Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
The new Amonite king spurns David’s gestures of good will. The Amonites hire the Arameans to bolster their forces, but David vanquishes them both. The Arameans surrender and become David’s vassal state.

II. Photo
The Ammonite king provokes King David: “So Hanun seized David’s courtiers, shaved them, and cut away half of their garments up to the buttocks, and sent them off.” (v. 4)

III. Important Verses
vv. 1-5: Sometime afterward, Nahash the king of the Ammonites died, and his son succeeded him as king. David said, “I will keep faith with Hanun son of Nahash, since his father kept faith with me.” David sent messengers with condolences to him over his father. But when David’s courtiers came to the land of Ammon to Hanun, with condolences, the Ammonite officials said to Hanun, “Do you think David is really honoring your father just because he sent you men with condolences? Why, it is to explore, to subvert, and to spy out the land that his courtiers have come to you.” So Hanun seized David’s courtiers, shaved them, and cut away half of their garments up to the buttocks, and sent them off. When David was told about the men, he dispatched others to meet them, for the men were greatly embarrassed. And the king gave orders, “Stay in Jericho until your beards grow back; then you can return.”
vv. 10-13:  Joab saw that there was a battle line against him both front and rear. So he made a selection from all the picked men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans, and the rest of the troops he put under the command of his brother Abishai and arrayed them against the Ammonites. Joab said, “If the Arameans prove too strong for me, you come to my aid; and if the Ammonites prove too strong for you, I will come to your aid. Let us be strong and resolute for the sake of our people and the towns of our God; and the LORD will do what He deems right.”

IV. Outline
1-5. The Ammonites instigate David
6-13. Both sides prepare for battle
14-18. David wins, and goes on the offensive
19. Aram surrenders

V. Comment
Chapter 19 describes David’s battle with the Amonites and the Arameans. It describes how the Amonites hire the Arameans as mercenaries: “The Ammonites realized that they had incurred the wrath of David; so Hanun and the Ammonites sent 1,000 silver talents to hire chariots and horsemen from Aram-naharaim, Aram-maacah, and Zobah. They hired 32,000 chariots, the king of Maacah, and his army, who came and encamped before Medeba. The Ammonites were mobilized from their cities and came to do battle.” (vv. 6-7) Who were the people from Maacah, and where did they live? Schley writes: “[Maacah was a] Syrian kingdom S of Mt. Hermon in the N Transjordan. Maacah was located E of the Jordan valley and N of the Yarmuk basin. Together with the kingdom of Geshur, Maacah formed the northern boundary of the (sometimes) Israelite territory of BASHAN, which belonged to the inheritance of the half-tribe of Manasseh in the upper Transjordan (Deut 3:14; Josh 13:11). The city of Abel Beth-Maacah (2 Sam 20:14; cf. Abil-akka in the annals of Tiglath-pileser III, KAT 265), where Sheba ben Bichri fled during his revolt against David, was probably located on Israel’s northern border with Maacah.”
Schley continues: “When David began his historic expansion of Israelite power into the Transjordan, he was opposed by the Ammonites, whose capital lay opposite Jerusalem at the headwaters of the Jabbok. The Ammonites were joined in their opposition by several petty Syrian states (2 Sam 10:6–8), including Maacah, which probably had no difficulty in recognizing this threat. David’s army, under the command of Joab, was trapped between the Syrians and Ammonites in open country. Joab, however, escaped disaster by dividing his forces into two wings, one under the command of Abishai, his brother, the other under himself, and attacking both sides simultaneously. When the Ammonites saw their Syrian allies driven back, they retreated into their stronghold, to which Joab then laid siege. According to 1 Chr 19:6–7, this battle took place before Medeba on the plateau N of the Wadi Mujib (the biblical Arnon) in the central Transjordan. The Ammonites are said to have “hired” the army of Maacah, along with other Syrian elements (in extremely exaggerated numbers) from as far away as Mesopotamia.” (“Maacah” in the Anchor Bible Dictionary, Vol. IV p. 430)

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Schley, D.G. “Maacah” in the Anchor Bible Dictionary, Vol. IV p. 430
De Vries, Simon J. “1 and 2 Chronicles,” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 11 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989).
Photo taken from http://indiaudio.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/deepheadshave3.jpg

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
David attacks and defeats the neighboring Philistines, Moabites, Arameans, and Edomites. The victories bring him great wealth, and he consecrates the precious metals to God. His government rules the people with fairness and righteousness in a time of great prosperity.

