1 Chronicles 15:1 kjv
And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent.
1 Chronicles 15:1 nkjv
David built houses for himself in the City of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched a tent for it.
1 Chronicles 15:1 niv
After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it.
1 Chronicles 15:1 esv
David built houses for himself in the city of David. And he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it.
1 Chronicles 15:1 nlt
David now built several buildings for himself in the City of David. He also prepared a place for the Ark of God and set up a special tent for it.
1 Chronicles 15 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Chr 14:1-2 | Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David... David knew that the Lord had established him as king... | David established as King |
| 2 Sam 5:9-10 | And David dwelt in the fort, and called it the City of David... and David went on and grew great... | David secured Jerusalem/Throne |
| 2 Sam 6:17 | And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched... | David's success bringing Ark |
| 1 Sam 4:3 | Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us... | Ark previously mishandled and captured |
| 1 Sam 7:1-2 | ...and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill... and it was there a long time... twenty years... | Ark resided outside central worship |
| Num 10:33-36 | The ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them... for them to search out a resting place. | Ark's role in guiding and providing rest |
| Exo 25:8-9 | And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them... | Command to build Tabernacle |
| Exo 26:1-37 | Detailed instructions for building the Tabernacle. | Pattern for God's dwelling tent |
| Psa 78:60-61 | So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men; and delivered his strength into captivity... | God's temporary departure from Shiloh |
| Psa 132:1-5 | Lord, remember David... how he sware unto the Lord... Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house... until I find out a place for the Lord... | David's devotion to finding God's dwelling |
| Psa 132:6-8 | Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood. We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool. | Finding the Ark for a resting place |
| Acts 7:46 | Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. | David's desire affirmed in NT |
| 2 Sam 7:1-2 | And it came to pass... the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest... The king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. | David's concern for the Ark's dwelling |
| 1 Chr 16:1 | So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it... | Fulfillment of this verse |
| Lev 26:11-12 | And I will set my tabernacle among you... and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people. | God's desire to dwell among His people |
| Joh 1:14 | And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory...) | God dwelling among men (NT fulfillment) |
| Rev 21:3 | Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them... | Future ultimate dwelling with God |
| Isa 2:2-3 | ...the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established... and all nations shall flow unto it. | Jerusalem as spiritual center |
| Hag 1:4 | Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? | Rebuke for misplaced priorities |
| Mal 3:1 | ...and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple... | Anticipation of God's presence in His house |
| 1 Cor 6:19 | Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit... | Believers as God's dwelling (spiritual Ark) |
| Rom 12:1-2 | ...present your bodies a living sacrifice... this is your reasonable service. | Practical service/priorities |
1 Chronicles 15 verses
1 Chronicles 15 1 Meaning
After King David had completed the construction of his own palace in Jerusalem, he devoted himself to preparing a suitable dwelling place for the Ark of God. He meticulously set up a special tent to house the Ark, demonstrating his commitment to the Lord and the proper arrangement of divine worship in the heart of his kingdom. This act underscores David's spiritual priorities following the consolidation of his temporal power.
1 Chronicles 15 1 Context
This verse is positioned in the midst of King David's rise to power and his efforts to establish Jerusalem as both the political and religious capital of Israel. Following the successful conquest of the Philistines and the confirmation of his reign, David's focus shifts from military triumph and securing his personal residence to spiritual priorities. Earlier attempts to bring the Ark to Jerusalem resulted in tragedy due to improper handling (1 Chr 13), highlighting the sacredness of the Ark and the necessity of adherence to divine commands. Therefore, 1 Chronicles 15:1 marks David's deliberate, more reverent approach to bringing the Ark to its designated place, recognizing its significance as the symbol of God's presence and covenant among His people. It sets the stage for a grand religious ceremony aimed at rectifying past errors and bringing glory to God.
1 Chronicles 15 1 Word Analysis
- After: Signifies a chronological sequence and indicates a shift in David's priorities. His personal affairs were established before tackling this sacred task.
- David: The central figure, God's chosen king, who united the tribes and now sought to unify religious worship.
