Defeat of the Philistines
8When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David; and David heard of it and went out against them. 9Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim. 10David inquired of God, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” The LORD said to him, “Go up, and I will give them into your hand.” 11So he went up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. David said, “God has burst outa against my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood.” Therefore that place is called Baal-perazim.b 12They abandoned their gods there, and at David’s command they were burned.
13Once again the Philistines made a raid in the valley. 14When David again inquired of God, God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; go around and come on them opposite the balsam trees. 15When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle; for God has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 16David did as God had commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer. 17The fame of David went out into all lands, and the LORD brought the fear of him on all nations.
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a Heb paraz
b That is Lord of Bursting Out
14.1–17 Chronicles places between the first and second attempts to bring the ark to Jerusalem new materials (14.17–15.24) and passages equivalent to 2 Sam 5.11–25. Hiram’s provision of materials for David’s building projects (vv. 1–2; 2 Sam 5.11–12), the list of David’s children born in Jerusalem (vv. 3–7; 2 Sam 5.13–16), and the victories over the Philistines (vv. 8–16; 2 Sam 5.17–25) appear as rewards for the loyal, though flawed and unsuccessful, initial attempt by David and all Israel to bring the ark to Jerusalem.
14.1–2 Cf. 2 Sam 5.11–12.
14.1 House. Cf. 15.1.
14.2 And that his kingdom was. And is not in the Hebrew text; read “because his kingdom was…” David knew that he himself should be king, since his kingdom prospered through God’s commitment to Israel.
14.3–7 Cf. 2 Sam 5.13–16. While Saul and all his sons die (10.6), David, the blessed king, has many children. An almost identical list of children is found in 3.1–9.
14.3 More wives and more sons and daughters presuppose 2 Sam 3.2–5, a list of David’s sons born at Hebron to six different wives, though this list is not mentioned in Chronicles.
14.4 Solomon, born in Jerusalem, plays a role equal to David’s in Chronicles.
14.7 Beeliada, given as Eliada in 3.8; 2 Sam 5.16.
14.8–17 Cf. 2 Sam 5.17–25. David’s victories over the Philistines reflect God’s approval of his attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem. David inquires of God, follows God’s directions, and wins a decisive victory. Note the clear contrast to his predecessor, Saul.
14.11 Burst out, from the same Hebrew root that appears in Baal-perazim, providing an explanation for the naming of that city. Cf. note on 13.11.
14.12 In 2 Sam 5.21 David and his men take the idols as booty. In Chronicles they burn them according to the law (Deut 7.5; 12.3). Judging by one of the ancient Greek recensions of Samuel (the Lucianic recension), this correction in accordance with the Torah may already have been made in the text of Samuel used by Chronicles.
14.16 The Philistines are defeated throughout Judah, from Gibeon, five and a half miles northwest of Jerusalem, to Gezer, about sixteen miles farther west (cf. Isa 28.21).
14.17 An addition in Chronicles, which records David’s international fame and God’s imposition of the fear of David on the nations. Note the contrast with 10.13–14, where the author summarizes his negative views on Saul.
1 CHRONICLES 15
The Ark Brought to Jerusalem
1Davida built houses for himself in the city of David, and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 2Then David commanded that no one but the Levites were to carry the ark of God, for the LORD had chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister to him forever. 3David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to its place, which he had prepared for it. 4Then David gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites: 5of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, with one hundred twenty of his kindred; 6of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, with two hundred twenty of his kindred; 7of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, with one hundred thirty of his kindred; 8of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, with two hundred of his kindred; 9of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, with eighty of his kindred; 10of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, with one hundred twelve of his kindred.
11David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12He said to them, “You are the heads of families of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your kindred, so that you may bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. 13Because you did not carry it the first time,b the LORD our God burst out against us, because we did not give it proper care.” 14So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. 15And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD.
16David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their kindred as the singers to play on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise loud sounds of joy. 17So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; and of his kindred Asaph son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari, their kindred, Ethan son of Kushaiah; 18and with them their kindred of the second order, Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel. 19The singers Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound bronze cymbals; 20Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play harps according to Alamoth; 21but Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead with lyres according to the Sheminith. 22Chenaniah, leader of the Levites in music, was to direct the music, for he understood it. 23Berechiah and Elkanah were to be gatekeepers for the ark. 24Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah also were to be gatekeepers for the ark.
25So David and the elders of Israel, and the commanders of the thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom with rejoicing. 26And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as also were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the leader of the music of the singers; and David wore a linen ephod. 28So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on harps and lyres.
29As the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing; and she despised him in her heart.
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a Heb He
b Meaning of Heb uncertain
15.1–24 Chronicles adds a series of preparations for the movement of the ark.
15.1 The tent David pitched for the ark in Jerusalem is different from the tabernacle, which, according to Chronicles, is still at Gibeon (16.39).
15.2 Chronicles favors the Levites; their duty to carry the ark is based on Num 4.15; Deut 10.8.
15.3 The participation by all Israel is also affirmed by v. 25.
15.4–10 This list of six Levite chiefs from six different families provides details supplementing v. 11. The numbers associated with the leaders are small and suggest the relative antiquity of this list. The families of Kohath, Merari, and Gershom are standard in lists of Levites. The
fourth family is that of Elizaphan, who is identified as a grandson of Kohath through Uzziel (see Ex 6.18, 22). The families of Hebron and Uzziel are considered elsewhere as descendants of Kohath (6.18).
15.11 Zadok and Abiathar (cf. 2 Sam 15.24–29) serve as chief priests under David. Abiathar, a descendant of Eli, was exiled by Solomon to Anathoth, the hometown of Jeremiah, after Bathsheba asked the king to give Abishag, a concubine of David, to Solomon’s rival Adonijah (1 Kings 2.26–27). 1 Kings notes that Abiathar had carried the ark in the time of David.
