Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 13:1
Then David conferred with all his leaders, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David addresses his military commanders of thousands and hundreds before proposing a national religious gathering. This consultation precedes his public announcement to Israel, priests, and Levites.
The words — The verb וַיּוּעַץ (va-yi-va-'Atz) translates literally as "he consulted." It governs the noun phrase שָׂרֵי הָאֲלָפִים וְהַמֵּאוֹת (sa-rei ha-'a-la-fim ve-ha-me-'ot), meaning "commanders of the thousands and the hundreds."
The thread — Royal consultation patterns appear in 2 Kings 23:1 when a king summons Judah's elders, and in 2 Chronicles 29:20 when Hezekiah gathers city officials before temple work. David's military council follows this established sequence of leadership alignment.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to acknowledge that major national or religious initiatives in Israel's monarchy begin with structured counsel among established authorities. It demands accountability and collective agreement before public mobilization.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 23:1 Then the king summoned all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
- 1 Chronicles 12:20 When David went to Ziklag, these men of Manasseh defected to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands in Manasseh.
- 2 Chronicles 29:20 Early the next morning King Hezekiah gathered the city officials and went up to the house of the LORD.
- 2 Chronicles 34:29 Then the king summoned all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
- 2 Samuel 6:1 David again assembled the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand in all.
- 1 Chronicles 12:14 These Gadites were army commanders, the least of whom was a match for a hundred, and the greatest for a thousand.
- 1 Chronicles 12:32 From Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do: 200 chiefs with all their kinsmen at their command.