1 Chronicles 13:5-14 English Standard Version Uzzah and the Ark 5 So David assembled all Israel from the Nile of Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. 6 And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim that belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD who sits enthroned above the cherubim. 7 And they carried the ark of God on a new cart, from the house of Abinadab, and Uzzah and Ahio were driving the cart. 8 And David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, with song and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets. 9 And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to take hold of the ark, for the oxen stumbled. 10 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God. 11 And David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzza to this day. 12 And David was afraid of God that day, and he said, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?” 13 So David did not take the ark home into the city of David, but took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14 And the ark of God remained with the household of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that he had. We talked about David's preparations for this event yesterday and since they didn't have the internet and email back then, nor did they have cars and airplanes, it must have taken quite some time to spread the word to all the people in all the Land and give them time to travel to meet together for this occasion (unless it already overlapped with one of the pilgrimage feasts, which we don't get any indication of). David has his mind set to bring the Ark of God to Jerusalem, even though the Tabernacle and the Bronze Altar are set up elsewhere in Gibeon (we'll see this in 2 Chronicles 1).
Now David wanted this to be a parade and wanted the Ark to be high and lifted up and arranged for it to be transported by oxen on a cart (much the same as the Philistines had done when they returned the Ark to Israel and let the LORD drive the oxen back to where he wanted it to go). This however was not how the LORD had prescribed for the Ark (or anything else from the Tabernacle) to be carried. The Ark was to be carried on long poles of acacia wood that were covered in pure gold that went through rings that were on the Ark, and the poles were to be carried on the shoulders of the priests. In this way the priests would physically bear the burden of the Covenant. Think of this in relation to Jesus saying, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Jesus took all this burden of the New Covenant (and the Old Covenant) upon Himself so that we only have a "light" burden in comparison. The people had forgotten or ignored this instruction from the Law and when the oxen stumbled, one of the priests reached out his hand to stabilize the Ark, and as soon as he touched it, he died because no one was to make direct contact with the Ark of the Covenant. David was angry with the LORD about this, and he feared to bring the Ark to Jerusalem as he had originally planned, so they left the Ark at the house of Obed-edom for three months while David and the priests searched for answers on to why the LORD's holiness killed Uzzah. Only after they had found the answer in Scripture did they return to bring the Ark back the right way--this time with sacrifices being made every few steps (talked about in 2 Samuel) and music and singing. We'll get to this in a couple chapters, but there are some more important events that happen in the three months that the Ark rests in the house of Obed-edom (and imagine having the Ark of the LORD in your house!). 1 Chronicles 13:1-4 English Standard Version The Ark Brought from Kiriath-Jearim 13 David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with every leader. 2 And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you and from the LORD our God, let us send abroad to our brothers who remain in all the lands of Israel, as well as to the priests and Levites in the cities that have pasturelands, that they may be gathered to us. 3 Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.” 4 All the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. This may seem to be an insignificant story in the biography of King David, but the purpose of this book is not a biography of King David, it is a book about how God used a man, David, and his son, Solomon, to build the Temple of the LORD. A key component to building the Temple was to have the Ark of the Covenant returned to Jerusalem where they knew it was at and put it under the care of the priests. This way, the Ark would be ready to go into the Temple when Solomon built it. However, David states his spiritual reasons for wanting the whole nation of Israel to be involved in seeking for the Ark and bringing it to its new home in Jerusalem. For all the years of Saul's reign, the people did not seek the Ark after the Philistines stole it. David has the right motivation here, but he's going to do it the wrong way (he's going to borrow technique from the Philistines who sent the Ark back to Israel instead of reading the way the Law prescribed that the Ark of the Covenant be transported). It seems even the priests were ignorant of the Law in this regard as no one would speak up to correct the king, but something will happen in our next passage that will get everyone's attention and will drive them back to the Scriptures to see what went wrong and how they were supposed to correctly handle and transport the Ark of the LORD.
