1 Chronicles 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._ These are the numbers of the bands that ... came to David to Hebron - after the death of Ishbosheth (2 Samuel 5:1). TO TURN THE KINGDOM ... ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF THE LORD (1 Chronicles 10:14; 1 Chronicles 11:3; 1 Chronicles 11:10). The account commence 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, af

23-40 When the throne of Christ is set up in a soul, there is, or ought to be, great joy in that soul; and provision is made, not as here, for a few days, but for the whole life, and for eternity. Happy are those who wisely perceive it to be their duty and interest, to submit to the Saviour Jesus Christ, the Son of David; who renounce for his sake all that is not consistent; whose earnest endeavours to do good are directed by the wisdom that God giveth, through acquaintance with his word, experience, and observation. If any man lack this wisdom, let him ask it of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him....

Verse 1 Chronicles 12:23. _AND CAME TO DAVID TO HEBRON_] That is, after the death of Ish-bosheth, Saul's son. See 2 Samuel 4:5....

Rather, “These are the numbers of the men, ready equipped for the host, that came to David, etc.” In the list which follows such points as (1) The large mumber sent by the trans-Jordanic tribes; (2) The large numbers from Zebulon, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan, all tribes somewhat remote, and generally speaking undistinguished; (3) The small size of the contingent from Judah, which is generally represented as numerically superior to every other tribe, and which might have been expected to be especially zealous on behalf of its own prince and tribesman; throw some doubt upon the numbers, which may be suspected of having in some instances undergone corruption....

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

Ver. 23-37. AND THESE ARE THE NUMBERS OF THE BANDS THAT WERE READY ARMED TO THE WAR,.... That were trained up to it, and accounted for it: AND CAME TO DAVID TO HEBRON; after the death of Ishbosheth and Abner, and when David had reigned seven years in Hebron: TO TURN THE KINGDOM OF SAUL TO HIM; to transfer it to him and his family: ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF THE LORD; by Samuel, which they were acquainted with; and the number of those of the children of Judah, who made him their king already, and so there was the less need of a numerous appearance of them, were 6800 armed men, 1 Chronicles 12:24, of the tribe of Simeon, valiant men, 7100, 1 Chronicles 12:25, of the children of Levi 4600,...

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)

WORD. mouth. Put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Cause), App-6, for what was spoken by it. THE LORD. Hebrew. _Jehovah._ App-4....

12:23 men (d-8) Lit. 'heads' or 'polls.' word (e-30) Lit. 'mouth.'...