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1 Chronicles 13:1

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¶ And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, [and] with every leader.

And David {H1732} consulted {H3289} with the captains {H8269} of thousands {H505} and hundreds {H3967}, and with every leader {H5057}.

David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds - with every leader.

Then David conferred with all his leaders, the commanders of hundreds and of thousands.

And David consulted with the captains of thousands and of hundreds, even with every leader.

Commentary

Context of 1 Chronicles 13:1

This verse marks the beginning of a significant initiative by King David: to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. Having recently been established as king over all Israel, a pivotal moment described in 1 Chronicles 11, David's leadership is immediately characterized by a desire to honor God and centralize worship. The preceding chapters recount David's rise to power and the establishment of his kingdom. Here, he shifts focus from military and political consolidation to spiritual matters, recognizing the Ark's central role in Israel's spiritual identity.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Consultative Leadership: David, despite being king, did not act unilaterally. He "consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader." This demonstrates a model of shared leadership and decision-making, valuing the input of his military and civil commanders.
  • Unity and Consensus: By involving all key leaders, David sought to ensure broad support and unity for his ambitious plan to move the Ark. This collective approach aimed to foster a sense of shared ownership and responsibility for a national spiritual endeavor.
  • Preparation for Spiritual Undertakings: The act of consulting highlights the importance of careful planning and preparation, even for matters of faith. David understood that a task as sacred as moving the Ark of God required not only royal decree but also careful organization and the endorsement of the nation's leadership.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "consulted" is יָעַץ (ya'ats), which implies a deliberate seeking of counsel, deliberation, and forming a plan together. It's more than just an announcement; it suggests a collaborative discussion where opinions are weighed and a consensus is ideally reached. This word choice emphasizes David's intentional approach to leadership and the weight he gave to collective wisdom.

Related Scriptures

  • David's desire to bring the Ark is further elaborated in 1 Chronicles 13:3.
  • The importance of seeking counsel is a recurring theme in wisdom literature, as seen in Proverbs 11:14: "Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety."
  • The parallel account of this event is found in 2 Samuel 6:1, though 1 Chronicles provides more detail on the consultation process.

Practical Application

This verse offers valuable lessons for leadership today, whether in government, business, or the church. It underscores that effective leaders are not necessarily those who dictate, but those who wisely seek counsel from those under their authority. David's example teaches us the strength found in unity and shared vision, especially when embarking on significant projects or spiritual initiatives. It reminds us that important decisions, particularly those impacting many, benefit greatly from broad consultation and collective wisdom, fostering buy-in and a stronger foundation for success.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 29:20 (3 votes)

    ¶ Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD.

  • 1 Chronicles 12:20 (3 votes)

    As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that [were] of Manasseh.

  • 2 Chronicles 34:29 (3 votes)

    ¶ Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.

  • 2 Chronicles 34:30 (3 votes)

    And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.

  • 2 Kings 23:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem.

  • 2 Samuel 6:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ Again, David gathered together all [the] chosen [men] of Israel, thirty thousand.

  • 1 Chronicles 12:32 (2 votes)

    And of the children of Issachar, [which were men] that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them [were] two hundred; and all their brethren [were] at their commandment.