A Tent for the Ark

16 And they brought in the ark of God and (A)placed it inside the tent which David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord. Then he distributed to everyone of Israel, both men and women, to everyone a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a raisin cake.

He appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to celebrate and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel: Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, then [a]Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with musical instruments, harps, and lyres; also Asaph played loud-sounding cymbals, and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blew trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.

Then on that day David (B)first assigned [b]Asaph and his relatives to give thanks to the Lord.

Psalm of Thanksgiving

(C)Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name;
(D)Make His deeds known among the peoples.
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
[c]Speak of all His [d]wonders.
10 Boast in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be joyful.
11 (E)Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face continually.
12 (F)Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done,
(G)His marvels and the judgments from His mouth,
13 You [e]descendants of Israel His servant,
Sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!
14 He is the Lord our God;
(H)His judgments are in all the earth.
15 Remember His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded to a thousand generations,
16 (I)The covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac.
17 (J)He also confirmed it to Jacob as a statute,
To Israel as an everlasting covenant,
18 Saying, “(K)To you I will give the land of Canaan,
As the portion of your inheritance.”
19 (L)When they were only a few in number,
Very few, and strangers in it,
20 And they wandered from nation to nation,
And from one kingdom to another people,
21 He allowed no one to oppress them,
And (M)He rebuked kings for their sakes, saying,
22 “Do not touch My anointed ones,
And (N)do not harm My prophets.”
23 (O)Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
Proclaim good news of His salvation from day to day.
24 Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
25 For (P)great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
He also is (Q)to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are [f](R)idols,
(S)But the Lord made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and joy are in His place.
28 Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples,
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;
Bring an [g]offering, and come before Him;
(T)Worship the Lord in [h]holy attire.
30 Tremble before Him, all the earth;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.
31 [i](U)Let the heavens be joyful, and the earth rejoice;
And let them say among the nations, “(V)The Lord reigns.”
32 (W)Let the sea [j]roar, and [k]everything it contains;
Let the field rejoice, and everything that is in it.
33 Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy in the presence of the Lord;
For He is coming to judge the earth.
34 (X)Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His faithfulness is everlasting.
35 (Y)Then say, “Save us, God of our salvation,
And gather us and save us from the nations,
To give thanks to Your holy name,
And [l]glory in Your praise.”
36 (Z)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
From everlasting to everlasting!

Then all the people (AA)said, “Amen,” and praised the Lord.

Worship before the Ark

37 So he left Asaph and his relatives there (AB)before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to minister before the ark continually, (AC)as every day’s work required, 38 and (AD)Obed-edom with [m]his sixty-eight relatives; Obed-edom, the son of Jeduthun, and (AE)Hosah as gatekeepers. 39 He left (AF)Zadok the priest and his relatives the priests (AG)before the [n]tabernacle of the Lord in the high place which was at Gibeon, 40 to offer burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening, (AH)even according to everything that is written in the Law of the Lord, which He commanded Israel. 41 With them were (AI)Heman and Jeduthun, and (AJ)the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name, to (AK)give thanks to the Lord, because His [o]kindness is everlasting. 42 And with them were Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those who were to play them, and with instruments for (AL)the songs of God, and the sons of Jeduthun for the gate.

43 (AM)Then all the people departed, each to his house; and David returned to bless his household.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 16:5 In 1 Chr 15:18, Jaaziel
  2. 1 Chronicles 16:7 Lit by the hand of Asaph
  3. 1 Chronicles 16:9 Or Meditate on
  4. 1 Chronicles 16:9 I.e., wonderful acts
  5. 1 Chronicles 16:13 Lit seed of
  6. 1 Chronicles 16:26 Or non-existent things
  7. 1 Chronicles 16:29 Or a grain offering
  8. 1 Chronicles 16:29 Or the splendor of holiness
  9. 1 Chronicles 16:31 Hopeful command or wish, not a request; and so through v 32
  10. 1 Chronicles 16:32 Or thunder
  11. 1 Chronicles 16:32 Lit its fullness
  12. 1 Chronicles 16:35 Lit boast
  13. 1 Chronicles 16:38 Lit their brothers, sixty-eight
  14. 1 Chronicles 16:39 Lit dwelling place
  15. 1 Chronicles 16:41 Or faithfulness

The Ark Placed in the Tent

16 They brought in the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before God.(A) When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord, and he distributed to every person in Israel—man and woman alike—to each a loaf of bread, a portion of meat,[a] and a cake of raisins.