II. Photo
David consecrates the spoils of war: “King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the other silver and gold that he had taken from all the nations: from Edom, Moab, and Ammon; from the Philistines and the Amalekites.” (v. 11)

III. Important Verses
v. 6: David stationed [garrisons] in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became tributary vassals of David. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.
v. 7-8: David took the gold shields carried by Hadadezer’s retinue and brought them to Jerusalem and from Tibbath and Cun, towns of Hadadezer, David took a vast amount of copper, from which Solomon made the bronze tank, the columns, and the bronze vessels.
vv. 9-11: When King Tou of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah, he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him on his military victory over Hadadezer — for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou; [he brought with him] all manner of gold, silver, and copper objects. King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the other silver and gold that he had taken from all the nations: from Edom, Moab, and Ammon; from the Philistines and the Amalekites.
v. 14: David reigned over all Israel, and David executed true justice among all his people.

IV. Outline
1-6. David’s military victories over the Philistines, Moabites, and Arameans
7-11. Spoils of war
12-13. Victory over the Edomites
14-17. Prosperity with a stable government

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
De Vries, Simon J. “1 and 2 Chronicles,” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 11 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989).
Photo taken from http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1219/536912145_32b7b59538.jpg

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
David offers to build a permanent dwelling place for the ark. God rejects his proposal, but lets David know that he will have a son that will build the Temple. David then prays to God.

II. Photo
God addresses David in v. 7: “Thus said the LORD of Hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be ruler of My people Israel.”

III. Important Verses
vv. 1-2: When David settled in his palace, David said to the prophet Nathan, “Here I am dwelling in a house of cedar, while the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD is under tent-cloths.” Nathan said to David, “Do whatever you have in mind, for God is with you.”
vv. 3-6: But that same night the word of God came to Nathan: “Go and say to My servant David: Thus said the LORD: You are not the one to build a house for Me to dwell in. From the day that I brought out Israel to this day, I have not dwelt in a house, but have [gone] from tent to tent and from one Tabernacle [to another]. As I moved about wherever Israel went, did I ever reproach any of the judges of Israel whom I appointed to care for My people Israel: Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?
vv. 11-14: When your days are done and you follow your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingship. He shall build a house for Me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to Me, but I will never withdraw My favor from him as I withdrew it from your predecessor. I will install him in My house and in My kingship forever, and his throne shall be established forever.
vv. 20-21: O LORD, there is none like You, and there is no other God but You, as we have always heard. And who is like Your people Israel, a unique nation on earth, whom God went and redeemed as His people, winning renown for Yourself for great and marvelous deeds, driving out nations before Your people whom You redeemed from Egypt.

IV. Outline
1-2. David plans to build the Temple
3-15. God rejects David’s offer, but promises that his son will build it
16-27. David’s prayer

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
De Vries, Simon J. “1 and 2 Chronicles,” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 11 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989).
Photo taken from http://www.hsus.org/web-files/People_and_Animals/184x265_shepherd_istock.jpg

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
The ark is joyously brought to its resting place in Jerusalem. The Levites lead the congregation in hymnic praise to God. David then appoints the Levites to their posts, and the people return to their homes.

II. Photo
David publicly celebrates the ark’s arrival: “When David finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD. And he distributed to every person in Israel — man and woman alike — to each a loaf of bread, a cake made in a pan, and a raisin cake.” (vv. 2-3)

