1 Chronicles 19:2

2 David said, “I am going to show loyalty to Hanun because his father, Nahash, was always loyal to me.” So David sent messengers to express sympathy to Hanun about his father’s death. But when David’s ambassadors arrived in the land of Ammon,

1 Chronicles 19:2 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 19:35

Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of
the congregation
Or rather "within" it, as Noldius renders it, since they were not to go out of the door of it, ( Leviticus 8:33 ) whereas our version seems to leave it undetermined whether they abode without the door or within; where they were to continue,

day and night, seven days;
even the seven days of their consecration:

and keep the charge of the Lord, that ye die not;
not the charge of the tabernacle, and the service of it committed to them upon their investiture with their office, hereafter to be observed by them; but what was charged upon them to attend unto, during the seven days of their consecration; and the penalty being death in case of failure, was to make them more careful and cautious of transgressing; and which was the more necessary, as they were to be pure and holy at their entrance upon their work: and though this may seem somewhat severe, yet the aggravation of their sin would be the greater, as it was to a sacred and honourable work they were called, and to which they were now consecrating; and as what was required of them was what might easily be complied with: however Moses, to show that this was not of himself, but by divine authority, adds,

for so I am commanded;
that is, to declare unto them, that if they did not punctually observe the above orders, they must expect to die.

1 Chronicles 19:2 In-Context

1 Some time after this, King Nahash of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun became king.

2 David said, “I am going to show loyalty to Hanun because his father, Nahash, was always loyal to me.” So David sent messengers to express sympathy to Hanun about his father’s death. But when David’s ambassadors arrived in the land of Ammon,

3 the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, “Do you really think these men are coming here to honor your father? No! David has sent them to spy out the land so they can come in and conquer it!”

4 So Hanun seized David’s ambassadors and shaved them, cut off their robes at the buttocks, and sent them back to David in shame.

5 When David heard what had happened to the men, he sent messengers to tell them, “Stay at Jericho until your beards grow out, and then come back.” For they felt deep shame because of their appearance.