EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)
1 Chronicles 16:39.
Zadok the priest —Not the high-priest, but the second, and the chief priest at Gibeon, where the tabernacle and altar made by Moses still were, where also the ordinary sacrifices were offered, and the stated worship of God was performed, as the extraordinary worship was before the ark upon great occasions, as when God was consulted, which was to be done before the ark, and by the high-priest, who now was Abiathar, and who therefore abode with the ark, when Zadok was left at Gibeon.
16:37-43 The worship of God ought to be the work of every day. David put it into order. At Jerusalem, where the ark was, Asaph and his brethren were to minister before the ark continually, with songs of praise. No sacrifices were offered there, nor incense burnt, because the altars were not there; but David's prayers were directed as incense, and the lifting up of his hands as the evening sacrifice. So early did spiritual worship take place of ceremonial. Yet the ceremonial worship, being of Divine institution, must by no means be omitted; therefore at Gibeon, at the altars, the priests attended; for their work was to sacrifice and burn incense; and that they did continually, morning and evening, according to the law of Moses. As the ceremonies were types of the mediation of Christ, the observance of them was of great consequence. The attendance of his appointed ministers is right in itself, and encourages the people.
This is the first mention that we have of Gibeon as the place at which the tabernacle of the congregation now rested. Previously it had been at Nob
1 Samuel 21:1-6, from where it was removed probably at the time of the slaughter of the priests by Doeg
1 Samuel 22:18-19. It is uncertain whether Gibeon was regarded as a "high place" before the transfer to it of the tabernacle: hut thenceforth, until the completion of Solomon's Temple, it was the "great high place"
1 Kings 3:4 - a second center of the national worship which for above 50 years was divided between Gibeon and Jerusalem.
39, 40. And Zadok … before the tabernacle … at Gibeon—While the above-mentioned officers under the superintendence of Abiathar, were appointed to officiate in Jerusalem, whither the ark had been brought, Zadok and the priests subordinate to him were stationed at Gibeon to perform the sacred service before the ancient tabernacle which still remained there.
Zadok the priest; not the high priest, but the second and the chief priest at Gibeon, where the famous tabernacle and altar made by Moses still were,
1 Chronicles 21:292 Chronicles 1:3; where also the ordinary sacrifices were offered, and the stated and public worship of God was performed, as it here follows, for which the priests were placed there; as the extraordinary worship was before the ark upon great occasions, as when God was consulted, which was to be done before the ark and by the high priest,
Exodus 28:12,20,21,22, who now was Abiathar; who therefore abode here with the ark, when Zadok was left at Gibeon.
And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests,.... These he left, having appointed them
to be before the tabernacle of the Lord, in the high place that was at Gibeon; namely, the tabernacle of Moses, which was removed from Nob thither in the days of Saul, and continued there to the times of Solomon,1 Chronicles 21:28.
And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon,
