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Texts -- 1 Chronicles 12:4-40 (NET)

Context
12:4 Ishmaiah the Gibeonite , one of the thirty warriors and their leader,Jeremiah, Jahaziel , Johanan , Jozabad the Gederathite , 12:5 Eluzai , Jerimoth , Bealiah , Shemariah , Shephatiah the Haruphite , 12:6 Elkanah , Isshiah , Azarel , Joezer , and Jashobeam , who were Korahites , 12:7 and Joelah and Zebadiah , the sons of Jeroham from Gedor . 12:8 Some of the Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the desert . They were warriors who were trained for battle ; they carried shields and spears . They were as fierce as lions and could run as quickly as gazelles across the hills . 12:9 Ezer was the leader , Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third , 12:10 Mishmannah the fourth , Jeremiah the fifth , 12:11 Attai the sixth , Eliel the seventh , 12:12 Johanan the eighth , Elzabad the ninth , 12:13 Jeremiah the tenth , and Machbannai the eleventh . 12:14 These Gadites were military leaders ; the least led a hundred men, the greatest a thousand . 12:15 They crossed the Jordan River in the first month , when it was overflowing its banks , and routed those living in all the valleys to the east and west . 12:16 Some from Benjamin and Judah also came to David’s stronghold . 12:17 David went out to meet them and said , “If you come to me in peace and want to help me, then I will make an alliance with you. But if you come to betray me to my enemies when I have not harmed you, may the God of our ancestors take notice and judge !” 12:18 But a spirit empowered Amasai , the leader of the thirty warriors, and he said: “We are yours, O David ! We support you, O son of Jesse ! May you greatly prosper ! May those who help you prosper! Indeed your God helps you!” So David accepted them and made them leaders of raiding bands . 12:19 Some men from Manasseh joined David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul . (But in the end they did not help the Philistines because, after taking counsel , the Philistine lords sent David away , saying : “It would be disastrous for us if he deserts to his master Saul .”) 12:20 When David went to Ziklag , the men of Manasseh who joined him were Adnach , Jozabad , Jediael , Michael , Jozabad , Elihu , and Zillethai , leaders of a thousand soldiers each in the tribe of Manasseh . 12:21 They helped David fight against raiding bands , for all of them were warriors and leaders in the army . 12:22 Each day men came to help David until his army became very large .
Support for David in Hebron
12:23 The following is a record of the armed warriors who came with their leaders and joined David in Hebron in order to make David king in Saul’s place, in accordance with the Lord’s decree : 12:24 From Judah came 6,800 trained warriors carrying shields and spears . 12:25 From Simeon there were 7,100 warriors . 12:26 From Levi there were 4,600 . 12:27 Jehoiada , the leader of Aaron’s descendants , brought 3,700 men with him, 12:28 along with Zadok , a young warrior , and twenty-two leaders from his family . 12:29 From Benjamin , Saul’s tribe , there were 3,000 , most of whom , up to that time , had been loyal to Saul . 12:30 From Ephraim there were 20,800 warriors , who had brought fame to their families . 12:31 From the half tribe of Manasseh there were 18,000 who had been designated by name to come and make David king . 12:32 From Issachar there were 200 leaders and all their relatives at their command – they understood the times and knew what Israel should do . 12:33 From Zebulun there were 50,000 warriors who were prepared for battle , equipped with all kinds of weapons , and ready to give their undivided loyalty. 12:34 From Naphtali there were 1,000 officers , along with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears . 12:35 From Dan there were 28,600 men prepared for battle . 12:36 From Asher there were 40,000 warriors prepared for battle . 12:37 From the other side of the Jordan , from Reuben , Gad , and the half tribe of Manasseh , there were 120,000 men armed with all kinds of weapons . 12:38 All these men were warriors who were ready to march . They came to Hebron to make David king over all Israel by acclamation ; all the rest of the Israelites also were in agreement that David should become king . 12:39 They spent three days feasting there with David , for their relatives had given them provisions . 12:40 Also their neighbors , from as far away as Issachar , Zebulun , and Naphtali , were bringing food on donkeys , camels , mules , and oxen . There were large supplies of flour , fig cakes , raisins , wine , olive oil , beef , and lamb , for Israel was celebrating .