1 Chronicles 12 English Standard Version The Mighty Men Join David 12 Now these are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul the son of Kish. And they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. 2 They were bowmen and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right or the left hand; they were Benjaminites, Saul's kinsmen. 3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, both sons of Shemaah of Gibeah; also Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah, Jehu of Anathoth, 4 Ishmaiah of Gibeon, a mighty man among the thirty and a leader over the thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad of Gederah, 5 Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite; 6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites; 7 And Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor. 8 From the Gadites there went over to David at the stronghold in the wilderness mighty and experienced warriors, expert with shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were swift as gazelles upon the mountains: 9 Ezer the chief, Obadiah second, Eliab third, 10 Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth, 11 Attai sixth, Eliel seventh, 12 Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth, 13 Jeremiah tenth, Machbannai eleventh. 14 These Gadites were officers of the army; the least was a match for a hundred men and the greatest for a thousand. 15 These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it was overflowing all its banks, and put to flight all those in the valleys, to the east and to the west. 16 And some of the men of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David. 17 David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come to me in friendship to help me, my heart will be joined to you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, although there is no wrong in my hands, then may the God of our fathers see and rebuke you.” 18 Then the Spirit clothed Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said, “We are yours, O David, and with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers! For your God helps you.” Then David received them and made them officers of his troops. 19 Some of the men of Manasseh deserted to David when he came with the Philistines for the battle against Saul. (Yet he did not help them, for the rulers of the Philistines took counsel and sent him away, saying, “At peril to our heads he will desert to his master Saul.”) 20 As he went to Ziklag, these men of Manasseh deserted to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands in Manasseh. 21 They helped David against the band of raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor and were commanders in the army. 22 For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God. 23 These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops who came to David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the word of the LORD. 24 The men of Judah bearing shield and spear were 6,800 armed troops. 25 Of the Simeonites, mighty men of valor for war, 7,100. 26 Of the Levites 4,600. 27 The prince Jehoiada, of the house of Aaron, and with him 3,700. 28 Zadok, a young man mighty in valor, and twenty-two commanders from his own fathers' house. 29 Of the Benjaminites, the kinsmen of Saul, 3,000, of whom the majority had to that point kept their allegiance to the house of Saul. 30 Of the Ephraimites 20,800, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers' houses. 31 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh 18,000, who were expressly named to come and make David king. 32 Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command. 33 Of Zebulun 50,000 seasoned troops, equipped for battle with all the weapons of war, to help David with singleness of purpose. 34 Of Naphtali 1,000 commanders with whom were 37,000 men armed with shield and spear. 35 Of the Danites 28,600 men equipped for battle. 36 Of Asher 40,000 seasoned troops ready for battle. 37 Of the Reubenites and Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh from beyond the Jordan, 120,000 men armed with all the weapons of war. 38 All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king. 39 And they were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their brothers had made preparation for them. 40 And also their relatives, from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, came bringing food on donkeys and on camels and on mules and on oxen, abundant provisions of flour, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, and wine and oil, oxen and sheep, for there was joy in Israel. We have been left with the impression up to this point that it was mostly David and his loyal followers from Judah against Saul and the rest of Israel, but this chapter tells us that's not really the case. While David was hiding in the wilderness of ZIklag (apparently everyone knew where he was other than King Saul), all of the Twelve Tribes of Isarel sent their best fighting men to join up with David and show their support. These are the "mighty men" that were talked about in the previous chapter. Even some of Saul's own kinsmen joined forces with David against Saul because they saw that the LORD had chosen David and was no longer with Saul.
