I Chronicles 16:38-42 · Bible study
1 Chronicles 16:38-42 Commentary: Two Sanctuaries, One Worship
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why David established worship at both Jerusalem (the ark) and Gibeon (the tabernacle). A study of order, sacrifice, and enduring mercy.
Research Summary
- Meaning: David organizes worship at both the ark in Jerusalem and the tabernacle in Gibeon, with priests, musicians, and gatekeepers serving each site.
- Key words: Tamid (continually, v.40); chesed (loving kindness, v.41); shoerim (gatekeepers, vv.38,42); keli shir haelohim (instruments for the songs of God, v.42).
- Main debate: Whether David’s two‑sanctuary arrangement violated the one‑sanctuary law of Deuteronomy 12, or was a necessary transitional step because the ark had been separated from the tabernacle since Eli’s time.
- Theological theme: God’s enduring mercy (chesed) unifies all worship, whether at the ark or at the altar; order in worship honors both God’s presence and God’s commands.
- Best use: Preaching or teaching on the order of worship, the importance of both obedience and intimacy, and the unifying power of God’s steadfast love.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
38along with Obed-edom and his sixty-eight relatives. Obed-edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were to be gatekeepers.
39And David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the LORD at the high place in Gibeon
40to regularly present burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offerings, morning and evening, according to all that was written in the Law of the LORD, which He had commanded Israel to keep.
41With them were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the LORD, for “His loving devotion endures forever.”
42Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals for the music and instruments for the songs of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were stationed at the gate.
WEB World English Bible 2000
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 Yahweh’s tabernacle in the high place that was at Gibeon,
40to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening, even according to all that is written in Yahweh’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 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 to be at the gate.
KJV King James Version 1769
38And Obed–edom with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obed–edom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be porters:
39And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place that was at Gibeon,
40To offer burnt offerings unto the Lord upon the altar of the burnt offering continually morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the law of the Lord, which he commanded Israel;
41And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the Lord, because his mercy endureth for ever;
42And with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were porters.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
38and Obed-edom with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obed-edom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be doorkeepers;
39and Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of Jehovah in the high place that was at Gibeon,
40to offer burnt-offerings unto Jehovah upon the altar of burnt-offering continually morning and evening, even according to all that is written in the law of Jehovah, which he commanded unto Israel;
41and with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were mentioned by name, to give thanks to Jehovah, because his lovingkindness endureth for ever;
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.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
38both Obed-Edom and their brethren, sixty and eight, and Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, and Hosah for gatekeepers,
39and Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of Jehovah, in a high place that is in Gibeon,
40to cause to ascend burnt-offerings to Jehovah, on the altar of burnt-offering continually, morning and evening, and for all that is written in the law of Jehovah, that He charged on Israel.
41And with them are Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen, who were defined by name, to give thanks to Jehovah, for to the age is His kindness,
42and with them--Heman and Jeduthun-- are trumpets and cymbals for those sounding, and instruments of the song of God, and the sons of Jeduthun are at the gate.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
38and Obed-Edom, and their brethren, sixty-eight; Obed-Edom also, the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah as doorkeepers.
39And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of Jehovah in the high place that was at Gibeon,
40to offer up burnt-offerings to Jehovah on the altar of burnt-offering continually, morning and evening, and according to all that is written in the law of Jehovah, which he commanded Israel;
41and with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to Jehovah, because his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever;
42and with them, [with] Heman and Jeduthun, trumpets and cymbals for those that should sound aloud; and the musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were at the gate.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
38And Obededom, with his brethren sixty-eight: and Obededom the son of Idithun, and Hosa he appointed to be porters.
39And Sadoc the priest, and his brethren priests, before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place, which was in Gabaon.
40That they should offer holocausts to the Lord upon the altar of holocausts continually, morning and evening, according to all that is written in the law of the Lord, which he commanded Israel.
41And after him Heman, and Idithun, and the rest that were chosen, every one by his name to give praise to the Lord: because his mercy endureth for ever.
42And Heman and Idithun sounded the trumpet, and played on the cymbals, and all kinds of musical instruments to sing praises to God: and the sons of Idithun he made porters.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Chronicles 16:38
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree on the central fact: David created two centers of worship. Asaph and the singers remained before the ark in Jerusalem (1 Chr 16:37). Zadok the priest was stationed at Gibeon, where the Mosaic tabernacle and its bronze altar stood (vv.39, 40). Jamieson-Fausset-Brown note that Heman and Jeduthun presided over music at Gibeon, while the sons of Jeduthun served as gatekeepers there. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges observes that the Deuteronomistic law of one sanctuary was not yet enforced in David’s day, and even Solomon sacrificed at Gibeon (1 Kgs 3:4). Matthew Henry describes this as a temporary separation, noting that David “knew the law and was zealous for it” but could not immediately bring ark and tabernacle together. The refrain in v.41, “because his loving kindness endures forever,” is already familiar from v.34 and unifies the two locations in a single act of praise.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Transitional arrangement: David maintained both sites because the ark and tabernacle were physically separated; this was a temporary measure until the temple was built (Jamieson‑Fausset‑Brown; Keil & Delitzsch).
