1 Chronicles 12:1-22 (not in Samuel). David's Adherents in exile The statements (drawn probably from family traditions) given in these verses throw light on the last campaign of Saul and in part explain the catastrophe of Gilboa. The king, it seems, after his rupture with David grew continually wea... [ Continue Reading ]
Benjamite Adherents of David 1. _to Ziklag_ David at Ziklag was a client of Achish, king of Gath (1 Samuel 27:5-6), so that the Benjamites in joining him were putting themselves under their hereditary enemies the Philistines. The yoke of Saul seemed heavy even to his own tribe (cp. 1 Samuel 8:11-18... [ Continue Reading ]
_both the right hand and the left_ On the occasion described in Judges 20 the Benjamites are said to have had seven hundred men _lefthanded_who could sling stones at a hair and not miss (_ib._Judges 20:16). Cp. Judges 3:15. even _of Saul's brethren of Benjamin_ R.V. THEY WERE OF SAUL'S BRETHREN OF... [ Continue Reading ]
_The chief_was _A., then J_.] Read (cp. LXX.) A. THE CHIEF, J. THE SON (sing.) OF SHEMAAH. _Jehu the Antothite_ R.V. THE ANATHOTHITE, i.e. man of Anathoth. See 1 Chronicles 11:28, note.... [ Continue Reading ]
_among the thirty and over the thirty_ Ismaiah's name does not occur among _the thirty_(2 Samuel 23:24-39); the phrase is therefore perhaps only a kind of superlative; Ismaiah was worthy to be ranked with _the thirty_or even above them. Probably however the list in ch. 11 and that in ch. 12 belong t... [ Continue Reading ]
_the Korhites_ R.V. THE KORAHITES. Probably not the Levitic but the Calebitic _sons of Korah_(1 Chronicles 2:43), who belonged to Judah, are meant.... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jeremiah the fifth_ Cp. 1 Chronicles 12:13, _Jeremiah the tenth_. A very slight difference of spelling distinguishes the two in the Heb.... [ Continue Reading ]
_These … the host_ R.V. THESE OF THE SONS OF GAD WERE CAPTAINS OF THE HOST. _one of the least_, etc.] R.V. HE THAT WAS LEAST WAS EQUAL TO AN HUNDRED, AND THE GREATEST TO A THOUSAND. Cp. Leviticus 26:8; Isaiah 30:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
_in the first month_ In Nisan (the month of harvest) when the snow was melting and filling all streams; cp. Joshua 3:15. _all_them of _the valleys_ i.e. all inhabitants of the valleys who in the interest of Saul sought to bar their march westward to join David.... [ Continue Reading ]
Amasai and his Companions 16. _to the hold_ See 1 Chronicles 12:8, notes.... [ Continue Reading ]
_David went out to meet them_ Instead of letting himself be surprised he took up a favourable position in advance from which he could hold parley with them. The south of Judah with its ravines and cliffs affords many such positions.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the spirit came upon A_.] Lit. A SPIRIT (i.e. from God) CLOTHED ITSELF WITH (i.e. entered into) AMASAI. Cp. 2 Chronicles 24:20; Judges 6:34. _Amasai_ Probably to be identified with "Amasa" (2 Samuel 17:25; 2 Samuel 19:13). _chiefs of the captains_ So A.V. rightly, following the K'rî. The "captains... [ Continue Reading ]
Manassite Adherents 19. _And there fell some of Manasseh_ R.V. OF MANASSEH ASLO THERE FELL AWAY SOME. _when he came with the Philistines_ See 1 Samuel 28:1-2; 1 Samuel 29:1-11. _but they helped them not_ David's men did not help the Philistines. _upon advisement_ "After consideration"; lit. "by... [ Continue Reading ]
_As he went_ i.e. As he returned (1 Samuel 30:1). _Jozabad_ This name occurs twice; possibly in the original list different patronymics were attached to the two mentions of the name. _captains of the thousands_ R.V. CAPTAINS OF THOUSANDS; cp. 1 Chronicles 15:25; Micah 5:2. Tribes were divided into... [ Continue Reading ]