III. Important Verses
vv. 1-3: They brought in the Ark of God and set it up inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they sacrificed burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before God. When David finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD. And he distributed to every person in Israel — man and woman alike — to each a loaf of bread, a cake made in a pan, and a raisin cake.
vv. 7-10: Then, on that day, David first commissioned Asaph and his kinsmen to give praise to the LORD:  “Praise the LORD; call on His name; proclaim His deeds among the peoples. Sing praises unto Him; speak of all His wondrous acts. Exult in His holy name; let all who seek the LORD rejoice.”
vv. 16-22: Be ever mindful of His covenant, the promise He gave for a thousand generations, that He made with Abraham, swore to Isaac, and confirmed in a decree for Jacob, for Israel, as an eternal covenant, saying, ‘To you I will give the land of Canaan as your allotted heritage.’ You were then few in number, a handful, merely sojourning there, wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. He allowed no one to oppress them; He reproved kings on their account, ‘Do not touch My anointed ones; do not harm My prophets.’
vv. 34-36: Praise the LORD for He is good; His steadfast love is eternal. Declare: Deliver us, O God, our deliverer, and gather us and save us from the nations, to acclaim Your holy name, to glory in Your praise. Blessed is the LORD, God of Israel, from eternity to eternity.” And all the people said, “Amen” and “Praise the LORD.”

IV. Outline

1-3. Celebrating the ark with sacrifice and food
4-6. The Levitical musicians and liturgists
7-36. Medley of Praise
    7. Introduction
    8-13. Call to worship
    14-22. Covenant remembrance
    23-24. Call to worship
    25-27. Hymnic praise
    28-33. Jubilant call to praise
    34-35. Final praise, petition
    36. Communal response
37-42. Stationing the officials
43. Dismissal

V. Comment
This commentary, which began with the book of Psalms, ventured to show that the Psalter is an adaptable collection of prayers consisting of “interchangeable parts.” This means that the introductions, middle sections, and conclusions of the psalms were once freely mixed and matched with each other. While this commentary focused on the psalms themselves, 1 Chronicles 16 is a paradigmatic example of this concept. Verses 7-36 contain the prayers that were sung during the ark processional, and the “prayer” comes from three different psalms. The introduction is taken from Ps. 105, the mid-section is taken from Ps. 96, and the conclusion comes from Ps. 106. The parallels will now be displayed:

Vv. 8-22 are nearly identical to Ps. 105:1-15:
Praise the LORD; call on His name; proclaim His deeds among the peoples. Sing praises to Him; speak of all His wondrous acts. Exult in His holy name; let all who seek the LORD rejoice. Turn to the LORD, to His might; seek His presence constantly. Remember the wonders He has done, His portents and the judgments He has pronounced, O offspring of Abraham, His servant, O descendants of Jacob, His chosen ones.
He is the LORD our God; His judgments are throughout the earth. He is ever mindful of His covenant, the promise He gave for a thousand generations, that He made with Abraham, swore to Isaac, and confirmed in a decree for Jacob, for Israel, as an eternal covenant, saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as your allotted heritage.”
They were then few in number, a mere handful, sojourning there, wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. He allowed no one to oppress them; He reproved kings on their account, “Do not touch My anointed ones; do not harm My prophets.”

Vv. 23-33 are nearly identical to Ps. 96: 1-13:
Sing to the LORD a new song, sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, bless His name, proclaim His victory day after day. Tell of His glory among the nations, His wondrous deeds, among all peoples. For the LORD is great and much acclaimed, He is held in awe by all divine beings. All the gods of the peoples are mere idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Glory and majesty are before Him; strength and splendor are in His temple.
Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory of His name, bring tribute and enter His courts. Bow down to the LORD majestic in holiness; tremble in His presence, all the earth! Declare among the nations, “The LORD is king!” the world stands firm; it cannot be shaken; He judges the peoples with equity. Let the heavens rejoice and the earth exult; let the sea and all within it thunder, the fields and everything in them exult; then shall all the trees of the forest shout for joy at the presence of the LORD, for He is coming, for He is coming to rule the earth; He will rule the world justly, and its peoples in faithfulness.

Vv. 34-36 are nearly identical to Ps. 106:1, 47-48:
Hallelujah. Praise the LORD for He is good; His steadfast love is eternal. Deliver us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the nations, to acclaim Your holy name, to glory in Your praise. Blessed is the LORD, God of Israel, From eternity to eternity. Let all the people say, “Amen.” Hallelujah.

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
De Vries, Simon J. “1 and 2 Chronicles,” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 11 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989).
Photo taken from http://www.bizster.com.ph/working/finished/04_04_2008_18_51_54_raisin.JPG

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
David appoints the Levites to carry the ark, and he assembles the people in Jerusalem to celebrate. The ark is brought amidst a joyous parade, and Michal (David’s wife) disapproves of her husband’s excessive enthusiasm.

