1 Chronicles 12

NOw these are they that came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close Or, was shut up, or shut out, from his own Land and People; for he speaks not of that time when he was shut up, and hid himself in Caves in the Land of Iudah, but when he was at Ziklag., because of Saul the son of Kish: and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war.

They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left With like nimbleness and certainty. Compare Iudge 3. 15. & 20. 16., in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Sauls brethren of Benjamin i. e. Of Sauls own Tribe: who were moved hereunto by Gods Spirit and by the Conscience of their Duty to David to whom God had given the Crown in reversion; and by their Observation of Gods departure from Saul, and of his special presence with David and his gracious providence for him..

The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite, and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth, and Berachah, and Jehu the Antothite.

And Ismajah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty i. e. Who came attended with 30 valiant Benjamites, and was their Leader and Commander., and Jeremlah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite,

Eluzai and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite,

Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer and Jashobeam the Korhites.

And Joelah, and Zebadiah the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

And of the Gadite there separated themselves From Saul to whom they had hitherto adhered; and from their Brethren of their own Tribe who yet maintained Sauls cause; and from their Families and the places where they lived, from whom they went to David. unto David into the hold to the wilderness Or, into the hold of the wilderness; i. e. Either to the Cave of Adullam or Engedi: or rather to Ziklag, as appears from v. 1. which was in the Wilderness of Iudah, which is here called the hold, or the fortress, which name is also given to the City of David, 1 Chron. 11. 7. the Hebrew word being the same both here and there., men of might, and men of war, fit for the battel, that could handle shield and buckler: whose faces were like the faces of lions Who were full of Courage, and by the Majesty and Fierceness of their Countenances terrified their Adversaries., and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains As their very Looks daunted their Enemies and put them to flight, so they could easily pursue and overtake and destroy them in their Flight..

Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,

Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth.

Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

Johanan the eighth, Elzabud the ninth,

Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh.

These were the sons of Gad, captains of the host: ‖ one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand Not that they brought now so many men with them, but either 1. they had hitherto been Captains or Colonels under Saul, or in the established Militia or Bands of their Tribe. Or, 2. they were so afterwards under David, who for their Valour and Fidelity thus advanced them..

These are they that went over Jordan To wit, in Saul. time, when it seems the Enemies of the Israelites had made an In... oad and done some Mischiefs to the Israelites beyond Iordan, to whose Help these then came. in the first month, when it had overflown all his banks As it commonly did about that time. See Ios. 3. 15. & 4. 18. Ier. 49. 19. This is noted either as a Description of the Time when this was done, it being usual with Historians to note the Circumstances of great Actions: or as an Aggravation of the Fact. And possibly these being Men of great Nimbleness and Dexterity, did swim over Iordan through their ardent Desire to help their Brethren and to fight with their Enemies., and they put to flight all them of the vallies i. e. The People that lived in the Valleys or Deserts beyond Iordan, who, as it seems, when Saul was engaged against the Philistins, took that Advantage to fall upon the Israelites beyond Iordan., both toward the east, and toward the west Either 1. the People that lived more Eastward and remote from Iordan, and those who lived more Westward or nearer to it. Or 2. they made them fly several ways, some Eastward, some Westward, as they saw the way open for them. See Deut. 28...., 25..

And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold To the same Hold mentioned v. 8. where see the Notes. unto David.

And David went out to meet them, and answered i. e.; as that word is oft used in Scripture even of him that speaketh. and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you I shall ever esteem and love you, and show this by my to you hereafter.: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies Which your Number, and Quality and near Relation to Saul gives me some cause to suspect., seeing there is no wrong in mine hands I have done no Injury to Saul, nor to you; but have spared him and you when it was in my Power to have destroyed you., the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it To wit, by his Hand and Power manifested for me and against you for your Persidiousness..

Then the spirit came upon Amasal Not only saving Graces, but other heroical and generous Motions are ascribed to Gods Spirit, which here stirred up in him a more than ordinary greatness and presentness of Mind and Resolution., who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse; peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers, for thy God helpeth thee We have observed Gods singular and gracious Care of thee and Kindness to thee and if we should oppose thee, we should be Fighters against God and his Word and Providence.. Then David received them: and made them captains of the band i. e Of those Forces which they brought with them. Or, he put them among the heads or officers of his band; i. e. He gave them Commands either now in his small Army, each according to his Quality: or afterwards when he was advanced to the Kingdom: for it is not here expressed when he did this..

And there fell some of Manasseh to David (when he came with the Philistins against Saul to battel, but they helped them not i. e. The Manassites here named, and the rest of Davids Forces to whom they had now joyned themselves did not help the Philistins in Battel, as David had pretended to do.; for the lords of the Philistins, upon advisement, sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul, to the jeopardy of our heads.)

As he went to Ziklag As he returned from the Camp of the Philistins to Ziklag, 1 Sam. 29. 11., there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jedaiel, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh.

And they helped David against the band of the rovers i. e. Against the Amalekites who had taken and burnt Ziklag, whom David and his 600 Men were now pursuing, whom these accompanied in that Expedition. Or, with a band or troop of Souldiers, which they brought along with them to Davids Assistance.: for they were all mighty men of valour Therefore they readily came to Davids help., and were captains in the host Therefore they brought others along with them..

