Commentary on 1 Chronicles 14:1–17 (Summary)

Having ended the previous section with David’s failure to bring the ark to Jerusalem, the Chronicler moves quickly to cast positive light on David’s kingdom. Viewed on its own, the events of 1 Chronicles 13:1–14 may have raised misgivings among the Chronicler’s readers as to the Davidic kingship. If David failed so terribly, what made his dynasty different from the cursed line of Saul? Also, David’s failure to bring the ark to Jerusalem may have caused him to fear that God had become his adversary. The Chronicler’s intent in 1 Chronicles 14:1–17 is to describe three particular ways in which the Lord sought to reassure and bless David despite his failures. Though these events that are recorded cover different periods of David’s life, it serves the Chronicler’s purpose to bring them together at this point in order to emphasize how God had blessed David not only by establishing him in Jerusalem and giving him offspring but also by granting him victory over his enemies.¹ These blessings demonstrate that David’s kingship was special in the eyes of God. And in showing how God graciously blessed David, the writer offered encouragement to the people of his own time—returned exiles—who may have felt that God had forgotten to be gracious to them.²

The material comprising 1 Chronicles 13:14 is taken from 2 Samuel 5:11–25, but the Chronicler places the Samuel narrative after the ark was brought to Obed-Edom’s house. The Chronicler inserts this material as an interlude as a literary device to account for the three-month period between the first and second phases of the installation of the ark at Jerusalem, thus creating an atmosphere of expectation. There are several reasons behind the Chronicler’s rearrangement of his material in relation to 2 Samuel 5:11–25.

1. The seeking theme is continued with regard to the Philistine wars (1 Chronicles 14:10, 1 Chronicles 14:14). This forms part of a broader picture where seeking or enquiring of the Lord is met with success on the battlefield and international recognition.

2. David’s kingship over all Israel is continued from previous chapters and again emphasized in 1 Chronicles 14:2 and 1 Chronicles 14:8.

3. The constant focus on Jerusalem throughout 1 Chronicles 14:1–17 not only as the city conquered by David but the place where David’s blessings are multiplied marks it out as a place prepared for the ark.

4. The Chronicler bookends the details of 1 Chronicles 14:14 (an inclusio) by emphasizing at the start that David’s kingdom was highly exalted (1 Chronicles 14:2), and adds, The fame of David went out into all lands, at the end (1 Chronicles 14:17), emphasizing the blessing of King David.

5. The Chronicler's literary arrangement also turns the two instances of the Lord’s breakout in judgment (1 Chronicles 13:9–12) into a breakout in blessing. The Lord had broken out against Uzzah (1 Chronicles 13:11) but now in 1 Chronicles 14:11 the Lord has broken through in double blessing by giving victory to David over his enemies (1 Chronicles 14:11) as well as unexpected and unrestrained blessing upon the household of Obed-edom.³

The previous section ended with a question as to the way forward, yet with blessing (1 Chronicles 13:12, 1 Chronicles 13:14); now it becomes clear that David’s intention was being honoured as he was blessed in Jerusalem and among the nations.⁴