This material divides into a simple two-part narrative detailing two distinct actions. First, the people plan to anoint David (1 Chronicles 12:38), and second, they celebrate after his anointing (1 Chronicles 12:39–40). The actual ceremony of anointing recorded occurred between these two steps (1 Chronicles 11:1–3).1
The first portion of this passage highlights Israel’s desire to make David their king. The soldiers (1 Chronicles 12:23–27) were firmly determined to have David as king over not just a portion of God’s people but all Israel (1 Chronicles 12:38). This desire, however, was not limited to the warriors, but all the rest of Israel
were in unanimous agreement (1 Chronicles 12:38). All came with singleness of purpose
to make David king over all Israel (1 Chronicles 12:33). The phrase literally reads without a heart and a heart
that is, without divided mind and feelings, the opposite of the double heart
of Psalm 12:1–8. There were no reservations. This singleness of purpose was not actually directed toward the building of unity. Full unity was already in place. The whole-heartedness is directed towards the realization of the Lord's full blessing for Israel. The Chronicler reminds us here of the need to be about the business of God’s kingdom with complete self-giving. How many churches wander along, achieving little in terms of real spiritual change and progress simply because their people’s hearts are divided (James 1:7–8)?2
The second step of this short episode concerns the joyful results of David’s anointing. The people and David celebrated for three days (1 Chronicles 12:39). This lengthy festival of eating and drinking was possible because their families had provided in abundance (1 Chronicles 12:39). Moreover, people from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali also travelled to Hebron with food (1 Chronicles 12:40). Representatives of the whole nation joined in the celebration by contributing an assortment of foods. The abundant provisions included flour, fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, oil, cattle, and sheep (1 Chronicles 12:40). This wonderful celebration took place because there was joy in Israel (1 Chronicles 12:40).
There is more to this meal than just a royal celebration. All Israel came to Hebron to make a covenant with David before the Lord (1 Chronicles 11:3). When Israel and David sat down to eat together, they ate in the presence of God and bound themselves in covenant. Their meal celebrated the covenant so that there was joy in Israel (1 Chronicles 12:40).3 There is eschatological significance in these historical events. The joyous picture of 1 Chronicles 12:38–40 reflects the triumphal picture of the messianic banquet where death is finally destroyed, and tears are no more (Isaiah 25:6–9). The reign of David, then, and the banquet which began it, point us to the eschatological joy of God’s fellowship with a united people. Christians share the joy of that fellowship whenever they meet at the Lord’s table.4
38 All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king.