This chapter relates that David offered sacrifices when the ark was brought into his city, ( 1 Chronicles 16:1-3) who were the singers he appointed to sing before it continually, ( 1 Chronicles 16:4-6) and the song he that day composed and delivered to them to sing, ( 1 Chronicles 16:7-36) and that he appointed not only proper persons to minister before the ark, but also before the tabernacle at Gibeon, ( 1 Chronicles 16:37-43).

Ver. 1-3 . So they brought the ark of God , etc.] What is contained in these three verses is the same with ( 2 Samuel 6:17-19), see the notes there.

Ver. 4 . And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord , etc.] 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.

Ver. 5 . Asaph the chief , etc.] Of those that were now appointed: otherwise, of the three principal singers, Heman was the chief, and Asaph next, ( 1 Chronicles 6:33,39) and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, with psalteries, and with harps ; to play upon them before the ark at the same time the psalms and songs were vocally sung; the above persons are such as are named before, ( 1 Chronicles 15:18,20,21), but Asaph made a sound with cymbals ; he struck and played upon them, (see 1 Chronicles 15:19).

Ver. 6 . Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests , etc.] These were appointed to blow with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of the Lord ; morning and evening.

Ver. 7-34 . Then on that day , etc.] The ark was brought to Zion, and the above persons appointed to minister before it: David delivered first this psalm to thank the Lord into the hand of Asaph and his brethren to be sung by them now, and on every proper occasion; and this seems to be the first that was delivered to them; afterwards there were many more, as the titles of the psalms show; the following is composed of part of two others, as they now stand in the book of Psalms.

From hence, to the end of ( 1 Chronicles 16:22) is the same with ( <19A501> Psalm 105:1-15), with a little variation, see the notes there; and from thence to the end of ( 1 Chronicles 16:33) is ( Psalm 96:1-13) which see; and ( 1 Chronicles 16:34) is the same with ( <19A601> Psalm 106:1 107:1), see the notes there. <19A601> <19A701> <19A501> Ver. 35,36. And say ye, save us, O God of our salvation , etc.] The author of temporal, spiritual, and eternal salvation; the words are a direction to the singers, and those that sung with them, to express the prayer and doxology in the next verse, which both are the same with ( <19A647> Psalm 106:47,48). ((See Gill on “ <19A647> Psalm 106:47”)) ((See Gill on “ <19A648> Psalm 106:48”)); which David directed by a spirit of prophecy, foreseeing the people of Israel would be in captivity among the Heathens; though some think these were added by Ezra; for though there was in his time a return from the captivity, yet many still remained in it.

Ver. 37 . So he left there, before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, Asaph and his brethren , etc.] Whom he, that is, David, had appointed for the service of it: to minister before the ark continually ; in singing the praises of God: as every day’s work required ; at the time of the morning and evening sacrifice, as Jarchi and Kimchi interpret it.

Ver. 38 And Obededom, with their brethren, threescore and eight , etc.] The Levites, the brethren of Asaph and Obededom, these were left before the ark to minister there: Obededom also the son of Jeduthun ; or Ethan, which some take to be another Obededom; but the w , “vau” may be explanative, “even Obededom”: and Hosah to be porters ; these he left to be doorkeepers of the ark.

Ver. 39 . And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests , etc.] These he left, having appointed them to be before the tabernacle of the Lord, in the high place that was at Gibeon ; namely, the tabernacle of Moses, which was removed from Nob thither in the days of Saul, and continued there to the times of Solomon, ( 1 Chronicles 21:28 1 Kings 3:4 8:4).

Ver. 40 . To offer burnt offerings unto the Lord , etc.] Which was the work of the priests only to do: upon the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening ; the lambs of the daily sacrifice, which were a burnt offering, and only to be offered on the brasen altar at the tabernacle: and to do according to all that is written in the law of the Lord, which he commanded Israel ; with regard to them, and all other sacrifices, (see Exodus 29:38-42).

Ver. 41 . And with them , etc.] That is, with Zadok, and the priests with him at Gibeon: he left Heman and Jeduthun : or Ethan, two principal singers: and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name ; (see Chronicles 16:18,20,21) to give thanks to the Lord, because his mercy endureth for ever ; to praise him for his benefits, flowing from his grace and mercy continually.

Ver. 42 . And with them Heman and Jeduthun, with trumpets and cymbals , etc.] Or with them were the trumpets and cymbals, as Kimchi; or, as Piscator supplies it, with them he “left” the trumpets and cymbals: for those that should make a sound ; by striking upon them: and with musical instruments of God ; sacred ones, such as were devoted to his service, as psalteries and harps; the Syriac and Arabic versions carry the sense of the words quite differently, that these men did not sing with those musical instruments, but with a pleasant voice, and with pure and acceptable prayers, in humility and uprightness, glorified God: and the sons of Jeduthun were porters ; at the tabernacle in Gibeon.