1st Chronicles Chapter 16 verse 3 Holy Bible

Pulpit Commentary

Pulpit CommentaryVerse 3. - Each little clause of this verse is replete with interest. The royal giver, who now dealt to every one of Israel, was, after all, but a channel; yes, and only one channel, through which the fulness and the bounty of the royal Giver of every good and perfect gift, of all good whatsoever, of all things necessary to life and godliness, are supplied to every one of his creature-subjects. But it is highest honour, as servant and instrument alone, to figure forth him in any way. The second little clause tells us either that women took a recognized place on occasion of this joyous festival, or that the hospitality of such an occasion did not forget them and their homes. And the following three little clauses require closer examination. The word here translated "loaf" in the expression loaf of bread is כִּכַּר, for which in this sense we may turn to Exodus 29:23; Judges 8:5; 1 Samuel 2:36; 1 Samuel 10:3; Proverbs 6:26; Jeremiah 37:21. The corresponding word, however, in the parallel place is חַלַח (for which see Exodus 29:2, 23; Leviticus 2:4; Leviticus 7:12, 13; Leviticus 8:26; Leviticus 24:5; Numbers 6:15, 19; Numbers 15:20). The essential meaning of the former word is a circle, hence applied to the cake because of its shape, and of the latter word perforation, hence applied to the cake because it was perforated. A good piece of flesh. This is the Authorized Version rendering of אֶשְׁפָּר, which occurs only in the parallel place and here. The Vulgate translates assatura bubulae carnis; the Septuagint, ἐσχαρίτη. The imagined derivation of the word from פָּר (ox) and אֵשׁ (fire), or from שָׁפַד (to burn), seems to be what has led to these translations, helped, perhaps, by the apparent convenience of adapting meat from the sacrifice to the bread. But Gesenius, Rodiger, Keil, and others prefer the derivation שָׁפַר (to measure), and they would render "a measure" of wine. And a flagon. This is the Authorized Version rendering of the original אֲשִׁישָׁה, found in the parallel place as well as here, and also in the only other places (two in number, and in the plural) where it occurs (Song of Solomon 2:5; Hoses 3:1). But there is no doubt, or but little, that the rendering should rather be "dried, pressed cakes of raisins or grapes." It is then to be derived from the root אָשַׁשׁ (to press). The substantive has both masculine and feminine form in plural. The Vulgate translates similam frixam oleo, which means a "baked cake of flour and oil;" and the Septuagint, λάγανον ἀπὸ τηγάνου in the parallel places. But here the Septuagint reads ἄρτον ε{να ἀρτοκοπικὸν καὶ ἀμορίτην ασ the whole account of the loaf, the good piece of flesh, and the flagon.

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(3) To every one . . .--Literally, to every man of Israel from man unto woman. Samuel has, "to all the people, to all the multitude of Israel, from man," &c.A loaf (kikkar).--A round cake (1Samuel 2:36). The parallel in Samuel has a less common word (hallath), meaning a sacrificial cake punctured all over. (Comp. Exodus 29:23.)A good piece of flesh.--A single Hebrew term, found only here and in Samuel ('eshp?r). It seems to mean "a portion," i.e., of the victims slain for the "peace offerings." (The "burnt offerings" were wholly consumed on the altar.) Syriac, "a portion." Arabic, "a slice of flesh." Others interpret, "a measure of wine."A flagon of wine.--Rather, a raisin-cake--i.e., a mass of dried grapes (Hosea 3:1); Isaiah 16:7, "raisin-cakes of Kir-hareseth." . . .