וַיָּבִיאוּ אֶת־אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים וַיַּצִּיגוּ אֹתוֹ בְּתוֹךְ הָאֹהֶל אֲשֶׁר נָטָה־לוֹ דָּוִיד וַיַּקְרִיבוּ עֹלוֹת וּשְׁלָמִים לִפְנֵי   16:1

 הָאֱלֹהִים׃

1Chr. 16:1   And they brought in the ark of God and placed it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it, and they brought burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.

The first three verses in this chapter are also found in 2Samuel Chapter 6 (2Sam 6:17-19), and some of the chant of praise (vss. 8 to 36 below) are to be found in Psal. 105, but the remainder of the chapter is original.

וַיְכַל דָּוִיד מֵהַעֲלוֹת הָעֹלָה וְהַשְּׁלָמִים וַיְבָרֶךְ אֶת־הָעָם בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה׃   16:2

1Chr. 16:2   When David made an end of the offering of burnt offering and peace offerings, then he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.

וַיְחַלֵּק לְכָל־אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאִישׁ וְעַד־אִשָּׁה לְאִישׁ כִּכַּר־לֶחֶם וְאֶשְׁפָּר וַאֲשִׁישָׁה׃   16:3

1Chr. 16:3   And he distributed to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to each a loaf of bread and a portion of meat and a sweet cake.

וַיִּתֵּן לִפְנֵי אֲרוֹן יְהוָה מִן־הַלְוִיִּם מְשָׁרְתִים וּלְהַזְכִּיר וּלְהוֹדוֹת וּלְהַלֵּל לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃   16:4

1Chr. 16:4   And he set some of the Levites before the ark of the Lord to be ministers and to remember and to give thanks and to give praise to the Lord, God of Israel.

אָסָף הָרֹאשׁ וּמִשְׁנֵהוּ זְכַרְיָה יְעִיאֵל וּשְׁמִירָמוֹת וִיחִיאֵל וּמַתִּתְיָה וֶאֱלִיאָב וּבְנָיָהוּ וְעֹבֵד אֱדֹם וִיעִיאֵל   16:5

 בִּכְלֵי נְבָלִים וּבְכִנֹּרוֹת וְאָסָף בַּמְצִלְתַּיִם מַשְׁמִיעַ׃

1Chr. 16:5   Asaph was the head, and Zechariah was second to him.  Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-edom and Jeiel were on instruments of skins and on harps, and Asaph was sounding aloud on cymbals,

You may remember that some of the psalms are credited to Asaph, the Levite.

וּבְנָיָהוּ וְיַחֲזִיאֵל הַכֹּהֲנִים בַּחֲצֹצְרוֹת תָּמִיד לִפְנֵי אֲרוֹן בְּרִית־הָאֱלֹהִים׃   16:6

1Chr. 16:6   and Benaiah and Jahaziel, the priests, were on trumpets, continually before the ark of the covenant of God.

בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא אָז נָתַן דָּוִיד בָּרֹאשׁ לְהֹדוֹת לַיהוָה בְּיַד־אָסָף וְאֶחָיו׃   16:7

1Chr. 16:7   On that day David then committed to first give thanks to the Lord by the hand of Asaph and his brethren.

הוֹדוּ לַיהוָה קִרְאוּ בִשְׁמוֹ הוֹדִיעוּ בָעַמִּים עֲלִילֹתָיו׃   16:8

1Chr. 16:8   “Give thanks to the Lord!

                                Call upon His name! 

                       Make known His works among the peoples!”

This verse is the first in the song of praise to the Lord.  But we will learn later in this chapter (in two verses) that this song is not only of praise, but also of prophesy.

שִׁירוּ לוֹ זַמְּרוּ־לוֹ שִׂיחוּ בְּכָל־נִפְלְאֹתָיו׃   16:9

1Chr. 16:9   “Sing to Him,

                                sing praise to Him!

                      Speak about all His marvels!”

הִתְהַלְלוּ בְּשֵׁם קָדְשׁוֹ יִשְׂמַח לֵב מְבַקְשֵׁי יְהוָה׃   16:10

1Chr. 16:10   “Glory in the name of His holiness!

