XII. 1 Chronicles 12 is a sort of supplement to 1 Chronicles 11, and is throughout peculiar to the Chronicle. It contains two registers: (1) of the warriors who successively went over to David during his outlaw career (1 Samuel 22 ff.), 1 Chronicles 12:1; and (2) of the tribal representatives who c... [ Continue Reading ]
TO ZIKLAG. — A place within the territory of Judah allotted to Simeon (Joshua 19:5; 1 Chronicles 4:30). The Philistines seized it, and Achish of Gath gave it to David, whose headquarters it remained sixteen months, until the death of Saul. WHILE HE YET KEPT HIMSELF CLOSE. — The Hebrew is concise an... [ Continue Reading ]
(1-7) Men of Benjamin and Judah who joined David at Ziklag. (Comp. 1 Samuel 27)... [ Continue Reading ]
ARMED WITH BOWS. — Literally, _drawers of the bow_ (2 Chronicles 17:17). AND COULD USE. — They were ambidextrous “with stones, and with arrows on the bow.” The left-handed slingers of Benjamin were famous from of old. (Comp. Judges 20:16, and also 1 Chronicles 3:15.) OF SAUL’S BRETHREN — _i.e.,_ h... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHIEF WAS AHIEZER. — Captain of the band. Heb., _head._ SHEMAAH. — Heb., _Hashshemaah._ THE GIBEATHITE. — Of “Gibeah of Saul,” between Ramah and Anathoth (Isaiah 10:29); also called “Gibeah of Benjamin” (1 Chronicles 11:31; Judges 20:4). JEZIEL. — So Hebrew margin; Hebrew text, _Jezûel._ (Com... [ Continue Reading ]
ISMAIAH THE GIBEONITE. — Gibeon belonged to Benjamin (1 Chronicles 9:35), and 1 Chronicles 12:2 proves that Ismaiah was a Benjamite, not a Gibeonite in the strict sense of the term. A MIGHTY MAN AMONG THE THIRTY. — The “thirty” must be the famous corps (1 Chronicles 11:25). Ismaiah’s name does not... [ Continue Reading ]
JERIMOTH. — A Benjamite name (1 Chronicles 7:7). BEALIAH. — _Baal is Jah._ (Comp. Note on 1 Chronicles 8:33.) Such names indicate that “Baal” was once a title of the God of Israel. THE HARUPHITE. — Nehemiah 7:24 mentions the “sons of Hariph” just before the “sons of Gibeon.” The Hebrew margin here... [ Continue Reading ]
Five members of the Levitical clan Korah. The name “Elkanah” occurs thrice in the lineage of Heman, the Korhite musician (1 Chronicles 6:33 ff.), and in that of Samuel (1 Chronicles 6:22 ff.). JESIAH. — Heb., _Yishshiyâhû;_ “Jahu is ray possession.” (Comp. Psalms 16:5.) AZAREEL is a priestly name.... [ Continue Reading ]
SONS OF JEROHAM OF GEDOR. — Jeroham is the name of a Benjamite clan (1 Chronicles 8:27); and two Benjamite chiefs are called “Zebadiah” (1 Chronicles 8:15; 1 Chronicles 8:17). On the other hand, “Gedor” was a town of Judah, south-west of Bethlehem (1 Chronicles 4:4). Some account for the appearance... [ Continue Reading ]
SEPARATED THEMSELVES from the royalists of Gad, who clung to Saul. INTO THE HOLD TO (towards) THE WILDERNESS. — Perhaps the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1; 1 Samuel 22:4), or one of David’s other haunts, the wooded Mount of Hachilah (1 Samuel 23:19), or the crag of Maon, or the rocks of En-gedi (1 S... [ Continue Reading ]
(8-18) A. list of Gadites, and an account of a band of Judæans and Benjammites who joined David in the stronghold (1 Chronicles 11:14) towards the desert of Judah.... [ Continue Reading ]
(9-13) Eleven heroes of Gad.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIRST. — _The chief_ 1 Chronicles 12:3 (_har’osh_)_. _... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE WERE. — Subscription. CAPTAINS OF THE HOST. — Literally, _heads of the host, i.e.,_ chief warriors. ONE OF THE LEAST WAS OVER AN HUNDRED. — The margin is correct. David’s band at this time was about 600 strong. The rendering of the text is that of the Syr. and Vulg. The LXX. closely intimate... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN IT HAD OVERFLOWN. — A proof of their valour. They did not wait till summer had made the Jordan shallow, but crossed it in spring, when perilously swollen with the rains and the melted snows of Lebanon. (Comp. Joshua 3:15.) IN THE FIRST MONTH, — March — April; in Heb, A bib or Nisan. HAD OVERF... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE HOLD. — See Note on 1 Chronicles 12:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
