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1 Chronicles Chapter Twelve

1 Chronicles 12 Outline of Contents

The Growth of David’s Army (v.1~22)

David’s Army at Hebron (v.23~40)

New King James Version (NKJV)

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 12

This chapter gives an account of those that came to David at different times and joined and assisted him both before the death of Saul and when persecuted by him and after he was made king of Judah in Hebron and before he was king of all Israel in order to it; of the Benjaminites that came to him when at Ziklag 1 Chronicles 12:1 of the Gadites that came to him when in the hold 1 Chronicles 12:8 of some of Judah and Benjamin who came to him in the same place 1 Chronicles 12:16 and of the Manassites at the time he came with the Philistines against Saul 1 Chronicles 12:19 and the number of the several tribes are given that came to him at Hebron to make him king over all Israel 1 Chronicles 12:23.

1 Chronicles 12:1 Now these were the men who came to David at Ziklag while he was still a fugitive from Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men helpers in the war

YLT ¹And these [are] those coming in unto David to Ziklag while shut up because of Saul son of Kish and they [are] among the mighty ones helping the battle

Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag .... Given him by Achish to live in when he fled from Saul 1 Samuel 27:6.

while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish; when he was an exile from his own country and obliged to live retired in a foreign one because of Saul's persecution of him and seeking to take away his life:

and they were among the mighty men helpers of the war; not against Saul with whom David had none but with the Amalekites and others 1 Samuel 27:8.

1 Chronicles 12:2 ² armed with bows using both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows with the bow. They were of Benjamin Saul’s brethren.

YLT ²armed with bow right and left handed with stones and with arrows with bows of the brethren of Saul of Benjamin.

They were armed with bows .... Much used in war in those times:

and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow; they were ambidextrous; who could sling stones or shoot arrows with either which was no small advantage to them:

even of Saul's brethren of Benjamin; they were of the tribe of Benjamin of which Saul was and so his brethren; and they might be at least some of them his relations and kinsmen; who observing the unreasonableness of Saul's enmity to David and detesting his cruelty and sensible of the innocence of David and of the service he had done his country; and perhaps not being ignorant of his divine right and title to the kingdom went over to him to comfort strengthen and assist him.

1 Chronicles 12:3 ³ The chief was Ahiezer then Joash the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; Berachah and Jehu the Anathothite;

YLT ³The head [is] Ahiezer and Joash sons of Shemaab the Gibeathite and Jeziel and Pelet sons of Azmaveth and Berachah and Jehu the Antothite

The chief was Ahiezer then Joash the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite .... Who was of Gibeah in the tribe of Benjamin sometimes called Gibeah of Benjamin and of Saul it being his birthplace see 1 Samuel 11:4 and so these might be some of his kindred:

and Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; there is one of this name in the posterity of Jonathan 1 Chronicles 8:36 who might be so called after some of his relations:

and Berachah and Jehu the Antothite; or Anethothite as the Vulgate Latin version who was of Anathoth a city in the tribe of Benjamin the native place of Jeremiah the prophet.

1 Chronicles 12:4 ⁴ Ishmaiah the Gibeonite a mighty man among the thirty and over the thirty; Jeremiah Jahaziel Johanan and Jozabad the Gederathite;

YLT ⁴and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite a mighty one among the thirty and over the thirty and Jeremiah and Jahaziel and Johanan and Josabad the Gederathite.

And Ishmaiah the Gibeonite a mighty man among the thirty and over the thirty .... That came with him and he had the command of; this man was of Gibeon another city in the tribe of Benjamin Joshua 18:25.

and Jeremiah and Jahaziel and Johanan and Josabad the Gederathite; one of Gederah a city in the tribe of Judah perhaps on the borders of that and Benjamin; Joram speaks of it as belonging to the country of the city Aelia or Jerusalem.

1 Chronicles 12:5 ⁵ Eluzai Jerimoth Bealiah Shemariah and Shephatiah the Haruphite;

YLT ⁵Eluzai and Jerimoth and Bealiah and Shemariah and Shephatiah the Haruphite;

Eluzai and Jerimoth and Bealiah and Shemariah and Shephatiah the Haruphite. A native of Haruph or Hariph see Nehemiah 7:24.

1 Chronicles 12:6 ⁶ Elkanah Jisshiah Azarel Joezer and Jashobeam the Korahites;

YLT ⁶Elkanah and Jesiah and Azareel and Joezer and Jashobeam the Korhites

Elkanah and Jesiah and Azareel and Joezer and Jashobeam the Korhites. Not Korahites descendants of Levi 1 Chronicles 9:19 but the posterity of Korah a Benjaminite.

