1 Chronicles 12

1Ch 12:1-22.

THE

COMPANIES

THAT

CAME TO

DAVID AT

ZIKLAG.

1-7. Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag--There are three

lists given in this chapter, arranged, apparently, according to the

order of time when the parties joined the standard of David.

while he yet kept himself close because of Saul--that is, when the

king's jealousy had driven him into exile from the court and the

country.

Ziklag--(See on

1Sa 27:6).

It was during his retirement in that Philistine town that he was joined

in rapid succession by the heroes who afterwards contributed so much to

the glory of his reign.

2. of Saul's brethren of Benjamin--that is, of the tribe of Benjamin

(compare

1Ch 12:29),

but some of them might be relatives of the king. This movement to which

the parties were led, doubtless by the secret impulse of the Spirit,

was of vast importance to the cause of David, as it must have been

founded on their observation of the evident withdrawal of God's

blessing from Saul, and His favoring presence with David, to whom it

was universally known the Divine King of Israel had given the crown in

reversion. The accession of the Benjamites who came first and their

resolution to share his fortunes must have been particularly grateful

to David. It was a public and emphatic testimony by those who had

enjoyed the best means of information to the unblemished excellence of

his character, as well as a decided protest against the grievous wrong

inflicted by causelessly outlawing a man who had rendered such eminent

services to his country.

4. Ismaiah the Gibeonite--It appears that not only the Canaanites

who were admitted into the congregation

(Jos 9:1-27),

but people of the tribe of Benjamin, were among the inhabitants of

Gibeon. The mention of "the Gederathite," probably from Gederah

(Jos 15:36),

in the lowlands of Judah; of the Korhites

(1Ch 12:6),

from Korah

(1Ch 2:43),

and of Gedor

(1Ch 12:7),

a town in Judah, to the southwest of Beth-lehem (compare

1Ch 4:4),

shows that this first list contains men of Judah as well as Benjamin

[BERTHEAU].

8-13. of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David--that is,

from the service of Saul and from the rest of the Gadites who remained

steadfast adherents of his cause.

into the hold--or fortress, that is, of Ziklag, which was in the

wilderness of Judah.

whose faces were like the faces of lions, &c.--A fierce, lion-like

countenance

(2Sa 1:23),

and great agility in pursuit

(2Sa 2:18),

were qualities of the highest estimation in ancient warfare.

14. one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a

thousand--David, while at Ziklag, had not so large an amount of forces

as to give to each of these the command of so many men. Another

meaning, therefore, must obviously be sought, and excluding was, which

is a supplement by our translators, the import of the passage is, that

one of the least could discomfit a hundred, and the greatest was worth

a thousand ordinary men; a strong hyperbole to express their uncommon

valor.

15. These are they that went over Jordan in the first month--that is,

in spring, when the swollen river generally fills up the banks of its

channel (see on

Jos 3:14;

Jos 4:19;

Jos 5:10).

they put to flight all them of the valleys--This was probably done at

the time of their separating themselves and their purpose being

discovered, they had to cut their passage through the opposing

adherents of Saul, both on the eastern and western banks. The

impossibility of taking the fords at such a time, and the violent

rapidity of the current, make this crossing of the Jordan--in whatever

way these Gadites accomplished it--a remarkable feat.

16. the children of Benjamin and Judah--It is probable that the

Benjamites invited the Judahites to accompany them, in order to prevent

David being suspicious of them. Their anticipations, as the result

showed, were well founded. He did suspect them, but the doubts of David

as to their object in repairing to him, were promptly dispelled by

Amasai or Amasa, who, by the secret impulse of the Spirit, assured him

of their strong attachment and their zealous service from a unanimous

conviction that his cause was owned and blessed of God

(1Sa 18:12-14).

19-22. there fell some of Manasseh--The period of their accession is

fixed as the time when David came with the Philistines against Saul to

battle.

but they helped them

not--(See on

1Sa 29:4).

20. As he went to Ziklag--If those Manassites joined him on his return

to Ziklag, after his dismissal from the Philistine army, then their

arrival took place before the battle of Gilboa could have been fought

(compare

1Sa 29:11).

Convinced of the desperate state of Saul's affairs, they abandoned him,

and resolved to transfer their allegiance to David. But some learned

men think that they came as fugitives from that disastrous field

[CALMET and EWALD].

captains of the thousands . . . of Manasseh--Those seven were

commanders of the large military divisions of their tribe.

21, 22. they helped David against the band--that is, the Amalekites

who had pillaged Ziklag in David's absence. This military expedition

was made by all his men

(1Sa 30:9),

who, as David's early helpers, are specially distinguished from those

who are mentioned in the latter portion of the chapter.

22. the host of God--that is, a great and powerful army.

1Ch 12:23-40.

THE

ARMIES

THAT

CAME TO

HIM AT

HEBRON.

23. these are the numbers of the bands . . . that came to David to

Hebron--after the death of Ish-bosheth

(see on

2Sa 5:1).

to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the

Lord--

(1Ch 10:14; 11:3, 10).

The account commences with the southern tribes, Levi being associated

with Judah and Simeon, as the great majority of the leading men in this

tribe resided in Judah; and, after recounting the representatives of

the northern tribes, it concludes with those on the east of Jordan.

27. Jehoiada, the leader of the Aaronites--not the high priest, for

that was Abiathar

(1Sa 23:9),

but the leader of the Aaronite warriors, supposed to be the father of

Benaiah

(1Ch 11:22).

29. Benjamin . . . three thousand--This small number shows the

unpopularity of the movement in this tribe; and, indeed, it is expressly

stated that the mass of the population had, even after Ish-bosheth's

death, anxiously endeavored to secure the crown in the family of Saul.

32. children of Issachar, . . . that had understanding of the

times, &c.--Jewish writers say that the people of this tribe were

eminent for their acquirements in astronomical and physical science; and

the object of the remark was probably to show that the intelligent and

learned classes were united with the military, and had declared for

David.

33. Zebulun . . . could keep rank--that is, were more disciplined

soldiers than the rest.

not of double heart--Though their numbers were large, all were in a

high degree well affected to David.

38. all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David

king--that is, entertained a unanimous desire for his elevation.

39, 40. there they were with David three days, eating and

drinking--According to the statements made in the preceding verses,

the number of armed warriors assembled in Hebron on this occasion

amounted to three hundred thousand. Supplies of provisions were

abundantly furnished, not only by the people of the neighborhood, but

from distant parts of the country, for all wished the festivities to be

on a scale of liberality and magnificence suitable to the auspicious

occasion.