                                 Let the heart of those who ask of the Lord be glad.”

דִּרְשׁוּ יְהוָה וְעֻזּוֹ בַּקְּשׁוּ פָנָיו תָּמִיד׃   16:11

1Chr. 16:11   “Resort to the Lord and His strength!

                                 Always seek His ‘face!’”

זִכְרוּ נִפְלְאֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה מֹפְתָיו וּמִשְׁפְּטֵי־פִיהוּ׃   16:12

1Chr. 16:12   “Remember His marvels that He does,

                                 His wonders, and the judgments of His ‘mouth.’”

זֶרַע יִשְׂרָאֵל עַבְדּוֹ בְּנֵי יַעֲקֹב בְּחִירָיו׃   16:13

1Chr. 16:13   “The seed of Israel is His servant;

                                 the children of Jacob, His chosen ones.”

הוּא יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ בְּכָל־הָאָרֶץ מִשְׁפָּטָיו׃   16:14

1Chr. 16:14   “He is the Lord, our God;

                                 His judgments are throughout all the earth.”

זִכְרוּ לְעוֹלָם בְּרִיתוֹ דָּבָר צִוָּה לְאֶלֶף דּוֹר׃   16:15

1Chr. 16:15   “Remember His covenant forever,

                                 the word He commanded to the thousandth generation,

אֲשֶׁר כָּרַת אֶת־אַבְרָהָם וּשְׁבוּעָתוֹ לְיִצְחָק׃   16:16

1Chr. 16:16   which He made with Abraham,

                                 and His oath to Isaac.”

וַיַּעֲמִידֶהָ לְיַעֲקֹב לְחֹק לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּרִית עוֹלָם׃   16:17

1Chr. 16:17   “And He established it to Jacob as a statute,

                                 an everlasting covenant to Israel,

Notice the interesting progression of interactions described between God and the patriarchs.  He made a covenant with Abraham, swore an oath to Isaac, established a statute with Jacob, and made an everlasting covenant with Israel, the essence of which is contained in the next verse.

לֵאמֹר לְךָ אֶתֵּן אֶרֶץ־כְּנָעַן חֶבֶל נַחֲלַתְכֶם׃   16:18

1Chr. 16:18   saying, ‘To you will I give the land of Canaan,

                                 the region of your inheritance.’”

בִּהְיוֹתְכֶם מְתֵי מִסְפָּר כִּמְעַט וְגָרִים בָּהּ׃   16:19

1Chr. 16:19   “With your having been almost too few in number,

                                 and sojourners in it,

וַיִּתְהַלְּכוּ מִגּוֹי אֶל־גּוֹי וּמִמַּמְלָכָה אֶל־עַם אַחֵר׃   16:20

1Chr. 16:20   as they went about from nation to nation,

                                 and from one kingdom to another people.”

This verse is the first of the two prophetic verses.  It relates to a time during and after the Babylonian exile.

לֹא־הִנִּיחַ לְאִישׁ לְעָשְׁקָם וַיּוֹכַח עֲלֵיהֶם מְלָכִים׃   16:21

1Chr. 16:21   “He gave no permission to man to oppress them,

                                 and rebuked kings on their behalf:

אַל־תִּגְּעוּ בִּמְשִׁיחָי וּבִנְבִיאַי אַל־תָּרֵעוּ׃   16:22

1Chr. 16:22   ’You may not strike at My anointed

                                 or do evil to My prophets.’”

שִׁירוּ לַיהוָה כָּל־הָאָרֶץ בַּשְּׂרוּ מִיּוֹם־אֶל־יוֹם יְשׁוּעָתוֹ׃   16:23

1Chr. 16:23   “Sing to the Lord, all of the earth!

                                 Preach of His salvation from day to day.”

סַפְּרוּ בַגּוֹיִם אֶת־כְּבוֹדוֹ בְּכָל־הָעַמִּים נִפְלְאֹתָיו׃   16:24

1Chr. 16:24   “Declare His glory in the nations,

                                 His marvels among all the peoples.”