1 Chronicles 12:7 ⁷ and Joelah and Zebadiah the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

YLT ⁷and Joelah and Zebadiah sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

And Joelah and Zebadiah the sons of Jeroham of Gedor. A city in the tribe of Judah Joshua 15:58 and might now belong to Benjamin; or this was another city of the same name in that tribe.

1 Chronicles 12:8 ⁸ Some Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the wilderness mighty men of valor men trained for battle who could handle shield and spear whose faces were like the faces of lions and were as swift as gazelles on the mountains:

YLT ⁸And of the Gadite there have been separated unto David to the fortress to the wilderness mighty of valour men of the host for battle setting in array target and buckler and their faces the face of the lion and as roes on the mountains for speed:

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^F4Aristot. Physiognom. c. 5. that of all creatures the lion most resembles a man having a great mouth a square face and forehead large eye brows &c.

and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains; which are remarkable for their swiftness on the mountains see Song of Solomon 2:17. Aelianus^F5De Animal. l. 14. c. 14. speaks of one sort of them that run as swift as a tempest. These Gadites as with their undaunted looks and courage intimidated their enemies and put them to flight so they were swift to pursue them and overtake them.

1 Chronicles 12:9 ⁹ Ezer the first Obadiah the second Eliab the third

YLT ⁹Ezer the head Obadiah the second Eliab the third

Verses 9-13

Ezer the first .... This and those that follow are the names of the Gadites given according to their age or merit or order in coming to David: Obadiah Eliab Mishmannah Jeremiah Attai Eliel Johanan Elzabad Jeremiah Machbanai; in all eleven.

1 Chronicles 12:10 ¹⁰ Mishmannah the fourth Jeremiah the fifth

YLT ¹⁰Mishmannah the fourth Jeremiah the fifth

1 Chronicles 12:11 ¹¹ Attai the sixth Eliel the seventh

YLT ¹¹Attai the sixth Eliel the seventh

1 Chronicles 12:12 ¹² Johanan the eighth Elzabad the ninth

YLT ¹²Johanan the eighth Elzabad the ninth

1 Chronicles 12:13 ¹³ Jeremiah the tenth and Machbanai the eleventh.

YLT ¹³Jeremiah the tenth Machbannai the eleventh.

1 Chronicles 12:14 ¹⁴ These were from the sons of Gad captains of the army; the least was over a hundred and the greatest was over a thousand.

YLT ¹⁴These [are] of the sons of Gad heads of the host one of a hundred [is] the least and the greatest of a thousand;

These were of the sons of Gad captains of the host .... Of the militia in their own country and of the men they brought with them; or they were such afterwards in David's army:

one of the least was over one hundred and the greatest over thousand; not that they were so when they came or brought over such a number of men with them under their command; but they were promoted by David when he came to the throne to be centurions and chiliarchs; according to Jarchi the sense is that the least of them would put to flight and pursue one hundred and the greatest of them 1000 and so fulfilled the passage in Leviticus 26:8.

1 Chronicles 12:15 ¹⁵ These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it had overflowed all its banks; and they put to flight all those in the valleys to the east and to the west.

YLT ¹⁵these [are] they who have passed over the Jordan in the first month -- and it is full over all its banks -- and cause all [they of] the valley to flee to the east and to the west.

These are they that went over Jordan in the first month .... The month Nisan or Ab; as they must come over Jordan to come to David since they dwelt on the other side of it:

when it had overflown all its banks; as it did at this time of the year see Joshua 3:15 which is observed to show both the time of the year when they came over and their zeal and ardour to assist David and their boldness and intrepidity; fearless of danger they threw themselves into Jordan and swam over it in all probability when the waters of it were so deep they could not ford it and so rapid that they were in danger of being carried away with them:

and they put to flight all them of the valleys both towards the east and towards the west; who dwelt in the valleys or plains of Jordan east and west; who seeing a number of men come over took them for enemies and fled so Kimchi; or as others think these were the Philistines who on the defeat of Saul took possession of the cities of Israel in the valleys forsaken by them 1 Samuel 31:7 or rather these were the Moabites or Arabs who made incursions into the land of Israel for prey the Gadites met with when they came over Jordan.

1 Chronicles 12:16 ¹⁶ Then some of the sons of Benjamin and Judah came to David at the stronghold.

YLT ¹⁶And there come of the sons of Benjamin and Judah unto the stronghold to David

And there came of the men of Benjamin and of Judah .... Besides those before mentioned 1 Chronicles 12:2

to the hold unto David; the same as in 1 Chronicles 12:8.

