Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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:
4 6 (cp. 1Ch 16:37-38). David’s Arrangements for Ministration before the Ark
4. to record ] R.V. to celebrate. The literal meaning is to call to mind; cp. 1Ch 16:12 ( remember). Cp. Psalms 38, 70 (titles).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
This passage is interposed by the writer of Chronicles between two sentences of the parallel passage in Samuel. It contains a detailed account of the service which David instituted at this time, a service out of which grew the more elaborate service of the temple. The language of much of the passage is remarkably archaic, and there can be no reasonable doubt that it is in the main an extract from a record of the time of David.
1Ch 16:5
The occurrence of the name Jeiel twice in this list is considered suspicious. Hence, the first Jeiel is thought to be a corrupt reading for Aziel 1Ch 15:20, or Jaaziel 1Ch 15:18.
1Ch 16:8
The Psalm here put before us by the Chronicler, as sung liturgically by Asaph and his brethren on the day of the arks entrance into Jerusalem, accords closely with the passages in the present Book of Psalms noted in the marg reff.
It is, apparently, a thanksgiving service composed for the occasion out of Psalms previously existing.
1Ch 16:39
This is the first mention that we have of Gibeon as the place at which the tabernacle of the congregation now rested. Previously it had been at Nob 1Sa 21:1-6, from where it was removed probably at the time of the slaughter of the priests by Doeg 1Sa 22:18-19. It is uncertain whether Gibeon was regarded as a high place before the transfer to it of the tabernacle: hut thenceforth, until the completion of Solomons Temple, it was the great high place 1Ki 3:4 – a second center of the national worship which for above 50 years was divided between Gibeon and Jerusalem.
1Ch 16:40
Upon the altar of the burnt offering – The original altar of burnt-offering Exo 27:1-8 continued at Gibeon with the tabernacle 2Ch 1:3, 2Ch 1:5. David must have erected a new altar for sacrifice at Jerusalem 1Ch 16:1. The sacrifices commanded by the Law were, it appears, offered at the former place; at the latter were offered voluntary additional sacrifices.
1Ch 16:41
The rest … – Rather, the rest of the chosen ones, who were mentioned by name. The chosen ones were mentioned by name in 1Ch 15:17-24. A portion of them, namely, those named in 1Ch 16:5-6, conducted the service in Jerusalem; the remainder were employed in the worship at Gibeon.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
1Ch 16:4-7
And to record.
The recorders
These recorders were to take notes of what God had done; they were to be the chroniclers of the nation, and out of their chronicles they were to compose the psalms and songs. The original of the word record bears another meaning–to bring to remembrance. We gather–
I. That if recorders were appointed, there is some fault in our memory towards the Lord.
1. Memory has been prejudiced by the fall.
2. Memory towards Gods mercy has been very much impaired by neglect.
3. Memory touching Gods mercy is often overloaded with other things. I think Aristotle used to call memory the stomach of the soul, in which it retains and digests what it gathers; but men cram it full of everything that it does not want–upon which the soul cannot feed, and thus they ruin it for remembering the best things.
4. Memory has also suffered from its connection with the other faculties.
(1) Darkened understandings.
(2) Perverted affections.
5. Our memory of Gods goodness is often crushed down by a sense of present pain.
II. That we ought to do all we can to assist our memories towards God.
1. It is a good thing to make an actual record of Gods mercy.
2. Be sure to praise God thoroughly at the time you receive His goodness.
3. Set apart a little time for meditation.
4. Often rehearse His mercy in the ears of others.
5. Use everything about you as a memento.
III. We have all had mercies to remember.
1. Common mercies.
2. Special providence.
3. The long-suffering of God.
IV. That all our memories should tend to make us praise and bless God. Rowland Hill used to say that worldlings were like the hogs under the oak, which eat the acorns, but never think of the oak from which they fall, nor lift up their heads to grunt out a thanksgiving. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
And Jeiel with psalteries and with harps.—
The meaning of song
The meaning of song goes deep. Who is there that in logical words can express the effect that music has on us? A kind of inarticulate, unfathomable speech, which leads us to the edge of the infinite, and lets us for moments gaze into that. (T. Carlyle.)