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • David

    [ebd] beloved, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen of Bethlehem. His father seems to have been a man in humble life. His mother's name is not recorded. Some think she was the Nahash of 2 Sam. 17:25. As to his personal ...
    [isbe] DAVID - da'-vid (dawidh, or dawidh, "beloved"; Daueid, also in New Testament, Dauid, Dabid; see Thayer's Lexicon): I. NAME AND GENEALOGY II. EARLY YEARS 1. Shepherd 2. Slinger 3. Harpist 4. Poet 5. Psalmist 6. Tribesman III....
    [smith] (well-beloved), the son of Jesse. His life may be divided into three portions: His youth before his introduction to the court of Saul; His relations with Saul; His reign. The early life of David contains in many important re...
    [nave] DAVID 1. King of Israel. Genealogy of, Ruth 4:18-22; 1 Sam. 16:11; 17:12; 1 Chr. 2:3-15; Matt. 1:1-6; Luke 3:31-38. A shepherd, 1 Sam. 16:11. Kills a lion and a bear, 1 Sam. 17:34-36. Anointed king, while a youth, by the ...

  • Captain

    [ebd] (1.) Heb. sar (1 Sam. 22:2; 2 Sam. 23:19). Rendered "chief," Gen. 40:2; 41:9; rendered also "prince," Dan. 1:7; "ruler," Judg. 9:30; "governor,' 1 Kings 22:26. This same Hebrew word denotes a military captain (Ex. 18:21; 2 K...
    [isbe] CAPTAIN - kap'-tin: In the King James Version there are no fewer than 13 Hebrew words, and 4 different Greek words, which are rendered by this one English word. In the Revised Version (British and American) some of these are...
    [nave] CAPTAIN Commander-in-chief of an army, Deut. 20:9; Judg. 4:2; 1 Sam. 14:50; 1 Kin. 2:35; 16:16; 1 Chr. 27:34. Of the tribes, Num. 2. Of thousands, Num. 31:48; 1 Sam. 17:18; 1 Chr. 28:1. Of hundreds, 2 Kin. 11:15. See: Ce...

  • Chronicles, Books of

    [ebd] The two books were originally one. They bore the title in the Massoretic Hebrew Dibre hayyamim, i.e., "Acts of the Days." This title was rendered by Jerome in his Latin version "Chronicon," and hence "Chronicles." In the Sep...

  • Israel

    [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...

  • Gad

    [ebd] fortune; luck. (1.) Jacob's seventh son, by Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, and the brother of Asher (Gen. 30:11-13; 46:16, 18). In the Authorized Version of 30:11 the words, "A troop cometh: and she called," etc., should rather be...
    [nave] GAD 1. Jacob's seventh son, Gen. 30:11; 35:26; Ex. 1:4. Children of, Gen. 46:16; Num. 26:15-18; 1 Chr. 5:11. Prophecy concerning, Gen. 49:19. 2. A tribe of Israel. Blessed by Moses, Deut. 33:20. Enumeration of, at Sinai,...

  • Jeremiah

    [ebd] raised up or appointed by Jehovah. (1.) A Gadite who joined David in the wilderness (1 Chr. 12:10). (2.) A Gadite warrior (1 Chr. 12:13). (3.) A Benjamite slinger who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:4). (4.) One of the chi...
    [smith] Seven other persons bearing the same name as the prophet are mentioned in the Old Testament:-- Jeremiah of Libnah, father of Hamutal wife of Josiah. (2 Kings 23:31) (B.C. before 632.) 2,3,4. Three warriors --two of the tr...
    [nave] JEREMIAH 1. Of Libnah, grandfather of Jehoahaz, 2 Kin. 23:31; 24:18; Jer. 52:1. 2. A chief of Manasseh, 1 Chr. 5:24. 3. An Israelite who joined David at Ziklag, 1 Chr. 12:4. 4. Two Gadites who joined David at Ziklag, 1 Ch...

