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1 Chronicles 16

Israel’s celebration of the ark becomes a call for all creation to praise the God who keeps his covenant and reigns.

God’s ark is placed in the tent David has prepared, and offerings mark its arrival. David blesses the people, distributes food, and appoints Levites to lead praise before the ark. The song entrusted to Asaph and his brothers recalls God’s covenant with Israel and calls all nations to worship their Creator and King. David then assigns ongoing duties before the ark and at the tabernacle in Gibeon, before returning to bless his household.

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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.
2When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the LORD’s name.
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.
4He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the LORD’s ark, and to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel:
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;
6with Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually, before the ark of the covenant of God.
7Then on that day David first ordained giving of thanks to the LORD by the hand of Asaph and his brothers.
8Oh give thanks to the LORD. Call on his name. Make what he has done 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 the LORD rejoice.
11Seek the LORD 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 the LORD 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.
17He confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,
18saying, “I will give you 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, from one kingdom to another people.
21He allowed no man to do them wrong. Yes, he reproved kings for their sakes,
22“Don’t touch my anointed ones! Do my prophets no harm!”
23Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Display his salvation from day to day.
24Declare his glory among the nations, and his marvelous works among all the peoples.
25For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised. He also is to be feared above all gods.
26For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
27Honor and majesty are before him. Strength and gladness are in his place.
28Ascribe to the LORD, you families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
29Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come before him. Worship the LORD 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, “The LORD reigns!”
32Let the sea roar, and its fullness! Let the field exult, and all that is in it!
33Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.
34Oh give thanks to the LORD, 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 the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting. All the people said, “Amen,” and praised the LORD.
37So he left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the LORD’s covenant, to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required;
38and Obed-Edom with their sixty-eight relatives; Obed-Edom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be doorkeepers;
39and Zadok the priest and his brothers the priests, before the LORD’s tabernacle in the high place that was at Gibeon,
40to offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening, even according to all that is written in the LORD’s law, 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 the LORD, 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 to be at the gate.
43All the people departed, each man to his house; and David returned to bless his house.
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected.
Key verses
1 Chronicles 16:34God’s goodness and enduring loving kindness provide the reason for thanksgiving within a song that also celebrates his judgments.
1 Chronicles 16:41Named servants carry the song’s thanksgiving into ongoing worship, grounding their assigned work in God’s enduring loving kindness.
1 Chronicles 16:12The call to remember introduces Israel’s covenant history, tying praise to God’s deeds and the judgments he has spoken.
Where this chapter reaches

The song shares passages with Psalms 105, 96, and 106, joining remembrance of God’s covenant with praise among the nations and a plea for deliverance. Genesis records the promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob recalled here, while 2 Samuel shares the account of the ark’s arrival and David’s blessing of the people.

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After reading the whole chapter

Which part of Israel’s remembered history helps you understand the thanksgiving in this song?

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What do the assigned duties after the celebration suggest about praise in your ordinary days?

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Questions people ask about 1 Chronicles 16

What is happening in 1 Chronicles 16?

The ark is placed in David’s tent, and the people celebrate with offerings, food, and praise. David entrusts thanksgiving to Asaph and his brothers. The chapter then records a song of praise and assigns continuing worship duties both before the ark and at the tabernacle in Gibeon.

Who are the anointed ones in 1 Chronicles 16:22?

In the song’s context, the anointed ones are the covenant ancestors whose travels have just been recalled: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The words describe God’s protection of them when they were few and lived as foreigners. The passage does not grant religious leaders a general exemption from correction or accountability.

Why does 1 Chronicles 16 describe worship in two places?

The ark stands in the tent David prepared, while the tabernacle and altar of burnt offering remain at Gibeon. David assigns Asaph and his brothers to serve before the ark, and Zadok and the priests to offer the required morning and evening sacrifices at Gibeon. Both sites have appointed servants.

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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).