1 Chronicles 12:39

KJV

And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.

KJV (with Strong's)

And there they were with David {H1732} three {H7969} days {H3117}, eating {H398} and drinking {H8354}: for their brethren {H251} had prepared {H3559} for them.

Complete Jewish Bible

They remained there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their kinsmen had prepared for them.

Berean Standard Bible

They spent three days there eating and drinking with David, for their relatives had provided for them.

American Standard Version

And they were there with David three days, eating and drinking; for their brethren had made preparation for them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Chronicles 12:39 encapsulates a pivotal moment in Israel's history: the joyous and unifying celebration surrounding the full establishment of David's kingship in Hebron. After years of division and pursuit, representatives from all Israelite tribes gathered to formally recognize David, culminating in a three-day period of communal feasting and fellowship. This verse highlights the deep sense of solidarity, hospitality, and shared purpose that marked the inauguration of David's unified reign, underscoring the practical outworking of their newfound national cohesion.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse concludes a detailed and impressive enumeration in [1 Chronicles 12](/1_chronicles/12 "1 Chronicles 12 - David's Mighty Men") of the various military contingents and leaders who rallied to David's side at Hebron. Following Saul's death, David had been king over Judah for seven and a half years ([2 Samuel 5:5](/2_samuel/5-5 "2 Samuel 5:5 - David's Reign in Hebron")). The Chronicler, emphasizing the legitimacy and divine appointment of David's reign, meticulously lists the thousands of skilled warriors from every tribe who came "with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel" ([1 Chronicles 12:38](/1_chronicles/12-38 "1 Chronicles 12:38 - All Israel Unites Under David")). Verse 39, therefore, serves as the climactic summary of this grand assembly, shifting from the martial strength and unity of purpose to the celebratory outcome of their collective decision, solidifying the covenantal bond through shared feasting.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is Hebron, a significant city in Judah, where David had established his initial capital. The gathering of representatives from all tribes was not merely a political assembly but a profound act of national covenant. In the ancient Near East, shared meals, especially extended feasts, were integral to solidifying agreements, ratifying covenants, and expressing deep fellowship and loyalty. Such feasts often followed significant political or religious events, symbolizing peace, unity, and mutual commitment. The provision made by "their brethren" speaks to the strong tribal and familial bonds within Israel, where hospitality was a sacred duty and a practical expression of kinship, ensuring that all participants in this momentous event were well cared for, fostering a sense of belonging and collective identity.
* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within [1 Chronicles](/1_chronicles "1 Chronicles - The Reign of David and Solomon"):
* **Unity of Israel:** After years of division under Saul and David's separate reign in Judah, this gathering signifies the long-awaited national unity under God's chosen king. The coming together of all tribes, culminating in shared feasting, is a tangible expression of this restored cohesion, echoing the ideal of a unified people of God found in passages like [Psalm 133:1](/psalms/133-1 "Psalm 133:1 - The Blessing of Unity").
* **Divine Legitimacy of David's Kingship:** The enthusiastic and unanimous support from "all Israel" confirms God's anointing of David ([1 Samuel 16:12-13](/1_samuel/16-12 "1 Samuel 16:12-13 - David's Anointing")). The celebration is not just for a human king, but for the king God had appointed, reflecting God's faithfulness to His promises.
* **Covenant and Fellowship:** The "eating and drinking" for "three days" symbolizes the ratification of a covenant between David and the people, and among the tribes themselves. It underscores the importance of communal fellowship and mutual support as foundational elements for a thriving kingdom, mirroring the communal meals that marked significant moments in Israel's history, such as those associated with worship and covenant renewal ([Deuteronomy 12:7](/deuteronomy/12-7 "Deuteronomy 12:7 - Eating Before the Lord")).
* **Hospitality and Provision:** The detail that "their brethren had prepared for them" highlights the practical outworking of unity and love within the community, demonstrating the generosity and mutual care essential for sustaining collective life and purpose.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **eating and drinking (Hebrew, _ʼakhal v’shatah'_):** This common Hebrew idiom, while literally meaning to consume food and drink, carries significant cultural and theological weight in this context. It signifies more than mere sustenance; it denotes a celebratory feast, a time of joy, fellowship, and often, the ratification of a covenant or agreement. In ancient Israel, sharing a meal was a profound act of communion, trust, and solidarity, binding participants together in a shared experience of peace and goodwill. Here, it underscores the deep sense of relief, unity, and celebration that accompanied David's anointing as king over all Israel.
* **brethren (Hebrew, _ʼaḥehem'_):** The term "brethren" (אֲחֵיהֶם) emphasizes the familial and kinship bonds among the Israelite tribes. It highlights their shared ancestry, identity, and divine heritage as the people of God. The use of this term reinforces the idea that the support and provision offered were not merely political acts but expressions of deep familial care and solidarity, demonstrating the practical outworking of their unity as one nation under one king. It underscores the internal support system vital for the new kingdom's stability.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And there they were with David three days":** This phrase establishes the duration and location of the celebration. The "three days" suggests a substantial period, indicating the thoroughness and significance of the event. It was not a fleeting moment but a sustained period of engagement and celebration with their newly acclaimed king, David, solidifying their allegiance and marking a new era. The presence "with David" underscores their direct association and loyalty to him as their chosen leader.
* **"eating and drinking":** As analyzed above, this signifies a grand feast, a time of unbridled joy, fellowship, and the communal expression of their unity and commitment. It represents the binding nature of their shared experience, transforming a political gathering into a deeply personal and communal celebration. This feasting served to cement the bonds between David and his people, and among the various tribal representatives themselves.
* **"for their brethren had prepared for them":** This final clause provides the crucial detail of the hospitality and provision that made the extended celebration possible. It reveals the generosity and mutual care within the Israelite community, specifically from those already settled in the region (likely Judah and its surrounding areas) who hosted the arriving contingents. This act of preparation and provision underscores the practical manifestation of their unity and kinship, demonstrating a willingness to serve and support one another in this momentous national undertaking.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several effective literary devices to convey its message. **Symbolism** is prominent, as the act of "eating and drinking" for "three days" symbolizes the profound unity, joy, and covenantal bond being forged between David and all the tribes of Israel. It represents a new era of peace and shared purpose after years of division. The feast itself is a **metonymy** for the entire celebratory event and the ratification of David's kingship. The phrase "their brethren" uses **synecdoche** to represent the larger community of Israel, emphasizing the familial connection and mutual care among the tribes. The concise nature of the verse, despite its rich implications, also demonstrates **brevity** combined with profound meaning, characteristic of historical narrative that aims to convey significant events succinctly yet powerfully.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse, though brief, resonates with profound theological and thematic connections throughout Scripture. It highlights God's faithfulness in establishing His chosen king and the importance of unity among His people. The joyous feasting foreshadows the ultimate celebration of God's redemptive work, where His people gather in perfect fellowship. It underscores the biblical principle that genuine unity often manifests in practical acts of hospitality and shared life, reflecting the very nature of God as a community of persons. The establishment of David's kingdom, marked by such unity and celebration, serves as an earthly type of God's eternal kingdom, where peace and fellowship reign supreme under the ultimate King.

