Grace Institute: The Writings : Chronicles Part 3

Chronicles Survey of the Old Testament: The Writings Fall 2006

The Reign of David (1 Chronicles 10-29)

David Crowned (1 Chronicles 10-12)

Genealogy and Death of King Saul ( 9:35-10:14 )

The genealogies end in chapter 9 with the lineage of King Saul from the tribe of Benjamin. Saul was the first king of a united Israel and serves as point of pride for the tribe of Benjamin. However, the chronicler doesn't spend much time on the reign of Saul, with chapter 10 only discussing his death. This is only a transition chapter, to the main event; namely, the reign of King David.

David Crowned (11:1-3)

Chronicles ignores the strife between David and Saul, which occupies so much of the book of Samuel. It also ignores the 7 years after Saul death where the nation was divided with Judah following David and the other tribes following after Saul's descendent. Chronicles instead emphasizes the unity of the nation by beginning with David being crowned the king over all Israel in Hebron (11:1-3).

David Conquers Jerusalem (11:4-9)

After his coronation, David sets to conquering Jerusalem , which had been under control of the Jebusites. David establishes his capitol in Jerusalem , rebuilding and expanding the city. It is for this reason that Jerusalem is called the City of David . The central city of those returning from exile remains Jerusalem , the city of David . Here is a connection to the past which can form a basis of civic pride for all Israel at the time of Chronicles.

David's Supporters ( 11:10-12:40 )

David's Mighty Men ( 11:10 -47)

David's key supporters were called his mighty men. The list of mighty men begins with the three mighty men and shares some of their exploits on behalf of David ( 11:11 -19). Then are listed two of David's top generals, Abshai and Benaiah, who were second only to Joab, David's top general ( 11:20 -25) along with their exploits. Then the thirty are listed ( 11:26 -47). This thirty were the elite within David's army.

David's Army at Ziklag (12:1-22)

During the latter part of King Saul's reign, David was exiled in Ziklag. However, many men came out in support of David and joined his army there. This was in addition to the thirty listed in the previous chapter. These supporters were well equipped and particularly skilled as archers and slingers (12:2). The chronicler seems to emphasize that David's supporters in Ziklag were not just from the tribe of Judah . In fact, there were men from Saul's own tribe, Benjamin (12:2b, 16). David is being presented, even during a time of division in the kingdom, as a unifying symbol to Israel . He was not just ruler of Judah , but all Israel .

The unity of all the tribes of Israel seems to continue to be a focus of Chronicles. The writer sees a need even in his time to show the unity of the nation. These returning settlers are not just from the tribe of Judah , but represent all the tribes. Just as in the time of David all the sons of Israel should come together in unity.

David's Army at Hebron ( 12:23 -40)

When all the tribes of Israel come to crown David as king, the tribes present themselves with an army to be led by David. The census of this army is listed in that last part of chapter 12. This again emphasizes the unity of the whole nation behind David ( 12:38 ). The entire nation was ready to follow their leader, demonstrating that David and his family were indeed the legitimate royal line of the whole nation, not just Judah .

Ark Brought to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 13-16)

Attempt to Bring the Ark to Jerusalem (13:1-14)

The Purpose in Moving the Ark

With David established as the king over a unified Israel , and with Jerusalem established as the political capital of the kingdom, now David works to solidify the unity of the nation around the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel. To do so, David has to expand Jerusalem from being merely the political capital to the religious capital of the nation.

Ever since the time of the Exodus, the central focus of the worship of the God of Israel had been around the tabernacle. Within the tabernacle, the center focus of worship was around the Ark of the Covenant. The ark was constructed by Moses, and within it contained the original copies of the Mosaic covenant where God promised to make Israel His chosen nation. The ark was placed in the Holy of Holies, the most inner part of the tabernacle. It was here that God chose to exhibit his glory in a special way so as to demonstrate his presence with the nation of Israel .