  • Johanan

    [ebd] whom Jehovah graciously bestows. (1.) One of the Gadite heroes who joined David in the desert of Judah (1 Chr. 12:12). (2.) The oldest of King Josiah's sons (1 Chr. 3:15). (3.) Son of Careah, one of the Jewish chiefs who ral...
    [isbe] JOHANAN - jo-ha'-nan (yochanan, "Yahweh has been gracious"; Ioanan; compare JEHOHANAN): (1) Son of Kareah, and one of "the captains of the forces who were in the fields" (i.e. probably guerrilla bands), who allied with Gedal...
    [smith] (gift or grace of God). Son of Azariah and grandson of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, and father of Azariah, 3. (1 Chronicles 6:9,10) Authorized Version. Son of Elioenai, the son of Neariah, the son of Shemaiah, in the line of...
    [nave] JOHANAN 1. A Jewish captain, 2 Kin. 25:22-24. Warns Gedaliah against Ishmael, Jer. 40:13-16. Ishmael defeated by, Jer. 41:11-15. Sought prayers of Jeremiah, Jer. 42:2, 3. Disobeyed Jeremiah and took him to Egypt, Jer. 43...

  • Zadok

    [ebd] righteous. (1.) A son of Ahitub, of the line of Eleazer (2 Sam. 8:17; 1 Chr. 24:3), high priest in the time of David (2 Sam. 20:25) and Solomon (1 Kings 4:4). He is first mentioned as coming to take part with David at Hebron...
    [isbe] ZADOK - za'-dok (tsadowq, once tsadhoq (1 Ki 1:26), similar to tsaddiq, and tsadduq, post-Biblical, meaning justus, "righteous"; Septuagint Sadok): Cheyne in Encyclopedia Biblica suggests that Zadok was a modification of a G...
    [smith] (just). Son of Ahitub and one of the two chief priests in the time of David, Abiathar being the other. Zadok was of the house of Eleazar the son of Aaron, (1 Chronicles 24:3) and eleventh in descent from Aaron. (1 Chro...
    [nave] ZADOK 1. High priest in time of David's reign, 2 Sam. 19:11; 20:25; 1 Chr. 15:11; 16:39. Removes the ark from Jerusalem at the time of Absalom's usurpation; returns with it at David's command, 2 Sam. 15:24-36; 17:15, 17-21....

  • Jozabad

    [ebd] whom Jehovah bestows. (1.) One of the Benjamite archers who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:4). (2.) A chief of the tribe of Manasseh (1 Chr. 12:20).
    [isbe] JOZABAD - joz'-a-bad (yozabhadh, "Yahweh has bestowed"): (1) A Gederathite, and one of David's recruits at Ziklag (1 Ch 12:4 (Hebrew 5)). He is named with the Benjamites, but possibly he was a native of the town Gedara in So...
    [smith] (Jehovah justifies). A captain of the thousands of Manasseh, who deserted to David before the battle of Gilboa. (1 Chronicles 12:20) (B.C. 1053.) A hero of Manasseh, like the preceding. (1 Chronicles 12:20) A Levite in...
    [nave] JOZABAD 1. Two men of Manasseh, 1 Chr. 12:20. 2. Two Levites, 2 Chr. 31:13; 35:9. 3. Son of Jeshua, Ezra 8:33. 4. A priest, Ezra 10:22. 5. Three Levites, Ezra 10:23; Neh. 8:7; 11:16. 6. One of David's famous warriors, 1...

