1 Chronicles 12 - Introduction
_A.M. 2946. B.C. 1058._ The companies that came to David at Ziklag, 1 Chronicles 12:1. The armies that came to him at Hebron, 1 Chronicles 12:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A.M. 2946. B.C. 1058._ The companies that came to David at Ziklag, 1 Chronicles 12:1. The armies that came to him at Hebron, 1 Chronicles 12:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now these are they that came to David_, &c. This author thought fit to do those the honour of having their names recorded, (which was omitted in the book of Samuel,) who came and joined themselves to him when he was in exile; and were afterward great assistants to him in his wars. _While he kept hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Could use both the right hand and the left_ With like nimbleness and certainty: compare Judges 3:15; and Judges 20:16. _Saul's brethren of Benjamin_ Of Saul's own tribe: who were moved hereto by God's Spirit, by the conscience of their duty to David, and by their observation of God's departure from... [ Continue Reading ]
_A mighty man among the thirty_ Who came attended with thirty valiant Benjamites and was their commander.... [ Continue Reading ]
_There separated themselves_ From Saul, to whom they had hitherto adhered, and from their brethren of their own tribe, who yet maintained Saul's cause; and from their families, and the places where they lived, from whom they went to David. _Into the hold to the wilderness _ Or rather, _into the hold... [ Continue Reading ]
_These are they that went over Jordan_, &c. Namely, in Saul's time, when, it seems, the enemies of the Israelites had made an inroad, and done some mischiefs to the Israelites beyond Jordan, to whose help these persons then came. _When it had overflowed all its banks_ As it commonly did about that t... [ Continue Reading ]
_David went out to meet them, and answered_ That is, _spake_, for that word is often used in the Scriptures, even of him that speaks first. _My heart shall be knit unto you_ I shall ever esteem and love you, and show this by my actions to you hereafter. _But if ye be come to betray me,_ &c. Which yo... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Spirit came upon Amasai_ Not only saving graces, but other heroical and generous motions are ascribed to God's Spirit, which here stirred up in him a more than ordinary greatness of mind and resolution. _Thy God helpeth thee_ We have seen evidences of God's singular and gracious care of thee, a... [ Continue Reading ]
_They helped them not_ That is, the Manassites here named, and the rest of David's forces, to whom they had now joined themselves, did not help the Philistines in battle, as David had pretended to do. _As he went to Ziklag_ As he returned thither from the camp of the Philistines.... [ Continue Reading ]
_They helped David against the band_, &c. Against the Amalekites, who had taken and burned Ziklag, and whom David and his six hundred men were now pursuing. Or, as in the margin, _with a band_, or troop of soldiers, which they brought along with them to David's assistance. _They were all mighty men... [ Continue Reading ]
_According to the word of the Lord_ Whereby he had settled the crown on David after Saul's death. _Six thousand_, &c. Who came hither in the name of their brethren: for that whole tribe adhered to David.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites_ Not the high- priest, for that was Abiathar, (1 Samuel 23:6,) but one of some eminent place under him. _And Zadok_ Thought to be the same who was made high-priest in Solomon's time, (1 Kings 2:35,) which, if true, he must have been very young at that time.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of the half-tribe of Manasseh_ Which was within Jordan: for of the other half beyond Jordan he speaks 1 Chronicles 12:37. _Which were expressed by name_ Who were not ashamed publicly to own David by putting their names to some paper presented to them for that purpose.... [ Continue Reading ]
_That had understanding of the times_ They understood public affairs, the temper of the nation, and the tendencies of the present events. And they showed their wisdom at this time; for as they had adhered to Saul, while he lived, as knowing the time was not yet come for David to take possession of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fifty thousand_ For this tribe, being next to that of Issachar, which was generally well affected to David, were probably very much swayed by their opinion and advice. _Which could keep rank_ Or, _which were prepared_, or _ordered for battle_, or to fight for David if occasion required. _Not of dou... [ Continue Reading ]
_They that were nigh them_ That lived not far from Hebron, the place where they now were. _Unto Issachar_, &c. This is added by way of amplification and explication, to show that this was not to be understood of those Israelites only who lived in the neighbourhood of Hebron, but of those also who li... [ Continue Reading ]