He appointed certain of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel. Asaph was the chief, and second to him was Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the cymbals,(B) and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving

Then on that day David first appointed the singing of praises to the Lord by Asaph and his kindred.(C)

O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name,
    make known his deeds among the peoples.(D)
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
    tell of all his wonderful works.
10 Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
11 Seek the Lord and his strength;
    seek his presence continually.(E)
12 Remember the wonderful works he has done,
    his miracles and the judgments he uttered,(F)
13 O offspring of his servant Israel,
    children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

14 He is the Lord our God;
    his judgments are in all the earth.(G)
15 Remember his covenant forever,
    the word that he commanded for a thousand generations,
16 the covenant that he made with Abraham,
    his sworn promise to Isaac,(H)
17 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,
    to Israel as an everlasting covenant,(I)
18 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
    as your portion for an inheritance.”

19 When they were few in number,
    of little account, and strangers in the land,[b](J)
20 wandering from nation to nation,
    from one kingdom to another people,
21 he allowed no one to oppress them;
    he rebuked kings on their account,(K)
22 saying, “Do not touch my anointed ones;
    do my prophets no harm.”

23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
    Tell of his salvation from day to day.(L)
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous works among all the peoples.
25 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;
    he is to be revered above all gods.(M)
26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.(N)
27 Honor and majesty are before him;
    strength and joy are in his place.

28 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.(O)
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the Lord in holy splendor;
30     tremble before him, all the earth.
    The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.
31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
    and let them say among the nations, “The Lord is king!”(P)
32 Let the sea roar and all that fills it;
    let the field exult and everything in it.(Q)
33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy
    before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.
34 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.(R)

35 Say also,

“Save us, O God of our salvation,
    and gather and rescue us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
    and glory in your praise.(S)
36 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting.”

Then all the people said “Amen!” and praised the Lord.(T)

Regular Worship Maintained

37 David[c] left Asaph and his kinsfolk there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister regularly before the ark as each day required,(U) 38 and also Obed-edom and his[d] sixty-eight kinsfolk, while Obed-edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were to be gatekeepers.(V) 39 And he left the priest Zadok and his kindred the priests before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place that was at Gibeon,(W) 40 to offer burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, according to all that is written in the law of the Lord that he commanded Israel.(X) 41 With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and expressly named to render thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.(Y) 42 Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals for the music and instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were appointed to the gate.

43 Then all the people departed to their homes, and David went home to bless his household.

Footnotes

  1. 16.3 Compare Gk Syr Vg: Meaning of Heb uncertain
  2. 16.19 Heb in it
  3. 16.37 Heb He
  4. 16.38 Gk Syr Vg: Heb their

16 So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent, which David had pitched for it: and they offered holocausts, and peace offerings before God.

And when David had made an end of offering holocausts, and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.

And he divided to all and every one, both men and women, a loaf of bread, and a piece of roasted beef, and flour fried with oil.

And he appointed Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, and to remember his works, and to glorify, and praise the Lord God of Israel.

Asaph the chief, and next after him Zacharias: moreover Jahiel, and Semiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mathathias, and Eliab, and Banaias, and Obededom: and Jehiel over the instruments of psaltery, and harps: and Asaph sounded with cymbals:

But Banaias, and Jaziel the priests, to sound the trumpet continually before the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

In that day David made Asaph the chief to give praise to the Lord with his brethren.

Praise ye the Lord, and call upon his name: make known his doings among the nations.

Sing to him, yea, sing praises to him: and relate all his wondrous works.

10 Praise ye his holy name: let the heart I of them rejoice, that seek the Lord.

11 Seek ye the Lord, and his power: seek ye his face evermore.

12 Remember his wonderful works, which he hath done: his signs, and the judgments of his mouth.

13 O ye seed of Israel his servants, ye children of Jacob his chosen.

14 He is the Lord our God: his judgments are in all the earth.

15 Remember for ever his covenant: the word, which he commanded to a thousand generations.

16 The covenant which he made with Abraham: and his oath to Isaac.

17 And he appointed the same to Jacob for a precept: and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:

18 Saying: To thee will I give the land of Chanaan: the lot of your inheritance.

19 When they were but a small number: very few and sojourners in it.

20 And they passed from nation to nation: and from a kingdom to another people.

21 He suffered no man to do them wrong: and reproved kings for their sake.

22 Touch not my anointed: and do no evil to my prophets.

23 Sing ye to the Lord, all the earth: shew forth from day to day his salvation.

24 Declare his glory among the Gentiles: his wonders among all people.

25 For the Lord is great and exceedingly to be praised: and he is to be feared above all gods.

26 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens.

27 Praise and magnificence are before him: strength and joy in his place.

28 Bring ye to the Lord, O ye families of the nations: bring ye to the Lord glory and empire.

29 Give to the Lord glory to his name, bring up sacrifice, and come ye in his sight: and adore the Lord in holy becomingness.

30 Let all the earth be moved at his presence: for he hath founded the world immoveable.

31 Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth be glad: and let them say among the nations: The Lord hath reigned.

32 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all things that are in them.

33 Then shall the trees of the wood give praise before the Lord: because he is come to judge the earth.

34 Give ye glory to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

35 And say ye: Save us, O God our saviour: and gather us together, and deliver us from the nations, that we may give glory to thy holy name, and may rejoice in singing thy praises.

