Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Chronicles 16:7

"Then on that day did David first ordain to give thanks unto Jehovah, by the hand of Asaph and his brethren." — 1 Chronicles 16:7 (ASV)

An ode of thanksgiving appropriate to the occasion.

(7) Then on that day David delivered first this psalm.—Rather, On that day then (namely, after the Ark had been placed in its tent, and the minstrels appointed) David originally committed the giving of thanks to Jehovah into the hands of Asaph and his brothers.

Thus understood, the verse merely asserts that this was the occasion when “Asaph and his brothers” were first charged with the duties described in 1 Chronicles 16:4–6.

But the words seem really intended to introduce the long ode that follows. Therefore, we should perhaps render it: “On that day, then David gave for the first time into the hands of Asaph and his brothers, for giving thanks to Jehovah, ‘Give thanks unto the Lord,’” etc., with the whole psalm being regarded as the object of the verb.

It may be that this composite hymn was sung in the time of the compiler, on the anniversary of the removal of the Ark, which may in later times have been commemorated by a special service. Hence, it was easy to infer that it was the ode sung at the original service under David.

The words “then” (’âz) and “on that day” certainly seem to introduce the psalm (Compare their use in Exodus 15:1 and Judges 5:1; compare also 2 Chronicles 7:6).

But the ambiguity of 1 Chronicles 16:7 may be taken along with other considerations to indicate that this ode does not form an original part of the Chronicles, but has been inserted by a later hand.

For:

1. The Psalm is clearly a cento consisting of portions of three others existing in the Psalter, and so loosely patched together that the seams are quite visible.
2. The Psalter itself does not refer the three psalms in question to David; if, however, the editors of the Psalter had read in the Chronicles a clear assertion of Davidic authorship, they would hardly have left them anonymous.
3. All critics agree that it is not here explicitly stated that David composed this ode and, in fact, its ideas and language betray a later origin than the Davidic age.
4. It contains no specific allusion to the occasion for which it purports to have been written.

If no record was preserved of the psalms actually sung at the festival, it was natural that some editor should attempt to supply the apparent lacuna from the Psalter.