The tabernacle was tent of worship was constructed to be mobile so that it could move with the nation as it migrated from Egypt to the Promised Land. However, Israel had been in the land for over 400 years. Yet the ark remained in a mobile tent this entire time. By moving the ark to Jerusalem , David was proclaiming that the nation is no longer a nation on the run, but a firmly established, stable and unified nation tied to this land.

The Tragedy in Moving the Ark

While this was a noble effort on David's part, the king is reminded that he is not above the law as king. God's commandments must be obeyed, even by the king. Yahweh is the true king of Israel , and David is merely his vice regent.

The ark is moved by Levites. However, the ark is not carried by the Levites as required by the Mosaic Law. Instead it is placed on an ox cart and hauled to the city. The cart hits a pot-hole and the ark begins to fall off the cart. Instinctively, Uzza, reaches out to stabilize the ark and is struck dead. No one is to touch the Ark of the Covenant, and Uzza is caught in violation, even though he had the best of intentions.

The fault, however, lies not so much with Uzza, but with David and the Levites for ignoring the commandment on how to carry the ark. David is angry at the situation, and the ark is not brought to Jerusalem at this time. Instead it sits in the house of Obed-edom for three months, during which time Ob ed-edom is richly blessed.

David's Kingdom Expands (14:1-17)

Expansion of David's Household (14:1-7)

David's disobedience in the method of moving the ark prevents him from further establishing his kingdom. But David soon learns that when he obeys God, his kingdom expands.

David builds a palace for himself. He takes many wives and has many children. While our modern sensibilities struggle with David's harem, two things should be noted about his wives. First, in that culture, the size of the king's family was a sign of success for a king. Secondly, his point of the passage is not to render a moral verdict on polygamy. It is to demonstrate the expansion of David's influence, prosperity and success.

What is particularly important is that David recognizes that this expansion of his kingdom is a result of the favor of God. The Lord had prospered David, not for his sake, but for the sake of God's people, Israel (14:2). In other words, it was not all about him, but it was about God and his people.

Expansion of David's Territory (14:8-17)

This point is further reiterated in a recounting of David's defeat of the Philistines. In the details of the battle we learn that David found success because he inquired of the Lord before the battle. In 14:10 he asks the Lord if he should go against the Philistines, and God answers affirmatively. David is wildly successful. In 14:14 David asks again, but this time God gives him a different strategy. David follows God's command and is again highly successful.

David became very famous and highly feared by the nations. But the point of the passage is clear. David's fame was a result of his obedience to God and the influence of the Lord, not David.

Ark Brought to Jerusalem (15:1-16:6)

Ark Returned (15:1-15)

Having learned his proper place before the Lord, David now is ready to bring the ark back into Jerusalem . This time, however, he requires the Levites to bring the ark in carried on poles, as required by the Law (15:2).

Appointment of the Levites ( 15:16 -24)

David also prepares detailed assignments for the Levites. There will be musicians and doorkeepers and gatekeepers watching over the procession of the ark. Particular attention is paid to the singers and musicians. David appoints Heman, Asaph and Ethan to be the chief musicians as they prepare a great worship concert to be performed after the ark is returned. This is the first of many appointments David gives to the Levites, this appointment being specifically for the moving of the ark. Subsequent appointment will be made more permanent. These appointment will be important for the original audience of Chronicles, as the Levites are organized in the time of Ezra according to the commandment of David (Nehemiah 12:45 ).

Ark brought to the tent ( 15:25 -16:6)

As the ark is brought to the tent in Jerusalem , the Levites sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams to the Lord. This begins a time of worship, led by the Levites, but entered into with passionate abandon by King David. There were shouts and loud cymbals, horns, harps and lyres. David himself was wearing a linen ephod and was singing along with the Levites and dancing in praise. This embarrassed David's wife, Michal such that she despised David's undignified praise to God.

