1 Chronicles 16: The ark in the tent, a song of thanks, and the places of service
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
The ark is set in the middle of the tent David pitched for it, burnt offerings and peace offerings are offered, David blesses the people in Yahweh's name, and he gives everyone in Israel a loaf of bread, a measured portion and a raisin cake. He appoints Levites, with Asaph as chief, to serve before the ark, to remember, to thank and to praise Yahweh, and on that day David first appoints the giving of thanks to Yahweh by the hand of Asaph and his brothers. A song of thanks then follows. Asaph and his brothers are left before the ark to serve there every day, while Zadok and his brothers the priests are left before Yahweh's tabernacle at the high place at Gibeon to offer the burnt offerings morning and evening. All the people go home, and David turns back to bless his house.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story, and no verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter. Verses 8 to 36 are a song of thanks that follows verse 7, and they are the song's words, not God's. Inside the song, verse 18 gives words ("I will give you the land of Canaan") and verse 22 gives words ("Don't touch my anointed ones! Do my prophets no harm!") that the song says were spoken by Yahweh long ago; the narrator does not say that Yahweh spoke them in this chapter, so they are not in gold here. Verse 31 gives the words the nations are to say, "Yahweh reigns!", verse 35 gives the words the people are to say, "Save us, God of our salvation!", and in verse 36 all the people say "Amen". Verses 1 to 7 and 37 to 43 are the narrator's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1They brought in God’s ark, and set it in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.
In plain English: They brought in God's ark and set it in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.
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2When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in Yahweh’s name.
In plain English: When David had finished offering up the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in Yahweh's name.
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3He gave to everyone of Israel, both man and woman, to everyone a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins.
In plain English: He gave to everyone in Israel, man and woman alike, a loaf of bread, a measured portion (or: a date cake; this Bible: a portion of meat; see the note) and a raisin cake.
The Hebrew words: "A portion of meat" is eshpar, which the dictionary gives as "a measured portion". It does not itself say meat, and the text does not say what the portion was. "Raisin cake" is ashishah, which the dictionary gives as "something closely pressed together, i.e. a cake of raisins or other comfits". The word-by-word meaning given for the middle item in this verse is "a date cake".
What changes: Read as "a portion of meat", David gave each person a loaf of bread and some meat. Read as "a measured portion" or "a date cake", the gift was a share of food that the text does not name.
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4He appointed some of the Levites to minister before Yahweh’s ark, and to commemorate, to thank, and to praise Yahweh, the God of Israel:
In plain English: He appointed some of the Levites to serve before Yahweh's ark, to call to remembrance, to give thanks and to praise Yahweh, the God of Israel:
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5Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, with stringed instruments and with harps; and Asaph with cymbals, sounding aloud;
In plain English: Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel, with stringed instruments and with harps; and Asaph sounding aloud with cymbals;
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6with Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually, before the ark of the covenant of God.
In plain English: and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets, continually before the ark of the covenant of God.
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7Then on that day David first ordained giving of thanks to Yahweh by the hand of Asaph and his brothers.
In plain English: On that day David first appointed (literally: at the head; see the note) the giving of thanks to Yahweh, by the hand of Asaph and his brothers.
The Hebrew words: "First" is word for word "at the head". The dictionary gives rosh as "the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, etc.)".
What changes: Read as "first", this was the first time David appointed thanks to Yahweh by the hand of Asaph. Read as "at the head", it was the first, leading item that day. The text does not say which.
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8Oh give thanks to Yahweh. Call on his name. Make what he has done known among the peoples.
In plain English: Give thanks to Yahweh. Call on (or: proclaim) his name. Make what he has done known among the peoples.
Good to know: Verses 8 to 22 are close to , verses 23 to 33 to , and verses 34 to 36 to and . They are not word for word: for example, Psalm 96:1 begins "Sing to Yahweh a new song!", which verse 23 does not have, and Psalm 106:47 says "Save us, Yahweh, our God" where verse 35 says "Save us, God of our salvation". This chapter does not name those psalms.
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9Sing to him. Sing praises to him. Tell of all his marvelous works.
In plain English: Sing to him. Sing praises to him. Tell of all his wonders.
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10Glory in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.
In plain English: Boast (this Bible: Glory) in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.
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11Seek Yahweh and his strength. Seek his face forever more.
In plain English: Seek Yahweh and his strength. Seek his face continually.
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12Remember his marvelous works that he has done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,
In plain English: Remember his wonders that he has done, his marvels (or: signs), and the judgments of his mouth,
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13you offspring of Israel his servant, you children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
In plain English: you offspring of Israel his servant, you children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
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14He is Yahweh our God. His judgments are in all the earth.
In plain English: He is Yahweh our God. His judgments are in all the earth.
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15Remember his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations,
In plain English: Remember his covenant forever, the word he commanded for a thousand generations,
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16the covenant which he made with Abraham, his oath to Isaac.
In plain English: the covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath to Isaac,
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17He confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,
In plain English: which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
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18saying, “I will give you the land of Canaan, The lot of your inheritance,”
In plain English: saying, "I will give you the land of Canaan, the portion of your inheritance,"
Good to know: Verses 18 and 22 give words that the song says Yahweh spoke to his people long ago: the gift of the land of Canaan, and "Don't touch my anointed ones!". They are inside the song that Asaph and his brothers sing, so they are not printed in gold in this chapter. has the words of verse 22 in the same wording.
