Bible Commentaries
1 Chronicles 13

Verse 1

And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.

David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, ... Gratitude for the high and splendid dignity to which he had been elevated would naturally, at this period, impart a fresh animation and impulse to the habitually fervent piety of David; but, at the same time, he was animated by other motives: he fully understood his position as ruler under the theocracy, and, on entering on his duties, was resolved to fulfill his mission as a constitutional king of Israel. Accordingly, his first act as a sovereign related to the interests of religion, and the ark being then the grand instrument and ornament of it, he takes the opportunity of the official representatives of the nation being with him, to consult them about the propriety of establishing it in a more public and accessible locality. The assembly at which he spoke of this consisted of the [ saareey (H8269)] princes of thousands and hundreds (2 Samuel 6:1; cf. Exodus 18:25). During the reign of the late king the ark had been left in culpable neglect, and the consequence was that the people had, to a great extent, been careless about the ordinances of divine worship, or had contented themselves with offering sacrifices at Gibeon, without any thought of the ark, though it was the chief and most vital part of the tabernacle. The duty and advantages of this religious movement suggested by the king were apparent, and the proposal met with universal approval.

Verse 2

And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us:

David said unto all the congregation of Israel, [ qªhal (H6951) Yisraa'eel (H3478)] - i:e., those who were thus convoked; the deliberative assembly.

If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the Lord - i:e., I shall conclude that this favourite measure of mine is agreeable to the mind of God, if it receive your hearty concurrence.

Let us send abroad unto our brethren every where. He wished to make it known throughout the country, in order that there might be a general assembly of the nation, and that preparations might be made on a scale and of a kind suitable to the inauguration of the august ceremonial. Priests and Levites ... in their cities and suburbs - (see the note at Numbers 35:1-34). The original terms, "let us send," imply immediate execution.

Verse 3

And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul.

Let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul. This neglect, so unwonted in those early times, is spoken of as an unhappy sign of the religious degeneracy produced by the influence and example of the late king. [But dªrashnuhuw (H1875) may denote, according to the meaning of the verb, 'we did not seek it in order to provide a proper place for it;' and so the Septuagint renders it: hoti ouk ezeeteesan auteen, because they sought it not.] Doubtless the publication of the royal edict would have been followed by the appointment of an early day for the contemplated solemnity, had it not been retarded by a sudden invasion of the Philistines, who were twice repulsed with great loss (2 Samuel 5:17), by the capture of Jerusalem, and the transference of the seat of government to that city. Finding, however, soon after, peace restored and his throne established, he resumed his preparations for removing the ark to the metropolis.

Verse 4

And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

No JFB commentary on this verse.

Verse 5

So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjath-je'arim.

From Shihor of Egypt (Joshua 15:4; Joshua 15:47; Numbers 34:5; 1 Kings 8:65; 2 Kings 24:7; 2 Chronicles 7:8) - Wady el-Arish. This is taken by many writers for the Nile; but the Septuagint has: apo horioon Aiguptou; and the Syriac, 'from the river of Egypt.' A small brook flowing into the Mediterranean, near the modern el-Arish, which forms the southern boundary of Palestine. Unto the entering of Hamath. The defile between the mountain ranges of Syria and the extreme limit of Palestine on the north.

Verse 6

And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjath-je'arim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the LORD, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it.

David went up ... to Baalah (see the notes at 2 Samuel 6:1-11) - for Baalah in the Hebrew text, the Vulgate has Collis Cariatharim.

Whose name, is called on it - rather, 'who is worshipped there' (see on 2 Samuel 6:2).