II. Photo
David’s enthusiasm was not well received: “As the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD arrived at the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing, and she despised him for it.” (v. 29)

III. Important Verses
v. 15: The Levites carried the Ark of God by means of poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.
v. 16: David ordered the officers of the Levites to install their kinsmen, the singers, with musical instruments, harps, lyes, and cymbals, joyfully making their voices heard.
v, 25: Then David and the elders of Israel and the officers of the thousands who were going to bring up the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom were joyful.
v. 27: Now David and all the Levites who were carrying the Ark, and the singers and Chenaniah, officer of song of the singers, were wrapped in robes of fine linen, and David wore a linen ephod.
v. 29:  As the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD arrived at the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing, and she despised him for it.

IV. Outline
1-2. Initial preparations
3. Assembling the Israelites
4-10. Assembling the Levites
11-24. The Levites carry the ark and provide music
25-28. The procession
29. Michal’s dismay

V. Comment
Chapter 15 returns to the ark narrative, and Collins provides an appropriate summary: “David decrees that no one but the Levites are to carry the Ark. The Chronicler then provides lists of priests and Levites who are entrusted with this task, and also of the singers and cultic musicians. David, we are told, wore a robe of fine linen and a linen ephod. This rather dignified apparel does not fit well with the picture of the king leaping and dancing, thereby incurring the contempt of his wife Michal in 15:29 (cf. 2 Sam [6]:20-23).” (447)

The last verse of our chapter describes Michal’s dismay over David’s dancing: “As the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD arrived at the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing, and she despised him for it.” The parallel passage in 2 Sam 6:20-23 records the conversation that Michal and David engaged in: “David went home to greet his household. And Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, ‘Didn’t the king of Israel do himself honor today — exposing himself today in the sight of the slavegirls of his subjects, as one of the riffraff might expose himself!’ David answered Michal, ‘It was before the LORD who chose me instead of your father and all his family and appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel! I will dance before the LORD and dishonor myself even more, and be low in my own esteem; but among the slavegirls that you speak of I will be honored.’ So to her dying day Michal daughter of Saul had no children.”

David was said to have danced while wearing the ephod (v. 27). While the ephod was primarily a priestly garment, it was worn by certain non-priests besides David. Meyers writes: “Since the word ephod refers to a sacred vestment, most of the usages are in the priestly passages of the Pentateuch, mainly in the tabernacle texts of Exodus. However, other individuals involved in cultic activity—notably Gideon (Judg 8:27), the priest of Micah (Judg 17:5; 18:14, 17, 18, 20), Eli (1 Sam 14:3), Samuel (1 Sam 2:18, 28), and David or his priests (1 Sam 21:9; 22:18; 23:16; 30:7; 2 Sam 6:14; 1 Chr 15:27)—are associated with the ephod. In Hos 3:4 it is mentioned, along with the teraphim, independently of a priestly figure.” (“Ephod,” in Anchor Bible Dictionary, vol. II p. 550)

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
De Vries, Simon J. “1 and 2 Chronicles,” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 11 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989).
Meyers, Carol. “Ephod” in Anchor Bible Dictionary, vol. II p. 550
Photo taken from http://photowoody.home.att.net/Images/Old_Window_Young_Girl.jpg

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
David enjoys a period of peace and prosperity in Jerusalem. After asking God for His approval, David defeats the Philistines twice in battle. His fame quickly spreads, and the nations of the world fear him.

II. Photo
David enjoys an era of comfort and prosperity: “David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David begot more sons and daughters.” (v. 3)

III. Important Verses
vv. 1-2: King Hiram of Tyre sent envoys to David with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters to build a palace for him. Thus David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingship was highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel.
v. 3: David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David begot more sons and daughters.
vv. 10-12: David inquired of God, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hands?” And the LORD answered him, “Go up, and I will deliver them into your hands.” Thereupon David ascended Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. David said, “God burst out against my enemies by my hands as waters burst out.” That is why that place was named Baal-perazim. They abandoned their gods there, and David ordered these to be burned.
v. 17: David became famous throughout the lands, and the LORD put the fear of him in all the nations.