1 Chronicles 12:17 ¹⁷ And David went out to meet them and answered and said to them “If you have come peaceably to me to help me my heart will be united with you; but if to betray me to my enemies since there is no wrong in my hands may the God of our fathers look and bring judgment.”

YLT ¹⁷and David goeth out before them and answereth and saith to them `If for peace ye have come in unto me to help me I have a heart to unite with you; and if to betray me to mine adversaries -- without violence in my hands -- the God of our fathers doth see and reprove.'

And David went out to meet them .... Out of the hold where he was; either out of respect and deference to them some of them being persons of eminence; or it may be out of suspicion fearing they were not his friends being it may be chiefly of the tribe of Benjamin and therefore was desirous of sounding them before he admitted them:

and said unto them if ye be come peaceably unto me to help me; if they were come with a good will to him and intention to help him against his enemy and protect him:

mine heart shall be knit unto you; they should have such a share in his affections that their hearts would be as one as his and Jonathan's were 1 Samuel 18:1

but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies; into the hands of Saul and his courtiers that sought his life:

seeing there is no wrong in mine hands; no injury done by him to Saul or to them or to any other:

the God of our fathers look thereon and rebuke it; he that sees all things let him revenge it; and it is not only a wish that he would but a prayer of faith that so it would be.

1 Chronicles 12:18 ¹⁸ Then the Spirit came upon Amasai chief of the captains and he said: “We are yours O David; We are on your side O son of Jesse! Peace peace to you And peace to your helpers! For your God helps you.” So David received them and made them captains of the troop.

YLT ¹⁸And the Spirit hath clothed Amasai head of the captains: `To thee O David and with thee O son of Jesse -- peace! peace to thee and peace to thy helper for thy God hath helped thee;' and David receiveth them and putteth them among the heads of the troop.

Then the spirit came upon Amasai .... Or "clothed"^F6לבשה "induit" Pagninus Montanus &c. him; a spirit of fortitude as the Targum of strength courage and presence of mind with which he was endowed covered and clothed as with a garment; this was a sister's son of David's see 2 Samuel 17:25.

who was chief of the captains; of them that came at this time with him to David; he was afterwards Absalom's general and designed to be David's but was murdered by Joab:

and he said thine are we David and on thy side thou son of Jesse; which being spoken in this short and concise manner as the supplement shows denotes the vehemency with which he spake and is expressive of their cordial fidelity to him and their resolution to abide by him at all events:

peace peace be unto thee and peace be to thine helpers; wishing all prosperity temporal and spiritual to him and all his confederates and auxiliaries among whom they reckoned themselves:

for thy God helpeth thee; which they perceived by the remarkable deliverances of him out of the hand of Saul when in imminent danger; the Targum is "for the Word of the Lord is for thy help:"

then David received them; into the hold and admitted them as his friends:

and made them the captains of the band; they brought with them; or in later times when he came to the throne.

1 Chronicles 12:19 ¹⁹ And some from Manasseh defected to David when he was going with the Philistines to battle against Saul; but they did not help them for the lords of the Philistines sent him away by agreement saying “He may defect to his master Saul and endanger our heads.”

YLT ¹⁹And of Manasseh there have fallen unto David in his coming with the Philistines against Israel to battle -- and they helped them not for by counsel the princes of the Philistines sent him away saying `With our heads he doth fall unto his master Saul.' –

And there fell some of Manasseh to David .... Of the tribe of Manasseh; they took his part and on his side and joined him:

when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle; which was a strong proof of their cordial attachment to him:

but they helped them not: the Philistines; neither David nor his men nor the Manassites that joined them:

for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement; counsel taken among themselves: sent him away; that is David and his men:

saying he will fall to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads; meaning that he would go off with his troops to Saul and betray them into his hands and with their heads make his peace with him see 1 Samuel 29:4.

1 Chronicles 12:20 ²⁰ When he went to Ziklag those of Manasseh who defected to him were Adnah Jozabad Jediael Michael Jozabad Elihu and Zillethai captains of the thousands who were from Manasseh.

YLT ²⁰In his going unto Ziglag there have fallen unto him of Manasseh Adnah and Jozabad and Jediael and Michael and Jozabad and Elihu and Zillthai heads of the thousands that [are] of Manasseh;

As he went to Ziklag there fell to him of Manasseh .... Others besides the former who joined him when he went with the Philistines; these joined him when he was dismissed from them and was returning to Ziklag: namely:

Adnah and Jozabad and Jediael and Michael and Jozabad and Elihu and Zilthai captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh; that tribe being as the rest were divided into hundreds and thousands; these were captains over the thousands of the militia of the tribe.