- Violation of the law: Deuteronomy 12 required one central sanctuary; David’s two sites appear to contradict that command, though even Solomon later sacrificed at Gibeon (Cambridge Bible).
- Foreshadowing of the temple: The two locations point forward to the unification of worship under one roof in Jerusalem, as Solomon would later achieve (Matthew Henry).
What is clear: David organized regular, daily worship at both the ark in Jerusalem and the tabernacle in Gibeon, with priests offering sacrifices according to the Law of Moses and musicians giving thanks for God’s steadfast love.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| David’s two‑sanctuary arrangement | David stationed priests and singers at two locations: the ark in Jerusalem and the tabernacle in Gibeon. | Some interpreters see this as a practical accommodation because the ark and tabernacle had been separated; others note it seems to conflict with Deuteronomy’s one‑sanctuary ideal, but point out that even Solomon sacrificed at Gibeon (1 Kgs 3:4), so the law was not yet enforced as a single site. |
| Identity of Obed‑Edom in v.38 | Obed‑Edom is a gatekeeper and son of Jeduthun; he is likely a different person from the Obed‑Edom who housed the ark (1 Chr 13:14). | Some commentators (e.g., Keil & Delitzsch) note a textual problem: the plural suffix “their” suggests the text may have lost a name, making it uncertain whether the Obed‑Edom of v.38 is the same as the gatekeeper in 1 Chr 26:4, 8 or a separate individual. |
| Meaning of ‘instruments for the songs of God’ (v.42) | The phrase refers to musical instruments used in worship, set apart for sacred service. | Jewish and early Christian versions varied widely: the Septuagint reads “songs of God,” the Syriac emphasizes prayer without instruments, while the Targum and Vulgate understand literal instruments. Christians today differ on whether instruments were commanded or merely permitted in worship. |
| Did the Gibeon service continue after the temple was built? | The tabernacle at Gibeon remained until Solomon built the temple, at which point the ark and the altar were reunited in Jerusalem. | Some hold that the Gibeon service was fully discontinued; others note that 1 Kgs 3:4 shows Solomon still sacrificing at Gibeon, suggesting a gradual transition. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Ever since Eli’s death, the ark of the covenant and the Mosaic tabernacle had been separated. The ark had been captured, returned, and eventually rested in the house of Obed‑Edom for three months (1 Chr 13:14). David brought it to Jerusalem with great ceremony (1 Chr 15) and placed it in a tent he had prepared. Meanwhile, the tabernacle made in the wilderness, complete with the bronze altar of burnt offering, remained at Gibeon, a town about five miles northwest of Jerusalem. The sacrificial system prescribed by the Law of Moses could not simply be abandoned; burnt offerings were required morning and evening (Exod 29:38; Num 28:3, 6). David therefore assigned Zadok and his fellow priests to serve at Gibeon, “to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh on the altar of burnt offering continually” (v.40). The Gibeon location was a “high place” (bamah, v.39), a term that later acquired negative associations but here simply means an elevated worship site. Keil and Delitzsch stress that this division of the Levitical staff was a practical necessity: the ark could now be the center of prayer and praise, while the tabernacle remained the place of sacrifice until the temple was built. David’s arrangement was transitional, a holding pattern until God would choose a permanent site (Deut 12:5, 14).
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries note two textual difficulties within this passage. First, in v.38 the Hebrew has “and Obed‑Edom and their brothers”, the plural suffix ‑hem (“their”) lacks a clear antecedent. Keil and Delitzsch conclude that a name has dropped out of the text, possibly “Hosah” or another gatekeeper. The Cambridge Bible also flags the repetition of “with them” at the start of v.42, suggesting it may be an accidental copy from v.41. These issues do not affect the main sense of the passage, but they remind readers that the Hebrew text has minor irregularities typical of ancient manuscript transmission. No significant theological variant is reported for these verses.
Reception History
This passage has been less prominent in doctrinal controversy than many other Old Testament texts, but it has shaped discussions of worship order and church polity. The two‑sanctuary arrangement was cited by medieval Jewish commentators such as Rashi to explain why Gibeon remained a permitted high place during David’s reign. Christian interpreters in the Reformation, including Matthew Henry, used the passage to argue that worship requires both “the ark” (God’s gracious presence) and “the altar” (obedience to God’s commands). The refrain “his mercy endureth forever” (v.41) was adopted into many liturgical traditions, including the Eastern Orthodox Ektenia and the Anglican General Thanksgiving, where it is sung responsively. The musical organization described here also influenced later church orders for cantors and choirs.
Preaching This Verse
Three‑point outline
- God’s presence and God’s law are both honored. David does not neglect the sacrificial system now that the ark is in Jerusalem. He keeps the altar burning at Gibeon. Obedience and intimacy belong together.
- Worship requires order and good management. David assigns gatekeepers (Obed‑Edom, Hosah, sons of Jeduthun), musicians (Heman, Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals), and priests (Zadok). Everyone has a post.
- The refrain that holds it all together: “His loving kindness endures forever.” The same song is sung in the ark tent and at Gibeon. One God, one mercy, one people of praise.
