1 Chronicles 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;_ Of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David - i:e., from the service of Saul, and from the rest of the Gadites who remained stedfast adherents of his cause. INTO THE HOLD, х_ LAMªTSAD_ (H4679), the fastness on a hill] - or fortress; i:e., of Ziklag, which was in the wilderness of Judah. WHOSE FACES WERE LIKE THE FACES OF LIONS ... A fierce lion-like countenance (2 Samuel 1:23), and great agility in pursuit [2 Samuel 2:18, tsªbaayi

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 12:8. _AND_ WERE _AS SWIFT AS THE ROES_] That _swiftness_ was considered to be a grand accomplishment in a warrior, appears from all ancient writings which treat of military affairs....

INTO THE HOLD TO THE WILDERNESS - Rather, “into the hold toward the wilderness.” Some understand by this Ziklag, some En-gedi 1 Samuel 24:1; but it seems most probable that here and in 1 Chronicles 12:16 the stronghold of Adullam is intended 1 Chronicles 11:15....

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

AND OF THE GADITES THERE SEPARATED THEMSELVES UNTO DAVID, INTO THE HOLD TO THE WILDERNESS,.... Men of the tribe of Gad, who lived on the other side Jordan; these separated themselves from the rest of their tribe, from their families and dwellings, and from the government of Saul, and came over to David, and joined him either when he was in some strong hold in the wilderness of Ziph, or Maon, 1 Samuel 23:14, or, as some think, when he was at Ziklag, in the hold there, said to be in the wilderness of Judah: MEN OF MIGHT, AND MEN OF WAR, FIT FOR THE BATTLE, THAT COULD HANDLE SHIELD AND BUCKLER; warlike, valiant, and courageous men, well skilled in military discipline: whose faces were like the face of lions; bold, stern, and fierce. The philosopher observes d, that of all creatures the lion most resembles a man, having a great mouth, a square face and forehead, large eye

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)

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....

Gadite Adherents of David 8. _And of the Gadites_ The Gadites had the name of marauders (Genesis 49:19), and David's mode of life would attract them. Chronologically 1 Chronicles 12:8 should precede 1 Chronicles 12:1; David was first "in the hold" and afterwards in Ziklag. _separated themselves_ i.e. left their brethren E. of Jordan and came W. to join David. _into the hold to the wilderness_ R.V. TO THE HOLD IN THE WILDERNESS. It is uncertain whether this _hold_be or be not the _cave of Adullam_. See 1 Chronicles 11:15-16, notes. men of mig