For at that time i. e. While he was at Ziklag, and in his March to Hebron, and principally at Hebron, as the next Verse explains it. day by day, there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God i. e. Innumerable like the Stars or Angels, both which are called Gods hosts. Oth. the host of God, i. e. a very great Host, great things being so called, as Cedars, Mountains, &c. of God. But the particle of likeness here added excludes this Sense, for it had been very improper to say, a great host like a great host, i. e. like it self..

And these are the numbers of the bands, that were ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD Whereby he had settled the Crown upon David after Sauls death..

The children of Judah that bare shield and spear, were six thousand and eight hundred Who came thither in the name of all their Brethren; for that whole Tribe stuck to David at his very first coming to Hebron. ready armed to the war.

Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one hundred.

Of the children of Levi, four thousand and six hundred.

And Jehojada was the leader of the Aaronites Not the High-priest, for that was Abiathar, 1 Sam. 23. 6. but one of Eminent place under him, and who had a great Power and interest among his Brethren., and with him were three thousand and seven hundred.

And Zadok Thought to be the same who was made High-priest in Solomons time, 1 Kings 2. 35. which if true, he was very young at this time., a young man mighty of valour, and of his fathers house twenty and two captains Whom he brought along with him..

And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul i. e. Indeavoured to keep the Crown in their own Tribe, and in Sauls Family..

And of the children of Ephraim, twenty thousand and eight hundred mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers.

And of the half tribe of Manasseh Which was within Iordan: for of the other half beyond Iordan he speaks v. 37., eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name Which were not ashamed nor afraid publickly to own David first by putting their Names to some Paper presented to them for that purpose; and then by marching to him to Hebron., to come and make David King.

And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times Either 1. skill in the Stars and several Seasons and Changes of the Air; which might be of good use in Husbandry, to which this Tribe was addicted, Gen. 49. 14. Deut. 33. 18. Or rather 2. Political Prudence to discern and embrace the fit Seasons for all Actions, as appears 1. from the following words, to know what not only their own Tribe but all Israel ought to do. 2. By the great Authority and Command which they had over all their Brethren upon this account, as it here follows. 3. Because this is so considerable a Circumstance in all Humane, and especially in publick Affairs, that the Success or Disappointment of them depends very much upon the right or wrong Timing of them, and therefore this is a very fit expression to signifie their great Prudence. And particularly they showed this point of their Wisdom at this time; for as they had adhered to Saul whilest he lived, as knowing the time was not yet come for David to take Possession of the Kingdom: and as they could not joyn themselves to David, whilst Abner lived, and was potent, and had the Command of the other Tribes wherewith they were encompassed, so as soon as he was dead and they had opportunity to declare themselves, they owned David for their King. 4. By the like use of this Phrase, Esth. 1. 13., to know what Israel ought to do: the heads of them were two hundred, and all their brethren were at their commandment.

Of Zebulun such as went forth to battel, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand For this Tribe being next to that of Issachar, which was generally well-affected to David, were probably very much swayed by their Opinion and Advice. which could keep rank Or, which were disposed or prepared, or ordered for battel or to fight for David, if occasion so required.: they were not of double heart Heb. without an heart and an heart: which may relate either 1. to the whole Body of them, they were all of one heart and one mind towards David, not some for him and others secretly against him, but all with one soul and one consent adhered to him. Or, 2. To the same particular persons, they were each of them sincerely Loyal to David, and did not dissemble with David, pretending to be for him, whilst in their hearts they favoured Sauls Family; which possibly some of those who came to Hebron, did. Or this is particularly noted of this Tribe because they lay under some suspicion in this matter; as also some of the other Tribes did; and therefore the like testimony is given to all of them, v. 38..

And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them, with shield and spear, thirty and seven thousand.

And of the Danites, expert in war, twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.

And of Asher, such as went forth to battel, expert in war, forty thousand.

And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenite, and the Gadite, and of the half-tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battel, an hundred and twenty thousand.

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 wit, after the death of Abner and Ishbosheth. to make David King.

And there they were with David, three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.

Moreover, they that were nigh them That lived not far from Hebron, the place where they now were., even unto Issachar, and Zebulun, and Naphtali This is added by way of amplification and explication, to show that he did not understand this of those Israelites only who lived in the Neighbourhood of Hebron, but of those that lived at some distance, yet were nearer to Hebron, than some of the other Tribes here named., brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen Which, though not commonly used in this manner, nor fit for such Purposes, now they so used, because the quantity of Provisions which they brought was very great, as the Numbers of the People at Hebron were, and Horses they had few in Israel, and most of their Asses, and Camels, and Mules here mentioned probably were used to carry divers Men, or Women and Children, to this great, and publick, and happy Solemnity., and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel Partly because their Civil Wars were wholly ended, and they were all united under one King: and partly because they had now a King of Eminent Valour, and Piety, and Felicity, and therefore expected to be saved from all their Enemies and Calamities, as they were..