1 Chronicles 13:1
in 1 Chronicles 13Then David conferred with all his leaders, the commanders of hundreds and of thousands.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And David consulted with the captains of thousands and of hundreds, even with every leader.
KJV
And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.
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This verse in 1 Chronicles 13
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
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.
This site's exposition
the captains of thousands and hundreds
on 1 Chronicles 13:1-3
David's first act as reigning king in Chronicles is not a war but the ark, placed before the battles of chapter 14 and its palace building, the worship-first shape of the whole book. He consults the captains of thousands and hundreds and then the whole congregation of Israel, a national deliberation wider than Samuel's account, which simply reports David gathering thirty thousand chosen men. Verse 3's confession, that Israel enquired not at the ark in the days of Saul, reaches back to the verdict Chronicles already stated on Saul at 10:13-14: he died for asking counsel of a familiar spirit and not enquiring of the LORD. David's first move corrects exactly that failure.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
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,
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.
That he might be advised by them in the manner of doing it, whether just now, whether publicly. David was a very intelligent man himself, and yet consulted with his captains; for in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. It is wisdom to make use of the wisdom of others.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
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.
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.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
And David conferred with the officers of the thousands He said to them, “You have already engaged in matters that are for your benefit, for you have a king to save you; now you should engage in the honor of God.”
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
it has been opened The fence that was closed until now has been opened, for no one has yet inquired of God. let us send to our brethren remaining because of the honor of the Ark.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיִּוָּעַ֣ץ | vaiyivaatz | and he consulted | H3289 → | 79 times |
| דָּוִ֗יד | david | David | H1732 → | 999 times |
| עִם־ | ʾim- | with | H5973 → | 1050 times |
| שָׂרֵ֧י | sarei | [the] commanders of | H8269 → | 421 times |
| הָאֲלָפִ֛ים | haalafim | the thousands | H505 → | 505 times |
| וְהַמֵּא֖וֹת | vehameot | and the hundreds | H3967 → | 581 times |
| לְכָל־ | lekhol | to every | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| נָגִֽיד׃ | nagid | leader | H5057 → | 45 times |
וַיִּוָּעַ֣ץand he consulted
vaiyivaatzH3289 →79 times
דָּוִ֗ידDavid
davidH1732 →999 times
עִם־with
ʾim-H5973 →1050 times
שָׂרֵ֧י[the] commanders of
sareiH8269 →421 times
הָאֲלָפִ֛יםthe thousands
haalafimH505 →505 times
וְהַמֵּא֖וֹתand the hundreds
vehameotH3967 →581 times
לְכָל־to every
lekholH3605 →5413 times
נָגִֽיד׃leader
nagidH5057 →45 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Chronicles 12:14These Gadites were army commanders, the least of whom was a match for a hundred, and the greatest for a thousand.
it leads to
- Leviticus 26:8
Five of you will pursue a hundred, and a hundred of you will pursue ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.
- Deuteronomy 32:30
How could one man pursue a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?
- Leviticus 26:8
Through
2 Kings 23:1Then the king summoned all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
it leads to
- 2 Chronicles 34:29–33
Then the king summoned all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
- 2 Chronicles 34:29–33
Through
1 Chronicles 12:20When David went to Ziklag, these men of Manasseh defected to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands in Manasseh.
it leads to
- Exodus 18:21
Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
- Deuteronomy 1:15
So I took the leaders of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them as leaders over you—as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens, and as officers for your…
- Exodus 18:21
Through
2 Chronicles 29:20Early the next morning King Hezekiah gathered the city officials and went up to the house of the LORD.
it leads to
- Joshua 6:12
Joshua got up early the next morning, and the priests took the ark of the LORD.
- Genesis 22:3
So Abraham got up early the next morning, saddled his donkey, and took along two of his servants and his son Isaac. He split the wood for a burnt offering and set out for…
- Exodus 24:4
And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Early the next morning he got up and built an altar at the base of the mountain, along with twelve pillars for the twelve…
- Joshua 6:12
About 1 Chronicles
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.