IV. Outline
1-2. David receives a gift from his neighbor King Hiram
3-7. David’s family
8-16. Two victories against the Philistines
17. David’s renown

V. Comment
Chapter 14 is a brief interruption in the flow of the book. Instead of continuing the ark narrative, the chapter focuses on David’s prosperity. Why was this chapter inserted at this particular point? Braun writes: “The question of why the author has chosen to incorporate this material at this particular point has been discussed in great detail by Mosis (55–61), who feels it is meant to illustrate a theological point. David, unlike Saul, has shown his care for the ark (13:3). By incorporating at this point indications of David’s prosperity, especially as seen in his victory over the Philistines (unlike Saul; see chap. 10), he has shown God’s blessing upon that faithfulness, just as Saul’s defeat was a result of his unfaithfulness (chap. 10).” (178)

Braun continues: “This may well be so; there are many examples of such a theology throughout Chronicles, especially in the post-Solomonic kings. Many of these thoughts (like the “all Israel” pattern to which we have referred repeatedly) are found, at least in germ, in the Deuteronomic history; thus, what Chronicles has done is to deduce a principle from such data and to apply it “religiously.” As will be seen in many of the comments below, the reigns of faithful kings are frequently associated with building operations, family, and victory in war (cf. 2 Chr 26:1–15). At the same time it is quite possible in this case that the writer, having bypassed this material earlier to demonstrate David’s immediate concern for the ark, has now simply inserted it at the first appropriate time, i.e., in the “gap” indicated by the three-month period in which the ark was at the house of Obed-edom. Since his work is not chronological, to say this would not need to suggest that the events happened within that three-month period.” (178)

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Braun, Roddy. “1 Chronicles,” Word Biblical Commentary vol. 14 (Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1986).
De Vries, Simon J. “1 and 2 Chronicles,” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 11 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989).
Photo taken from http://www.free-from.com/blog/wp-content/happychildren.jpg

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
David chooses to bring the ark to Jerusalem. The procession is euphoric, but Uzza is suddenly killed by God for inappropriately touching the ark. David decides to temporarily house the ark in the house of Obed-edom.

II. Photo
Uzza is struck down by God: “… Uzza put out his hand to hold the Ark of God because the oxen had stumbled. The LORD was incensed at Uzza, and struck him down, because he laid a hand on the Ark; and so he died there before God.” (vv. 9-10)

III. Important Verses
vv. 7-8: They transported the Ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab; Uzza and Ahio guided the cart, and David and all Israel danced before God with all their might — with songs, lyres, harps, timbrels, cymbals, and trumpets.
vv. 9-11: But when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the Ark of God because the oxen had stumbled. The LORD was incensed at Uzza, and struck him down, because he laid a hand on the Ark; and so he died there before God. David was distressed because the LORD had burst out against Uzza; and that place was named Perez-uzzah, as it is still called.
vv. 12-13: David was afraid of God that day; he said, “How can I bring the Ark of God here?” So David did not remove the Ark to his place in the City of David; instead, he diverted it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

IV. Outline
1-4. Agreement to bring the ark to Jerusalem
5-8. The return of the ark
9-11. Uzza is killed because of his trespass
12-14. The ark is temporarily housed with Obed-edom

V. Comment
Chapter 13 begins a four-chapter discussion about the ark in Jerusalem. The narrative is based on the book of Samuel, but the quotations are not exact. De Vries writes: “Following a transition from chs. 11-12, [the Chronicler] paraphrases the hieros logos [sacred tale] of 2 Samuel 6 to the point where the ark is deposited in the ‘house’ of Obed-edom. He then shifts back to 2 Sam 5:11-25 to pick up important details concerning homage received from Hiram, David’s growing family, and his victories in the vale of Rephaim. This provides a basis for enabling David to prepare a suitable shrine for the ark, and once the Levites have been instructed in carrying the ark and the singers in making melodious music, the entrance and installation, adapted from 2 Sam 6:12-13, is recounted. After David arranges for the regular service before the ark, the ceremony is concluded and the people are sent home.” (135)