What a sweet message it must have been for David to hear these words when he was alone in the wilderness (I think many of the Psalms were written during that time when he speaks of feeling alone and constantly under attack). “We are yours, O David, and with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers! For your God helps you.” The LORD knew that David needed this comfort, companionship, and the aid of fellow warriors in the battles that were to be set before him. A full accounting of all the men and provisions that were brought are given, and it brought much joy to David and all of Israel, and the LORD blessed Isarel for choosing David and in so choosing they also chose the LORD. 1 Chronicles 11:10-47 English Standard Version David's Mighty Men 10 Now these are the chiefs of David's mighty men, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel. 11 This is an account of David's mighty men: Jashobeam, a Hachmonite, was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against 300 whom he killed at one time. 12 And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite. 13 He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines were gathered there for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley, and the men fled from the Philistines. 14 But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and killed the Philistines. And the LORD saved them by a great victory. 15 Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David at the cave of Adullam, when the army of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 16 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. 17 And David said longingly, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” 18 Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and took it and brought it to David. But David would not drink it. He poured it out to the LORD 19 and said, “Far be it from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the lifeblood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men. 20 Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the thirty. And he wielded his spear against 300 men and killed them and won a name beside the three. 21 He was the most renowned of the thirty and became their commander, but he did not attain to the three. 22 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds. He struck down two heroes of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. 23 And he struck down an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits tall. The Egyptian had in his hand a spear like a weaver's beam, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear. 24 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and won a name beside the three mighty men. 25 He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard. 26 The mighty men were Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 27 Shammoth of Harod, Helez the Pelonite, 28 Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, Abiezer of Anathoth, 29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, 30 Maharai of Netophah, Heled the son of Baanah of Netophah, 31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the people of Benjamin, Benaiah of Pirathon, 32 Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, 33 Azmaveth of Baharum, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, 34 Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite, 35 Ahiam the son of Sachar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur, 36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, 37 Hezro of Carmel, Naarai the son of Ezbai, 38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri, 39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, 42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a leader of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, 43 Hanan the son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, 44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, 45 Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, 46 Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, 47 Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite. The priest writing these chronicles were careful to give credit to all those who surrounded king David both in a military capacity and in a governing capacity (as we'll see later in the book). We see some names in this list that should be familiar to us, but we won't see Joab's name here, as he is listed among David's "cabinet members" later. The most interesting name to me out of the names listed here is Uriah the Hittite that David had killed because he had committed adultery with Uriah's wife Bathsheba.
Some of these men had been with him since he was hiding form King Saul in the wilderness, going from stronghold to stronghold, and even seeking refuge outside the Land for a time. Abishai, the brother of Joab is another name that stands out because of the stories about him in 2 Samuel. So does Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the captain of David's bodyguards. All these men fought valiantly for David and all of Israel and were behind the many victories that the LORD provided to David and to Israel. Some of them were even giant-slayers and those who would take on large numbers of enemies by themselves and slay them all (with the help of the LORD). This list shows just some of the great people that supported David. We'll also see recognition given to the priests and the Levites--even for jobs such as musicians and doorkeepers. Those writing the chronicles are going to make sure that no one gets left out. God sees everyone and everything and even when we think our lives may have gone unnoticed, it has not escaped His notice. 1 Chronicles 11:4-9 English Standard Version David Takes Jerusalem 4 And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, that is, Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. 5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here.” Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. 6 David said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and commander.” And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief. 7 And David lived in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David. 8 And he built the city all around from the Millo in complete circuit, and Joab repaired the rest of the city. 9 And David became greater and greater, for the LORD of hosts was with him. After David was made king over all of Israel, he went up to Jebus to the stronghold of Mount Zion and took over it. From that point forward, Zion was called "The City of David," and he renamed it Jerusalem. Now the Jebusites had been allowed to live in the Land up until that point even though they were part of the people that were supposed to be destroyed in the time of Moses and Joshua. So, David offered the position of Chief and Commander (the general over the army and other armed forces of Israel) to the one who would be first to strike the Jebusites. Joab was the first to do so, and so leadership over all the army was given to him (for now).
