1 Chronicles 13:8

And David and all Israel played before God with all [their] might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.

And David {H1732} and all Israel {H3478} played {H7832} before {H6440} God {H430} with all their might {H5797}, and with singing {H7892}, and with harps {H3658}, and with psalteries {H5035}, and with timbrels {H8596}, and with cymbals {H4700}, and with trumpets {H2689}.

David and all Isra'el celebrated in the presence of God with all their strength, with songs, lyres, lutes, tambourines, cymbals and trumpets.

David and all the Israelites were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and on harps and lyres, with tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, even with songs, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.

Commentary

1 Chronicles 13:8 describes a scene of immense national celebration and fervent worship during King David's initial attempt to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. The verse paints a vivid picture of the joyous procession, highlighting the enthusiastic participation of David and all Israel.

Context

This verse is set during the early years of David's reign as king over all Israel, following his consolidation of power in Jerusalem. David's desire was to bring the Ark of the Covenant, which had been neglected since the time of Eli and the Philistine capture, back to a central place of honor in the capital. The Ark symbolized God's presence and covenant with His people (Exodus 25:22). The scene described in 1 Chronicles 13:8 is one of unbridled zeal and devotion, preceding the tragic incident with Uzzah in the subsequent verses (1 Chronicles 13:9-10), which temporarily halted the Ark's journey.

Key Themes

  • Wholehearted Worship: The phrase "with all their might" emphasizes the complete dedication and fervor of the people's worship. It wasn't a half-hearted effort but a full-bodied expression of devotion, mirroring the command to love the Lord with all one's heart, soul, and might.
  • Musical Expression in Praise: The extensive list of instruments—harps, psalteries, timbrels, cymbals, and trumpets—showcases the integral role of music in ancient Israelite worship. This vibrant, diverse musical accompaniment was a central part of their communal expression of joy and reverence before God. This passage provides a glimpse into the rich musical tradition that would later flourish under David's leadership, as seen in the Psalms and the organization of temple worship.
  • Communal Celebration: "David and all Israel" signifies a unified, national act of worship. It was a collective outpouring of gratitude and adoration, demonstrating solidarity in their faith and shared purpose under God's chosen king.
  • Reverence for God's Presence: Despite the exuberance, the worship was "before God," indicating a recognition of the sacredness of the Ark and the presence of the Almighty. The joy was directed towards God, not merely for entertainment.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated as "played before God" (מְשַׂחֲקִים לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים - mesachakim lifnei ha'Elohim) conveys a sense of joyous, celebratory performance. The word mesachakim implies playing, dancing, or even laughing, highlighting the festive and uninhibited nature of their worship. "With all their might" (בְּכָל־עֹז - b'khol-oz) signifies with all their strength, vigor, and zeal, underlining the earnestness and energy invested in their praise.

Practical Application

This verse offers timeless lessons for contemporary worship and personal devotion:

  • Enthusiasm in Worship: It encourages believers to approach God with genuine enthusiasm and wholehearted devotion, giving their best in praise and service, not just going through the motions.
  • The Role of Music: It affirms the power and importance of music as a vehicle for worship and expressing joy before God, using a variety of instruments and voices to create a rich and uplifting atmosphere, much like described in Psalm 150:3-5.
  • Community in Faith: It highlights the beauty and power of communal worship, where believers unite to celebrate God's goodness and presence together.
  • Focus on God: Ultimately, the worship was "before God." Our acts of praise, whether individual or corporate, should always be directed towards Him, recognizing His sovereignty and holiness.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 150:3

    Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.

  • Psalms 150:5

    Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.

  • 1 Chronicles 15:10

    Of the sons of Uzziel; Amminadab the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twelve.

  • 1 Chronicles 15:24

    And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow with the trumpets before the ark of God: and Obededom and Jehiah [were] doorkeepers for the ark.

  • 2 Samuel 6:5

    And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of [instruments made of] fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

  • 2 Samuel 6:23

    Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

  • 1 Chronicles 23:5

    Moreover four thousand [were] porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, [said David], to praise [therewith].
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