1 Chronicles 11-13: The Rise of David

Thoughts

Chronicles 11

All Israel gathered at Hebron and said to David: “We are your bone and flesh.” They reminded him that even when Saul was king, David led Israel in battle, and the Lord said David would shepherd His people.

All the elders anointed David king.

David captured Jerusalem (Jebus). The Jebusites mocked him, but David took the stronghold of Zion (called the City of David).

Joab son of Zeruiah became chief because he was the first to go up.

David lived in the stronghold and built around it; “David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him.”

The list of the mighty warriors who supported David 

• Jashobeam: chief of the Three, wielded his spear against 300 at one time.
• Eleazar: stood firm in battle when others fled, struck down Philistines until his hand was weary.
• Three of the Thirty went to David at the cave of Adullam during harvest. David longed for water from Bethlehem’s well; they broke through Philistine camp to bring it, but David poured it out to the Lord.
• Abishai: chief of the Thirty, killed 300 with his spear.
• Benaiah: son of Jehoiada, struck down Moab’s two heroes, killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day, killed an Egyptian giant with his own spear.
• Others listed include mighty men from various tribes, totaling 30+ names, showing the widespread support David had.

Chronicles 12

While David was banished from Saul and staying at Ziklag, many mighty men came to support him.

• They were skilled archers, able to shoot arrows or sling stones with either hand.
• Chief among them: Ahiezer, Joash, Jeziel, Pelet, Beracah, Jehu, Ishmaiah, Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad, Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah.

Then, brave men from Gad joined David at his stronghold in the wilderness.

• Described as “mighty and experienced warriors, expert with shield and spear, faces like lions, swift as gazelles.”
• Names listed: Ezer, Obadiah, Eliab, Mishmannah, Jeremiah, Attai, Eliel, Johanan, Elzabad, Jeremiah, Machbannai.

Some Benjaminites and Judahites came to David.

• David tested them, asking their loyalty.
• The Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the Thirty.

Men of Manasseh defected to David when he was marching with the Philistines.

• They became commanders in his army.

Day after day more men came until David’s army became “a great host, like an army of God.”

• A census of warriors who came to Hebron to make David king, listed tribe by tribe:
  • Judah: 6,800 armed with shield and spear
  • Simeon: 7,100 mighty men of valor
  • Levi: 4,600, plus Jehoiada (leader of Aaronites) with 3,700 and Zadok (young mighty man) with 22 officers
  • Benjamin: 3,000 (still much of the tribe loyal to Saul)
  • Ephraim: 20,800 mighty men, famous in their clans
  • Half-tribe of Manasseh: 18,000 chosen by name
  • Issachar: 200 chiefs with all their kinsmen, noted for understanding the times and knowing what Israel ought to do
  • Zebulun: 50,000, seasoned troops, not of double heart
  • Naphtali: 1,000 commanders with 37,000 armed with shield and spear
  • Dan: 28,600 prepared for battle
  • Asher: 40,000 experienced troops
  • Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh beyond the Jordan: 120,000 armed with all weapons of war

Chronicles 13

David proposed bringing the ark of God back, since in Saul’s days it had not been sought after.

He gathered all Israel, from the borders of Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring up the ark from Kiriath-Jearim. Uzzah and Ahio drove the cart.

David and all Israel celebrated before God with songs, lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, the oxen stumbled. Uzzah put out his hand to steady the ark and God struck him down.

David was angry and also afraid of God that day. He called the place Perez-uzzah פֶּ֣רֶץ עֻזָּ֑א (“outburst against Uzzah”).

David did not move the ark further to the City of David, but left it in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. The ark remained there three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom’s household.

Questions

Did David not know how to move the ark?

Did Uzzah know?

Application

When we look at David’s rise in 1 Chronicles 11–13, we see a pattern that when God’s people followed His ways, there was unity and blessing. We see the tribes came together  to make David king.  But when they strayed, as in the attempt to bring the ark on a cart instead of following God’s instructions, God brought correction. Uzzah’s death was sad, but it wasn’t meaningless, it was God teaching His people that His holiness must be taken seriously. David’s fear after Uzzah’s death eventually led him to search the Law, discover God’s way, and approach the ark correctly. Correction isn’t just punishment, but it is God’s invitation to align with His way.