15.12 To sanctify oneself probably involved at least bathing, washing of clothes, and refraining from sexual intercourse.
15.13a The Hebrew Bible, though the text is difficult, suggests that the Levites’ failure to carry the ark (or their failure to carry it with poles, v. 15; cf. Ex 25.13–14; 37.4–5) was the cause of the earlier aborted procession of the ark to Jerusalem.
15.16–24 The installation of levitical musicians.
15.16 Chronicles supports many of the cultic activities of its own day by reporting that they were originally commissioned by King David.
15.18 Obed-edom, a levitical singer, later demoted with his family to the rank of gatekeeper (v. 24; cf. 26.1–11).
15.19–21 The singers are divided into groups according to their playing of bronze cymbals, harps, and lyres, respectively.
15.25–16.3 Cf. 2 Sam 6.12–19. All Israel now successfully brings the ark to Jerusalem and puts it in David’s tent. Chronicles omits an equivalent for 2 Sam 6.12a (the Lord’s blessing of the house of Obed-edom) and 2 Sam 6.20b–23 (an argument between David and his wife Michal about his dancing before the ark). Perhaps the latter verses seemed too negative for this happy occasion, or their criticism of David’s wild dancing seemed inappropriate.
15.26 God’s approval of the procession is shown by his support for the Levites.
15.27 Since only priests wore the linen ephod in the Chronicler’s era, the author considered inappropriate the reference in 2 Sam 6.14 to David’s wearing such a garment (perhaps a loincloth). He writes instead that David and all the Levites were clothed with a robe of fine linen. The final words of the verse (David wore a linen ephod) indicate either a garment worn over the robe of fine linen or they are a later, secondary addition from 2 Sam 6.14.
15.29 As a descendant of Saul’s house, Michal despises David’s efforts on behalf of the ark, just as her father neglected the ark with disastrous consequences for himself and his house (10.13–14).
1 CHRONICLES 16
The Ark Placed in the Tent
1They 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. 2When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD; 3and 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.
4He 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. 5Asaph was the chief, and second to him Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the cymbals, 6and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to blow trumpets regularly, before the ark of the covenant of God.
David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving
7Then on that day David first appointed the singing of praises to the LORD by Asaph and his kindred.
8O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples.
9Sing to him, sing praises to him,
tell of all his wonderful works.
10Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
11Seek the LORD and his strength,
seek his presence continually.
12Remember the wonderful works he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
13O offspring of his servant Israel,b
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 that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
16the covenant that he made with Abraham,
his sworn promise to Isaac,
17which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
18saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
as your portion for an inheritance.”
19When they were few in number,
of little account, and strangers in the land,c
20wandering from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another people,
21he allowed no one to oppress them;
he rebuked kings on their account,
22saying, “Do not touch my anointed ones;
do my prophets no harm.”
23Sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Tell of his salvation from day to day.
24Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples.
25For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be revered 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 joy are in his place.
28Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
29Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come before him.
Worship the LORD in holy splendor;
30tremble before him, all the earth.
The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.
31Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations, “The LORD is king!”
32Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it.
33Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.
34O give thanks to the LORD,
for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.
35Say 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.
36Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.”
Then all the people said “Amen!” and praised the LORD.
Regular Worship Maintained
37David 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, 38and also Obed-edom and hisd sixty-eight kinsfolk; while Obed-edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were to be gatekeepers. 39And he left the priest Zadok and his kindred the priests before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon, 40to 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. 41With 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. 42Heman 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.
43Then all the people departed to their homes, and David went home to bless his household.
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a Compare Gk Syr Vg: Meaning of Heb uncertain
b Another reading is Abraham (compare Ps 105.6)
c Heb in it
d Gk Syr Vg: Heb
their
16.4–7 Levites and priests are given specific duties in connection with the ark. The Levites are to invoke, thank, and praise until the temple is built, at which time they will also participate in the sacrificial rituals. Prior to that time, sacrifices are offered only at Gibeon (vv. 39–40). The names in this list are related to those in 15.17–18, 19–24. Their inclusion here gives a Davidic pedigree to the musical guilds of the Chronicler’s day.
16.8–36 Cf. Pss 105; 95; 106. Chronicles includes three psalms illustrating how the Levites led Israel’s praises. This passage also shows one way the Psalter was used in the postexilic temple.
16.8–22 Cf. Ps 105.1–15. In this call to musical praise, the Levites praise God for his saving deeds for the people. The patriarchs were protected by God because of his covenant promise that they would inherit the land (vv. 16–18).
16.11 The community is to seek the LORD in a way Saul did not.
16.13 Israel, a replacement for “Abraham” in Ps 105.6. This change focuses the exhortation on the faithful community, Israel, whereas Ps 105 itself refers to those genealogically descended from two different ancestors.
16.15 The imperative remember is directed at the author’s community; in Ps 105.8 God is construed as the subject of the verb in the phrase “He is mindful.”
16.19 When they were few in number. They, as in Ps 105.12, refers to the patriarchs themselves. The Hebrew of Chronicles actually reads “When you were few in number.” If this reading is correct, the book’s addressees are called to identify themselves with the experience of the patriarchs.
16.22 Anointed ones and prophets may refer in this context to Israel as a royal and prophetic people. In Ps 105.15 both terms refer to the patriarchs themselves.
16.23–30 Cf. Ps 96.1–10. A call to international praise. The Levites urge people to tell God’s wonders to the nations and to bow before the LORD, who is coming to judge. Chronicles omits Ps 96.11b, 13b, both of which refer to God’s judging of the people, but that idea is present in v. 33.
HarperCollins Study Bible Page 165