April 7 - 1 Chron 15-16; 2 Sam 6:12-23; Psalm 96
After the disaster, David tries again three months later,
but this time he follows the rules. After the men carrying the Ark on their
shoulders have walked six steps, David sacrifices a bull and a fattened calf
(some versions just say fattened animal). Did he make the Kohathites stand
still while all that happened? Were they allowed to put the Ark down, or did
they have to continue to hold it? I also wondered if they walked in unison,
like soldiers, or were they able to step individually? Did they make the trip
in one day?
There is some confusing text in the Chronicles portion. The
Ark had resided in Gibeon (Saul’s headquarters) before it was stolen by the
Philistines. The tabernacle was there, and apparently remained there, while the
Ark itself was taken to Jerusalem and now resided in a new tent that David had
erected. Obviously this must have had God’s approval. The priests and musicians
were divided up and seemed to perform their duties at both sites. As an aside,
I think it’s cool that the leaders of the musicians were named.
We see another psalm of David here – this one seems to be
a consolidation of several others – 105 (v 1-15), 96 (which we read today), and
106 (v 1 b-c, and v 47-48). Scholars believe David may have consolidated these
psalms he had written previously for the special occasion.
Did anyone else wonder about the logistics of all of
this? David, the Levites carrying the Ark, and all the singers were dressed in
fine linen robes (probably new); there were tons of musicians and a choir whom
I’m sure had frantic practice sessions, and every Israelite man and woman
received a loaf of bread and two small cakes. That must have required every
baker in the country to work overtime!
What is the biggest celebration you have participated in?
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