Bible Commentaries
1 Chronicles 13

Verses 1-5

Plans to Move the Ark, 1 Chronicles 13:1-5

Not only did David have plans for making Jerusalem the center of government for his kingdom, but also the center of worship of God. The tabernacle had been erected in Shiloh during the early days of the Canaanite conquest (Joshua 18:1) and was still there when the ark was captured by the Philistines in the days of Eli (1 Samuel 4:11). After the ark’s sojourn in the country of the Philistines for seven months (1 Samuel 6:1), during which time the Lord severely plagued the Philistines (1Sa, chap. 5), they returned it to Israel (1 Samuel 6:10 ff). It was eventually removed and set up in the house of Abinadab at Kiriath­jearim (1 Samuel 6:21; 1 Samuel 7:1).

David now consulted with the great men of Israel, captains and leaders, about the removal of the ark to Jerusalem. He proposed that they invite to Jerusalem all the people of Israel, with the scattered priests and Levites in their appointed cities, to plan for the removal of the ark. This would be a move to unite the people in their worship and to restore the ark, the symbol of God’s presence in Israel, to its proper respect among them. For the many years of Saul’s reign the ark had been all but forgotten and neglected by the people.

The people agreed with David to make this move to restore the ark. To them it seemed, with David, the right thing to do, so all Israel began to gather for the great occasion. The people came from as far south as Shihor and from as far north as the road to Hemath (usually Hamath). Shihor is one of the names given the Nile in Egypt, but probably refers here to a smaller stream on the road to Egypt. Hamath was a city of upper Syria, about half the distance from Damascus to Antioch. The entering in of Hamath refers to the road in the far north of Israel which led on to the city of Hamath.

Verse 6

see note on: 2 Samuel 6:1