For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God.
The verse belongs to the fuller parallel account of the assembly at Hebron, where men of Israel came to make David king over all Israel. It stands in the account of God's purpose to bring David to the throne amid the political changes in Israel. During Israel's crisis, men from the different tribes joined David day by day to help bring him to his throne, until they grew into a great host, like the host of God. That assembly numbered about 350,000 fighting men and lasted three days as a festival.
The men who gathered are described as mighty, courageous, swift, skilled, wise, and loyal. Their gathering teaches organization, for because they all knew what Israel ought to do in that critical time they were subject one to another, choosing earnest leaders to secure harmonious action so that every man's work would count for the most. The ability and disposition to keep rank and work loyally together in fellowship comes with a perfect heart as a gift of God, and David worked with this organized host by consulting with the captains of thousands and hundreds and with every leader.
The continual coming of people to David's aid until they formed a great host pictures the gospel movement becoming a mighty force that carries its message across the world to victory.
The verse belongs to the fuller parallel account of the assembly at Hebron, where men of Israel came to make David king over all Israel. It stands in the account of God's purpose to bring David to the throne amid the political changes in Israel. During Israel's crisis, men from the different tribes joined David day by day to help bring him to his throne, until they grew into a great host, like the host of God. That assembly numbered about 350,000 fighting men and lasted three days as a festival.
The men who gathered are described as mighty, courageous, swift, skilled, wise, and loyal. Their gathering teaches organization, for because they all knew what Israel ought to do in that critical time they were subject one to another, choosing earnest leaders to secure harmonious action so that every man's work would count for the most. The ability and disposition to keep rank and work loyally together in fellowship comes with a perfect heart as a gift of God, and David worked with this organized host by consulting with the captains of thousands and hundreds and with every leader.
The continual coming of people to David's aid until they formed a great host pictures the gospel movement becoming a mighty force that carries its message across the world to victory.