1.

Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish: and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war.

these are they. These not included elsewhere: showing the independence of Chronicles, Saul the son of Kish. See note on 1 Chronicles 8:33 .
mighty men. Hebrew. gibbor. App-14 .

2.

They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul's brethren of Benjamin.

could use, &c. Compare Judges 3:15 ; Judges 20:15 , Judges 20:16 .
Saul's brethren: i.e. his fellow-tribesmen. Compare 1 Chronicles 12:29 .

3.

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,

4.

And Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite,

among the thirty. Probably another "thirty" at a later period. Ismaiah not in the list. 2 Samuel 23:24 , &c.

5.

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

6.

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

7.

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

8.

And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains;

separated themselves. Another example of how Judah came to be representative of the whole of Israel. See note on 1 Kings 12:17 .
men of might. Hebrew. gibbor. App-14 .
buckler. Hebrew = spear. But some codices, with one early printed edition and Syriac, read "buckler". Compare Jeremiah 46:3 .

9.

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

10.

Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,

11.

Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

12.

Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,

13.

Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh.

14.

These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the host: one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.

15.

These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflown all his banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.

the first month. Nisan, or Abib.
overflown. Compare Joshua 3:15 .

16.

And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.

children = sons.

17.

And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.

If ye be come, &c. A second band made David suspicious.
knit unto = one with.
wrongs = act of violence. Hebrew. hamas, not same word as 1 Chronicles 16:21 .

18.

Then the spirit came upon Amasai, 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. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.

the Spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 . came upon = clothed: i.e. clothed him with wisdom and power: i.e., employed him as His mouthpiece.
Amasai. Probably the same as Amasa, David's nephew (1 Chronicles 2:17 ).

19.

And there fell some of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.

there fell some of Manasseh, beside the Gadites. See note on 1 Kings 12:17 for the strengthening of Judah and making it representative of the whole nation.
they: David and his men. See 1 Samuel 28:1 , 1 Samuel 28:2 ; 1Sa 28:29 .
them: the Philistines.
lords, or princes.
upon advisement = advisedly, or by counsel. Compare 1 Chronicles 21:12 .
to the jeopardy of our heads. Hebrew with our heads; or, at the cost of our heads.

20.

As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh.

21.

And they helped David against the band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host.

helped David = helped with David.
the band: i.e. the Amalekites, who had burned Ziklag during his absence. See 1 Samuel 30:1-20 . It is assumed that we know of this.

22.

For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God.

a great host. About 300,000 men.

23.

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.

word = mouth. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for what was spoken by it.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

24.

The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war.

25.

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

26.

Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.

27.

And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred;

Jehoiada. Not the high priest; for Abiathar held that office (1 Samuel 23:9 ; 1 Samuel 30:7 ).

28.

And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father's house twenty and two captains.

Zadok. Probably the same as Solomon's high priest ( 2Sa 8:17 ; 2 Samuel 15:29 , 2 Samuel 15:35 ; 2 Samuel 20:25 . 1Ki 1:8 , 1 Kings 1:26 ; 1 Kings 2:35 ).

29.

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.

kindred. Hebrew brethren. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), "brethren" put for other relatives.
kept the ward = kept the charge. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), App-6 , charge put for keeping what was commanded.

30.

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

famous. Hebrew men of names.

31.

And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king.

32.

And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.

had understanding. Understood statesmanship.
the times. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), put for what is (or ought to be) done in them.
commandment. Hebrew mouth. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for what is commanded by it.

33.

Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.

34.

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

35.

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

Danites. So far from none being in Palestine after 1285 B.C., the tribe could send more to help David than Ephraim or Manasseh, and more than Judah, Simeon, Levi, and Benjamin put together.

36.

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

37.

And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, an hundred and twenty thousand.

on = from.

38.

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.

a perfect heart. In contrast with a double heart. Compare 1 Chronicles 12:33 . Heart being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for its desires.
one heart. See note on Psalms 133:1 , and its references to 2 Samuel 19:9 .

39.

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

eating and drinking. A covenant generally followed by festivities (Genesis 31:44 , Genesis 31:46 ). Compare 1 Kings 1:9 .

40.

Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, 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.

and on camels. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton , emphasizing the fact that there were no horses .