  • Eliab

    [ebd] to whom God is father. (1.) A Reubenite, son of Pallu (Num. 16:1, 12; 26:8, 9; Deut. 11:6). (2.) A son of Helon, and chief of the tribe of Zebulun at the time of the census in the wilderness (Num. 1:9; 2:7). (3.) The son of ...
    [isbe] ELIAB - e-li'-ab ('eli'abh, "God is father"): (1) Prince of the tribe of Zebulun in the Exodus (Nu 1:9; 2:7; 7:24,29; 10:16). (2) A Reubenite, father of Dathan and Abiram (Nu 16:11,12; 26:8 f; Dt 11:6). (3) Eldest son of Jes...
    [smith] (God is my father). Son of Helon and leader of the tribe of Zebulun at the time of the census in the wilderness of Sinai. (Numbers 1:9; 2:7; 7:24,29; 10:16) (B.C. 1490.) A Reubenite, father of Dathan and Abiram. (Numbers 16:...
    [nave] ELIAB 1. A Reubenite, progenitor of Dathan and Abiram, Num. 26:8, 9; 16:1, 12; Deut. 11:6. 2. Son of Helon, Num. 1:9; 2:7; 7:24, 29; 10:16. 3. Ancestor of Samuel, 1 Chr. 6:27. Called also Elihu, 1 Sam. 1:1; and Eliel, 1 C...

  • Zebulun

    [isbe] ZEBULUN - zeb'-u-lun (zebhulun, also written zebuwlun and zebuluwn; the first form occurs only in Jdg 1:30; the other two are frequent, and are used interchangeably; Zaboulon): In Gen 30:20 Leah exclaims, "God hath endowed m...
    [nave] ZEBULUN 1. Son of Jacob and Leah, Gen. 30:20; 35:23; 46:14; 49:13; Ex. 1:3; 1 Chr. 2:1. Descendants of, Gen. 46:14; Num. 26:26, 27. Called also Zabulon. 2. Tribe of. Place of, in march and camp, Num. 2:3, 7; 10:14, 16. Te...

  • Ezer

    [ebd] treasure. (1.) One of the sons of Seir, the native princes, "dukes," of Mount Hor (Gen. 36:21, 27). (2.) 1 Chr. 7:21; (3.) 4:4. (4.) One of the Gadite champions who repaired to David at Ziklag (12:9). (5.) A Levite (Neh. 3:1...
    [isbe] EZER - e'-zer (`ezer, "help"): (1) A Horite chief (Gen 36:21; 1 Ch 1:38). (2) A Judahite (1 Ch 4:4). (3) An Ephraimite, slain by men of Gath (1 Ch 7:21). (4) A Gadite who followed David while in exile on account of the wrath...
    [smith] (treasure). A son of Ephraim, who was slain by the aboriginal inhabitants of Gath while engaged in a foray on their cattle. (1 Chronicles 7:21) (B.C. before 1491.) A priest who assisted in the dedication of the walls of J...
    [nave] EZER 1. Called also Ezar, a Horite duke, Gen. 36:21, 27, 30; 1 Chr. 1:38, 42. 2. A son of Ephraim, 1 Chr. 7:21. 3. A priest, Neh. 12:42. 4. A man of Judah, 1 Chr. 4:4. Perhaps identical with the Ezra of 1 Chr. 4:17. 5. ...

  • Adnah

    [ebd] delight. (1.) A chief of the tribe of Manasseh who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:20). (2.) A general under Jehoshaphat, chief over 300,000 men (2 Chr. 17:14).
    [isbe] ADNAH - ad'-na (`adhnach, "pleasure"; Edna): (1) A warrior of the tribe of Manasseh, who deserted Saul and joined David's forces at Ziklag (1 Ch 12:20,21) (2) An officer of high rank, perhaps the commander-in-chief of Jehosh...
    [smith] (pleasure). A Manassite who deserted from Saul and joined the fortunes of David on his road to Ziklag from the camp of the Philistines. He was captain of a thousand of his tribe, and fought at David?s side in the pursuit of ...
    [nave] ADNAH 1. One of David's captains, 1 Chr. 12:20. 2. A military chief, 2 Chr. 17:14.