* [Deuteronomy 12:7](/deuteronomy/12-7 "Deuteronomy 12:7 - Eating Before the Lord")
* [Nehemiah 8:10-12](/nehemiah/8-10 "Nehemiah 8:10-12 - Joy of the Lord is Your Strength")
* [Psalm 133:1](/psalms/133-1 "Psalm 133:1 - The Blessing of Unity")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Chronicles 12:39 offers timeless lessons for contemporary communities, particularly the church, which is called to embody the unity and fellowship of God's people. Just as the Israelite tribes gathered to affirm their king and celebrate their newfound cohesion, believers today are called to gather in joyful fellowship, supporting their spiritual leaders and one another. This verse reminds us that true unity is not merely an abstract concept but is demonstrated through tangible acts of hospitality, shared resources, and communal celebration. When God's people come together with a "perfect heart," providing for one another and delighting in their shared purpose under Christ, they reflect the very heart of God and strengthen the bonds of the body. It encourages us to prioritize fellowship, to be generous hosts and grateful guests, and to actively participate in building a community marked by mutual care and shared joy in the Lord.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does our church community demonstrate practical hospitality and mutual provision, mirroring the "brethren" in this verse?**
* **In what ways can we cultivate a deeper sense of joyful fellowship and unity, moving beyond mere attendance to genuine communal celebration of Christ's reign?**
* **What does it mean for me personally to come with a "perfect heart" in supporting the leadership and mission of my spiritual community?**
* **How can shared meals and intentional gatherings strengthen the bonds of unity within our faith community today?**

