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1 Chronicles 16 · a question people ask

Did David write this song?

In the text

The verse says: "Then on that day David first ordained giving of thanks to the LORD by the hand of Asaph and his brothers" (16:7). The verb behind ordained is natan, give, the ordinary Hebrew verb Brown-Driver-Briggs gives as "give, put, set"; it is the same verb as "He appointed some of the Levites" in 16:4. In Hebrew, then, the verse says David gave the giving of thanks to the LORD "by the hand of Asaph and his brothers" (16:7). It doesn't say in so many words that David made up the song, and it doesn't say that he didn't. In the WEB, Psalms 105, 96 and 106 carry no name at their head. Other psalms open with a name, such as "A Psalm by Asaph" (Psalm 50:1), but these three don't, and these notes don't go past what the verses say.

The verses

“Then on that day David first ordained giving of thanks to the LORD by the hand of Asaph and his brothers.”
1 Chronicles 16:7 · World English Bible
“He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the LORD’s ark, and to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel:”
1 Chronicles 16:4 · World English Bible
“Give thanks to the LORD! Call on his name! Make his doings known among the peoples.”
Psalm 105:1 · World English Bible
“Sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth.”
Psalm 96:1 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 1 Chronicles 16

1 Chronicles 16: Oh give thanks to the LORD

The song David gave "by the hand of Asaph" on the day the ark came to rest is in the book of Psalms too, in pieces of Psalms 105, 96 and 106. In one place where they differ, the song turns to the people: "Remember his covenant forever" (16:15), where Psalm 105:8 has "He has remembered". And when it ends, "All the people said, 'Amen'" (16:36).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions