1 Chronicles 11:3 kjv
Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant 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 nkjv
Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel.
1 Chronicles 11:3 niv
When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, he made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel, as the LORD had promised through Samuel.
1 Chronicles 11:3 esv
So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel.
1 Chronicles 11:3 nlt
So there at Hebron, David made a covenant before the LORD with all the elders of Israel. And they anointed him king of Israel, just as the LORD had promised through Samuel.
1 Chronicles 11 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 16:12-13 | ...the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David... | Samuel's initial anointing of David as future king. |
| 2 Sam 2:4 | And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. | David's first anointing as king of Judah. |
| 2 Sam 5:1-3 | Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "Behold, we are your bone and flesh... So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them... and they anointed David king over Israel." | Parallel account in Samuel, confirming the same event and details. |
| 1 Chr 12:38 | All these, men of war, who could set a battle in array, came to Hebron with a blameless heart to make David king over all Israel. | Chronicles' emphasis on the unanimous support for David's kingship. |
| 1 Sam 15:28 | Then Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you." | Samuel's prophecy to Saul, indicating the transfer of kingship. |
| 2 Sam 7:12-16 | ...I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body... I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever... Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.” | God's covenant with David for an everlasting dynasty. |
| 1 Chr 17:11-14 | Similar promise of an enduring dynasty to David through Nathan. | Chronicler's rendition of the Davidic Covenant. |
| Ps 78:70-72 | He chose David his servant... brought him from tending the sheep... to be shepherd of Jacob his people, of Israel his inheritance. With upright heart he shepherded them... | Divine choice and "shepherd" role for David. |
| Ps 89:3-4 | "I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: ‘I will establish your offspring forever and build your throne for all generations.’" | The Lord's sworn covenant with David's lineage. |
| Ps 89:20 | "I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him." | Confirmation of David's divine anointing. |
| Ezek 34:23-24 | And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them... | Prophecy of a future Davidic king as the ideal shepherd. |
| Deut 4:20 | But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of his own inheritance, as you are this day. | Israel as God's "inheritance" (consistent with Ps 78:71). |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching... | Affirmation of Scripture's divine origin and authority (like Samuel's word). |
| Lk 1:32-33 | He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. | Prophecy of Jesus inheriting David's throne and eternal kingdom. |
| Acts 2:30 | Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne... | Peter linking the Davidic covenant to Jesus. |
| Acts 13:22 | And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified, ‘I have found in David, the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will do all my will.’ | God's active hand in choosing and raising up David. |
| Jn 10:11 | I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. | Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of the "shepherd" motif for God's people. |
| Heb 13:20 | Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant... | Jesus as the great shepherd of God's eternal covenant. |
| 1 Pet 2:25 | For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. | Jesus as the Shepherd of souls, continuing the ancient theme. |
| Rev 22:16 | “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” | Jesus' identity as the descendant and fulfillment of the Davidic line. |
| Exod 19:5-6 | Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples... a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. | Precedent of Israel as a treasured people, foreshadowing David's role over them. |
| Jer 33:17 | For thus says the Lord: "David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel." | Affirmation of Davidic succession, highlighting divine faithfulness to the promise. |
1 Chronicles 11 verses
1 Chronicles 11 3 Meaning
This verse recounts the momentous occasion when all the elders of Israel officially came to David in Hebron, entering into a formal covenant with him "before the Lord," and anointing him king over all Israel. This action was not merely a political maneuver but a direct fulfillment of God's spoken word through the prophet Samuel, confirming David's divine appointment and establishing his legitimate rule over a unified Israel.
1 Chronicles 11 3 Context
This verse is a pivotal moment in the book of 1 Chronicles. It comes after a lengthy genealogical record, emphasizing David's legitimate lineage. Prior to this, David had reigned for seven and a half years over Judah from Hebron. Chapter 11 recounts David's establishment as king over all Israel, initiating the united monarchy. This unified anointing, performed publicly and with an official covenant, marks the culmination of divine prophecies and secures David's legitimate rule, setting the stage for the capture of Jerusalem, the bringing of the Ark of the Covenant, and the establishment of true worship in the kingdom. The Chronicler emphasizes David's divine election and the unity of the nation under God's chosen leader, highlighting the divine purpose for Israel. Historically, it signifies the consolidation of tribal power under a single monarch and the transfer of the nation's political and religious center.
1 Chronicles 11 3 Word analysis
So all the elders of Israel:
- all: Emphasizes unanimity and complete national endorsement, crucial for the Chronicler's theme of unity.
- the elders (זְקֵנֵי, zeqenim): Significant tribal leaders and representatives, signifying a binding and official agreement on behalf of the entire nation. Their participation lends immense legitimacy.
- of Israel: Denotes the unified nation, including both Judah and the northern tribes.
came to the king to Hebron:
- came to: Implies a formal, intentional delegation and recognition of David's status.
- the king: Recognizes David's established, though previously regional, authority.
- to Hebron: A strategically and spiritually significant location. It was David's capital for Judah, a city associated with the patriarchs (Abraham's burial place), and a city of refuge, giving weight to the proceedings.
and David made a covenant (בְּרִית, berit) with them in Hebron before the Lord:
- made a covenant (berit): A solemn, binding agreement, not just a handshake. In the Old Testament, covenants often involve God and are deeply significant, indicating mutual obligations. Here, David agrees to rule justly and protect, and the people agree to obey.
- in Hebron: Reinforces the location's significance for this foundational agreement.
- before the Lord: Signifies the sacred nature of the covenant. God is a witness and enforcer. This underscores divine oversight and the spiritual legitimacy of David's rule. This aspect is especially highlighted by the Chronicler, emphasizing God's involvement in human affairs.
and they anointed David king over Israel:
- anointed (וַיִּמְשְׁח֖וּ, vayyimshuḥu): A ceremonial act of pouring oil, symbolizing divine selection, endowment with divine power (Spirit of the Lord), and commissioning for sacred office. This was David's third anointing (first by Samuel for future kingship, second by Judah in Hebron, third by all Israel).
- king: Confirms David's ultimate royal authority.
- over Israel: Reiteration that this kingship is over the entire twelve tribes, establishing the united monarchy.
according to the word (דְּבַר, dvar) of the Lord by Samuel:
- according to: Establishes divine mandate as the ultimate source of David's kingship, not merely human election or political power.
- the word of the Lord (dvar Adonai): The ultimate authority and foundation for this momentous event. This highlights God's sovereignty and His fulfillment of His plans.
- by Samuel: Directly links back to Samuel's initial anointing and prophecies (1 Sam 16:1-13; 1 Sam 15:28), validating David's reign as divinely ordained and prophetically fulfilled, reinforcing God's faithfulness to His promises.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron": This phrase emphasizes the collective, consensual, and representative nature of the nation's recognition of David's kingship, physically manifesting their loyalty and unity.
- "and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord": This highlights the establishment of a sacred, binding agreement between king and people, sanctified by God's presence, forming the foundational social and political structure of the united kingdom. The "before the Lord" aspect infuses the act with profound theological significance.
- "and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel": This section underscores the legitimacy of David's rule, rooting it firmly in divine prophecy and explicit instruction. It validates the transfer of power from Saul's failed dynasty to David's divinely appointed one, assuring the original audience that God's hand was meticulously orchestrating these events.
1 Chronicles 11 3 Bonus section
The Chronicler often highlights aspects that strengthen post-exilic identity and offer hope, especially the permanence of God's covenant with David. This verse, mirroring 2 Samuel 5:3, adds the phrase "according to the word of the Lord by Samuel," a detail either unique to or significantly emphasized by the Chronicler. This addition strongly underlines David's divine legitimacy, stressing that his ascension was not merely a political triumph but the precise fulfillment of God's revealed will. This prophetic authentication would have been very important to the Chronicler's audience, reaffirming that God acts according to His word. It provides assurance that God's plans, including those for restoration, would likewise come to fruition.
1 Chronicles 11 3 Commentary
1 Chronicles 11:3 captures a pivotal moment of Israel's history—the formal recognition and establishment of David's divinely ordained kingship over a unified Israel. The Chronicler, writing to a post-exilic audience, emphasizes that David's rule was legitimate and holy, rooted in God's covenant and confirmed by prophetic word. This verse underlines themes of unity, divine election, covenantal relationship between God, king, and people, and the faithful fulfillment of God's promises. The anointing "before the Lord" imbues the political act with spiritual weight, ensuring that David's leadership was understood as part of God's sovereign plan for His people. It provided hope that God would sustain the Davidic line, ultimately finding its fulfillment in the Messiah, Jesus Christ. This historical event serves as a testament to God's faithfulness and the establishment of a righteous monarchy in Israel.