כִּי גָדוֹל יְהוָה וּמְהֻלָּל מְאֹד וְנוֹרָא הוּא עַל־כָּל־אֱלֹהִים׃   16:25

1Chr. 16:25   “For the Lord is great,

                                 and exceedingly praiseworthy,

                         and He is awesome above all gods.”

כִּי כָּל־אֱלֹהֵי הָעַמִּים אֱלִילִים וַיהוָה שָׁמַיִם עָשָׂה׃   16:26

1Chr. 16:26   “For all the gods of the peoples are worthless,

                                 but the Lord made heaven.”

הוֹד וְהָדָר לְפָנָיו עֹז וְחֶדְוָה בִּמְקֹמוֹ׃   16:27

1Chr. 16:27   “Splendor and glory are in His presence,

                                 strength and joy in His place.”

הָבוּ לַיהוָה מִשְׁפְּחוֹת עַמִּים הָבוּ לַיהוָה כָּבוֹד וָעֹז׃   16:28

1Chr. 16:28   “Ascribe to the Lord, families of peoples!

                                 Ascribe to the Lord honor and might.”

הָבוּ לַיהוָה כְּבוֹד שְׁמוֹ שְׂאוּ מִנְחָה וּבֹאוּ לְפָנָיו הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַיהוָה בְּהַדְרַת־קֹדֶשׁ׃   16:29

1Chr. 16:29   “Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name,

                                 lift up an offering and come before Him,

                         bow down to the Lord in holy adornment.”

Now here we have a plug for getting dressed up when coming before the Lord.  We are to bow down to Him in holy adornment.  To me that means we should have special clothing that is worn only for a synagogue service, so that it remains holy.  This also implies much more about these clothes:  At least one complete outfit including underwear, socks, and shoes, no mixed threads, their laundering is to be done by a special cleaner in a special place, they are to be stored in a separate place, and we must wash our bodies before dressing in them.  Of course, it could be just a linen tunic, as was worn by David.  However, it has to include underwear, socks, and shoes.  Well!  How about that?!

חִילוּ מִלְּפָנָיו כָּל־הָאָרֶץ אַף־תִּכּוֹן תֵּבֵל בַּל־תִּמּוֹט׃   16:30

1Chr. 16:30   “Tremble being in front of Him, all of the earth!

                                 The world is indeed established,

                          it cannot be moved.”

יִשְׂמְחוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְתָגֵל הָאָרֶץ וְיֹאמְרוּ בַגּוֹיִם יְהוָה מָלָךְ׃   16:31

1Chr. 16:31   “Let the heavens be glad,

                                 as the earth rejoices,

                         and they say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns.’”

יִרְעַם הַיָּם וּמְלוֹאוֹ יַעֲלֹץ הַשָּׂדֶה וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־בּוֹ׃   16:32

1Chr. 16:32   “Let the sea thunder, and its fullness!

                                 Let the field exult, and everything that is in it!”

אָז יְרַנְּנוּ עֲצֵי הַיָּעַר מִלִּפְנֵי יְהוָה כִּי־בָא לִשְׁפּוֹט אֶת־הָאָרֶץ׃   16:33

1Chr. 16:33   “Let the trees of the forest then shout for joy

                                 being in the presence of the Lord,

                         for He is coming to judge the earth.”

הוֹדוּ לַיהוָה כִּי טוֹב כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ׃   16:34

1Chr. 16:34   “Give thanks to the Lord,

                                 for He is good,

                         for His mercy is everlasting.”

וְאִמְרוּ הוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעֵנוּ וְקַבְּצֵנוּ וְהַצִּילֵנוּ מִן־הַגּוֹיִם לְהֹדוֹת לְשֵׁם קָדְשֶׁךָ לְהִשְׁתַּבֵּחַ בִּתְהִלָּתֶךָ׃   16:35

1Chr. 16:35   “And say, ‘Save us, God of our salvation,

                                 and gather us together and deliver us from the nations

                         to give thanks to Your holy name,

                                 to laud with Your song of adoration.’”

This is the second prophetic verse, also indicating a later time, that of during or after the Babylonian exile.

בָּרוּךְ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן־הָעוֹלָם וְעַד הָעֹלָם וַיֹּאמְרוּ כָל־הָעָם אָמֵן וְהַלֵּל לַיהוָה׃   16:36

1Chr. 16:36   “Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel,

                                 from everlasting and to everlasting.”

