1 Chronicles 11: David Anointed as King
David raised to the throne. (1-9): David was brought to possess the throne of Israel after he had reigned seven years in Hebron, over Judah only. God’s counsels will be fulfilled at last. Even when Saul was king, it was David who led and delivered Israel. As the first act, David conquered Jerusalem from Jebusites. He made Jerusalem as his capital city, which is called as CITY OF DAVID. As post exilic Author, the chronicler present Jerusalem as the possession not only for Judah but of “ALL ISRAEL,” that there can be no other capital city. David became greater in that city. …for the LORD of hosts was with him… (v. 9) reminds the people that David’s successes were not by him, but because of God’s favor and presence was in David’s life.
A list of David’s mighty men. (10-47) An account is given of David’s mighty men, the great men who served him. Yet David reckoned his success, not as from the mighty men that were with him, but from the mighty God (vs 10).
V18…He poured it out to the Lord… David considered the water to be the blood of the 3 men, a very precious. So he poured it to the LORD. Even though he wanted to drink the water, he poured it as a dedication of those men’s life as sacrifice to Jehovah.
1 Chronicles 12: Growth of David’s army.
Those who came to David at Ziklag. (1-22):Here is an account of those who appeared and acted as David’s friends, while he was persecuted in Ziklag. People from Saul’s tribe of Benjamin supported David (v. 18).
Vs. 8-15: Support from the tribe of Gad.
Vs. 16-18: When David was threatened by Saul. Amasai affirms and encourages loyalty to David, declaring that he enjoys God’s support. Spirit clothed is Ezra’s idiom for prophetic inspiration which Ezra repeats in other places also. Jesus uses in in Jn. 14:27.
Vs. 19-22: This talks about the Philistines relations with David (1 Samuel 29).
David’s army at Hebron. (23-37) & Joy in Israel:
The three-day festival celebrated the covenant made “before the LORD” between David and the elders of Israel (11:1–3). Religious celebrations in Chronicles are regularly characterized by joy (15:25; 29:22; 2 Chron. 7:8–10; 30:23–27). Under David’s leadership, God had given the nation peace, unity, prosperity, and joy. – ESV Study Bible
1 Chronicles 13: The ark brought to Jerusalem (Chapters 13-16):
David’s Transfer of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.
The ark signified the Mosaic covenant and was the symbol and location of God’s presence on earth. But it had been neglected throughout Saul’s reign, being laid up in the village of Kiriath-jearim (13:3, 5).
David’s concern for the ark is a sign of his commitment to God and his faithful regard for Israel’s religious foundation from the time of Moses. His acting on this concern leads directly to the establishment of God’s covenant with him (ch. 17), and the Davidic covenant in turn becomes the new, enlarged basis of Israel’s existence. The Mosaic covenant, however, always remains the foundation.
The Chronicler presents David’s first attempt to retrieve the ark (1 Chron. 13:5–14 = 2 Sam. 6:1–11) before the establishment of his home and family in Jerusalem and his defeat of the Philistines (1 Chron. 14:1–17 = 2 Sam. 5:11–25). The point of this repositioning of material is to show where David’s true priorities lie.
1 Chron. 13:1–4:David’s consultation of the leaders and the assembly of Israel shows a concern with national unity and popular participation in issues touching the nation’s life. The decision to retrieve the ark is jointly taken, rather than being purely David’s concern. we did not seek it. To “seek” the ark would mean caring for it rightly as the focus of worship. “Seeking God” will emerge as a major theme of the narrative. David’s reign will mark a decisive change from the days of Saul in the people’s commitment to God and to the divinely authorized emblems of Israelite faith.
1 Chron. 13:5–6 As with the decision to retrieve the ark, the mission itself involves all Israel (vv. 5–6), and not simply David’s soldiers (cf. 2 Sam. 6:1). Verse 5b of 1 Chronicles 13 describes the broadest possible participation of Israelites: from the Nile of Egypt to Lebo-hamath in the far northeast. For a comparable conception of the boundaries of the Promised Land, see Gen. 15:18. On the ark of God … who sits enthroned above the cherubim, see note on 1 Sam. 4:3–4.