David then built the city of Jerusalem all around the stronghold. David's fame and influence became greater and greater because it was obvious that the LORD was with him, and whatever David set out to do prospered because he first sought the LORD first in nearly every important decision. 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. 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. 1 Chronicles 10 English Standard Version The Death of Saul and His Sons 10 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3 The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was wounded by the archers. 4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. 5 And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died. 6 Thus Saul died; he and his three sons and all his house died together. 7 And when all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled, and the Philistines came and lived in them. 8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 And they stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to carry the good news to their idols and to the people. 10 And they put his armor in the temple of their gods and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon. 11 But when all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all the valiant men arose and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh. And they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh and fasted seven days. 13 So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. 14 He did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse. God raised up Saul to be king over Israel to deal with the Philistines that the Israelites had let live among them since the time of Joshua. While the LORD did not give Saul complete and total victory over them (that would happen during the time of David), Saul had great victory over them, but the LORD also used the Philistines to kill Saul and his sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua at Mount Giboa. Saul's armor-bearer also died there after refusing to help Saul commit suicide, but out of great fear, the armor-bearer took his own life after he saw that his master was dead. Thus, everyone who was "heir-apparent" to the throne of Saul died in that battle that one day. Even though you might think that was a clear enough signal sent by the LORD, there were still some people that tried to make relatives of Saul king over all of Israel instead of following after David--for they were following after the example of the pagan kings that the kingship was something to inherit or to take by force. We'll see the this is the way the northern ten tribes of Israel will behave in the Divided Kingdom.
After Saul had been killed, the Philistines hung the armor and body of Saul out as trophies and celebrated their victory over Isarel in the temple of their god named Dagon. Some valiant men from Gilead took away Saul's body and buried it near the city of Jabesh so that his body would be treated with dignity. Later David would bring Saul's remains back to his family in the land of the tribe of Benjamin near Jerusalem, and it was a sign of peace between the house of Saul and the house of David. For the most part, the house of Saul and all of the tribe of Benjamin followed loyally after David from that point forward, even when the kingdom divided. One other important item in the life of Saul is why the LORD judged him and sentenced him to death by the Philistines and told him that the kingdom was going to be taken away from him. He disobeyed the LORD several times--making unauthorized sacrifices (stepping into the role of priest or prophet), refused to follow the LORD's command in destroying all the people and animals of the Amalekites as he was commanded, and after that event was told that the prophet Samuel would never see or talk to him again (because he was no longer the rightful king in the eyes of the LORD). Shortly after that, Samuel died, and Saul desired to hear something from the LORD--anything was better than the silent-treatment he had been getting, but Saul did not repent during that whole time and instead decided to consort with a woman described in different translations as a witch, medium, or spiritist (she practiced divination). Now Saul had been zealous in trying to kill all such people according to the Law of the LORD early in his reign, but when he asked his advisors where he could find someone who could reach out an speak to Samuel for him (remember, Samuel is dead), then they are all too happy to point him to the one woman they know of that is left in Israel. It is during this encounter that Samuel's spirit is allowed to come back to Saul and prophecy to him one more time (the witch is as surprised and scared as Saul if you read the text, for she expected to speak on behalf of the spirits and tell Saul whatever she wanted to say). Saul was told that he and his sons would die in this upcoming battle with the Philistines, and that his refusal to obey the LORD would lead in his descendants being cut off from the land of the living. The kingdom would be torn away from him and given to David (who had already been anointed king by Samuel years earlier, but David has been waiting for Saul to die as David believed it was the LORD's responsibility to kill our enemies and not something that we should do ourselves--though he was all too happy to give his son Solomon a list of people that he should have killed and have Solomon take care of them for him). This chapter on King Saul is now closed as far as the priests are concerned. We'll come back next time to talk about the people anointing David as their king (they people make the choice that the LORD has already made), and we'll get the highlights of the reign of King David throughout the rest of 1 Chronicles (2 Chronicles will pick up with the reign of King Solomon and move forward from there). |
Daniel WestfallI will mostly use this space for recording my "journal" from my daily devotions as I hope to encourage others to read the Bible along with me and to leave a legacy for others. Archives
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