Musical talent dedicated to God
Jenny Lind believed that her art was the gift of God, and to be dedicated to His service. I have always put Him first, said she, in her last illness. (Church Worker.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
4-6. he appointed certain of theLevites to minister before the ark of the LordNo sooner wasthe ark deposited in its tent than the Levites, who were to officiatein the choirs before it, entered upon their duties. A select numberof the musicians were chosen for the service from the list (1Ch15:19-21) of those who had taken a prominent part in the recentprocession. 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 andObed-edom, forming the second company, used harps and similarinstruments.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord,…. By singing the praises of God:
and to record; or bring to remembrance; to commemorate in a song the great and good things God had done for Israel as a people:
and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel; for all his benefits, and the blessings of his goodness bestowed on them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
When the solemnity of the transfer of the ark, the sacrificial meal, and the dismissal of the people with a blessing, and a distribution of food, were ended, David set in order the service of the Levites in the holy tent on Zion. He appointed before the ark, from among the Levites, servants to praise and celebrate God, i.e., singers and players to sing psalms as a part of the regular worship. , literally, “in order to bring into remembrance,” is not to praise in general, but is to be interpreted according to the in the superscription of Ps 38 and Psa 70:1-5, by which these psalms are designated as the appointed prayers at the presentation of the Azcarah of the meat-offering (Lev 2:2). accordingly is a denom. from , to present the Azcarah (cf. Del. on Psa 38:1), and is in our verse to be understood of the recital of these prayer-songs with musical accompaniment. , to confess, refers to the psalms in which invocation and acknowledgment of the name of the Lord predominates, and to those in which praise (Hallelujah) is the prominent feature. In 1Ch 16:5 and 1Ch 16:6 there follow the names of the Levites appointed for this purpose, who have all been already mentioned in 1Ch 15:19-21 as accompanying the ark in its transmission; but all who are there spoken of are not included in our list here. Of the chief singers only Asaph is mentioned, Heman and Ethan being omitted; of the singers and players of the second rank, only nine; six of the eight nebel-players (1Ch 15:20. is a transcriber’s error for , 1Ch 15:18), and only three of the six kinnor-players; while instead of seven trumpet-blowing priests only two are named, viz., Benaiah, one of those seven, and Jehaziel, whose name does not occur in 1Ch 15:24.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Ministering Levites, 1Ch 16:4-6
Not only did David re-institute regular worship by his removal of the ark to Jerusalem, but he also introduced some innovations. Previously the Levites seem to have not performed their duties well. They had doubtless become so numerous that there were not enough of the old Levitical tasks to go around. David now gave them new responsibilities. While some continued to minister before the ark, others were appointed to record, or tcncommemorate, thank and praise the God of Israel.
Eight of the chief Levites are named here. Of them Asaph and Obed-edom were the most prominent. Asaph was chief musician, and many of the psalms are ascribed to him. His sons succeeded him in that capacity for many generations (see Ezr 2:41; Neh 7:44 etc.).Obed-edom’s house sheltered the ark for three months (1Ch 13:14). His sons became doorkeepers to guard the sanctity of the temple in later generations.
Jeiel had charge of the psalteries and harps in the orchestra, Asaph sounded the cymbals, and Benaiah and Jahaziel blew the trumpets. The psaltery was similar to the harp. Illustrations show it to have been a triangular stringed instrument, while the harp was curved.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(4) And he appointed certain of the Levites.Literally, put, placed (Gen. 3:12).
To minister.Literally, ministeringi.e., as ministers. The object of the appointment is defined by the words which follow: both to remind, and to thank, and to praise Jehovah, the God of Israel. Each verb expresses a distinct kind of duty in the service of song.
To record is the technical term for chanting the psalms which accompanied the sacrificial burning of the Azkrh, that is, the part of the meat offering that was presented on the altar (Lev. 2:2). (Comp. the use of the cognate verb in the titles of Psalms 38, 70)
To thank was to perform psalms of invocation, and confession of benefits received.