After the ark enters the temple, David gives more offerings to the Lord and then gives everyone in Israel a present of a loaf of bread, meat and a raisin cake. The praise continues as Asaph and the other musicians keep playing the trumpets and cymbals.

The Psalm of Praise (16:7-36)

On this occasion, the song sung was a medley of Psalms 105, 96 and 106.

Thanks to the Lord for Remembering the Covenant (16:8-22)

The first part of the medley comes from Psalm 105. It begins with a command for the worshipper to proclaim the wondrous deeds of God (16:8-10), followed by a call to seek after his face ( 16:11 -12).

This is followed by a call to remember the covenant that God had made with Israel ( 16:13 -18). This covenant was an everlasting covenant, lasting to a thousand generations ( 16:15 ). This means that the covenant extends even to the post-exilic period. The chronicler is reminding his reader of the permanence of the covenant and that they are part of that same covenant.

Note that the covenant is tied closely to the promise of the land ( 16:18 ). The people of God did not always dwell in the land. The patriarchs were sojourners in the midst of the land ( 16:19 -20). Israel would be enslaved in Egypt for 400 years and wander in the desert for 40 more before entering the land. The exiles would be in Babylon for 70 years. Yet, even with this absence, God would protect His people while they dwelt amongst the other nations ( 16:20 -22).

Praise for the Sovereignty of God ( 16:23 -33)

In the second part of the medley comes from Psalm 96. It affirms that God is sovereign over all the nations and other gods. God is able to protect Israel even in the midst of its exile from the promised land because Yahweh is not merely the God of Israel, but is above all gods (16:25), and He alone is the maker of the heavens (16:26). Yahweh is not like other gods. He is not merely an idol. He is full of real strength and power and glory. He is sovereign and all creation praises His name ( 16:30 -33).

Praise for God's Lovingkindness ( 16:34 -36)

The medley concludes with Psalm 106. God is not only powerful and sovereign, but He is loving as well:

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. (1 Chronicles 16:34 )

This simple refrain is a favorite of the temple musicia ns. It speaks of God's enduring love which motivates Him to restore Israel from its wandering and exile, delivering them from the nations and establishing them in the land according to the covenant.

When the ark I brought to Jerusalem , when Solomon temple is complete, and centuries later, when Zerubbabel lays the foundation five centuries hence, this song is sung. Why is this refrain so closely tied with milestones in the life of the temple?

The ark and the temple represen t God's permanent presence in the land. Up to this time, Israel worshipped the Lord at a mobile tabernacle. Later, in exile, the people would worship God in foreign lands, but without the presence of God nearby. But with the temple, Israel 's worship was tied to the land promised by the covenant. With the ark being relocated in Jerusalem , it was being moved from the transitory tabernacle. With the completion of Solomon's temple, now the ark would be kept in a permanent house of the Lord. Finally, after the exile, the temple reinstat es the sense of permanence to the worship of God, the permanence of the people in the land, and permanence of the covenant.

His love endures forever. He is above all gods. He is maker of heaven and earth. He protects those with whom He has given His covenant. All the people respond, Amen, praising the Lord ( 16:36 ).

Continuation of the Worship ( 16:17 -43)

It was on this occasion that David first assigned Asaph and his family to be the temple musicians. But the worship of the Lord didn't end with the ark coming to Jerusalem . Asaph and his family would continue to offer praise because his love endures forever ( 16:41 ).

This would be the beginning of a long standing relationship between David and Asaph. David would write many Psalms for the choir director, namely Asaph. Asaph himself along with his sons would be the second most prolific Psalmist.

Under David and Asaph, music would become one of the chief distinctions of the worship of the Lord. This heritage of worship music would be recaptured in the post-exilic period by Ezra as he appointed sons of Asaph to their ancient posts. The legacy of David and Asaph continue today in the many songs we sing now that are directly or indirectly based on the words of the Psalms.

[Next: David's Kingdom Established]