(16-18) Some Benjamite and Judæan accessions. The names are not given, why we cannot tell.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DAVID WENT OUT TO MEET THEM. — From his fastness or hiding-place in the hill or wood. Literally, _before them, i.e.,_ confronted them. (Comp, same phrase, 1 Chronicles 14:8.) AND ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO THEM. — The familiar New Testament phrase, καὶ ὰποκριθϵὶς ϵἰπϵν αύτοῖς. David’s speech and th... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE SPIRIT CAME UPON AMASAI. — Literally, _and spirit clothed Amasai_. The term for “God” (Elohim) has probably fallen out of the Heb. ext. (Comp. 2 Chronicles 24:20, and Judges 6:34.) We, in these days, may word it differently, and say, Under a sudden impulse of enthusiasm, Amasai exclaimed, &... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE FELL. — The regular term for desertion of one cause for another (2 Kings 25:11). WHEN HE CAME WITH THE PHILISTINES. — (Comp. 1 Samuel 29:2.) This verse is a summary of the narrative of 1 Samuel 29:2 to 1 Samuel 30:1. THEY HELPED THEM NOT. — David and his men helped not the Philistines. Perha... [ Continue Reading ]
(19-22) The seven Manassite chieftains who went over to David on the eve of Saul’s last battle.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS HE WENT TO ZIKLAG. — On his dismissal by the Philistine princes, David returned with his men to Ziklag (1 Samuel 30:1). On the way he was joined by the Manassite chieftains, probably before the battle which decided the fate of Saul and his sons (1 Samuel 29:11). JOZABAD. — The repetition may be... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY HELPED DAVID AGAINST THE BAND OF THE ROVERS. — So the Vulg. and Syr. The Heb. text has been called “brief and unintelligible,” and its explanation has been sought in 1 Samuel 30:8; 1 Samuel 30:15, where “the band” (haggedûd, as here) of Amalek, which had captured and burnt Ziklag in David’s... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR AT THAT TIME DAY BY DAY... — Literally, _For at the time of each day_ (_i.e._, every day) _men used to come to David to help him; amounting to a mighty camp, like a camp of God_. The verse explains why David required so many captains as have been enumerated, and why the term “army” was used of h... [ Continue Reading ]
II. THE NUMBER OF THE WARRIORS WHO MADE DAVID KING IN HEBRON AFTER SAUL’S DEATH (1 Chronicles 12:23). (23) AND THESE ARE THE NUMBERS OF THE BANDS THAT WERE READY ARMED TO THE WAR. — Literally, _And these are the numbers of the heads of the equipped for warfare_. “Heads” may mean (1) polls, or indivi... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SONS OF JUDAH. — The following list proceeds from south to north, and then passes over to the trans-Jordanic tribes. THAT BARE SHIELD AND SPEAR. — Comp. 1 Chronicles 12:8. READY ARMED TO THE WAR. — _Equipped for war fare._ The tribe of Judah, which had acknowledged the sovereignty of David for... [ Continue Reading ]
MIGHTY MEN OF VALOUR FOR THE WAR. — Rather, for warfare, or military service.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE CHILDREN OF LEVI -Literally, _Of the sons of the Levite_; the article shows that the name is gentilic or tribal here, not personal. These martial Levites remind us of the priestly warriors of the crusades. That Levites might be soldiers, and in fact must have been such for the defence of the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JEHOIADA... — Literally, And Jehoiada _the prince_ (_hannagîd_, 1 Chronicles 9:11; 1 Chronicles 9:20) _belonging to Aaron_. Aaronis used as the name of the leading clan of Levi. Jehoiada is perhaps father of the Benaiah of 1 Chronicles 11:22. He was not high priest (Abiathar, 1 Samuel 23:9), but... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ZADOK, A YOUNG MAN MIGHTY OF VALOUR. — _And Zadok, a youth, a valiant warrior._ Perhaps the successor of Abiathar (1 Kings 2:26; 1 Kings 4:4), and his father-house (family), princes twenty and two. The sub-clan or family of Eleazar must have been strong at this time to be able to furnish all the... [ Continue Reading ]
KINDRED. — Fellow-tribesmen. HITHERTO. — _Up to that time._ (Comp., same phrase, 1 Chronicles 9:18.) HAD KEPT. — _Were still keeping guard over the house of Saul_. For the phrase comp. Numbers 3:38. The Benjamites, as a whole, were still jealously guarding the interests of their own royal house. T... [ Continue Reading ]
FAMOUS THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE OF THEIR FATHERS. — Rather, _men of name_ (renown, as in Genesis 6:4), arranged _according to their clans_. The phrase “men of renown” is a natural addition to “valiant heroes,” and need occasion no surprise. Doubtless their renown was collective. The comparative smallnes... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH WERE EXPRESSED BY NAME. — See the same phrase, 1 Chronicles 16:41; Numbers 1:17. Literally it is _pricked down,_ or entered in a list, _by names_. The men had been levied by the tribal chiefs, and enrolled in lists for this particular service.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OF THE CHILDREN OF ISSACHAR... — Rather_,_ And of the sons of Issachar (_came_) men sage in discernment for the times (_tempora, critical junctures_)_,_ so as to know what Israel ought to do; viz., their chiefs two hundred (in number), and all their fellow clansmen under their orders. The old Je... [ Continue Reading ]
EXPERT IN WAR... _Marshalling_ (or ordering) _battle with all kinds of weapons of war, and falling into rank_ (_la’adôr_, forming in line) without a double heart. The expression “falling into rank” occurs only here and in 1 Chronicles 12:38. Nine MSS. read instead “ helping “ (_la’zôr_), and the LXX... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEAR (_hănîth_). — A different word from that in 1 Chronicles 12:24 (_rômah_). Perhaps the former was thrown, the latter thrust.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DANITES. — Literally, the _Danite_, as in 1 Chronicles 12:26, the _Levite_. Comp. Note on 1 Chronicles 7:12. Dan is not omitted in the present list.... [ Continue Reading ]
EXPERT IN WAR. — Literally, _to order or marshal battle_ (_ad aciem struendam_). The same phrase occurred in 1 Chronicles 12:33; 1 Chronicles 12:35. The margin (1 Chronicles 12:33), “rangers of battle,” is good.... [ Continue Reading ]
ON THE OTHER SIDE. — Better, from the other side; that is, from Peræa. WITH ALL MANNER OF INSTRUMENTS OF WAR FOR THE BATTLE. — _With all kinds of weapons of war- like service_. The large total of 120,000 for the two and a half Eastern tribes is certainly remarkable. But, admitting the possibility o... [ Continue Reading ]
Conclusion of the list of 1 Chronicles 12:23. ALL THESE MEN OF WAR._ — _Rather, All the above, being men of war, forming line of battle with whole heart, came to Hebron to make David king_. The phrase “forming line of battle,” repeats the verb of_ 1 Chronicles 12:3,_ and supplies its proper object_... [ Continue Reading ]
(39-40) The coronation feast. Comp. 1 Kings 1:9; 1 Kings 1:19; 1 Kings 1:25; the usurpation of Adonijah. THEIR BRETHREN. — Fellow tribesmen of Judah; especially those living at and around Hebron. HAD PREPARED victuals. — 2 Chronicles 35:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT WERE NIGH THEM. — The tribes bordering on Judah (LXX. οἱ ὁμοροῦντες), and even the northern tribes, contributed provisions. BROUGHT, _were bringing._ Asses... camels... mules... oxen, but not horses, were the usual beasts of burden in rocky Canaan. MEAT, MEAL._ — Rather, food of flour._... [ Continue Reading ]