Five‑point outline
- Two locations, one worship (vv.38, 39). David commissions both the ark ministry and the tabernacle ministry.
- Sacrifice at Gibeon: a daily, scriptural obedience (v.40). The priests offer burnt offerings morning and evening, “according to all that is written.”
- Song at Gibeon: Heman, Jeduthun, and chosen singers (v.41). They give thanks, using the same refrain heard at Jerusalem.
- Music with trumpets, cymbals, and “instruments for the songs of God” (v.42). The praise is both orderly and exuberant.
- Gatekeepers at every entrance (vv.38, 42). The work of guarding is intertwined with the work of worship.
Illustration hooks
- A church that meets in two buildings while their main sanctuary is renovated. Both locations run the same service, the same message, the same heart.
- A family divided between two cities for work, but still sharing the same meal times and prayer rhythm across screens.
- A team with different roles: someone on stage leading songs, someone in the parking lot guiding cars. Both essential.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Is it okay to have church in a school gym while the sanctuary is being built? Doesn’t God want a single, permanent place?
- How do I honor both God’s presence (the ark of intimacy) and God’s commands (the altar of obedience) in my daily life?
- My job in church seems small. Can guarding a door really matter as much as preaching or singing?
Leading a Discussion
This passage describes the worship system David set up after bringing the ark to Jerusalem. The ark and the tabernacle were still in two different locations, so David assigned leaders, musicians and gatekeepers for each place. The repeated refrain “his loving kindness endures forever” ties the two sites together. As you discuss, pay attention to the details of organization and the single phrase that unites everything.
Discussion questions
- Look at the people named in verses 38, 42. What different kinds of work are represented? What might that teach about the body of Christ?
- Why did David keep the altar at Gibeon active instead of moving it all to Jerusalem? What does his decision reveal about his view of the Law?
- The phrase “to give thanks to Yahweh, because his loving kindness endures forever” appears both in v.34 and in v.41. Why do you think the Chronicler emphasizes this refrain in both locations?
- In verse 40, the priests offered sacrifices “according to all that is written in Yahweh’s law.” How does this commitment to God’s written word shape our worship practices today?
- Musical instruments, trumpets, cymbals, “instruments for the songs of God”, are specifically mentioned in v.42. How does music help you express thanks to God?
- The text notes that some were “chosen” and “mentioned by name” (v.41). What does this personal selection by David suggest about God’s knowledge of His people?
- In what areas of your life might you need to maintain “two locations”, like the ark and the altar, keeping both God’s presence and God’s commands in focus?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Chronicles 13:14 | God’s ark remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months; and Yahweh blessed Obed-Edom’s house and all that he had. |
| I Chronicles 25:3 | Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising Yahweh with the harp. |
| I Chronicles 26:4 | Obed-Edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, |
| I Chronicles 26:8 | All these were of the sons of Obed-Edom with their sons and their brothers, able men in strength for the service: sixty-two of Obed-Edom. |
| I Chronicles 26:10 | Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him chief), |
| I Kings 3:4 | The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. |
| I Chronicles 12:28 | and Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father’s house twenty-two captains. |
| I Chronicles 15:11 | David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites: for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab, |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights that the ancient versions, including the Vulgate and Syriac, do not interpret the Hebrew phrase as "musical instruments of God." They instead read it as instruments used for singing to God, with the Syriac describing these men as singing with joyful mouth and pure prayer rather than with instruments.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that the Deuteronomic requirement for one sanctuary had not yet taken hold, even among devout kings like David and Solomon. Worship continued simultaneously at the tabernacle in Gibeon and before the ark in Jerusalem, reflecting an earlier, more flexible practice.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes emphasize that every detail of worship at Gibeon was carried out exactly as the law prescribed: priests offered sacrifices morning and evening, porters kept the gates, and musicians praised with instruments, all appointed by name. This careful obedience shows that true worship follows God’s written commands.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill distinguishes the two worship sites David established: the ark in Jerusalem with Obededom and Hosah serving as porters, and the tabernacle at Gibeon where Zadok and the priests offered daily burnt offerings while Heman and Jeduthun led the singers with trumpets, cymbals, and sacred instruments.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that under David the worship of Israel was divided between two locations: the ark in Jerusalem and the tabernacle in Gibeon. Each site had its own appointed priests, musicians, and gatekeepers, meaning the sacred service established by Moses continued in two separate but parallel streams during David's reign.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch focuses on the practical problem David faced: with the ark now in Jerusalem but the Mosaic tabernacle still at Gibeon, the Levitical staff had to be divided to serve both sanctuaries. The commentators carefully parse the textual ambiguities, especially the confusion over whether two different men named Obed-edom are intended.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange treats the song in 1 Chronicles 16 as an ideal composition, not a verbatim transcript. He argues the Chronicler wove together passages from Psalms 105, 96, and 106 to create a fitting hymn for the ark's dedication, much like the canticles in Luke's Gospel.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley highlights that the commanded worship at Gibeon, though outwardly inferior to prayer and praise, held mighty importance as a type of Christ's mediation. He stresses a careful distinction between common mirth and holy joy, insisting their limits must be kept.