Bible

Back in the Bible room, we pick up where we left off reading the summary of 1 Chronicles with Part 2, chapters 11 through 20.

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1 Chronicles – Part 2

Chapter 11. Acclamation

By acclamation, all Israel declares David to be king:

• Even before Saul’s death, David becomes a leader in Israel;
• Then, as promised through Samuel, David will be king;
• He is anointed king at Hebron, his home city;
• David, with his fighting force, marches to Jerusalem;
• He attacks, destroys the Jebusites who are holding the city;
• Jerusalem becomes David’s home, called City of David;
• Joab leads the battle, becomes David’s army commander;
• The Lord Almighty is with David, he becomes powerful;
• David gives special recognition to his fighting men:
• Jashobeam, chief of officers, kills 300 enemy soldiers;
• Abishai, brother of Joab, kills 300 enemy soldiers;
• Thirty men of valor are special in David’s guard;
• Also, Eleazar, Asahel, brother of Joab, Uriah, the Hittite.

Chapter 12. Warriors

At Ziklag, David has a force of warriors with him:

• He has men who can use weapons right or left-handed;
• Many of them are Benjamites, kinsmen of Saul;
• The Spirit of the Lord was upon these mighty men;
• David takes them in, makes them leaders;
• Fighting men keep coming to join David’s army;
• David and his men move from Ziklag to Hebron;
• At Hebron, more men join with David to fight Saul;
• They come from every tribe, every region;
• They bring all manner of supplies from their families;
• Over 340,000 volunteers gather to fight with David.

Chapter 13. Mission

David’s first mission for his army is to retrieve the Ark of God:

• Under Saul, the Ark of God has not been kept at the temple;
• It has been stored at Abinadab’s house in Kiriath Jearim;
• All Israel agrees it should be brought to Jerusalem;
• The Ark is placed on a new ox cart, the move is begun;
• Uzzah and Ahio are assigned to guide the cart;
• The Ark can only be touched by the Levites;
• The oxen stumble, the Ark slides, Uzzah touches it;
• The Lord strikes Uzzah dead for touching the Ark;
• Afraid of God, David does not take the Ark to Jerusalem;
• Thinking risk, he leaves it at the house of Obed-Edom;
• For three months, the Lord greatly blesses that household.

Chapter 14. Victory

The move from Hebron to Jerusalem is eventful for David:

• He receives gifts of cedar, stone, and labor for his palace;
• He marries more wives, has thirteen children;
• Two Philistine attacks are repelled, each a great victory;
• David’s fame and stature spread to all of Israel.

Chapter 15. Appointments

David decides the time has come to move the Ark to Jerusalem:

• The Ark has been at the home of Obed-Edom;
• David prepares a place for the tent where the Ark will sit;
• He organizes the work force needed for the move;
• Only the Levites are allowed to carry the Ark;
• He makes appointments to fill all the necessary assignments;
• All of these workers are from the descendants of Aaron;
• This time the Ark is to be carried correctly on the poles;
• David instructs the Levites to appoint singers and musicians;
• They are to choose people who are skilled in their positions;
• There are to be guards, security officers at every door;
• All the participants are dressed in fine linen robes;
• Rejoicing, celebrating, accompany the moving of the Ark;
• So, the Ark is moved into the City of David, Jerusalem.

Chapter 16. Singing

Singing plays a significant role in celebrating the Ark’s move:

• The new location for the Ark in Jerusalem is a new tent;
• David offers burnt offerings as sacrifices;
• He feeds everyone gathered for the celebration;
• Asaph, singer and musician, is placed in charge of the music;
• The horns and cymbals are sounded regularly at the Ark;
• David offers thanks to the Lord in a song he has written;
• Asaph and his team sing praises to God every day.

Chapter 17. Humility

David accepts, with humility, that he will not build the temple:

• David has a new, finely appointed, permanent home;
• For centuries, the Ark has been dwelling in tents;
• He tells Nathan, the prophet, the Ark should have a home;
• Nathan hears from the Lord:  David will not be the builder;
• Getting this news from Nathan, David offers a prayer:
• In humility, he recounts his history, his blessings;
• He is thankful for where God has brought him;
• And the promise:  His house will forever be blessed.

Chapter 18. Everywhere

The Lord gives David victories everywhere in the region;

• Philistines, Moabites, Arameans, along the Euphrates River,
• Everywhere, David conquers, collects plunder, taxes;
• David did only what was just and right for his people;
• He has dedicated leaders in all important positions;
• His sons work as aides at his side in Jerusalem.

Chapter 19. Sympathy

In area East of the Jordan River, trouble is brewing:

• The king of the Ammonites dies, David is touched;
• He determines to send an expression of sympathy to them;
• An official delegation crosses into Ammonite territory;
• The Ammonites are suspicious, assume they are spies;
• These visitors are well-wishers, but they are arrested;
• In an act of ridicule, they cut off their beards and tunics;
• David gets word of this, tells his men to go to Jericho;
• There, they can wait for their beards to grow out;
• He sends Joab with his army to punish the Ammonites;
• The Ammonites call the Arameans for help;
• The Ammonites are routed, they go back home;
• David then takes his entire army, kills 47,000 Arameans;
• The Aramean commander is also killed.

Chapter 20. War

The reign of David seems constantly to be at war:

• Once again, war with the Ammonites, a threat to Israel;
• Joab takes his army east of the Jordan to Ammon;
• David remains at Jerusalem;
• Joab surrounds Rabbah; (Present day Amman, Jordan;)
• He destroys that city, kills the king, takes his crown;
• David shows up, puts the gold crown on his own head;
• Plunder is great, he puts the people to forced labor;
• All Ammonite towns are routed by David;
• To the west, there is another war with the Philistines;
• In battle, a brother of Goliath, the giant, is killed;
• Again, a giant who has twelve fingers and toes is killed;
• David defeats the Philistines in frequent battles.

END OF 1 CHRONICLES – PART 2 of 3