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19when you were but a few men in number, yes, very few, and foreigners in it.
In plain English: when you were only a few men in number, very few, and foreigners in it.
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20They went about from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people.
In plain English: They went about from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people.
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21He allowed no man to do them wrong. Yes, he reproved kings for their sakes,
In plain English: He allowed no one to wrong them. Yes, he rebuked kings for their sakes.
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22“Don’t touch my anointed ones! Do my prophets no harm!”
In plain English: "Do not touch my anointed ones! Do my prophets no harm!"
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23Sing to Yahweh, all the earth! Display his salvation from day to day.
In plain English: Sing to Yahweh, all the earth! Tell the news of his salvation from day to day.
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24Declare his glory among the nations, and his marvelous works among all the peoples.
In plain English: Recount his glory among the nations, his wonders among all the peoples.
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25For great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised. He also is to be feared above all gods.
In plain English: For Yahweh is great and greatly to be praised. He is also to be feared above all gods.
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26For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but Yahweh made the heavens.
In plain English: For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but Yahweh made the heavens.
The Hebrew words: "Idols" is elil, which the dictionary gives as "good for nothing, by anal. vain or vanity; specifically an idol". This Bible says "idol" or a longer form in 15 of the 17 verses that use it. The word "gods" in the same verse is elohim, the word used of the Philistines' gods in , which were burned.
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27Honor and majesty are before him. Strength and gladness are in his place.
In plain English: Splendor and majesty are before him. Strength and joy are in his place.
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28Ascribe to Yahweh, you families of the peoples, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength!
In plain English: Give to Yahweh, you families of the peoples, give to Yahweh glory and strength!
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29Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come before him. Worship Yahweh in holy array.
In plain English: Give to Yahweh the glory of his name. Bring an offering and come before him. Bow down to Yahweh in holy splendor (this Bible: holy array).
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30Tremble before him, all the earth. The world also is established that it can’t be moved.
In plain English: Tremble before him, all the earth. The world is also established, and it cannot be moved.
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31Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice! Let them say among the nations, “Yahweh reigns!”
In plain English: Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice! Let them say among the nations, "Yahweh reigns!"
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32Let the sea roar, and its fullness! Let the field exult, and all that is in it!
In plain English: Let the sea roar, and all that fills it! Let the field exult, and all that is in it!
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33Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before Yahweh, for he comes to judge the earth.
In plain English: Then the trees of the forest will shout for joy before Yahweh, for he is coming to judge the earth.
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34Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
In plain English: Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness (or: covenant loyalty) lasts forever.
The Hebrew word: "Loving kindness" is chesed, which the dictionary gives as "kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty". This Bible says "loving kindness" in 165 of the 241 verses that use it. The word-by-word meaning given for this verse is "covenant loyalty".
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35Say, “Save us, God of our salvation! Gather us together and deliver us from the nations, to give thanks to your holy name, to triumph in your praise.”
In plain English: Say, "Save us, God of our salvation! Gather us and deliver us from the nations, to give thanks to your holy name and to boast in (this Bible: to triumph in) your praise."
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36Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting. All the people said, “Amen,” and praised Yahweh.
In plain English: Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. All the people said, "Amen," and praised Yahweh.
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37So he left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required;
In plain English: So he left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of Yahweh's covenant, to serve before the ark continually, as every day's work required (literally: the matter of a day in its day);
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38and Obed-Edom with their sixty-eight relatives; Obed-Edom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be doorkeepers;
In plain English: and Obed-Edom with their sixty-eight brothers; Obed-Edom the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah, to be doorkeepers;
Good to know: Obed-Edom is named twice in this verse, the second time as "the son of Jeduthun". The text does not say whether either is the Obed-Edom of or of , or whether the two here are one man.
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39and Zadok the priest and his brothers the priests, before Yahweh’s tabernacle in the high place that was at Gibeon,
In plain English: and Zadok the priest and his brothers the priests, before Yahweh's tabernacle at the high place that was at Gibeon,
Good to know: The text puts the ark in a tent in Jerusalem (verse 1) and Yahweh's tabernacle at the high place at Gibeon (this verse), with Zadok and the priests there offering the burnt offerings. says the tabernacle which Moses made and the altar of burnt offering "were at that time in the high place at Gibeon". The text here does not say more.
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40to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening, even according to all that is written in Yahweh’s law, which he commanded to Israel;
In plain English: to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh on the altar of burnt offering continually, morning and evening, according to all that is written in Yahweh's law, which he commanded Israel;
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41and with them Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen, who were mentioned by name, to give thanks to Yahweh, because his loving kindness endures forever;
In plain English: and with them Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen, who were named (literally: designated by name), to give thanks to Yahweh, for his loving kindness lasts forever;
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42and with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should sound aloud, and with instruments for the songs of God, and the sons of Jeduthun to be at the gate.
In plain English: and with them Heman and Jeduthun, with trumpets and cymbals for those who sound aloud, and with instruments for the songs of God, and the sons of Jeduthun were to be at the gate.
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43All the people departed, each man to his house; and David returned to bless his house.
In plain English: All the people departed, each man to his house, and David returned (literally: turned) to bless his house.
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