1 Chronicles 11:1-3--David Anointed King

1 Chronicles 11:1-3
English Standard Version

David Anointed King
11 Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. 2 In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the LORD your God said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.’” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel.

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A short, but important passage today.  The priests remind the people that after the death of King Saul, all the tribes of Israel came together at Hebron (the capital of the "province" of Judah, where David had been ruling as king over the tribe of Judah for some time) and anointed David king over all of the twelve tribes of Israel.  (See 2 Samuel 5:1-3 which are almost word-for-word what we have in 1 Chronicles 11:1-3).  The people recognize that David has truly led the people, even when Saul was king.  It was David who led the twelve tribes out in battle. and it was Davod that the LORD had chosen to shepherd His people--the sheep of His pasture.  The LORD had promised to David "You will be a prince over my people."  Notice that the kings of Israel are referred to as princes by the LORD as the LORD is still their King, but the one they call king is their prince--a vassal king that does whatever the greater king (the LORD) commands.

So, all the people from all the tribes came to David at Hebron and anointed him king and made a covenant with him at Hebron before the LORD (they swore allegiance to him).  This was all done in accordance with the word of the LORD that was spoken through the prophet Samuel.  Though Samuel is already dead, the LORD still fulfilled the promises made to David through Samuel--the promise did not die with Samuel as it was not Samuel making the promise, but the LORD and the LORD will aways be faithful to keep His word--even if His timing is not our timing.