1 Chronicles 12:21 ²¹ And they helped David against the bands of raiders for they were all mighty men of valor and they were captains in the army.

YLT ²¹and they have helped with David over the troop for mighty of valour [are] all of them and they are captains in the host

And they helped David against the band of the rovers .... The Amalekites who while he was gone with the Philistines had seized on Ziklag and burnt it and carried the women captive with what spoil they could make; these coming to David thus opportunely assisted him in his pursuit and defeat of them:

for they were all mighty men of valour and were captains in the host; or army of David.

1 Chronicles 12:22 ²² For at that time they came to David day by day to help him until it was a great army like the army of God.

YLT ²²for at that time day by day they come in unto David to help him till it is a great camp like a camp of God.

For at that time day by day there came to David to help him .... Particularly after the defeat of Saul by the Philistines unto the time that David came to Hebron:

until it was a great host like the host of God; the heavenly host the angels; so the Targum.

1 Chronicles 12:23 ²³ Now these were the numbers of the divisions that were equipped for war and came to David at Hebron to turn over the kingdom of Saul to him according to the word of the Lord:

YLT ²³And these [are] the numbers of the head of the armed men of the host; they have come in unto David to Hebron to turn round the kingdom of Saul unto him according to the mouth of Jehovah.

Verses 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 1 Chronicles 12:26 of the Aaronites or priests with Jehoiada the son of Benaiah according to Jarchi and Kimchi at the head of them 3700 1 Chronicles 12:27 besides Zadok a young man of the line of Eleazar who was made high priest in the time of Solomon who brought with him twenty two captains 1 Chronicles 12:28 the heads of the courses of the priests which were afterwards twenty four 1 Chronicles 24:4 of the tribe of Benjamin the kindred of Saul the greatest part of whom had been sticklers for the continuance of the kingdom in the family of Saul 3000 1 Chronicles 12:29 of the tribe of Ephraim valiant men 20 800 1 Chronicles 12:30 of the half tribe of Manasseh on this side Jordan whose names were pricked down being given to make David king 18 000 1 Chronicles 12:31 and of the tribe of Issachar two hundred of the heads of them; men of knowledge and understanding either in chronology or astrology or in the proper seasons for husbandry or for the fixing the beginning of years and months and the intercalation of them for keeping the several festivals; or rather were men of prudence and wisdom and knew that this was the proper time for making David king Ishbosheth and Abner his general being dead; and as they were men in high esteem for their parts and abilities their brethren were at their beck and command 1 Chronicles 12:30 and of the tribe of Zebulun warlike men skilful in war and well armed 50 000 men; and their numerous appearance showed that they were hearty and sincere being the greatest number of all the tribes 1 Chronicles 12:33 and of the tribe of Naphtali 1000 captains and with them armed men 37 000 1 Chronicles 12:34 and of the tribe of Dan men skilled in war 28 600 1 Chronicles 12:35 and of the tribe of Asher warlike men 40 000 1 Chronicles 12:36 and of the Reubenites Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh on the other side Jordan military men well armed 120 000 1 Chronicles 12:37 which in all made 348 800 men and upwards.

1 Chronicles 12:24 ²⁴ of the sons of Judah bearing shield and spear six thousand eight hundred armed for war;

YLT ²⁴The sons of Judah bearing target and spear [are] six thousand and eight hundred armed ones of the host.

1 Chronicles 12:25 ²⁵ of the sons of Simeon mighty men of valor fit for war seven thousand one hundred;

YLT ²⁵Of the sons of Simeon mighty ones of valour for the host [are] seven thousand and a hundred.

1 Chronicles 12:26 ²⁶ of the sons of Levi four thousand six hundred;

YLT ²⁶Of the sons of Levi [are] four thousand and six hundred;

1 Chronicles 12:27 ²⁷ Jehoiada the leader of the Aaronites and with him three thousand seven hundred;

YLT ²⁷and Jehoiada [is] the leader of the Aaronite and with him [are] three thousand and seven hundred

1 Chronicles 12:28 ²⁸ Zadok a young man a valiant warrior and from his father’s house twenty-two captains;

YLT ²⁸and Zadok a young man mighty of valour and of the house of his father [are] twenty and two heads.

1 Chronicles 12:29 ²⁹ of the sons of Benjamin relatives of Saul three thousand (until then the greatest part of them had remained loyal to the house of Saul);

YLT ²⁹And of the sons of Benjamin brethren of Saul [are] three thousand and hitherto their greater part are keeping the charge of the house of Saul.

1 Chronicles 12:30 ³⁰ of the sons of Ephraim twenty thousand eight hundred mighty men of valor famous men throughout their father’s house;

YLT ³⁰And of the sons of Ephraim [are] twenty thousand and eight hundred mighty of valour men of name according to the house of their fathers.

