Our reading today records the acceptance of David as king by all of Israel. The Chronicler skips over the whole Abner making Ish-bosheth king of Israel (2 Sam 2:8-9), the defection of Abner (2 Sam 3:12), his death at the hands of Joab (2 Sam 3:27), and the murder of Ish-bosheth (2 Sam 4:5-6). Why? Because the writer’s interest is not in the political intrigue that led to David’s ascension to the throne, only that he was the king (11:1), that he was the champion of Israel even while Saul was king, and that he was anointed by God to be king (vv. 2-3). In the record of the taking of Jerusalem, the writer includes the fact that Joab was the one to lead the attack, which is why he became the captain of David’s army (v. 6), and that he helped rebuild the city (v. 8).

Note in verse 10 that the writer again mentions that David was made king by God. We then get a recounting of David’s mighty men (see 2 Sam 23). Note the differences between v. 11 and 2 Samuel 23:8. Copyist errors? Was all of 2 Samuel not available to the Chronicler and the records he had were inaccurate? Also note that the Chronicler’s list of mighty men is longer than that in 2 Samuel 23, perhaps aiming to show that David was greater and had more support from all of Israel.

Chapter 12 backs us up in time a bit to show some of the mighty men that had been with David since he was on the run from Saul (12:1). Note the passing mention of Ziklag, showing again that a knowledge of the history is already assumed. Also note that we find out here that some of those great warriors were Benjamites (v. 2). The writer is showing how David had support even from the tribes of his enemies. In verses 8, 16, 19 we see how men from many tribes joined David from early on. Note in verse 18 that the writer shows how the loyalty shown to David was of the Holy Spirit.

In verse 22, the writer compares David’s army to an army of God. In verse 23, we flash forward again to all Israel making David king, and the Chronicler is sure to mention the numbers of men from every tribe that swore their loyalty to him (vv. 23-40). He is advocating for a united Israel now that they have returned to the land.