  • Joelah

    [ebd] a Benjamite who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:7).
    [isbe] JOELAH - jo-e'-la (yo`e'lah, perhaps = yo`elah, "may he avail!"): One of David's recruits at Ziklag (1 Ch 12:7 (Hebrew 8)); a Benjamite or perhaps a Judean (see Curtis, Chronicles, 195 f).
    [smith] (Jehovah helps), son of Jerohoam of Gedor. (1 Chronicles 12:7)
    [nave] JOELAH, son of Jeroham, 1 Chr. 12:7.

  • Jeroham

    [ebd] cherished; who finds mercy. (1.) Father of Elkanah, and grandfather of the prophet Samuel (1 Sam. 1:1). (2.) The father of Azareel, the "captain" of the tribe of Dan (1 Chr. 27:22). (3.) 1 Chr. 12:7; a Benjamite. (4.) 2 Chr....
    [isbe] JEROHAM - je-ro'-ham (yerocham, "may he be compassionate!"): (1) An Ephraimite, the father of Elkanah, and grandfather of Samuel (1 Sam 1:1; 1 Ch 6:27,34 (Hebrew 12,19)): Jerahmeel is the name in Septuagint, Codex Vaticanus,...
    [smith] (cherished). Father of Elkanah, the father of Samuel, of the house of Kohath. (1 Samuel 1:1; 1 Chronicles 6:27,34) (B.C. before 1142.) A Benjamite, the founder of a family of Bene-Jeroham. (1 Chronicles 8:27) Probab...
    [nave] JEROHAM 1. A Levite, and grandfather of Samuel, 1 Sam. 1:1; 1 Chr. 6:27, 34. 2. A chief of the tribe of Benjamin, 1 Chr. 8:27. 3. A descendant of Benjamin, 1 Chr. 9:8. 4. A priest, and father of Adaiah, who dwelt in Jerus...

  • Jerimoth

    [ebd] heights. (1.) One of the sons of Bela (1 Chr. 7:7). (2.) 1 Chr. 24:30, a Merarite Levite. (3.) A Benjamite slinger who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:5). (4.) A Levitical musician under Heman his father (1 Chr. 25:4). (5....
    [isbe] JERIMOTH - jer'-i-moth (see JEREMOTH, (c)): (1) A Benjamite (1 Ch 7:7). (2) A Benjamite who joined David at Ziklag, or perhaps a Judean (1 Ch 12:5 (Hebrew 6)). (3) In 1 Ch 24:30 = JEREMOTH, (4) (which see). (4) A Levite musi...
    [smith] (heights). Son or descendant of Bela. (1 Chronicles 7:7) He is perhaps the same as who joined David at Ziklag. (1 Chronicles 12:5) (B.C. 1055.) A son of Beecher, (1 Chronicles 7:8) and head of a Benjamite house. Son...
    [nave] JERIMOTH Called also Jeremoth. 1. Son of Bela, 1 Chr. 7:7. 2. Son of Becher, 1 Chr. 7:8. 3. A defecting Israelite, who denounced Saul and joined David at Ziklag, 1 Chr. 12:5. 4. Son of Mushi, 1 Chr. 23:23; 24:30. 5. Son ...

  • Joezer

    [ebd] Jehovah is his help, one of the Korhites who became part of David's body-guard (1 Chr. 12:6).
    [isbe] JOEZER - jo-e'-zer (yo`ezer, "Yahweh is help"): One of David's Benjamite recruits at Ziklag, though perhaps a Judean (1 Ch 12:6 (Hebrew 7)).
    [smith] (whose help is Jehovah), a Korhite, one of David?s captains. (1 Chronicles 12:6) (B.C. 1155.)
    [nave] JOEZER, a Korhite, who joined David at Ziklag, 1 Chr. 12:6.

  • Shemariah

    [ebd] whom Jehovah guards. (1.) One who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:5). (2.) Ezra 10:32, 41.
    [isbe] SHEMARIAH - shem-a-ri'-a, she-mar'-ya (shemaryah and shemaryahu, "whom Jahveh guards"): (1) A Benjamite warrior who joined David at Ziklag (1 Ch 12:5, Codex Vaticanus Sammaraia; Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Alexandrinus Samari...
    [smith] (kept by Jehovah). A Benjamite warrior who came to David at Ziklag. (1 Chronicles 12:5) (B.C. 1054.) One of the family of Harim, a lay man of Israel who put away his foreign wife in the time of Ezra. (Ezra 10:32) (B.C. 65...
    [nave] SHEMARIAH 1. One of David's mighty men, 1 Chr. 12:5. 2. Name of two Israelites who put away Gentile wives, Ezra 10:32, 41.