1 Chronicles 12:31 ³¹ of the half-tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand who were designated by name to come and make David king;

YLT ³¹And of the half of the tribe of Manasseh [are] eighteen thousand who have been defined by name to come in to cause David to reign.

1 Chronicles 12:32 ³² of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command;

YLT ³²And of the sons of Issachar having understanding for the times to know what Israel should do; their heads [are] two hundred and all their brethren [are] at their command.

1 Chronicles 12:33 ³³ of Zebulun there were fifty thousand who went out to battle expert in war with all weapons of war stouthearted men who could keep ranks;

YLT ³³Of Zebulun going forth to the host arranging battle with all instruments of battle [are] fifty thousand and keeping rank without a double heart.

1 Chronicles 12:34 ³⁴ of Naphtali one thousand captains and with them thirty-seven thousand with shield and spear;

YLT ³⁴And of Naphtali a thousand heads and with them with target and spear [are] thirty and seven thousand.

1 Chronicles 12:35 ³⁵ of the Danites who could keep battle formation twenty-eight thousand six hundred;

YLT ³⁵And of the Danite arranging battle [are] twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.

1 Chronicles 12:36 ³⁶ of Asher those who could go out to war able to keep battle formation forty thousand;

YLT ³⁶And of Asher going forth to the host to arrange battle [are] forty thousand.

1 Chronicles 12:37 ³⁷ of the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh from the other side of the Jordan one hundred and twenty thousand armed for battle with every kind of weapon of war.

YLT ³⁷And from beyond the Jordan of the Reubenite and of the Gadite and of the half of the tribe of Manasseh with all instruments of the host for battle [are] a hundred and twenty thousand.

1 Chronicles 12:38 ³⁸ All these men of war who could keep ranks came to Hebron with a loyal heart to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest of Israel were of one mind to make David king.

YLT ³⁸All these [are] men of war keeping rank -- with a perfect heart they have come to Hebron to cause David to reign over all Israel and also all the rest of Israel [are] of one heart to cause David to reign

All these men of war that could keep rank .... Well disciplined men:

came with a perfect heart to Hebron to make David king over Israel; they were all of one mind and quite hearty and sincere in fixing David on the throne of all Israel:

and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart also to make David king; those who came not were of the same mind; it was the unanimous voice of the people that he should be their king.

1 Chronicles 12:39 ³⁹ And they were there with David three days eating and drinking for their brethren had prepared for them.

YLT ³⁹and they are there with David three days eating and drinking for their brethren have prepared for them.

And there they were with David three days eating and drinking .... Keeping a festival to testify their joy on this occasion:

for their brethren had prepared for them; not the inhabitants of Hebron only but all the country round about brought in provisions on this joyful occasion; otherwise the men of Hebron would not have been able to have provided what was sufficient for such a vast number as appears by what follows.

1 Chronicles 12:40 ⁴⁰ Moreover those who were near to them from as far away as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali were bringing food on donkeys and camels on mules and oxen—provisions of flour and cakes of figs and cakes of raisins wine and oil and oxen and sheep abundantly for there was joy in Israel.

YLT ⁴⁰And also those near unto them unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali are bringing in bread on asses and on camels and on mules and on oxen -- food of fine flour fig-cakes and grape-cakes and wine and oil and oxen and sheep in abundance for joy [is] in Israel.

Moreover they that were nigh .... To Hebron or bordered on the tribe of Judah:

even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali; as far as to those tribes and including them:

brought bread on asses and on camels and on mules; all which were creatures used to carry burdens:

and on oxen; who though commonly employed in ploughing yet on this occasion might be made use of either in drawing wagons laden with provisions such as follow or in carrying loads on their backs; though as Tully^F7De Natura Deorum l. 2. prope finem. observes their backs show they were not formed to receive and carry burdens:

and meat meal cakes of figs and bunches of raisins and wine and oil and oxen and sheep abundantly that is food made of flour pastries besides bread before mentioned with dried figs pressed and made into cakes and clusters of grapes dried and of liquids wine and oil which make cheerful and beef and mutton in great plenty:

for there was joy in Israel; that their civil wars were ended; that they were united into one kingdom again; and had a king over them according to their hearts' desire the darling of the people of whom they had raised expectations; being a valiant prudent and good man who studied the good both of church and state and above all was one of God's choosing appointing and anointing: greater joy there will be when David's son and antitype Zion's King reigns when he shall be King over all the earth and there will be one Lord and his name one Psalm 97:1.

──《John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible》