Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Chronicles 13:3
And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul.
3. we inquired not at it ] R.V. we sought not unto it. The meaning of the Heb. verb is to seek with care, to care for.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
1Ch 13:3-6
And let us bring again the ark of our God to us.
The ark in the royal city
A place of honour, influence, and right, as:–
I. The centre of unity.
II. The source of religious life. This act:
1. Purified religious life.
2. Unified religious life.
3. Organised religious life.
III. The sign of Gods presence. (J. Wolfendale.)
The arks progress to Mount Zion
One of the Psalms composed by David to be sung on the removing of the ark (Psa 68:1-35.) is quoted by Paul (Eph 4:7-8) as having foretold what this procession itself foreshadowed, viz., the ascension of Christ, and the blessings which should flow therefrom upon every member of His Mystical Body. We see in all this great procession nothing less than the Universal Church of Christ, partaking with the Divine David in the glory of His ascension into the Heavenly Zion. From the narrative of which the text forms a part we may learn:–
I. General lessons.
1. That periods of reformation, after past neglect, are those in which we need more than ordinary caution, lest we mar the work which is designed to promote Gods glory.
2. That all religious reformation which is the work of man can scarcely fail to be blemished and disfigured more or less by human infirmities.
3. That the effects of those infirmities are not to be acquiesced in, but to be confessed and corrected, if ever we would hope to obtain the Divine approval, or even to escape the Divine chastisement.
4. Not to abandon our good intentions because we have been checked and hindered in our efforts after amendment, but still to hold on and persevere in our exertions; only taking heed to profit by the instruction which the experience of past failure was designed to give.
5. God will be sanctified in all them that come nigh Him, by obedience to His holy laws (Lev 10:2).
6. That ignorance and neglect, even when allowed to pass unchastised in others, may bring upon His ordained ministers the severest punishment.
II. Particular lessons.
1. That every Christian has his place in that great procession, which is occupied in conveying the Ark of the Covenant (Rev 11:19) up to its final resting-place in Mount Zion; but every Christian has not the same place.
2. That it is not enough that we do, whatever we do, with a good intention unless what is done be also good, good in itself, and good in us. (Bishop Chris. Wordsworth.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
The ark was then neglected; and the generality of the people either lived in the gross neglect of the solemn worship of God, or contented themselves with going to Gibeon, and offering sacrifices there, not caring, though the ark, the soul of the tabernacle, was in another place.
In the days of Saul: so it was in the days of Samuel; but it is rather charged upon Saul than him; partly, because Samuel was exercised with continual wars, or expectation of wars, with the Philistines all the time of his regency, and therefore wanted the opportunity to bring back the ark, which Saul had and neglected; partly, because Samuel took care to stir up and maintain religion among them by other means, and in an extraordinary manner; whereas this was but one branch of Sauls impiety, and was joined with a contempt of all religion, as the history of his life shews; and partly, because it was more proper to accuse himself and the present generation, who were guilty of this neglect, than to rake into the ashes of their deceased progenitors, and lay his charge against those who were dead and gone some good while since.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
1-3. David consulted . . . And letus bring again the ark of our GodGratitude for the high andsplendid dignity to which he had been elevated would naturally, atthis period, impart a fresh animation and impulse to the habituallyfervent piety of David; but, at the same time, he was animated byother motives. He fully understood his position as ruler under thetheocracy, and, entering on his duties, he was resolved to fulfil hismission as a constitutional king of Israel. Accordingly, his firstact as a sovereign related to the interests of religion. The arkbeing then the grand instrument and ornament of it, he takes theopportunity of the official representatives of the nation being withhim, to consult them about the propriety of establishing it in a morepublic and accessible locality. The assembly at which he spoke ofthis consisted of the Sheloshim, princes of thousands (2Sa6:1). During the reign of the late king, the ark had been left inculpable neglect. Consequently the people had, to a great extent,been careless about the ordinances of divine worship, or hadcontented themselves with offering sacrifices at Gibeon, without anythought of the ark, though it was the chief and most vital part ofthe tabernacle. The duty and advantages of this religious movementsuggested by the king were apparent, and the proposal met withuniversal approval.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And let us bring again the ark of our God to us,…. The symbol of the divine Presence, than which nothing was more desirable to David, and he chose to begin his reign overall Israel with it:
for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul; he being indifferent to religion, and careless about it, and the enjoyment of the presence of God, and having direction from him; and the people also content with worship at the tabernacle at Gibeah, though the token of the divine Presence was absent.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) Let us bring again.Bring we round: transfer it from Kirjath-jearim to Jerusalem, as the throne was transferred (same verb) from Saul to David (1Ch. 10:14; 1Ch. 12:23).
The Ark of our God to us.The Ark was at Kirjath-jearim, a city of Judah, Davids own tribe. But the ting wished to establish it as the centre of the national worship in his new capital and royal residence, Jerusalem.
For we enquired not at it.Rather, we sought it not, that is, neglected it, cared nothing about it. The Ark had been left in the house of Abinadab at Kirjath-jearim, for twenty years, after the Philistines sent it back (1Sa. 7:2). There may be a reference to Sauls despairing neglect of consulting the Lord (1Ch. 10:13); and, perhaps, we should translate, we sought Him not, referring the suffix to God (comp. 1Ch. 15:13; Isa. 9:12). There is no clear evidence that the Ark itself was ever used as an oracle (comp. Exo. 25:10-22; 1Ki. 8:9).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
1Ch 13:3. For we enquired not at it in the days of Saul For we consulted him not in the days of Saul. Houbigant.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
1Ch 13:3 And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.
Ver. 3. For we inquired not at it in the days of Saul. ] He was so vexed with his enemies without and a spirit of envy and ambition within, that he minded not the ark. Mark here how David faults himself among others as negligent. So Ezr 9:7-15 Dan 9:5-15 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the ark of our God. Note its titles in these two books of Chronicles: the Ark, fifteen times; the Ark of God, twelve times; the Ark of the Lord, four times; the Ark of the Covenant of God, once; the Ark of Thy strength, once; the holy Ark, once; the Ark of our God, once. Forty-six in all. See note on Exo 25:22.
enquired not at it. Hebrew. darash, to seek diligently. See note on 1Ch 10:13.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
bring again: Heb. bring about
the ark: 1Sa 7:1, 1Sa 7:2, Psa 132:6
we inquired: 1Sa 14:18, 1Sa 14:36, 1Sa 22:10, 1Sa 22:15, 1Sa 23:2, 1Sa 23:9-12
Reciprocal: 1Ch 14:10 – inquired
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ch 13:3. We inquired not at it in the days of Saul The ark was then neglected, and the generality of the people contented themselves with going to Gibeon and offering sacrifices there, not caring, though the ark, the soul of the tabernacle, was in another place. As soon as David had power in his hand, he would use it for the advancement of religion. It ought to be the first care of those that are enriched or preferred, to honour God with their honours, and to serve him, and the interests of his kingdom among men, with their wealth and power.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
13:3 And let us bring again the {a} ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.
(a) His first concern was to restore religion, which had in Saul’s day been corrupted and neglected.