Select Language
AaSelect font sizeDark ModeSet to dark mode
Browse by Book

1 Chronicles 11:4 meaning

David’s decision to capture Jerusalem unified Israel under a single, divinely chosen king and laid the foundation for the city’s enduring importance.

Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there. (v.4) At this point in Israel’s history, David has been anointed as king of all the tribes, uniting them under his spiritual and political leadership around 1003 BC. Jerusalem, also known to the Israelites as Jebus, was inhabited by the Jebusites, a group that traced its heritage back to the early Canaanites. By marching on Jerusalem, David demonstrated his intent to solidify his rule in a central location that would become the beloved capital of Israel. This marked the beginning of Jerusalem’s celebrated role in the narrative of God’s people, later echoing into the New Testament when Jesus Himself ministered within its walls (Luke 19:37).

Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there. (v.4) Jerusalem’s strategic position made it a natural choice for David to establish his seat of power. It was perched on high ground, offering a militarily defensible site, and it lay between the northern and southern territories of Israel. The Jebusites, having settled there for centuries, had built and fortified the city, and they believed it to be almost unconquerable (2 Samuel 5:6). Despite the challenge, David’s persistence and faith in the LORD would ultimately overturn those defenses—an act that both fulfilled God’s plan and strengthened Israel’s unity.

Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there. (v.4) Spiritually, this move indicates how God would establish a holy city for His people, foreshadowing its central role in worship and covenant life. In time, Jerusalem became the location of the temple, built by David’s son, Solomon, around 957 BC. This temple connection magnified its significance in God’s covenant promise to Israel, becoming a site of pilgrimage, worship, and prophecy, including future Messianic expectations (Isaiah 2:3).

1 Chronicles 11:4