### FAQ
**Why did they stay for "three days" of eating and drinking?**

Answer: The duration of "three days" likely signifies the thoroughness and importance of the event. In ancient cultures, significant feasts and covenant-making ceremonies were often extended affairs, not just brief meals. A three-day period would allow ample time for all the contingents from various tribes to arrive, for formal declarations to be made, for deep fellowship to be fostered, and for the covenant of kingship to be fully celebrated and ratified. It underscores the profound joy and commitment involved in establishing David's reign over all Israel, ensuring that every participant felt fully integrated into this momentous national undertaking.

**Who were "their brethren" who prepared for them?**

Answer: "Their brethren" refers to the Israelite tribes and families who were already settled in the region of Hebron, primarily the tribe of Judah, where David had been king for seven and a half years. These were the hosts who took on the responsibility of providing food, drink, and lodging for the thousands of warriors and representatives who had traveled from all over Israel to make David king. This act of generous hospitality underscored the deep sense of kinship and solidarity among the tribes, demonstrating the practical outworking of their unity and shared identity as the people of God.

**What is the deeper significance of "eating and drinking" in this context?**

Answer: In the ancient Near East, "eating and drinking" together, especially in a prolonged feast, was far more than just sustenance. It was a powerful social, political, and spiritual act. It symbolized the ratification of covenants, the establishment of peace, the expression of deep fellowship, and shared joy. For Israel, communal meals often had a covenantal dimension, signifying reconciliation, unity, and a shared future. In this verse, the feasting solidifies the agreement to make David king, expresses the joy of national unity after division, and binds the tribes together in a shared commitment under their new, divinely appointed leader.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
1 Chronicles 12:39, describing the joyous and unifying feast under King David, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the true and eternal King. David's earthly reign, established through the willing assembly of all Israel and sealed with communal celebration, foreshadows the spiritual kingdom of God, where believers from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation are gathered under the sovereign rule of Christ. The unity and fellowship experienced at Hebron point to the profound spiritual unity of the Church, the body of Christ, where all believers are "one in Christ Jesus" ([Galatians 3:28](/galatians/3-28 "Galatians 3:28 - One in Christ")). Just as the "brethren" prepared for the arriving contingents, Christ Himself is the ultimate Host and Provider, inviting us to the spiritual feast of salvation, offering Himself as the "bread of life" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")) and the living water. The celebratory feasting anticipates the glorious Marriage Supper of the Lamb ([Revelation 19:9](/revelation/19-9 "Revelation 19:9 - The Marriage Supper of the Lamb")), where God's redeemed people will gather in perfect, eternal fellowship with their King. In Christ, the ideal of unity, hospitality, and joyful communion, imperfectly realized in David's kingdom, is perfectly and eternally fulfilled, binding us together in love, which is the "bond of perfection" ([Colossians 3:14](/colossians/3-14 "Colossians 3:14 - Love Binds All Together")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Samuel 6:19

And he dealt among all the people, [even] among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece [of flesh], and a flagon [of wine]. So all the people departed every one to his house.

Genesis 31:54

Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.

Genesis 26:30

And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.

2 Samuel 19:42

And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king [is] near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's [cost]? or hath he given us any gift?