1 Chronicles 12:18

_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._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

1-22 Here is an account of those who appeared and acted as David's friends, while he was persecuted. No difficulties or dangers should keep the sinner from coming to the Savior, nor drive the believer from the path of duty. Those who break through, and overcome in these attempts, will find abundant recompence. From the words of Amasai we may learn how to testify our affection and allegiance to the Lord Jesus; his we must be throughly; on his side we must be forward to appear and act. If we are under the influence of the Spirit, we shall desire to have our lot among them, and to declare ourselves on their side; if in faith and love we embrace the cause of Christ, he will receive, employ, and advance us....

Verse 1 Chronicles 12:18. _THE SPIRIT CAME UPON AMASAI_] "The spirit of fortitude clothed Amasai, the chief of the mighty men; and he answered, For thy sake, O David, are we come, that we may be with thee, thou son of Jesse. Prosperity be to thee by night and by day; and prosperity be to thy helpers; for the Word of the Lord is thy assistant." - _T_....

AMASAI - The marginal reference identifies him with Amasa, David’s nephew, but it seems unlikely that David would have misdoubted a band led by his own nephew. The passionate earnestness of Amasai’s speech is strongly marked in the original, and will be better seen by omitting the words which our Version adds in italics. Here, as in 1 Chronicles 12:8, we have manifestly the actual words of a very ancient record....

EXPOSITION This chapter is retrospective, and the contents of it are not found elsewhere. It is occupied, first (1 Chronicles 12:1), with the names and some accounts of those who had come to the help of David in three great crises in time past, to join themselves to him and his cause. And afterwards (1 Chronicles 12:23-13), with an enumeration of those representatives from the tribes who came (1 Chronicles 11:1, 1 Chronicles 11:3) to support the proceedings of the occasion when he was being made king of the whole people. Thus the chapter would divide really into four parts, t

THEN THE SPIRIT CAME UPON AMASAI,.... Or "clothed" f him; a spirit of fortitude, as the Targum, of strength, courage, and presence of mind, with which he was endowed, covered, and clothed as with a garment; this was a sister's son of David's, see 2 Samuel 17:25 WHO WAS CHIEF OF THE CAPTAINS; of them that came at this time with him to David; he was afterwards Absalom's general, and designed to be David's, but was murdered by Joab: AND HE SAID, THINE ARE WE, DAVID, AND ON THY SIDE, THOU SON OF JESSE; which being spoken in this short and concise manner, as the supplement shows, denotes the vehemency with which he spake, and is expressive of their cordial fidelity to him, and their resolution to abide by him at all events: PEACE, PEACE BE UNTO THEE, AND PEACE BE TO THINE HELPERS; wishing all prosperity, temporal and spiritual, to hi

2. DAVID'S WARRIORS AND FRIENDS CHAPTER 12 _ 1. The Benjamite warriors with David at Ziklag (1 Chronicles 12:1)_ 2. The other warriors (1 Chronicles 12:8) 3. Those who came to make him king (1 Chronicles 12:23) And now those are given by name who stood by David, when he was an outcast, rejected and persecuted by Saul. They were mighty men, his helpers in war. The leading company were of Benjamin, the tribe to which Saul belonged. These joined him when he was at Ziklag. In the wilderness of Judah certain of the Gadites separated themselves unto him, “whose faces were like the faces of lions and they were as swift as the roes upon the mountains.” May

DAVID'S SUPPORTERS. An enumeration of those who rallied round David during his outlaw life in Ziklag (_cf._ 1 Samuel 27:5 f.), and a list of those who were instrumental in setting him upon the throne. 1 Chronicles 12:2. they were of Saul's brethren of Benjamin: _cf._ 1 Chronicles 12:16 ff., 1 Chronicles 12:29; it is difficult to believe that Saul was deserted by his own kinsfolk (see 2 Samuel 2:25; 2 Samuel 2:31)

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)....

Amasai and his Companions 16. _to the hold_ See 1 Chronicles 12:8, notes....