and all the living creatures therein exult for joy: let the trfces, and all the fruit that grows on them, sing to the Lord for his benefits." For the Creator of all comes to restore mankind, and resume them into his favour; for whom all these things acknowledge they were created.
1 Chronicles 16:34
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endurethfor ever. Whatsoever we are or can do, we owe it to his Divine bounty: unto whom we ought to give perpetual thanks, and hope in his mercy for ever.
1 Chronicles 16:35
And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather its together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise. Let all, both Jews and gentiles, say, Save us, O Lord out God, most just, merciful, and powerful: and gather those who now are distant from, and opposite to one another, by variance and hatred, into the unity of faith and charity: that all nations may unanimously give thanks unto thee, and glory in this, that they are always praising thee. Some have imagined that Ezra added these words after they came out of captivity: but David rather uttered them by the spirit of prophecy, concerning the happy union of Jews and gentiles. Ver. 3G. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for ever and ever.] Unto the great Creator and Sovereign of the world, God most blessed for ever, let all men every where never cease to give blessing and praise. And all the people said^ Amen, and praised the Lords] At the end of this hymn (the two last verses of which are the conclusion of Psal. cvi.47, 48.) all the people expressed their desire that God might be for ever praised in this manner, by saying, Amen.‘From whence Vitringa observes the great antiquity of this saCred rite of saying Amen at the conclusion of all our prayers and benedictions: which was continued after the captivity, as we find Nehem. viii. G. And he notes there rules which the Jewish doctors give concerning the pronunciation of this word by the people; first, that it be not pronounced too hastily and swiftly, but with a grave and distinct voice: and then, not louder than the tone of him that blessed: and lastly, it was to be expressed in faith; with a certain persuasion, that God would bless them and hear their prayers. (De Synag. Veteri, lib. iii. par. ii. cap. 18.) Digitizeaby
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. To sing hymns proper to the season.
1 Chronicles 16:38
And Obed-Edom with their brethren, threescore and eight. He was one of the principal singers under Asaph, (ver. 5.) Obed-Edom also the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah,to be porters.] This is another Obed-Edom: who is joined with Jehiah as door-keeper for the ark, xv. 24. But Jehiah, I suppose, was also called Hosah.
1 Chronicles 16:39
And Zadok the priest. He was the second priest, as I have often noted, deputy to the high-priest. And his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the Lord, in the high place that was in Gibeon.] As Asaph and his brethren ministered at Jerusalem; so others were appointed to minister at Gibeon: where the tabernacle of Moses was, and the altar of burnt-offering, ever since the slaughter of the priests by Saul. (See 2 Chron. i. 3.) Here the ordinary worship of God was performed, and therefore the priests attended at this place to offer sacrifice, which the Levites could not do, (ver. 40.) But the extraordinary worship was where the ark was placed, at Jerusalem; where Abiathar the Jiigh-priest attended upon David: that if he had any occasionto consult the Divine Majesty (which could be done only before the ark), h6 might be ready to do it for him. But Zadok, the chief of the secondary priests, always attended at Gibeon.
1 Chronicles 16:40
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.] For this part of the Divine service could be performed no where but there where the altar was, nor by any body but by the priests: and therefore David took care it should be constantly performed here, though he was not present every day at those sacrifices, which were offered for all the people of Israel, wheresoever they were. The priests also took care to trim the lamps, and set the shew-bread on the table, and to do all other things which the law required.
1 Chronicles 16:41
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 endurethfor ever. As Asaph and his brethren took care of the music at Jerusalem, where no sacrifices were offered, but only hymns sung and prayers made; so did Heman and Jeduthun (who were with Zadok) at Gibeon, where they sung and played on instruments when the morning and evening sacrifices were offered.
1 Chronicles 16:42
And tvith them Heman and Jeduthun, with trumpets and cymbals. It should be translated, tvith them (Heman and Jeduthun) there were trumpets and cymbals. For those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of G f od.] All the utensils of the tabernacle and temple were sacred and set apart for that use: not only those of the altar, but even these instruments of music, which David ordained to praise the Lord withal. They were not common, but consecrated to God to be used in his service alone: and therefore called musical instruments of God, both here and in 2 Chron. vii. 6. that is, sacred ones: whence those that sung the song of victory over the beast, Ilev.xv. 2, are said to have in their hands the harps A COMMENTARY UPON [chap. xvit. of God: that is, not profane or common, but sacred harps, tiio harps of the temple, for there they sung their anthem, as Mr. Medo observes, book i. discourse 2. And the sons ofJeduthan were porters.] To the tabernacle, as others of them were to the ark, (ver. 38.)
1 Chronicles 16:43
And all the people departed, every man to his house; and David returned to bless his house. See 2 Sam. vi.19, 20.