To praise was to sing and play hymns of hallelujah such as Psalms 146-150.
These Levites were to minister thus before the Ark in the sacred tent of Mount Zion.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
(4-42) THE INSTITUTION OF A MINISTRY FOR THE ARK. THE ODE SUNG ON THE DAY OF INSTITUTION.
This entire section is peculiar to the Chronicle. 1Ch. 16:43 is almost identical with 2Sa. 6:19-20. Compared, then, with the older text, this relation of the chroniclers looks like a parenthesis interpolated from another source into the history, as narrated in 2Sa. 6:12-20.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. To record, and to thank and praise The verb rendered to record is the same as that in the titles of Psalms 38, 70, where it is rendered to bring to remembrance. The contents of those psalms are a memorial to God of the penitence, sufferings, and dangers of a tempted soul. So, along with thanksgiving and praise, the Levites were also to memorialize Jehovah of Israel’s needs and sorrows by the use of such penitential psalms.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Probably, in consequence of the breach of Uzzah, the king thought it right that the Levites should never more be out of the path of duty, and therefore made a revisal of their office.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Ch 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.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
to record. Compare titles of Psa 38 (Psa 38:1) and 70 (Psa 70:1)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
1Ch 16:4-6
1Ch 16:4-6
LEVITES APPOINTED TO MINISTER BEFORE THE ARK
“And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of Jehovah, the God of Israel: Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth. and Jehlel, and Mattithai, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with psalteries, and with harps; and Asaph with cymbals, sounding aloud; and Benaiah and Jahazlel the priests with trumpets continually, before the ark of the covenant of God.”
It is not altogether clear just exactly what some of these appointments included; but, of course, the persons receiving these appointments and instructions understood them and carried out their duties as instructed. It is very significant that David was diligent to set up all of these provisions for establishing on a permanent basis the worship of God in Jerusalem.
E.M. Zerr:
1Ch 16:4. David again showed his interest in a systematic method by making specific appointments among his men. Record does not mean to put something in writing. It is from ZAKAR and Strong’s definition is, “to mark (so as to be recognized), i. e. to remember; by implication to mention.” The thought of the verse is concerning gratitude due God for his many favors. These men were to serve continually near the ark, to be praising the Lord, to keep before the minds of the people the wonderful works of God. The principle is similar to that of Peter who would “stir up” the minds by way of “remembrance.” (2Pe 3:1.)
1Ch 16:5. These men are mentioned in the preceding chapter, among those who went to bring the ark to Jerusalem. The cymbals were not musical instruments in the strict sense of the word. They were used for about the same purpose as the drums of modern times, and intended to give emphasis to the other instruments, and to indicate the beats.
1Ch 16:6. The trumpets differed from other musical instruments in that they were wind instruments. However, they were not made with valves as are cornets today. They were made of the horns of rams, or of metal in the shape of horns, and the tone was the result of the lip movement in blowing into the cavity of the instrument.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
6. The Great Thanksgiving Psalm
CHAPTER 16:4-43
1. Davids appointment (1Ch 16:4-6)
2. The Psalm of praise and thanksgiving (1Ch 16:7-36)
3. The Levites and the public worship (1Ch 16:37-43)
A great thanksgiving Psalm was then delivered by David into the hand of Asaph and his brethren. The view of modern critics, that this Psalm is post-exilic, does not call for any refutation, for the text declares that David himself delivered the hymn to Asaph. The Psalm is made up of portions of different Psalms. See Psalm 105:1-15; 96:1-13; 106:47-48; 107:1; 136. A careful study will show the far reaching meaning of this composite Psalm. It is a great prophecy. It begins with the celebration and praise of what Jehovah has done. Israel is called to remember His covenant. It is not the covenant at Sinai, with its conditional promises, but the unconditional, the grace-covenant, made with Abraham, an everlasting covenant that his seed is to have the land. But prophetically the Psalm points to the time when His judgments are in all the earth; it is at that time when the covenant made with Abraham will be remembered. Such a time will come according to the prophetic Word. Verse 22, Touch not Mine anointed, and do My prophets no harm, speaks of Israels preservation; for Israel is His anointed, a kingdom of kings and priests. The day must come when the covenant made with Abraham will be realized and when Israel shall possess the land, after their wanderings from nation to nation (verse 20). Then there will be a throne in Zion and a King shall reign in righteousness, even Christ (Psalm 2).
