Explore 1 Chronicles 11 and how David becomes king, capturing Jerusalem and establishing his throne through God's faithfulness.
The eleventh chapter of 1 Chronicles marks a pivotal moment in the history of Israel. The death of Saul had left the nation without a king, and the people were in need of leadership. The Chronicler records the anointing of David as king over all Israel, fulfilling the promise that God had made years before through the prophet Samuel. The chapter demonstrates that God's purposes are accomplished despite human opposition and that He establishes His chosen servants.
All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron with a unified voice. They acknowledged three reasons for their submission: they were his bone and his flesh, he had led them in battle even during Saul's reign, and the Lord had promised that David would shepherd His people Israel. David made a covenant with them before the Lord, and they anointed him king over Israel. The anointing at Hebron was the public fulfillment of God's promise to establish David's throne.
The chapter also records the capture of Jerusalem from the Jebusites. The city had remained a Canaanite stronghold for centuries, but David and his men took the stronghold of Zion and made it the city of David. The chronicler includes the list of David's mighty men, the elite warriors who helped him secure his kingdom. The list includes the three mighty men, the thirty valiant men, and others who demonstrated extraordinary courage and loyalty. The chapter reveals that God establishes His kingdom through the faithfulness of His servants.
The Anointing of David
The Gathering at Hebron
Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh (1 Chronicles 11:1). The representatives of the northern tribes traveled to Hebron to acknowledge David as their king. The journey was a humbling act of submission. The elders recognized their kinship with David as fellow Israelites and descendants of Jacob.
The tribes acknowledged three reasons for their submission. They recognized their blood relationship with David. They remembered his proven leadership in battle, even when Saul was king. They declared their knowledge of God's promise that David would shepherd His people Israel. The elders' address was a public acknowledgment of God's sovereign choice of David.
The Covenant Before the Lord
So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel (1 Chronicles 11:3). The covenant was a formal agreement between David and the people. David obligated himself to protect and rule them with justice. The people obligated themselves to obey and support David as their king.
The ceremony was conducted before the Lord, making God a witness to the covenant. The anointing was David's third anointing. The first was by Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:13. The second was by the men of Judah at Hebron in 2 Samuel 2:4. The third anointing completed the fulfillment of God's promise. The anointing established David as the shepherd-king over all Israel.
The Capture of Jerusalem
The Challenge of the Jebusites
And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither (1 Chronicles 11:4-5). The Jebusites were confident in the strength of their fortress. They mocked David and his army, boasting that they could defend the city. Their pride and arrogance were a challenge to David's authority.
The fortress of Zion was located on a mountain with deep valleys on three sides. The natural defenses made the city seem impregnable. The Jebusites had held the stronghold for centuries. They did not believe that any enemy could penetrate their defenses. Their confidence was misplaced because they did not account for God's power working through David.
The Capture of the Stronghold
Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David (1 Chronicles 11:5). David's forces captured the fortress through a strategic military maneuver. The victory was a testament to David's military skill and God's favor. David named the captured fortress the city of David. The name honored David and established his legacy in the city.
The conquest of Jerusalem was a decisive victory over the remaining Canaanites. It completed the conquest that Joshua had begun centuries earlier. The capture of Jerusalem secured a central and defensible location for the capital of the united kingdom. The city would become the spiritual and political center of Israel.
The Building of the City
And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David. And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city (1 Chronicles 11:7-8). David made Jerusalem his royal residence. He built houses and fortifications around the fortress. The construction strengthened the city and made it a suitable capital.
So David waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts was with him (1 Chronicles 11:9). The success of David was directly attributed to the presence of God. The Lord of hosts, the commander of the heavenly armies, was with David. The presence of God was the source of David's power and greatness.
David's Mighty Men
The Three Mighty Men
These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel (1 Chronicles 11:10). The chronicler records the list of David's mighty men, the elite warriors who helped him secure his kingdom. The list begins with the three mighty men, who demonstrated extraordinary courage and loyalty.
Jashobeam the Hachmonite was chief of the captains, who lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them at one time (1 Chronicles 11:11). Jashobeam was the leader of the mighty men. The feat of killing three hundred men with a spear demonstrated his extraordinary skill and courage. He was the chief of the captains and a man of great valor.
And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties (1 Chronicles 11:12). Eleazar was one of the three mighty men. He was with David at Pas-dammim, where the Philistines were gathered together to battle. The men of Israel had fled before the Philistines, but Eleazar stood his ground. He smote the Philistines until his hand was weary and his hand clave to the sword (1 Chronicles 11:13-14). The victory was a testament to his courage and strength.
And the third was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite (2 Samuel 23:11-12). Shammah was the third of the three mighty men. He stood his ground against the Philistines when they attacked a field of lentils. The people fled before the Philistines, but Shammah defeated them. The victory was a testament to his courage and faith.
The Exploits of the Mighty Men
And three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim (1 Chronicles 11:15). The thirty valiant men were among David's mighty warriors. The three men risked their lives to bring water to David from the well of Bethlehem. The act demonstrated their extraordinary loyalty and devotion to their king.