36 Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel from eternity to eternity: and let all the people say Amen, and a hymn to God.

37 So he left there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, Asaph and his brethren to minister in the presence of the ark continually day by day, and in their courses.

38 And Obededom, with his brethren sixty-eight: and Obededom the son of Idithun, and Hosa he appointed to be porters.

39 And Sadoc the priest, and his brethren priests, before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place, which was in Gabaon.

40 That they should offer holocausts to the Lord upon the altar of holocausts continually, morning and evening, according to all that is written in the law of the Lord, which he commanded Israel.

41 And after him Heman, and Idithun, and the rest that were chosen, every one by his name to give praise to the Lord: because his mercy endureth for ever.

42 And Heman and Idithun sounded the trumpet, and played on the cymbals, and all kinds of musical instruments to sing praises to God: and the sons of Idithun he made porters.

43 And all the people returned to their houses: and David to bless also his own house.

16 1-3 They brought the Chest of God and placed it right in the center of the tent that David had pitched for it; then they worshiped by presenting burnt offerings and peace offerings to God. When David had completed the offerings of worship, he blessed the people in the name of God. Then he passed around to every one there, men and women alike, a loaf of bread, a slice of barbecue, and a raisin cake.

4-6 Then David assigned some of the Levites to the Chest of God to lead worship—to intercede, give thanks, and praise the God of Israel. Asaph was in charge; under him were Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, who played the musical instruments. Asaph was on percussion. The priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blew the trumpets before the Chest of the Covenant of God at set times through the day.

That was the day that David inaugurated regular worship of praise to God, led by Asaph and his company.

8-19 Thank God! Call out his Name!
    Tell the whole world who he is and what he’s done!
Sing to him! Play songs for him!
    Broadcast all his wonders!
Revel in his holy Name,
    God-seekers, be jubilant!
Study God and his strength,
    seek his presence day and night;
Remember all the wonders he performed,
    the miracles and judgments that came out of his mouth.
Seed of Israel his servant!
    Children of Jacob, his first choice!
He is God, our God;
    wherever you go you come on his judgments and decisions.
He keeps his commitments across thousands
    of generations, the covenant he commanded,
The same one he made with Abraham,
    the very one he swore to Isaac;
He posted it in big block letters to Jacob,
    this eternal covenant with Israel:
“I give you the land of Canaan,
    this is your inheritance;
Even though you’re not much to look at,
    a few straggling strangers.”

20-22 They wandered from country to country,
    camped out in one kingdom after another;
But he didn’t let anyone push them around,
    he stood up for them against bully-kings:
“Don’t you dare touch my anointed ones,
    don’t lay a hand on my prophets.”

23-27 Sing to God, everyone and everything!
    Get out his salvation news every day!
Publish his glory among the godless nations,
    his wonders to all races and religions.
And why? Because God is great—well worth praising!
    No god or goddess comes close in honor.
All the popular gods are stuff and nonsense,
    but God made the cosmos!
Splendor and majesty flow out of him,
    strength and joy fill his place.

28-29 Shout Bravo! to God, families of the peoples,
    in awe of the Glory, in awe of the Strength: Bravo!
Shout Bravo! to his famous Name,
    lift high an offering and enter his presence!
Stand resplendent in his robes of holiness!

30-33 God is serious business, take him seriously;
    he’s put the earth in place and it’s not moving.
So let Heaven rejoice, let Earth be jubilant,
    and pass the word among the nations, “God reigns!”
Let Ocean, all teeming with life, bellow,
    let Field and all its creatures shake the rafters;
Then the trees in the forest will add their applause
    to all who are pleased and present before God
    —he’s on his way to set things right!

34-36 Give thanks to God—he is good
    and his love never quits.
Say, “Save us, Savior God,
    round us up and get us out of these godless places,
So we can give thanks to your holy Name,
    and bask in your life of praise.”
Blessed be God, the God of Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting.

Then everybody said, “Yes! Amen!” and “Praise God!”

* * *

37-42 David left Asaph and his coworkers with the Chest of the Covenant of God and in charge of the work of worship; they were responsible for the needs of worship around the clock. He also assigned Obed-Edom and his sixty-eight relatives to help them. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were in charge of the security guards. The priest Zadok and his family of priests were assigned to the Tent of God at the sacred mound at Gibeon to make sure that the services of morning and evening worship were conducted daily, complete with Whole-Burnt-Offerings offered on the Altar of Burnt Offering, as ordered in the Law of God, which was the norm for Israel. With them were Heman, Jeduthun, and others specifically named, with the job description: “Give thanks to God, for his love never quits!” Heman and Jeduthun were also well equipped with trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments for accompanying sacred songs. The sons of Jeduthun formed the security guard.

43 Arrangements completed, the people all left for home. And David went home to bless his family.