1. the tent] Cp. 1 Chronicles 15:1, note.

they offered] In 2 Samuel 6:17, David offered. The Chronicler associates the elders with David as in 1 Chronicles 15:26.

burnt sacrifices] R.V. burnt offerings (as 1 Chronicles 16:2). Cp. Leviticus 1:1-9.

peace offerings] The “peace offering” (Heb. shelem) was a thank-offering or an offering made in expiation of a vow; cp. Proverbs 7:14.

2. blessed the people] Cp. 2 Chronicles 6:3.

3. a loaf of bread] A flat round cake such as is still made in Egypt is meant.

a good piece of flesh] R.V. a portion of flesh (mg. “of wine”). The meaning of the Heb. word is unknown. Of flesh is rightly in italics here as in 2 Samuel 6:19.

a flagon of wine] R.V. a cake of raisins. Cp. Isaiah 16:7 (R.V.) where the same Heb. word is used.

4–6 (cp. 1 Chronicles 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. 1 Chronicles 16:12 (remember). Cp. Psalms 38, 70 (titles).

5. Asaph] Cp. 1 Chronicles 15:17, note.

but Asaph made a sound with cymbals] R.V. and Asaph with cymbals, sounding aloud. Cp. 1 Chronicles 15:16; 1 Chronicles 15:19.

6. Benaiah also and Jahaziel] Two priests for the two trumpets.

Benaiah] In 1 Chronicles 27:5-6 a Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest (R.V.) is mentioned who is identified with the Benaiah who was one of the thirty heroes (1 Chronicles 11:24-25). Cp. also 1 Chronicles 12:17.

7–36. The Psalm of Praise

7. David delivered first this psalm to thank the Lord into the hand etc.] R.V. did David first ordain to give thanks unto the LORD, by the hand etc. The psalm which follows consists of Psalm 105:1-15; Psalm 96:1 b – Psalm 96:13 a, Psalm 106:1; Psalm 106:47-48.

8–22 (= Psalm 105:1-15)

8. his deeds among the people] R.V. his doings among the peoples.

9. sing psalms] R.V. sing praises.

talk you] R.V. mg. Meditate ye. Meditation leads to fresh proclamation.

wondrous works] R.V. marvellous works (cp. 1 Chronicles 16:12), i.e. works beyond man’s expectation; cp. Genesis 18:14, Is anything too hard (wonderful, R.V. mg.) for the Lord?

11. and his strength] Perhaps (altering the points only of the Heb. word) and be ye strong. So LXX. καὶ ἰσχύσατε (in Psalm 105:4 καὶ κραταιώθητε). A promise is sometimes expressed in Heb. by the imperative.

12. his wonders] i.e. the plagues of Egypt; Psalm 105:27-36.

of his mouth] Deuteronomy 4:33; Deuteronomy 4:36.

13. of Israel] Psalm 105:6, of Abraham.

14. His judgements are in all the earth] Cp. 1 Chronicles 16:20-22.

15. Be ye mindful] Read (with Psalm 105:8) He hath remembered. Cp. Exodus 24:3-8; Exodus 34:10-27.

17. for a law] R.V. for a statute. The same Heb. word is translated decree in Psalm 2:7.

18. the lot] The Heb. word (“hebel”) means a portion not assigned by lot but measured by line; cp. R.V. mg. Canaan is co-extensive with Israel’s inheritance.

inheritance] All nations receive an inheritance from God; Deuteronomy 32:8.

19. when ye were] Psalm 105:12 when they were.

strangers] R.V. sojourners. The patriarchs were not simply strangers, but strangers who made a long sojourn in Canaan.

20. kingdom … people] The “kingdom” is Egypt (Genesis 12); the “people” the Canaanite and Perizzite (Genesis 13).

21. he reproved kings] Genesis 20:3-7.

22. mine anointed] R.V. mine anointed ones; LXX. τῶν χριστῶν μου.

my prophets] Genesis 20:7.

23–33 (= Psalm 96:1-13)

23. Sing unto the Lord] In Psalm 96:1-2 this burden is thrice repeated; in Chron. it is once given. Note that 23 b corresponds with 2 b of the Ps.

24. the heathen … all nations] R.V. the nations … all the peoples.

25. to be feared above all gods] i.e. to be feared as being above all “that are called gods,” these being “things of nought” (1 Chronicles 16:26, R.V. mg.). The real existence of false gods is not assumed.

26. the people] R.V. the peoples.

made the heavens] Cp. Jeremiah 10:11, The gods that have not made the heavens … shall perish from the earth.

27. Glory and honour] R.V. Honour and majesty.

are in his presence] R.V. are before him, i.e. are His, belong to Him as His attributes. Perhaps also before him refers to God’s abode in heaven, while the parallel expression in his place (Psalm 96:6, in his sanctuary) refers to His temple on earth.

strength and gladness] Psalm 96:6, strength and beauty. The reference seems to be to the strength and gladness (or beauty) which God bestows on Israel (Psalm 68:35; Isaiah 61:3).

in his place] Read with Psalm 96:6, in his sanctuary. Cp. the two preceding notes.

28. of the people] R.V. of the peoples. An expectation that the Gentiles will turn to the worship of the true God is expressed not rarely in the Psalms; cp. Psalm 22:27; Psalm 68:31-32.

29. before him] Psalm 96:8, into his courts.

worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness] Render, worship the LORD for the majesty of [his] holiness. God’s beauty (majesty) is His holiness. To translate (as R.V. mg.) in holy array, attributing the beauty of holiness to the worshipper is no doubt wrong; cp. 2 Chronicles 20:21.

30. Fear] R.V. Tremble.

the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved] In Psalm 96:10 this clause is preceded by the words. Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth, and followed by the words. He shall judge the people righteously.

shall be stable] R.V. is established.

31. and let men say] Psalm 96:10, say [ye]. The clause is displaced in Chron.; cp. note on 1 Chronicles 16:30.

The Lord reigneth] i.e. the Lord is claiming His kingdom over the earth by coming to judge the earth; cp. 1 Chronicles 16:33. Contrast Habakkuk 1:14, where the prophet complains that Jehovah is not asserting Himself as ruler of men.

33. to judge the earth] The joy with which the coming judgement is greeted arises from the fact that the Hebrews regarded a judge as a champion of the oppressed and not as a pedantic interpreter of statutes.

34–36 (= Psalm 106:1; Psalm 106:47-48)

34. his mercy endureth for ever] Cp. Exodus 20:6, “shewing mercy unto a thousand generations of them that Jove me” (R.V. mg.).

35. gather us together] From this prayer one would judge that Psalms 106 is not Davidic but post-exilic; and such no doubt is the case.

the heathen] R.V. the nations.

that we may give thanks … And glory] R.V. to give thanks … And to triumph (as Psalm 106:47).

36. said, Amen, and praised the Lord] Render, said, Amen, and, Praise to the LORD!

37–43. The Service before the Ark and the Service at Gibeon

As Zadok alone is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 16:39 as “before the tabernacle,” Abiathar (Ahimelech) the other highpriest may have been in charge of the ark. Cp. 1 Chronicles 15:11, note.

The Deuteronomic law that there should be one sanctuary only was not yet recognised even by kings of a religious reputation. In 1 Kings 3. Solomon is said to have sacrificed at Gibeon (1 Chronicles 16:4) and before the ark at Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 16:15).

38. Obed-edom with their brethren] Probably one or more names are missing after Obed-edom. LXX. however has καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ, i.e. and his brethren.

porters] R.V. doorkeepers. See the notes on 1 Chronicles 9:17.

39. the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place that was at Gibeon] See prefatory note to ch. 13.

40. the altar of the burnt offering] 2 Chronicles 1:5-6.

morning and evening] Exodus 29:38-39 (= Numbers 28:3-4).

41. Jeduthun] Psalms 39, 62, 77 (titles). In 1 Chronicles 6:33-47; 1 Chronicles 15:17; 1 Chronicles 15:19 the names of the leading singers are given as Heman, Asaph and Ethan; in 1 Chronicles 16:41; 1 Chronicles 25:1 ff. however Jeduthun seems to take the place of Ethan. Probably there was a variation in the tradition as to the third name, two families competing each for the honour of its own ancestor.

to give thanks] Cp. 1 Chronicles 16:34.

42. and with them etc.] The words with them are probably repeated in error from 1 Chronicles 16:41. Render, And Heman and Jeduthun had trumpets and cymbals. For trumpets cp. 1 Chronicles 15:24 (note).

make a sound, and with musical instruments of God] R.V. sound aloud, and with instruments for the songs of God; 1 Chronicles 23:5; 2 Chronicles 7:6; 2 Chronicles 29:27 (all R.V.).

sons of Jeduthun] Cp. 1 Chronicles 16:38.

were porters] R.V. to be at the gate. David’s organisation of the doorkeepers is given in 1 Chronicles 26:1-19.