David would not drink of it but poured it out to the LORD. He said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it (1 Chronicles 11:18-19). David's response demonstrated his reverence for God and his respect for the sacrifice of his men. The act was a testament to David's character and his commitment to honoring God.
The List of the Mighty Men
The chapter records the names of the mighty men of David, including the thirty and others who served with him. The list includes Abishai the brother of Joab, who was chief of the three and slew three hundred men with his spear (1 Chronicles 11:20). Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, who slew two lionlike men of Moab and a lion in a pit on a snowy day (1 Chronicles 11:22-23). The list also includes Asahel, Elhanan, and many others who demonstrated courage and loyalty to David.
The list of mighty men is a record of God's faithfulness in providing loyal servants to David. The men were valiant warriors who were willing to sacrifice their lives for their king. Their loyalty to David was a reflection of their faith in God.
Lessons from 1 Chronicles 11
The Sovereignty of God
The anointing of David demonstrates God's sovereignty in establishing His chosen servant. Despite human opposition, God's purposes were accomplished. The lesson for believers is to trust in God's sovereign plan. The psalmist writes: The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all (Psalm 103:19).
The Importance of Unity
The gathering of all the tribes of Israel to anoint David demonstrates the importance of unity among God's people. The tribes set aside their differences and united under David's leadership. The lesson for believers is the importance of unity in the body of Christ. The apostle Paul writes: Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3).
The Value of Loyalty
The mighty men of David demonstrated extraordinary loyalty to their king. They risked their lives to serve him and to secure his kingdom. The lesson for believers is the importance of loyalty to Christ. The apostle Paul writes: For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).
The Presence of God
David waxed greater and greater because the Lord of hosts was with him. The presence of God was the source of David's success. The lesson for believers is the importance of God's presence in their lives. The apostle Paul writes: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:13).
Connections to Scripture
The Promise to Abraham
The capture of Jerusalem connected to the promise to Abraham. God had promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land of the Jebusites (Genesis 15:18-21). The capture of Jerusalem by David fulfilled that ancient promise.
The Davidic Covenant
The anointing of David connected to the Davidic covenant. God promised that David's throne would be established forever (2 Samuel 7:12-16). The anointing at Hebron was the public fulfillment of that promise. The covenant pointed forward to the coming of the Messiah, the Son of David.
The New Testament Application
The mighty men of David point forward to the followers of Christ. Christ calls His followers to take up their cross and follow Him. The loyalty of the mighty men is a model for believers. The writer of Hebrews writes: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us (Hebrews 12:1).
Conclusion
The eleventh chapter of 1 Chronicles records the anointing of David as king over all Israel. The tribes gathered at Hebron and made a covenant with David before the Lord. David captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites and made it his capital. The chapter includes the list of David's mighty men, the elite warriors who helped him secure his kingdom. The chapter demonstrates that God's purposes are accomplished despite human opposition.
David's example of trusting in God's sovereignty teaches believers to rely on God's plan. The people acknowledged that God had chosen David to be king. The lesson for believers is to trust in God's sovereign purposes. The anointing of David was the fulfillment of God's promise, and the lesson is that God keeps His word.
The loyalty of David's mighty men teaches believers the importance of serving Christ with dedication. The men risked their lives to serve their king. The lesson for believers is to serve Christ with their whole hearts. The chapter calls believers to trust in God's sovereignty, to seek unity in the body of Christ, and to serve Christ with loyalty and dedication.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why did all the tribes of Israel come to David at Hebron to make him king?
All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron because the civil war was over and David was the only legitimate candidate for the throne. They acknowledged three reasons: they were his bone and his flesh, he had led Israel in battle during Saul's reign, and God had promised that David would shepherd His people Israel (1 Chronicles 11:1-2). The elders came to submit to God's choice and to unite the nation under one king.
2. What was the significance of David capturing Jerusalem from the Jebusites?
Jerusalem was a strategically located city on the border of Judah and Benjamin. It was a neutral location that did not favor any tribe. The city was also the ancient stronghold of the Jebusites, which had not been conquered by Joshua. The capture of Jerusalem fulfilled God's promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:18-21) and established a central capital for the united kingdom. David named it the city of David.
3. Who were David's mighty men and what did they do?
David's mighty men were elite warriors who helped David secure his kingdom. The list includes the three mighty men (Jashobeam, Eleazar, and Shammah), the thirty valiant men, and others who demonstrated extraordinary courage and loyalty. They risked their lives to serve David and to protect the kingdom. The mighty men were valiant warriors who were willing to sacrifice their lives for their king.
4. What does the phrase David waxed greater and greater mean?
The phrase David waxed greater and greater indicates that David grew in power and influence. The success of David was directly attributed to the presence of God. The Lord of hosts was with him, and His presence was the source of David's power and greatness. The phrase emphasizes that God was the source of David's success.
5. How does the anointing of David in 1 Chronicles 11 point forward to Jesus Christ?
The anointing of David points forward to Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate fulfillment of the Davidic covenant. God promised that David's throne would be established forever (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Jesus is the Son of David, the King of kings, whose kingdom is everlasting. The anointing of David foreshadowed the coming of the Messiah. Jesus is the Shepherd-King who rules over His people with justice and righteousness.
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