XIII.
(1) And David consulted. — This consultation took place some time after the coronation at Hebron (comp. 2 Samuel 6:1), “And David gathered together again every chosen man iıı Israel, thirty thousand.” This is all that Samuel has corresponding to our 1 Chronicles 13:1-5. It is by no means necessary to assume that, “according to the context, we are still at Hebron in the assemblage of 350,000 warriors” (Reuss). Samuel implies the contrary.
Captains of thousands. — The thousands (comp. 1 Chronicles 12:20).
And the hundreds. — Comp. Numbers 31:14. The hundreds were the smaller military divisions of the tribe, representing, perhaps, the warlike strength of the houses, as the thousands represented that of the clans or sub-tribes.
And with every leader. — Rather, viz. with every prince (nagîd) or chief. These chiefs constituted the Great Council of the nation.