(32) And they ministered.--"And they continued ministering, before the dwelling of the Tent of Meeting, with the music."

The dwelling place of the tabernacle.--A defining genitive, like River of Jordan, or City of Jerusalem. In the court before this sacred dwelling wherein the Lord met His people, the services of sacrifice and song were carried on. The tent of the Ark in the city of David (see 1Chronicles 16:1) is here called by the old name of the Mosaic Tabernacle, '?hel m?'?d, "tent of tryst, or meeting," i.e., of God with man. The ancient tent appears to have stood at Shiloh, and at Bethel (Judges 20:26-28) in the days of the Judges, at Nob in the reign of Saul, and later at Gibeon. (See 1Chronicles 21:29, and 2Chronicles 1:3.)

Until Solomon had built the house.--The Ark, and the worship of which it was the centre, were then transferred to the more august abode of Solomon's Temple.

And then they waited.--Omit then and read "and they stood at their service according to their privilege." The place and precedence of the choirs and their leaders were fixed by David (1Chronicles 16:37). Standing was the normal posture for singing.

Verse 32. Instances full of illustration of this ministering... with singing and waiting on their office are found in 2 Chronicles 5:12; 2 Chronicles 29:26-31; 2 Chronicles 35:15, 16.

6:1-81 Genealogies. - We have an account of Levi in this chapter. The priests and Levites were more concerned than any other Israelites, to preserve their descent clear, and to be able to prove it; because all the honours and privileges of their office depended upon their descent. Now, the Spirit of God calls ministers to their work, without any limit as to the families they came from; and then, as now, though believers and ministers may be very useful to the church, none but our great High Priest can make atonement for sin, nor can any be accepted but through his atonement.And they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacles of the congregation with singing,.... Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; this service they performed before the ark, which was in a tent or tabernacle David pitched for it; and which the Targum here calls the tabernacle of time, or a temporary tabernacle:

until Solomon had built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem; the temple there:

and then they waited on their office according to their order; performed it in the manner prescribed by David, see 1 Chronicles 25:1.