1 Chronicles 16 · WEB
The Ark Installed; David's Psalm of Praise; Regular Worship Established
Listen — WEB narration 0:00 / 0:00 Narration: World English Bible (David Williams), public domain — AudioTreasure.
Tap a verse to copy it, open the Hebrew, or write a note.
They brought in the ark of God, 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.
2When David had made an end of offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh.
3He distributed to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins.
4He appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of Yahweh, and to celebrate and to thank and praise Yahweh, the God of Israel:
5Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed Edom, and Jeiel, with stringed instruments and with harps; and Asaph with cymbals, sounding aloud;
6and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests, with trumpets continually, before the ark of the covenant of God.
7Then on that day David first ordained to give thanks to Yahweh, by the hand of Asaph and his brothers.
8Oh give thanks to Yahweh. Call on his name. Make his deeds known among the peoples.
9Sing to him. Sing praises to him. Tell of all his marvelous works.
10Glory in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.
11Seek Yahweh and his strength. Seek his face forever more.
12Remember his marvelous works that he has done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,
13you offspring of Israel his servant, you children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
14He is Yahweh our God. His judgments are in all the earth.
15Remember his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations,
16the covenant which he made with Abraham, his oath to Isaac,
17and confirmed the same to Jacob for a statute, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,
18saying, "To you will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance."
19When you were but a few men in number, yes, very few, and foreigners in it,
20they went about from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people.
21He allowed no man to do them wrong. Yes, he reproved kings for their sakes,
22saying, "Don't touch my anointed ones! Do my prophets no harm!"
23Sing to Yahweh, all the earth! Display his salvation from day to day.
24Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.
25For great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised. He also is to be feared above all gods.
26For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but Yahweh made the heavens.
27Glory and honor are before him. Strength and gladness are in his place.
28Give to Yahweh, you families of nations, give to Yahweh glory and strength!
29Give to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Bring an offering and come before him. Worship Yahweh in holy array.
30Tremble before him, all the earth. The world also is established that it can't be moved.
31Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice! Let them say among the nations, "Yahweh reigns!"
32Let the sea roar, and its fullness! Let the field rejoice, and all that is in it!
33Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before Yahweh, for he comes to judge the earth.
34Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
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."
36Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting. All the people said, "Amen," and praised Yahweh.
37So he left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required;
38and Obed Edom with their brothers, sixty-eight; and Obed Edom the son of Jeduthun and Hosah were to be gatekeepers;
39and Zadok the priest, and his brothers the priests, before the tabernacle of Yahweh in the high place that was at Gibeon,
40to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening, and according to all that is written in the law of Yahweh, which he commanded to Israel;
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;
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 were to be at the gate.
43All the people departed every man to his house, and David returned to bless his house.
✶
Summary
The Ark is installed in the tent David has prepared, sacrifices are offered, and every Israelite receives a celebratory food portion. David then appoints Levites — led by Asaph — for permanent musical ministry before the Ark, and delivers a great psalm of thanksgiving. The psalm draws from Psalms 105, 96, and 106, calling Israel and the nations to praise Yahweh for his covenant faithfulness. Regular worship is established both in Jerusalem and at the tabernacle in Gibeon.
Themes
- Worship as the central activity of God's people
- God's covenant faithfulness across all generations
- The call for all nations to worship Yahweh
Key verses
- 1 Chr 16:34 — “Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.”
- 1 Chr 16:36 — “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting. All the people said, 'Amen,' and praised Yahweh.”
- 1 Chr 16:8 — “Oh give thanks to Yahweh. Call on his name. Make his deeds known among the peoples.”
Context & background
Jerusalem (modern Jerusalem, Israel) becomes the new center of Israel's worship life with the Ark installed there. Yet the Chronicler notes that the tabernacle of Moses — and its altar — remained at Gibeon (modern Al-Jib, northwest of Jerusalem) until the temple was built. David's psalm in verses 8–36 is a composite drawn from three canonical psalms (Psalm 105:1-15, Psalm 96:1-13, and Psalm 106:1, 47-48), demonstrating that the Psalms were used liturgically from David's time. The declaration "Yahweh reigns" (v. 31) is a central theological affirmation of Israel's worship tradition.
Cross-references
- Exodus 25:8 — God's command to build a sanctuary so he could dwell among his people
- Psalm 105:1-15 — Source of verses 8-22
- Psalm 106:1, 47-48 — Source of verses 34-36
- Psalm 96 — Source of verses 23-33
- Revelation 4-5 — Heavenly worship scene echoes the themes and language of this psalm