John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord , etc.] That is, before the ark, which was a symbol of the presence of the Lord: on all manner of [instruments made of] fir wood : which is a general expression, the particulars follow; though instruments of different sorts are mentioned, and even some of metal, as cymbals, which were vessels of brass, they struck one against another, and gave a very acute sound, being hollow f108 ; even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals ; harps, psalteries, and timbrels, are frequently met with; cornets, according to Kimchi, are such sort of instruments, that in playing upon them it required an agitation of the whole body. Now it was that David penned the sixty eighth psalm, which begins, “let God arise”, etc. ( Psalm 68:1-35), words used by Moses when the ark set forward, ( Numbers 10:35).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - God is present with the souls of his people, when they want the outwar tokens of his presence; but now David is settled in the throne, the honour of the ark begins to revive. Let us learn hence, to think and to speak highly of God; and to think and speak honourably of holy ordinances, which are to us as the ark was unto Israel, the tokens of God's presence, Mt 28:20. Christ is our Ark; in and by him God manifests his favour, and accepts our prayers and praises. The ar especially typified Christ and his mediation, in which the name of Jehovah and all his glories are displayed. The priests should have carried the ark upon their shoulders. Philistines may carry the ark in a cart without suffering for it; but if Israelites do so, it is a their peril, because this was not what God appointed.
Original Hebrew ודוד1732 וכל3605 בית1004 ישׂראל3478 משׂחקים7832 לפני6440 יהוה3068 בכל3605 עצי6086 ברושׁים1265 ובכנרות3658 ובנבלים5035 ובתפים8596 ובמנענעים4517 ובצלצלים׃6767