  • Priest

    [smith] The English word is derived from the Greek presbyter , signifying an "elder" (Heb. cohen). Origin. --The idea of a priesthood connects itself in all its forms, pure or corrupted, with the consciousness, more or less distinct ...
    [nave] PRIEST. Before Moses Melchizedek, Gen. 14:18; Heb. 5:6, 10, 11; 6:20; 7:1-21. Jethro, Ex. 2:16. Priests in Israel before the giving of the law, Ex. 19:22, 24. Called angel, Eccl. 5:6. Mosaic Ex. 28:1-4; 29:9, 44; Num....

  • MANASSEH (2)

    [isbe] MANASSEH (2) - 1. Son of Joseph: Following the Biblical account of Manasseh (patriarch, tribe, and territory) we find that he was the eider of Joseph's two sons by Asenath, the daughter of Poti-phera, priest of On (Gen 41:51...
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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • Jacob blessed all 12 of his sons and foretold what would become of each of them and their descendants. He disqualified Reuben, Simeon, and Levi from leadership and gave that blessing to Judah. He granted the double portion to...
  • Another instance of incomplete obedience followed the great victory God gave His people and the military commanders' sacrificial, voluntary worship of Yahweh.32:1-19 Maybe the leaders of Reuben and Gad concluded that their br...
  • 3:1-6 Joshua may have moved the nation from Shittim to the Jordan's edge at approximately the same time he sent the spies on their mission (cf. vv. 1-2 and 1:11; 2:22). However the sequence of events was probably as it appear...
  • The Danites' defeat of the inhabitants of Laish appears cruel and unjustified (cf. 9:45-49). The town that seemed so desirable to the spies was really vulnerable and isolated. Its advantages proved to be weaknesses. Since God...
  • The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.3David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11...
  • Chronicles covers a broader period of history than any other Old Testament book. It begins with Adam and ends with Anani who lived eight generations after King Jehoiachin (1 Chron. 3:24). If we allow 25 years for each generat...
  • The central subject of 1 and 2 Chronicles is the temple of God. Someone evidently wrote these books at the end of the Babylonian exile to encourage the Israelites to reestablish Israel's national life in the Promised Land. In...
  • I. Israel's historical roots chs. 1-9A. The lineage of David chs. 1-3B. The house of Israel chs. 4-71. The family of Judah 4:1-232. The family of Simeon 4:24-433. The families of Transjordan ch. 54. The family of Levi ch. 65....
  • "Having established the remnant's genealogical link with the Davidic and priestly lines, he [the writer] focused on the groundwork of the Davidic promises. His design was to show how the kingly and priestly concerns came toge...
  • This list of great warriors reflects the greatness of David. We know something about a man or woman by the company he or she keeps. The writer identified three groups: the chiefs among David's mighty men (11:10-25), the might...
  • "The Babylon oracle revealed that world history, even in its most threatening and climactic forms, is so organized that the people of God are cared for. The Philistia oracle confirmed this by insisting that the Davidic promis...
  • The scene continues to be on earth.7:1 The phrase "after this"(Gr. meta touto) indicates that what follows is a new vision (cf. 4:1). The general chronological progression of the visions suggests that the events John saw now ...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • Joshua 3:5-17The arrangement of the narrative of the passage of Jordan, which occupies Joshua 3. and Joshua 4., is remarkable, and has led to suggestions of interpolation and blending of two accounts, which are quite unnecess...
  • Joshua 4:10-24This chapter is divided into two sections. The first (from Joshua 4:5, 6 of the chapter belong to the section which deals with the preparation. General instructions had been already issued that the host was to f...
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