1 Chronicles 16 39

1 Chronicles 16:39 kjv

And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon,

1 Chronicles 16:39 nkjv

and Zadok the priest and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD at the high place that was at Gibeon,

1 Chronicles 16:39 niv

David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the LORD at the high place in Gibeon

1 Chronicles 16:39 esv

And he left Zadok the priest and his brothers the priests before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon

1 Chronicles 16:39 nlt

Meanwhile, David stationed Zadok the priest and his fellow priests at the Tabernacle of the LORD at the place of worship in Gibeon, where they continued to minister before the LORD.

1 Chronicles 16 verses

1 Chronicles 16 39 Meaning

This verse details the ongoing priestly service led by Zadok and other priests at the Tabernacle of the LORD located at the high place in Gibeon. It establishes a significant religious arrangement during David's reign, where the Ark of the Covenant had been brought to Jerusalem, yet the Mosaic Tabernacle, with its altar and sacrificial rites, continued its function elsewhere. This illustrates a transitional phase in Israelite worship before the unification under Solomon's Temple.

1 Chronicles 16 39 Context

This verse is situated immediately after David has triumphantly brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and established it in a newly prepared tent, celebrating this significant event with sacrifice and praise (1 Chr 15-16). While the Ark, the primary symbol of God's presence, is now in the city of David, the rest of the Tabernacle components—the bronze altar, the incense altar, the lampstand, the table of showbread—remain at Gibeon. This verse clarifies the ongoing spiritual administration of these essential elements of Mosaic worship. Historically, it reflects the logistical and political realities of the time, where a complete consolidation of worship in Jerusalem had not yet occurred. The separate location of the Ark and the Tabernacle served as a temporary, divinely sanctioned arrangement, ensuring that the sacrificial system established by Moses continued uninterruptedly until the construction of a permanent Temple.

1 Chronicles 16 39 Word analysis

• And (וְ-, ve-): A conjunctive particle, linking this statement to the preceding narrative concerning David's establishment of Ark worship in Jerusalem. It signifies a continuation of events, detailing another aspect of the worship arrangements.
• Zadok (צָדוֹק, Tzãdôq): Meaning "righteous" or "just." He was a descendant of Eleazar, Aaron's elder son, through a different lineage than Abiathar, the priest more closely associated with David during his flight from Saul. His inclusion highlights his growing importance in David's administration. He would later become the sole high priest under King Solomon, establishing the Zadokite line as the legitimate priestly family for future generations, crucial for the Chronicler's emphasis on proper worship.
• the priest (הַכֹּהֵן, hakKōhēn): Denotes his specific, divinely ordained office and authority in leading religious duties.
• and his brethren the priests: Refers to other members of the priestly families (sons of Aaron) who served under Zadok's authority, ensuring a communal and organized performance of priestly duties. This emphasizes the legitimate and broad involvement of the Levitical priesthood.
• before (לִפְנֵי, lifnê): Implies performing duties in the presence of the Tabernacle. It signifies a direct, authorized service tied to the sacred structure.
• the tabernacle of the LORD (מִשְׁכַּן יְהוָה, mishkan YHWH): This refers to the portable sanctuary built according to God's instructions to Moses (Exo 25-40). It was the divine dwelling place, signifying God's presence among His people and the designated site for the sacrificial system, purification rites, and other Levitical services. Its distinct mention here from the Ark in Jerusalem highlights a unique and temporary separation of core worship components.
• in the high place (בַּבָּמָה, babbāmāh): Derived from bama (בָּמָה). While often later associated with illicit worship sites that challenged Jerusalem, in this early period, Gibeon's high place was a legitimate, long-established center for worshipping Yahweh. It housed the bronze altar and other elements of the Tabernacle worship apparatus.
• that was at Gibeon (אֲשֶׁר בְּגִבְעוֹן, ʼăšer biGivʻôn): Gibeon was an important Canaanite city conquered by Joshua, known for its strategic location and for the "great high place" there where major sacrifices were performed. It became particularly significant during this transitional period, as highlighted by Solomon's later sacrifice and dream there (1 Kgs 3:4; 2 Chr 1:3). Its identification stresses the specific geographical point where the bulk of Tabernacle worship continued.

Words-group analysis

• Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests: This phrase identifies the specific group of individuals responsible for religious leadership and service. It highlights Zadok's prominent, legitimate role and the participation of the broader Aaronic priesthood under him. It underscores the Chronicler's focus on proper priestly lineage and ordered worship.
• before the tabernacle of the LORD: This pinpoints the sacred object of their service, emphasizing the continuity of the divinely ordained Tabernacle worship. Even though the Ark had been moved, the established rites associated with the Tabernacle's structure continued, ensuring that the covenant worship system remained active and accessible.
• in the high place that was at Gibeon: This designates the precise geographical location where these ongoing worship activities occurred. It underscores the pragmatic reality of a dual-center worship arrangement during David's reign, temporary but legitimate, facilitating Israel's spiritual life before the centralized Temple.

1 Chronicles 16 39 Bonus section

The Chronicler's inclusion of this detail emphasizes an ordered and complete religious service during David's reign. It underscores that even with the Ark in Jerusalem, no part of the Mosaic system for atoning sacrifice was abandoned. The bronze altar, central to the sacrificial system, was located at Gibeon, validating this "high place" as a legitimate cultic site for Yahweh worship during this era. This arrangement also explains why King Solomon, early in his reign, would specifically go to Gibeon to offer significant sacrifices and seek divine wisdom from the LORD, clearly recognizing the Tabernacle there as the primary legitimate site for such worship until his Temple was completed. This temporary separation was part of God's overarching plan to guide His people towards the future, centralized worship in Jerusalem.

1 Chronicles 16 39 Commentary

1 Chronicles 16:39 serves as a crucial addendum to David's celebration of the Ark's arrival in Jerusalem. It addresses a significant detail: while the Ark, God's throne, was now in the capital, the portable Tabernacle and its associated sacrificial system continued at Gibeon. This reveals a divinely ordered, albeit unusual, dual religious administration under David. Zadok's appointment here is more than a simple assignment; it is an affirmation of his legitimacy and the growing significance of his priestly line, distinct from Abiathar's. The fact that legitimate Yahweh worship occurred at a "high place" like Gibeon highlights the transitional nature of this period, demonstrating God's condescension to His people's historical and logistical circumstances. This pragmatic division allowed for the performance of all Mosaic rituals, particularly sacrifices, until Solomon could construct the Temple to unite both the Ark and the full Tabernacle elements under one roof.