(1) **And David assembled all the princes of Israel.**—As he had called the National Assembly before removing the Ark (1Chronicles 13:1; 1Chronicles 15:3). Who the princes (*sārîm*) were is defined in the following clauses.
**The princes of the tribes.**—See the list of them in 1Chronicles 27:16-22.
**Captains of the companies.**—Rather, *princes of the courses, who served the king:* viz., those enumerated in 1Chronicles 27:1-15.
**Stewards.**—See 1Chronicles 27:25-31. Both “captains” and “stewards” are *sārîm* in the Hebrew.
**Possession** (*miqnèh*)*.—*A word generally used, like the Greek κτῆμα (κτῆνος), of possessions in cattle—live stock.
**And of his sons.**—Perhaps considered as his heirs, or rather, from the old tribal view of property, as sharing the royal domains with him.
**With the officers.**—Heb., *sarîsîm,* eunuchs. The word appears to be used in a generalised sense, and to denote simply courtiers or palace officials. (Comp. Genesis 37:36; 1Samuel 8:15; 1Kings 22:9; Jeremiah 38:7; Jeremiah 41:16.)
**The mighty men.**—**“**The heroes” (*ha-gibbórîm*) or “warriors” of 1Chronicles 11:31-47; 1Chronicles 11:12. But the LXX. and Vulg. interpret men of rank and wealth, magnates (τοὺς δυνάστας, Luke 1:52).
**And with all the valiant men.**—Literally, *and every mighty man* (“*gibbôr*”) *of valour,* a phrase meant to include all other persons of importance. It is noticeable that in this meeting of the estates of the realm all the dignitaries of 1 Chronicles 27 are present (contrast 1Chronicles 15:25; 1Chronicles 23:2; 1Chronicles 13:1), except the priests and Levites. (But comp. 1Chronicles 28:21.)
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.