1 Chronicles 13:1-3

Uzzah Meets Disaster

13:1 David consulted with his military officers, including those who led groups of a thousand and those who led groups of a hundred. ¹  13:2 David said to the whole Israelite assembly, “If you so desire and the Lord our God approves, ²  let’s spread the word ³  to our brothers who remain in all the regions of Israel, and to the priests and Levites in their cities, ⁴  so they may join us. 13:3 Let’s move the ark of our God back here, ⁵  for we did not seek his will ⁶  throughout Saul’s reign.” ⁷ 

Proverbs 11:14

11:14 When there is no guidance ⁸  a nation falls,

but there is success ⁹  in the abundance of counselors.

Proverbs 15:22

15:22 Plans fail ¹⁰  when there is no counsel,

but with abundant advisers they are established. ¹¹ 

Ecclesiastes 4:13

Labor Motivated by Prestige-Seeking

4:13 A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king

who no longer knows how to receive advice.

[13:1]  ¹ tn Heb “and David consulted with the officers of thousands and hundreds, to every ruler.”

[13:2]  ² tn Heb “If to you [it is] good and from the Lord our God.”

[13:2]  ³ tn Heb “let us spread and let us send.” The words “the word” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[13:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “in the cities of their pasturelands.”

[13:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “to us.”

[13:3]  ⁶ tn Heb “him.” In this case, seeking God’s will is what is implied.

[13:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “in the days of Saul.”

[11:14]  ⁸ tn The word תַּחְבֻּלוֹת (takhvulot, “guidance; direction”) is derived from the root I חָבַל (khaval, “rope-pulling” and “steering” or “directing” a ship; BDB 286 s.v.). Thus spiritual guidance is like steering a ship, here the ship of state (R. N. Whybray, Proverbs [CBC], 68; Prov 1:5). Advice is necessary for the success of a nation.

[11:14]  ⁹ tn Heb “victory.” This term תְּשׁוּעָה (teshu’ah) means “salvation” or “victory” (BDB 448 s.v.); cf. NAB, TEV “security”; NRSV, NLT “safety.” Here, it connotes “success” as the antithesis of the nation falling. The setting could be one of battle or economics. Victory or success will be more likely with good advice. This assumes that the counselors are wise.

[15:22]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “go wrong” (so NRSV, NLT). The verb is the Hiphil infinitive absolute from פָּרַר, parar, which means “to break; to frustrate; to go wrong” (HALOT 975 s.v. I פרר 2). The plans are made ineffectual or are frustrated when there is insufficient counsel.

[15:22]  ¹¹ sn The proverb says essentially the same thing as 11:14, but differently.