Psalms 68:24

THE PERSONNEL PARTICIPATING IN THE PROCESSION

"They have seen thy goings, O God,

Even the goings of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.

The singers went before, the minstrels followed after,

In the midst of the damsels playing with timbrels,

Bless ye God in the congregations,

Even the Lord, ye that are of the fountain of Israel.

There is little Benjamin their ruler,

The princes of Judah and their council,

The princes of Zebulun,

The princes of Naphtali."

"Into the sanctuary" (Psalms 68:24). This was not the temple. It was not constructed until the times of Solomon, but the sanctuary to which the ark of the covenant was carried from Obed-Edom was the tabernacle, the site of which had been purchased by David, and upon which, later, the temple was built.

"The singers ... minstrels ... damsels playing timbrels, and ... all ye of ... Israel" (Psalms 68:25-26). This is a description of the great host of people who joined in the procession bringing home the ark to Jerusalem.

"Benjamin ... Judah ... Zebulun ... Naphtali" (Psalms 68:27). These seem here to stand for "all Israel" as indicated in the preceding verse. It has been pointed out that Benjamin might have been mentioned first because from that tribe came Saul, Israel's first king. If that is true, it would indicate a magnanimous gesture on David's part to have thus honored his predecessor.

Another thought here is that the children of Jacob's two wives, Rachel and Leah, as well as the children of a concubine are all included in these four names.