How we cite our quotes:
Quote #1
Adam, Seth, Enosh; Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared; Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech; Noah, Shem[…] Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah; Eber, Peleg, Reu; Serug, Nahor, Terah; Abram, that is, Abraham[…] Abraham became the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel […] These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. (1 Chronicles 1:1-4, 24-27, 34, 2:1-2, NRSV)
Adam, Sheth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered, Henoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth[…] Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, Terah, Abram; the same is Abraham[…] And Abraham begat Isaac. The sons of Isaac; Esau and Israel […] These are the sons of Israel; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. (1 Chronicles 1:1-4, 24-27, 34, 2:1-2, KJV)
Okay, that's a lot of names, but it makes a point: every single person in the community came from the same place—Adam and, by extension, God. This sets the tone for a story of a unified community with a common heritage. Whenever people today want to encourage global peace and cooperation, they often refer to our common ancestry as justification for why we should care about humanity in general.
Quote #2
Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron and said, "See, we are your bone and flesh. For some time now, even while Saul was king, it was you who commanded the army of Israel. The Lord your God said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over my people Israel." So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel […] All these, warriors arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with full intent to make David king over all Israel; likewise all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king. (1 Chronicles 11:1-3, 12:38, NRSV)
Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the Lord thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel. Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel […] All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king. (1 Chronicles 11:1-3, 12:38, KJV)
Everyone seems to love the new king. (Of course, if you read 2 Samuel that's not exactly how it all went down.) The point here is that the whole community is united behind David on the force of his leadership skills. They recognized that even when Saul was king, David was the more effective leader. They were just waiting for him to step into the role. Terms like "all Israel" appear frequently in this account.
Quote #3
David consulted with the commanders of the thousands and of the hundreds, with every leader. David said to the whole assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you, and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send abroad to our kindred who remain in all the land of Israel, including the priests and Levites in the cities that have pasture lands, that they may come together to us. Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us; for we did not turn to it in the days of Saul." The whole assembly agreed to do so for the thing pleased all the people. (1 Chronicles 13:1-4, NRSV)
David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the Lord our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us: And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul. And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. (1 Chronicles 13:1-4, KJV)
David may be king, but he still asks for input from the whole community. It's a smart move for any leader to figure out the will of the people and David is a master at this technique. The ark project proves to be hugely popular—the description of the people carrying the ark with David singing and dancing at the head of the assembly is really vivid. You can almost hear the music.