1 Chronicles 19:2

2 And David said, I will show mercy unto Hanun, the son of Nahash, because his father showed mercy to me. And David sent ambassadors to comfort him concerning his father. So the slaves of David came into the land of the sons of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.

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 Now it came to pass after this that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon, died, and his son reigned in his stead.

2 And David said, I will show mercy unto Hanun, the son of Nahash, because his father showed mercy to me. And David sent ambassadors to comfort him concerning his father. So the slaves of David came into the land of the sons of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.

3 But the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, Does it seem unto thee that David honours thy father, that he has sent comforters unto thee? Are not his slaves come unto thee to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?

4 Then Hanun took David’s slaves and shaved them, and cut off their garments in half, exposing their buttocks and sent them away.

5 Then they left, and it was told David how the men were served. And he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards are grown and then return.