- had built: From the Hebrew root banah (בָּנָה), meaning "to build, establish." It implies completion and permanence for his own dwelling, setting a stable foundation before attending to the divine.
- houses for himself: Refers to David's royal palace. The parallel passage in 2 Samuel 5:11 specifically mentions "a house of cedar," highlighting its luxurious and established nature. This contrasts sharply with the temporary nature of the Ark's subsequent dwelling.
- in the City of David: Hebrew: ʿIr David (עִיר דָּוִד). This is the ancient Jebusite fortress in Jerusalem that David conquered and made his capital (2 Sam 5:6-9). It was strategically important and now became symbolically important as the center for God's dwelling.
- he prepared: From the Hebrew root kun (כּוּן), in the Hiphil stem, meaning "to make firm, establish, prepare, fix." This is a strong verb emphasizing careful, deliberate, and intentional planning and execution, reflecting lessons learned from the previous failed attempt to move the Ark. It shows foresight and dedication.
- a place: Hebrew: maqom (מָקוֹם). Not just any area, but a specifically designated and arranged location, suitable for the holy object. This implies order and sacred separation.
- for the ark of God: Hebrew: ʾaron haʾElohim (אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים). The Ark was the most sacred object in Israel, representing God's throne, presence, and covenant (Exo 25:10-22). Its presence legitimized kingship and served as the focal point of worship. Proper reverence for it was paramount.
- and pitched: From the Hebrew root natah (נָטָה), meaning "to stretch out, spread out, pitch." This describes the active, purposeful erection of a temporary dwelling.
- a tent for it: Hebrew: ʾohel (אֹהֶל). This refers to a portable tabernacle, reminiscent of the wilderness Tabernacle. It signified God's willingness to dwell among His people in a provisional way, yet in a consecrated space. It was not the permanent Temple David later desired to build, but a proper, immediate solution for the Ark's sanctity.
1 Chronicles 15 1 Bonus section
- This verse subtly highlights David's growth as a leader. His past error in mishandling the Ark led to a deep understanding of God's holiness and the necessity of obedience to Mosaic Law regarding the Ark's transport. The methodical preparation here (implied by "prepared a place" and "pitched a tent") shows a deliberate return to scriptural principles.
- The "tent" for the Ark signifies a step towards centralized worship in Jerusalem, distinct from the Tabernacle at Gibeon where the brazen altar remained for sacrifices (1 Chr 16:39). David's tent for the Ark primarily functioned as a place of meeting with God's presence through the Ark, while daily sacrifices continued elsewhere until Solomon built the Temple.
- The term "City of David" (עִיר דָּוִד) not only refers to the specific stronghold in Jerusalem but also establishes a significant theological connection: the human king's capital becomes the place where God's presence, represented by the Ark, resides, thus binding human kingship to divine sovereignty.
1 Chronicles 15 1 Commentary
1 Chronicles 15:1 encapsulates a significant turning point in David's reign, revealing his true character and priorities as a God-fearing king. Having successfully secured his own physical dwelling in the "City of David," a symbol of his established earthly dominion, his immediate and purposeful act is to "prepare a place for the ark of God." This sequence is vital; David's concern for God's presence supersedes self-interest after his own needs are met. The word "prepared" (וַיֶּכֶן) suggests careful forethought and intentionality, contrasting sharply with the impulsive, ill-fated previous attempt to move the Ark (1 Chr 13). This act demonstrates a humility and reverence born of previous failure, emphasizing strict adherence to divine command. The decision to "pitch a tent" (אֹהֶל) for the Ark highlights continuity with the wilderness Tabernacle, acknowledging the Ark's unique sacredness and its symbolic representation of God's dwelling amidst His people, even if temporary. It reflects David's desire for the physical presence of God to be at the heart of his capital, cementing Jerusalem's destiny as a spiritual hub. This act is not merely ritualistic but deeply theological, laying the groundwork for Israel's proper worship and ultimately anticipating the more permanent Temple Solomon would build. It teaches us that once we establish our own lives, our deepest longing should be for God's presence and for preparing a suitable dwelling place, whether physical or spiritual, for His glory.