This portion of the account concludes with the successful installation of the ark of God in a tent, a temporary structure erected by David for housing the ark until a permanent shrine can be built. This paragraph follows closely the text of 2 Samuel 6:17–19. As the specially prepared tent or tabernacle was erected in the wilderness (Exodus 40:2, Exodus 40:21), so David provided a tent in which to place the ark.1 For the Chronicler, it completes the statement of 1 Chronicles 15:1.
The statements that they [the qualified priesthood] offered burnt offerings and peace offerings
(1 Chronicles 16:1) as well as they brought…and they set the ark inside the tent
serve as background for understanding the words in 1 Chronicles 16:2 for David sacrificing.
God’s Word is very clear that only the sons of Aaron were qualified to bring sacrifices and offerings that were acceptable to God. David’s sacrifice, therefore, was brought through the mediation of the qualified priesthood as they alone were legitimate types of Christ, the ultimate priest, who offered his precious blood that our sins might be forgiven (Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:14, Hebrews 9:26, Hebrews 9:28; 2 Samuel 8:18).2
In addition to burnt offerings, peace offerings (or fellowship offerings
) were brought. These were brought by the people, rather than just by David as in 2 Samuel 6:17, consistent with the corporate emphasis of 1 Chronicles 15:25–29.3 Burnt offerings are burnt in their entirety on the altar as an atonement for sin but also an expression of total surrender, consecration and commitment to God. The peace offerings not only symbolized atonement, as choice parts were burned in sacrifice on the altar, but also depicted the restored fellowship with God that comes as a result of the reconciliation.4
Though the sacrifices were brought through the mediation of the Aaronic priesthood, David is still the one who invokes God’s blessing upon the people (see 1 Chronicles 16:43). Blessing the people (1 Chronicles 16:2; 1 Chronicles 16:43) was an activity usually carried out by priests (Deuteronomy 10:8; 1 Chronicles 23:13), but also occasionally by other leaders such as Moses (Exodus 39:43). Apart from David, Solomon was the only other Israelite king known to have exercised this mediation of blessing (1 Kings 8:14, 1 Kings 8:55; 2 Chronicles 6:3). David, therefore, appears in a semi-priestly role, mediating temporal (1 Chronicles 16:3) as well as spiritual blessings. Once again, David is cast into the role of a second Moses who not only exercised some priestly functions but pitched a tent for the ark and blessed the people (Exodus 33:7; Deuteronomy 33:1). The king’s priestly role on this special occasion provides a type of that priest-king figure prophesied by David (Psalm 110:1, Psalm 110:4).5
A fellowship meal follows with David distributing a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins
(1 Chronicles 16:3) to all Israel; not a single soul was deprived. The word used here for portion of meat
occurs only here and in the parallel passage in 2 Samuel 6:19. It could mean a cake of dates, but in the context of the offering of the flesh of animals and partaking in a fellowship meal afterwards, a piece of meat
would suit the occasion better. This is seen as a very generous act since meat was a rare menu item in ancient Israel.
With the ark installed in Jerusalem, God’s rule over Israel is re-established as well as Israel’s loyalty and devotion to their covenant God. The relationships between God and Israel, the relationship of Israelite to Israelite, and the relationship of Israel to the nations are once again restored under the umbrella of the Mosaic covenant.6
1 And they brought in the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.