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.
1Ch 12:1 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.
Ver. 1. Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag. ] God left not David in his low estate, but provided him a place of repose, and some to comfort him and stand by him in his straits. Saul "saw this, and was grieved: he gnashed with his teeth," &c. Psa 112:10
While he yet kept himself close. ] Heb., Being yet shut up, viz., in Ziklag, which was in the wilderness of Judah.
Helpers of the war. ] Saul had lost their hearts by his impiety and cruelty, and now David was their darling, and for this they are here crowned and chronicled.
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.
1 Chronicles 12:2 [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.
Ver. 2. Even of Saul’s brethren of Benjamin.] Mirum hoc fuit et quasi miraculum. It is God who worketh men’s hearts, and fashioneth their opinions. Paul had friends in Nero’s court, and Luther in the Pope’s.
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,
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;
1Ch 12:8 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;
Ver. 8. There separated themselves unto David, ] sc., From Saul. So did the noble army of martyrs unto Christ from Antichrist, and are therefore worthily renowned and registered.
Whose faces were like the faces of lions. ] Undaunted, fierce, and terrible to their enemies. They durst look death itself in the face upon great adventures in the field.
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.
1Ch 12:14 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.
Ver. 14. One of the least was over a hundred. ] Or, One that was least could resist a hundred, and the greatest a thousand. Such a one was
“ παντων ανταξιος αλλων . ”
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.
1Ch 12:15 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.
Ver. 15. These are they that went over Jordan. ] To help David. Much water could not quench their love.
And they put to flight all them of the valleys. ] The Philistines, who, having slain Saul, and driven the Israelites out of their habitations, dwelt now in their room; but were soon beaten out by these valiant Gadites. An autem navigio vel natando transierint, non liquet.
16.
And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.
1Ch 12:16 And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.
Ver. 16. Then came the children of Benjamin and Judah. ] The Benjamites might have been suspected to have come for a mischief to David, had they not brought the men of Judah with them, to attest their integrity.
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.
1Ch 12:17 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].
Ver. 17. If you be come peaceably. ] It is not safe to be light of belief, or too forward to make friendship. Gedaliah perished by his credulity, and Queen Elizabeth oft complained that "in trust she had found treason." Mohammed, the great Turk, sent a couple of traitors to kill Scanderbeg, under pretence of great love to him and to the Christian religion, &c,
“ Tuta frequensque via est per amici fallere nomen. ”
The God of our fathers. ] David could not do his enemies, whether covert or overt, a greater displeasure than to put them over into God’s hands to punish.
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.
1Ch 12:18 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.
Ver. 18. Then the spirit came upon Amasai. ] Heb., Clothed Amasai or Abishai, as some read it, together with whose words there went forth power, such as wrought in David’s heart a firm belief of their fidelity: he was not thenceforth jealous of them at all. Pray for such a spirit upon our rulers and teachers.
Peace, peace be unto thee, ] i.e., Pax omnimoda, Perfect peace, as Isaiah 26:3 . This he spake by the motion of the spirit, met by a motion of the same spirit wrought in David’s heart, causing him to rest in what Amasai said as undoubtedly true. After the same manner is saving faith wrought in God’s elect. Eph 1:13 Let us be faithful in weakness, though but weak in faith.
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.
1Ch 12:19 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.
Ver. 19. When he came with the Philistines, &c. ] See on 1 Samuel 29:1-11 .
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.
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.
1Ch 12:22 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.
Ver. 22. Like the host of God, ] i.e., A numerous and a notable host, such as God’s is, of angels and all creatures. Dei nimirum Maximi, maxima sunt omnia.
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.
1Ch 12:23 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.
Ver. 23. And came to David to Hebron. ] Seven years after Saul’s death. They should have come sooner; but better late than never. Nunquam sero, si serio.
24.
The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war.
1Ch 12:24 The children of Judah that bare shield and spear [were] six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war.
Ver. 24. That bare shield and year, ] i.e., Weapons defensive and offensive; so must the Christian soldier. Eph 6:12-17
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.
1Ch 12:26 Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.
Ver. 26. Of the children of Levi. ] Who took up arms also in some cases, as here to settle David on the throne.
27.
And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred;
28.
And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father's house twenty and two captains.
1Ch 12:28 And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father’s house twenty and two captains.
Ver. 28. And Zadok, a young man. ] Some think that Saul, when he had slain Abimelech, made this Zadok high priest in his stead. He was of the right line, and restored thirty-three or four years after this by king Solomon.
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.
1Ch 12:29 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.
Ver. 29. Had kept the ward of the house of Saul. ] Had done their utmost for Saul’s family, and to keep the royal dignity in their tribe, obeying before the commands of king Ishbosheth.
30.
And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers.
1Ch 12:30 And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers.
Ver. 30. Twenty thousand and eight hundred. ] This was no great number for so numerous a tribe.
31.
And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king.
1Ch 12:31 And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king.
Ver. 31. Which were expressed by name. ] Heb., Pierced or bored through; haply in tables laid over with wax, which was the Roman way of writing their last wills.
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.
1Ch 12:32 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.
Ver. 32. That had understanding of the times. ] Noscentes scite tempora, a such as well knew what was to be done, and when to do it, by a singular sagacity, gotten by long experience, rather than by skill in astrology. See Esther 1:13 . David set a high price upon these; so doth God on such as regard and use the season of well-doing.
Were at their commandment. ] They were looked upon as oracular men; and obeyed accordingly.
a Gnari occasionum. - Vat.
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.
1Ch 12:33 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.
Ver. 33. They were not of a double heart. ] Heb., Without a heart and a heart; plain-hearted; non aliud in ore promptum, aliud in pectore conclusum habentes; honest dealers.
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.
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.
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.
1Ch 12:38 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.
Ver. 38. Were of one heart to make David king. ] So were those primitive Christians, and are now the reformed churches, to set up the Lord Christ.
39.
And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.
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.
1Ch 12:40 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.
Ver. 40. Moreover, their brethren. ] By grace and place.
For there was joy in Israel. ] As great cause they had.