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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - 1 Chronicles 11:1 - 11:9
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David King of all Israel
v. 1. Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, representatives of the northern and eastern tribes, as well as of Judah, where he had already reigned over seven years, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh, relatives by reason of a common ancestry.
v. 2. And moreover, in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel; for David, before Saul sought his life, had been one of the chief officers of his army; and the Lord, thy God, said unto thee, namely, by Samuel, the prophet, a fact which had become generally known, 1Sa_16:1-3; 2Sa_3:9-18, Thou shalt feed My people Israel, said of the fostering care which a king should show his people, and thou shalt be ruler over My people Israel.
v. 3. Therefore came all the elders of Israel, the representatives of the estates of the kingdom, to the king to Hebron, 2Sa_5:1-3; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel, the entire nation thus acknowledging him as sovereign, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel, 1Sa_16:1 to 1Sa_12:13.
v. 4. And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, that being the original name of the town, as the author thought it necessary to mention at this late date; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land; for this heathen nation had maintained its ancient location even after the conquest of the land by Joshua.
v. 5. And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, in an overconfident boast, Thou shalt not come hither; for even at that time the fortifications of their city were practically impregnable. Nevertheless, David took the castle of Zion, the strongest part of the city's defenses, which is the City of David, the part afterward occupied by the royal residence.
v. 6. And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. This is only a part of David's speech, the complete promise being given 2Sa_5:8. So Joab, the son of Zeruiah, went first up and was chief, he became general of David's army.
v. 7. And David dwelt in the castle, in the fortress of the city; therefore they called it the City of David.
v. 8. And he built the city round about, this upper section of Jerusalem, even from Millo, the fortress on the northwest corner of Zion, round about, returning to this corner after making the circuit; and Joab repaired the rest of the city, the lower city, which had naturally suffered during the siege of the city.
v. 9. So David waxed greater and greater, he increased in power continually; for the Lord of hosts, in whom alone he placed his trust, was with him. The same thought is uttered by St. Paul, when he says: "I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me. "