1 Chronicles 11:1-9

LESSON FIVE 11-12

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF DAVID AND HIS WARRIORS
2. THE REIGN OF DAVID

INTRODUCTION

The writer of Chronicles now comes to his principal theme, David and his kingdom. Joab, Abishai and Uriah play their roles in relation to David and his times. David's ability to unify the kingdom is a highlight of these Chapter s.

TEXT

1 Chronicles 11:1. Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bond and thy flesh. 2. In times past, even when Saul was king, it was thou that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and Jehovah thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt be shepherd of my people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over my people Israel. 3. So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Jehovah; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of Jehovah by Samuel. 4. And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (the same is Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there. 5. And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come in hither. Nevertheless David took the strong-hold of Zion; the same is the city of David. 6. And David said, whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was made chief. 7. And David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore they called it the city of David. 8. And he built the city round about, from Millo even round about; and Joab repaired the rest of the city. 9. And David waxed greater and greater; for Jehovah of hosts was with him.

PARAPHRASE

1 Chronicles 11:1. Then the leaders of Israel went to David at Hebron and told him, We are your relatives, 2. and even when Saul was king, you were the one who led our armies to battle and brought them safely back again. And the Lord your God has told you, -You shall be the shepherd of my people Israel. You shall be their king,-' 3. So David made a contract with them before the Lord, and they appointed him as a king of Israel, just as the Lord had told Samuel. 4. Then David and the leaders went to Jerusalem (or Jebus, as it used to be called) where the Jebusitesthe original inhabitants of the landlived. 5, 6. But the people of Jebus refused to let them enter the city. So David captured the fortress of Zion, later called the City of David, and said to his men, The first man to kill a Jebusite shall be made commander-in-chief! Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was the first, so he became the general of David's army. 7. David lived in the fortress and that is why that area of Jerusalem is called the City of David. 8. He extended the city out around the fortress while Joab rebuilt the rest of Jerusalem. 9. And David became more and more famous and powerful, for the Lord of the heavens was with him.

COMMENTARY

Upon the overthrow of Saul and his house David was anointed king in Hebron. David's tribe was Judah and Hebron was a principal city in that territory.[25] 1 Chronicles 11:1 says that all Israel gathered for this ceremony. The record in II Samuel indicated that Abner and Ishbosheth set up a rival government at Mahanaim out beyond the sea of Chinnereth to the east. This attempt was doomed to failure because it was Jehovah's will that David should rule over all Israel. The rebel forces lost their power when a quarrel arose between Abner and Ishbosheth with regard to a concubine. Ishbosheth was killed by two of his servants and Abner lost his life at the hands of Joab. So all Israel came under David's authority.

[25] Spence, H. D. M., The Pulpit Commentary, I Chronicles, p. 143.

David had proved himself to be a powerful general. As Saul was plagued by an evil spirit, the spirit of Jehovah empowered David to accomplish Jehovah's will. The first anointing of David took place at Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:1; 1 Samuel 16:3; 1 Samuel 16:12-13). The second and third annointings were done at Hebron.

Once David had settled accounts with his rivals in the north and had all of Israel under his leadership, he sought out a place for the capital of his kingdom. Hebron was provincial and it was in the tribe of Judah. Jerusalem was more centrally located. It was on the border of the tribe of Benjamin and within the limits of that tribe. Jerusalem was set in a natural fortress of hills and it was very strategically elevated. Through all the years the Jebusites had occupied this city. They had not been displaced in Joshua's day. The tribe of Benjamin had not been able to dislodge them. These native peoples were so secure in their citadel that they taunted an enemy who would presume to overthrow them (2 Samuel 5:6). The defiant attitude of the Jebusites did not alarm David. He offered the position of captain of the host to the man who would devise a way to take the city. Joab led a brave band of men through a water conduit (2 Samuel 5:8) into the city. The Jebusites were smitten and David moved in, built up the city, fortified the walls and established this as his capital. Millo was a tower and an important part of the fortification of Jerusalem.[26] The establishment of Jerusalem was very important in the setting up of David's kingdom.

[26] Schaff, Philip, Lange's Commentary, Chronicles, p. 98.