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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 13:1-8

Here is, I. David's pious proposal to bring up the ark of God to Jerusalem, that the royal city might be the holy city, 1 Chron. 13:1-3. This part of the story we had not in Samuel. We may observe in this proposal, 1. That as soon as David was well seated on his throne he had thoughts concerning the ark of God: Let us bring the ark to us, 1 Chron. 13:3. Two things he aimed at herein:?(1.) To do honour to God, by showing respect to his ark, the token of his presence. As soon as he had power in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 13:1

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 F8 Works, vol. 1. p. 61,62. observes, and was not done until some considerable time afterwards. Advice being taken,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 13:2

And David said unto all the congregation of Israel ,.... To the above persons, as representatives of it: if it seem good unto you, and that it be of the Lord our God ; if it could be thought by them a good and useful thing, and agreeable to the will of God, and would make for his glory: let us send abroad unto our brethren everywhere that are left in all the land of Israel ; that were not then present with them, even all the common people; whom David, though king, owns as his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 13:3

And let us bring again the ark of our God to us ,.... The symbol of the divine Presence, than which nothing was more desirable to David, and he chose to begin his reign overall Israel with it: for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul ; he being indifferent to religion, and careless about it, and the enjoyment of the presence of God, and having direction from him; and the people also content with worship at the tabernacle at Gibeah, though the token of the divine Presence was absent. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 13:4

And all the congregation said that they would do so ,.... They unanimously agreed to the motion: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people ; they saw the propriety, necessity, and usefulness of it. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Chronicles 13:1

David consulted - Having taken the strong hold of Zion from the Jebusites, organized his army, got assurances of the friendly disposition of the Israelites towards him, he judged it right to do what he could for the establishment of religion in the land; and as a first step, consulted on the propriety of bringing the ark from an obscure village, where it had remained during the reign of Saul, to the royal city or seat of government. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 13:1

EXPOSITION The opening verses of this chapter explain and amplify the compressed announcement of 2 Samuel 6:1 , "Again, David gathered together all the chosen of Israel, thirty thousand." And the remaining verses (6-14) cover the same ground as 2 Samuel 6:2-11 . 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... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 13:1-14

Before viewing this chapter in any detail, there is a general impression which it makes, and that , though general, yet not vague, but of a commanding sort. Here is, so to put it, a certain day in a man's life, an important day, one looked for and consecrated to high end. It rose bright and its joy spread. With intense activity the work is set about, and it is at all events designed and superintended by a good man, though it is not possible that he should, in his own person, carry out... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 13:2

Left in all the land . Some think that this phrase points to the destruction that had been widespread by the Philistines. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Chronicles 13:1

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. read more

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