Then all the people said, “Amen,” and, “Praise to the Lord!”

וַיַּעֲזָב־שָׁם לִפְנֵי אֲרוֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָה לְאָסָף וּלְאֶחָיו לְשָׁרֵת לִפְנֵי הָאָרוֹן תָּמִיד לִדְבַר־יוֹם בְּיוֹמוֹ׃   16:37

1Chr. 16:37   And it was left there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to Asaph and to his brethren to minister before the ark continually, according to the daily word in its day.

Now I wonder what the last part of this verse means: “ ..., according to the daily word in its day.”  All the popular bibles, but one, Young’s Literal Translation, provide something akin to “as every day’s work required,” a poor translation.  Young’s comes close to mine with “... according to the matter of a day in its day.”  This latter is a valid translation, but it says less than my translation says.  What is a matter of a day?  Is it different from day to day?  I suspect it means something that has been long forgotten.  Or maybe it tells us something of which we have probably been unaware.  That the scriptures were read (aloud?) daily by the Levites in the holy place(s).

וְעֹבֵד אֱדֹם וַאֲחֵיהֶם שִׁשִּׁים וּשְׁמוֹנָה וְעֹבֵד אֱדֹם בֶּן־יְדִיתוּן וְחֹסָה לְשֹׁעֲרִים׃   16:38

1Chr. 16:38   And Obed-edom and their brethren were sixty-eight, and Obed-edom son of Jedithun and Hosah were to the gates.

וְאֵת צָדוֹק הַכֹּהֵן וְאֶחָיו הַכֹּהֲנִים לִפְנֵי מִשְׁכַּן יְהוָה בַּבָּמָה אֲשֶׁר בְּגִבְעוֹן׃   16:39

1Chr. 16:39   And with Zadok, the priest, and his brethren, the priests were before the Tabernacle of the Lord at the high place that is in Gibeon,

לְהַעֲלוֹת עֹלוֹת לַיהוָה עַל־מִזְבַּח הָעֹלָה תָּמִיד לַבֹּקֶר וְלָעָרֶב וּלְכָל־הַכָּתוּב בְּתוֹרַת יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה   16:40

 עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

1Chr. 16:40   bringing up burnt offerings to the Lord upon the altar, burnt-offering continually for the morning and for the evening and according to all the writing in the Torah of the Lord that He had commanded concerning Israel.

According to v. 39 one would think that the ark was at that time placed in the Tabernacle, which was in Gibeon.  This “fact” seems to be corroborated later in Chapter 21.  The reality, however, seems to be that the ark was in the city of David, not in the Tabernacle in Gibeon.  The city of Gibeon was one of the cities given to the priests (see Josh. 21:17).  So I have to conclude that the Levites were charged by David with the sacrifices and everyday activities in the tent he had put up for housing the ark, and the priests were charged by David to attend in the Tabernacle in one of their own cities.

וְעִמָּהֶם הֵימָן וִידוּתוּן וּשְׁאָר הַבְּרוּרִים אֲשֶׁר נִקְּבוּ בְּשֵׁמוֹת לְהֹדוֹת לַיהוָה כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ׃   16:41

1Chr. 16:41   And with them were Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen who were appointed by name, to give thanks to the Lord because His mercy is forever.

וְעִמָּהֶם הֵימָן וִידוּתוּן חֲצֹצְרוֹת וּמְצִלְתַּיִם לְמַשְׁמִיעִים וּכְלֵי שִׁיר הָאֱלֹהִים וּבְנֵי יְדוּתוּן לַשָּׁעַר׃   16:42

1Chr. 16:42   And with them -- Heman and Jeduthun -- were trumpets and cymbals sounding aloud and instruments of the song of God.  And the sons of Jeduthun were in the gate.

וַיֵּלְכוּ כָל־הָעָם אִישׁ לְבֵיתוֹ וַיִּסֹּב דָּוִיד לְבָרֵךְ אֶת־בֵּיתוֹ׃   16:43

1Chr. 16:43   And all the people went, each to his house, and David returned to bless his house.

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