1 Chronicles 13:1

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

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

XIII.

(1) And David consulted.—This consultation took place some time after the coronation at Hebron (comp. 2Samuel 6:1), “And David gathered together again every chosen man iıı Israel, thirty thousand.” This is all that Samuel has corresponding to our 1Chronicles 13:1-5. It is by no means necessary to assume that, “according to the context, we are still at Hebron in the assemblage of 350,000 warriors” (Reuss). Samuel implies the contrary.

Captains of thousands.—The thousands (comp. 1Chronicles 12:20).

And the hundreds.—Comp. Numbers 31:14. The hundreds were the smaller military divisions of the tribe, representing, perhaps, the warlike strength of the houses, as the thousands represented that of the clans or sub-tribes.

And with every leader.—Rather, viz. with every prince (nagîd) or chief. These chiefs constituted the Great Council of the nation.

Benson Commentary

1 Chronicles 13:1. David consulted with the captains of thousands, &c. — With all the principal persons in authority, who had any command over others. For it is a dangerous thing for a prince, especially in the beginning of his reign, to rely wholly on his own wisdom, and not advise with others.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

13:1-5 David said not, What magnificent thing shall I do now? or, What pleasant thing? but, What pious thing? that he might have the comfort and benefit of that sacred oracle. Let us bring the ark to us, that it may be a blessing to us. Those who honour God, profit themselves. It is the wisdom of those setting out in the world, to take God's ark with them. Those are likely to go on in the favour of God, who begin in the fear of God.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The captains ... - Such an organisation had probably been established generally through the tribes prior to the time of David: but David seems to have been the first to recognize in these officers of the host representatives of the people, to consult them on public affairs, and to give them a certain political position.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 13

1Ch 13:1-8. David Fetches the Ark from Kirjath-jearim.

1-3. David consulted … And let us bring again the ark of our God—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, entering on his duties, he was resolved to fulfil his mission as a constitutional king of Israel. Accordingly, his first act as a sovereign related to the interests of religion. 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 Sheloshim, princes of thousands (2Sa 6:1). During the reign of the late king, the ark had been left in culpable neglect. Consequently 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.David fetcheth the ark from Kirjath-jearim with great solemnity, 1 Chronicles 13:1-8. Uzza being smitten, the ark is left at the house of Obed-edom, 1 Chronicles 13:9-14.

Or, governor or elder of the people.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And David consulted with the captains of thousands, and hundreds, and with every leader. With the chiliarchs and centurions, and every officer in that large body of armed men in every tribe, who met to make and crown him king: for at that time was this consultation had, and therefore is connected with it; though the affair advised about was not yet done, as Dr. Lightfoot (h) observes, and was not done until some considerable time afterwards. Advice being taken, the several officers went with their men to their respective countries, to meet again at a certain time and place to put the thing projected into execution; and between this and that time were Hiram's message to David on his accession to the throne, the taking of Jerusalem, and the two battles with the Philistines, as the same writer notes; most of which are recorded before this in the book of Samuel, and follow here.

(h) Works, vol. 1. p. 61, 62.

Geneva Study Bible

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

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

1. David consulted with the captains etc.] The Chronicler is fond of associating the people with the king in religious measures so as to minimise the appearance of arbitrary power which is suggested by the language of the books of Samuel and of Kings; cp. 1 Chronicles 13:4 (the assembly said that they would do so), also 2 Chronicles 30:2; 2 Chronicles 30:4. Similarly in 1 Chronicles 28:2 the king addresses the elders as My brethren. Doubtless the Chronicler had in mind Deuteronomy 17:20.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 1. - There can be little doubt that the captains of thousands and hundreds... with every leader, here spoken of, represented what had become by this time a confirmed institution, although in embryo, dating from the time of Moses at least (Numbers 31:14; Deuteronomy 1:15; Judges 20:7; 2 Chronicles 20:21). 1 Chronicles 13:1

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

The introduction to this event is in 2 Samuel 6:1 and 2 Samuel 6:2 very brief; but according to our narrative, David consulted with the chief men over thousands and hundreds (1 Chronicles 15:25), viz., with all the princes. The preposition ל before כּל־נגּיד groups together the individual chiefs of the people just named. He laid his purpose before "all the congregation of Israel," i.e., before the above-mentioned princes as representatives of the whole people. "If it seem good to you, and if it come from Jahve our God," i.e., if the matter be willed of and approved by God, we will send as speedily as possible. The words נשׁלחה נפרצה without the conjunction are so connected that נשׁלחה defines the idea expressed by נפרצה, "we will break through, will send," for "we will, breaking through," i.e., acting quickly and energetically, "send thither." The construction of שׁלח with על is accounted for by the fact that the sending thither includes the notion of commanding (צוּה על). כּל־ארצות, all the provinces of the various tribal domains, is used for כּל־חארץ, 1 Samuel 13:19, here, and 2 Chronicles 11:23 and 2 Chronicles 34:33; in all which places the idea of the division of the land into a number of territories is prominent. This usage is founded upon Genesis 26:3 and Genesis 26:4, where the plural points to the number of small tribes which possessed Canaan. After ועמּהם, על or על נשׁלחה is to be repeated. The words דרשׁנהוּ לא in 1 Chronicles 13:3, we have not sought it, nor asked after it, are meant to include all.