Then Psalm 96 is quoted. It is a Psalm which looks forward to the kingdom on earth, when the nations acknowledge Jehovah and bow in His presence. The blessed age of glory, of which the prophets have so much to say, the unreached goal of the glorious future of the earth, the millennium, is pictured in this Psalm.
Fear before Him, all the earth
The World is established, it cannot be moved,
Let the heavens be glad,
And let the earth rejoice.
And let them say among the nations,
The LORD reigneth.
Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof,
Let the fields rejoice and all there is therein;
Then shall the trees of the wood sing out,
At the Presence of the LORD,
Because He cometh to judge the earth.
The praise of Israel concludes the thanksgiving Psalm. We repeat, it is prophetic. It looks onward to the time when the Lord will deliver His people, when the promises made to the fathers will all be fulfilled, when the nations of the earth will know the Lord and when He will reign over all. Such is Israels future. When He has been merciful to His land and to His people, the nations will rejoice (Deu 32:43).
At the close of this chapter we notice how King David regulates everything that was to be done before the ark.
The placing of the ark in the capital of Israel, thus making it the city of God, was an event not only of deep national, but of such typical importance, that it is frequently referred to in the sacred songs of the sanctuary. No one will have any difficulty in recognizing Psalm 24 as the hymn composed for this occasion. But other Psalms also refer to it, amongst which, without entering on details that may be profitably studied by each reader, we may mention Psalms 15, 68, 78, and especially Psalm 101, as indicating, so to speak, the moral bearing of the nearness of Gods ark upon the king and his kingdom.
Faith, apprehending the counsels and the work of God, could see in the establishment of the ark in Zion, the progress of Gods power and intervention towards the peaceful and glorious reign of the Son of David. The sure mercies of David were as bright to the eye of faith as the dawn of day, in that the ark of the covenant had been set up by David in the mountain which God had chosen for His everlasting rest (Synopsis of the Bible).
Fuente: Gaebelein’s Annotated Bible (Commentary)
record
See titles of Psalms 38, 70.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
he appointed: 1Ch 15:16, 1Ch 23:2-6, 1Ch 24:3
minister: 1Ch 16:37-42, 1Ch 23:27-32, Num 18:1-6
to record: 1Ch 16:8, Psa 37:1, Psa 70:1, *titles Psa 103:2, Psa 105:5, Isa 62:6, Isa 62:7
the Lord God: Gen 17:7, Gen 32:28, Gen 33:20, *marg. 1Ki 8:15, Psa 72:18, Psa 106:48
Reciprocal: 2Sa 23:1 – sweet psalmist 1Ch 6:32 – they ministered 1Ch 9:33 – the singers 1Ch 25:1 – harps 2Ch 5:12 – the Levites 2Ch 7:6 – the Levites 2Ch 8:14 – the Levites 2Ch 29:25 – And he set 2Ch 31:2 – to give thanks 2Ch 34:12 – all Ezr 3:10 – after the ordinance Neh 11:17 – to begin Psa 30:4 – Sing Psa 71:17 – hitherto Luk 19:37 – the whole Act 13:2 – they
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ch 16:4. To record, and to thank and praise the Lord, &c. To rehearse and declare unto the people the wonderful works God had done for Israel, and to give him thanks for them, and to extol his almighty goodness and his glorious perfections. All our rejoicings should express themselves in thanksgivings to him from whom all our comforts are received.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
16:4 And he appointed [certain] of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to {b} record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel:
(b) That is, God’s benefits to his people.