There are important differences between our chapter and the book of Samuel. De Vries notes that the condemnatory phrase “for throughout the days of Saul we paid no regard to it” is not found in Samuel. He writes: “[This is the Chronicler’s] own ungracious comment, strengthening his censure of Saul and further glorifying David.” He also notes that “[the Chronicler] surely knows his Bible, for he has to take the reference to Kiriath-jearim from 1 Sam 7:1, not from the parallel in 2 Sam 6:3 (an unlikely alternative is that he is drawing upon an independent source).” (137)

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
De Vries, Simon J. “1 and 2 Chronicles,” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 11 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989).
Photo taken from  http://amooreenterprises.com/Images/hand.gif

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
The chapter begins by listing the soldiers who join David’s forces at the fortress in Ziklag. Another list enumerates the soldiers who anointed David in Hebron.

II. Photo
The soldiers who join David are described in metaphoric terms: “They had the appearance of lions, and were as swift as gazelles upon the mountains!” (v. 9)

III. Important Verses
vv. 1-2: The following joined David at Ziklag while he was still in hiding from Saul son of Kish; these were the warriors who gave support in battle; they were armed with the bow and could use both right hand and left hand to sling stones or shoot arrows with the bow; they were kinsmen of Saul from Benjamin.
vv. 17-18: Some of the Benjaminites and Judahites came to the stronghold to David, and David went out to meet them, saying to them, “If you come on a peaceful errand, to support me, then I will make common cause with you, but if to betray me to my foes, for no injustice on my part, then let the God of our fathers take notice and give judgment.”
v. 23: Day in day out, people came to David to give him support, until there was an army as vast as the army of God.
v. 39: All these, fighting men, manning the battle line with whole heart, came to Hebron to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel was of one mind to make David king.

IV. Outline
1-8. Benjaminites who joined David
9-16. Gadites who joined David
17-19. Supporters from Benjamin and Judah
20-22. Manassites who joined David
23. Conclusion
24-41. The soldiers who anointed David at Hebron

V. Comment
The first half of the chapter gives a list of the warriors who joined David at the fortress of Ziklag. Where is Ziklag? Kotter writes: “Ziklag has often been identified with Tell el-Khuweilfeh (Tel Halif; M.R. 137087), a large mound approximately 15 km NE of Beer-sheba (eg., IDB 4: 957). However, its geographical position raises some difficulty with this identification since it appears to lie within the territory of Judah rather than that of the Philistines (ISBE 4: 1196). It would seem that an Iron Age site further to the W, more within the area of Philistine domination, would be a better candidate. One mound which fits this description (Oren 1982) is Tell esh-Sharia (M.R. 119088), along the NahΩal Gerar approximately 25 km SE of Gaza and 17 km due W of Tell el-Khuweilfeh. Strata of the appropriate periods for historical Ziklag have been uncovered in recent excavations, including indications of a substantial Philistine presence in the later part of the Iron I period (Oren 1982: 163; see further below). Continuing work at these sites, and other nearby Iron Age mounds, will no doubt clarify our picture of this region during the early part of the Iron Age.” (ABD VI, p. 1090)

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Kotter, Wade R. “Ziklag” in the Anchor Bible Dictionary vol. 6, 1090-1091.
De Vries, Simon J. “1 and 2 Chronicles,” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 11 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989).
Photo taken from http://ibexbuzz.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/08/02/ibex_in_france.jpg

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
David is anointed as king, and he immediately conquers Jerusalem from the Jebusites. His soldiers are listed, and a few are glorified for their daring military exploits.

II. Photo
David’s soldiers are praised for their military exploits: “Benaiah son of Jehoiada from Kabzeel was a brave soldier who performed great deeds. He killed the two [sons] of Ariel of Moab. Once, on a snowy day, he went down into a pit and killed a lion.” (v. 22)

III. Important Verses
v. 3: All the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a pact with them in Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD through Samuel.
vv. 4-5: David and all Israel set out for Jerusalem, that is Jebus, where the Jebusite inhabitants of the land lived. David was told by the inhabitants of Jebus, “You will never get in here!” But David captured the stronghold of Zion; it is now the City of David.
v. 9: David kept growing stronger, for the LORD of Hosts was with him.
vv. 16-19: David was then in the stronghold, and a Philistine garrison was then at Bethlehem. David felt a craving and said, “If only I could get a drink of water from the cistern which is by the gate of Bethlehem!” So the three got through the Philistine camp, and drew water from the cistern which is by the gate of Bethlehem, and they carried it back to David. But David would not drink it, and he poured it out as a libation to the LORD. For he said, “God forbid that I should do this! Can I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” — for they had brought it at the risk of their lives, and he would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three warriors.