_against the band_of the rovers] The reference is to the Amalekites who burnt Ziklag (1 Samuel 30:1 ff). The Heb. word _gĕdûd_, here translated "band," is translated "troop" (_ib._1 Samuel 30:8; 1 Samuel 30:15, R.V.). _and were captains_ Render, AND THEY BECAME CAPTAINS.... [ Continue Reading ]
_For at_that _time day by day_ R.V. FOR FROM DAY TO DAY. _the host of God_ The phrase comes from Genesis 32:2; cp. Psalms 68:15 (R.V.) "a mountain of God." The epithet "of God" is used to distinguish a thing as "very great.... [ Continue Reading ]
(cp. 2 Samuel 5:1). The Forces which came to Hebron to make David King 23. _of the bands that were ready armed to the war,_and _came_ R.V. OF THE HEADS OF THEM THAT WERE ARMET FOR WAR, WHICH CAME ("heads" = "persons").... [ Continue Reading ]
_The children of Judah_, etc.] The list which follows suggests two questions, (1) Whence did the Chronicler derive it? (2) Are the statements of numbers contained in it trustworthy? In answer to the first question it may be confidently said that the list as it stands is the composition of the Chron... [ Continue Reading ]
_Simeon_ The most southerly of the tribes (1 Chronicles 4:24-31). The tribes are mentioned in order from South to North.... [ Continue Reading ]
_of the Aaronites_ R.V. OF THE HOUSE OF AARON. Jehoiada was not high-priest, but leader of the warriors of the house of Aaron. He may be the same person as the father of Benaiah (1 Chronicles 11:22). Leader (Heb. _nagîd_) is the title given to the "Captain" of the Temple (1 Chronicles 9:11, A.V. "ru... [ Continue Reading ]
_Zadok_ In 1 Chronicles 27:17 he seems to occupy the position assigned to Jehoiada in 1 Chronicles 12:27. Perhaps he succeeded him.... [ Continue Reading ]
_hitherto_ i.e. up to the time referred to in 2 Samuel 5:1. _kept the ward of the house of Saul_ R.V. KEPT THEIR ALLEGIANCE TO THE HOUSE OF SAUL.... [ Continue Reading ]
_famous … fathers_ R.V. FAMOUS MEN IN THEIR FATHERS" HOUSES.... [ Continue Reading ]
_which were expressed by name_ The document followed by the Chronicler probably contained not the names of the 18,000 individuals, but the names of the heads of the families to which they belonged.... [ Continue Reading ]
which were men] R.V. MEN (simply). _that had understanding of the times_ Cp. Esther 1:13, "which knew the times." "Times" are "opportunities," "vicissitudes" (cp. 1 Chronicles 29:30), "experiences," good or bad (cp. Psalms 31:15). The phrase means, therefore, "men of experience, having knowledge of... [ Continue Reading ]
_went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments_ R.V. WERE ABLE TO GO OUT IN THE HOST, THAT COULD SET THE BATTLE IN ARRAY, WITH ALL MANNER OF INSTRUMENTS. This description is intended to exclude mere lads (such as David appeared to be, 1 Samuel 17:33) who might be in attendance on the war... [ Continue Reading ]
_expert in war_ R.V. THAT COULD SET THE BATTLE IN ARRAY; cp. 1 Chronicles 12:33.... [ Continue Reading ]
_went forth to battle, expert in war_ R.V. WERE ABLE TO GO OUT IN THE HOST, THAT COULD SET THE BATTLE IN ARMY; cp. 1 Chronicles 12:33.... [ Continue Reading ]
_an hundred and twenty thousand_ Evidently a round number, giving 40,000 to each tribe; cp. 1 Chronicles 12:36.... [ Continue Reading ]
_men of war, that could keep rank_ R.V. BEING MEN OF WAR, THAT COULD ORDER THE BATTLE ARRAY. _with a perfect heart_ i.e. with whole, undivided heart.... [ Continue Reading ]
_eating and drinking_ The feasting probably began with the sacrificial meal with which a covenant was usually ratified; cp. Genesis 31:46; Genesis 31:54.... [ Continue Reading ]
_they_that were _nigh_ UNTO _them_ The relatives of the assembled warriors cared for their needs. even _unto Issachar_ R.V. EVEN AS FAR AS ISSACHAR. Even those warriors who came from the northern districts were provisioned by their kinsfolk. and _meat, meal_ R.V. VICTUAL OF MEAL. _bunches of rais... [ Continue Reading ]