1 Chronicles 19:2

2 And David said: I will shew kindness to Hanon the son of Naas: for his father did a favour tome. And David sent messengers to comfort him upon the death of his father. But when they were come into the land of the children of Ammon, to comfort Hanon,

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 that Naas the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.

2 And David said: I will shew kindness to Hanon the son of Naas: for his father did a favour tome. And David sent messengers to comfort him upon the death of his father. But when they were come into the land of the children of Ammon, to comfort Hanon,

3 The princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanon: Thou thinkest perhaps that David to do honour to thy father hath sent comforters to thee: and thou dost not take notice, that his servants are come to thee to consider, and search, and spy out thy land.

4 Wherefore Hanon shaved the heads and beards of the servants of David, and cut away their garments from the buttocks to the feet, and sent them away.

5 And when they were gone, they sent word to David, who sent to meet them (for they had suffered a great affront) and ordered them to stay at Jericho till their beards grew and then to return.