IV. Outline

1-3. David is anointed as king
4-9. David conquers Jerusalem (formerly known as Jebus)
10-41. David’s army
    10. Introduction
    11-14. “The Three”
    15-25. “The Thirty”
    26-47. The warriors

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

Note: vv. 11-41 are, with minor differences, taken directly from 2 Sam 23:8-39.

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
De Vries, Simon J. “1 and 2 Chronicles,” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 11 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989).
Photo taken from http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TMh-Ev4t4K0/R505qpnyPgI/AAAAAAAAAAs/TqzskNCv_6E/s320/snow%2Blion.jpg

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
The Philistines defeat king Saul in battle. Rather than become a prisoner, Saul chooses to end his life by falling upon his sword. Although the Philistines desecrate his body, the people of Jabesh-Gilead give him and his sons a proper burial.

II. Photo
The Philistines prove to be a formidable force: “The battle raged around Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded by the archers… Saul grasped the sword and fell upon it.” (vv. 3-4)

III. Important Verses
vv. 2-4: The Philistines pursued Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, sons of Saul. The battle raged around Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded by the archers. Saul said to his arms-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through, so that these uncircumcised may not come and make sport of me.” But his arms-bearer, out of great awe, refused; whereupon Saul grasped the sword and fell upon it.
v. 7: And when all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their towns and fled; the Philistines then came and occupied them.
vv. 8-10: The next day the Philistines came to strip the slain, and they found Saul and his sons lying on Mount Gilboa. They stripped him, and carried off his head and his armor, and sent them throughout the land of the Philistines to spread the news to their idols and among the people. They placed his armor in the temple of their god, and they impaled his head in the temple of Dagan.
vv. 11-12: When all Jabesh-gilead heard everything that the Philistines had done to Saul, all their stalwart men set out, removed the bodies of Saul and his sons, and brought them to Jabesh. They buried the bones under the oak tree in Jabesh, and they fasted for seven days.
vv. 13-14: Saul died for the trespass that he had committed against the LORD in not having fulfilled the command of the LORD; moreover, he had consulted a ghost to seek advice, and did not seek advice of the LORD; so He had him slain and the kingdom transferred to David son of Jesse.

IV. Outline
1-7. King Saul’s death
8-10. Saul’s body is desecrated
11-12. Saul is honored in death
13-14. Reasons for Saul’s demise

V. Comment
After listing the genealogies of “the ideal Israel,” the book of Chronicles takes a new tack by describing the reigns of King David and King Solomon. While it is clear that the narrative sections of Chronicles follow the outline of 1 Sam 31 – 2 Kings 25, there are numerous additions, omissions, and alterations. De Vries attempts to put our chapter into its proper perspective: “[The Chronicler] needs a rationale for dismissing Saul and his entire lineage in the history he is about to recount, thereby assuring for David the position of eponymous king of Israel. We immediately see that this writer expresses his view just as effectively in the passages he omits as in those he modifies or quotes more or less verbatim. He will hear nothing of Saul’s rise, of his long struggle to eliminate David, or of David’s own struggle against Ishbosheth. Not too much must be made of this human, worldly contest; for, rather, it is a matter of [the Lord] judging Saul and thereby clearing the way for David. This is the one and only place where we read that [the Lord] directly intervenes to substitute one king for another: ‘Therfore [the Lord] slew him and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse’ (v. 14b).” (119) Indeed, Saul is condemned in vv. 13-14: “Saul died for the trespass that he had committed against the LORD in not having fulfilled the command of the LORD; moreover, he had consulted a ghost to seek advice, and did not seek advice of the LORD; so He had him slain and the kingdom transferred to David son of Jesse.”

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
De Vries, Simon J. “1 and 2 Chronicles,” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 11 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989).
Photo taken from http://ferrelljenkins.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/sea_peoples_cast_bm.jpg