King David, toward the close of his reign, delivered a solemn charge to those bearing the burden of the work of God in his day. Summoning to Jerusalem "all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men," the aged king solemnly charged them, "in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God," to "keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God." I Chronicles 28:1, 8. 95

Hen imod slutningen af kong Davids regering gav han dem, der på hans tid skulle bære byrden af tjenesten for Gud, en højtidelig befaling. Den gamle konge sammenkaldte i Jerusalem "alle Israels øverster, stammeøversterne skifternes øverster, som var i kongens tjeneste, tusind og hundredførerne, overopsynsmændene over alle kongens og hans sønners ejendele og kvæg, ligeledes hofmændene, kærnetropperne og alle dygtige krigere," og pålagde dem højtideligt "for hele Israels, Herrens forsamlings, øjne og i vor Guds påhør "at holde alle Herren eders Guds bud." 1Krøn. 28,1. og 8.