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 f81 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…”

“DAVID FETCHES THE ARK FROM KIRJATH-JEARIM. (Ch1 13:1-8) 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 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. return to 'Top of Page'”

“13:1–17:27 These chapters chronicle the transformation of Jerusalem into the political and religious center of Israel, beginning with David’s disastrous attempt to transfer the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to Jerusalem (13:1-14; cp. 2 Sam 6:2-11).”

“consulted: Ch1 12:14, Ch1 12:20, Ch1 12:32; Sa2 6:1; Kg2 23:1; Ch2 29:20, Ch2 34:29, Ch2 34:30 1 Chronicles 13:2”

“The removal of the ark from Kirjath-jearim. Cf. Sa2 6:1-11, with the commentary on the substance of the narrative there given. Ch1 13:1-3 The introduction to this event is in Sa2 6:1 and Sa2 6:2 very brief; but according to our narrative, David consulted with the chief men over thousands and hundreds ( Ch1 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,…”