1 Chronicles 12
1 The companies that came to David at Ziklag.
23 The armies that came to him at Hebron.
joined <0935> [these are.]
banished <06113> [while he yet, etc. Heb. being yet shut up.]
Sometimes, in the East, when a successful prince endeavoured to extirpate the preceding royal family, some of them escaped the slaughter, and secured themselves in an impregnable fortress, or in a place of great secrecy; while others have been known to seek an asylum in a foreign county, from when they have occasioned, from time to time, great anxiety and great difficulties to the usurper of the crown. The expression shut up, so often applied to the extermination of eastern royal families. (De 32:32. 1 Ki 14:10; 21:21. 2 Ki 9:8; 14:26,) strictly speaking, refers to the two first of these cases; but the term may be used in a more extensive sense, for those who, by retiring into deserts, or foreign countries, preserve themselves from being slain by the men who usurp the dominions of their ancestors. Thus the term is here applied to David, though he did not shut himself up, strictly speaking, in Ziklag. It is described as a town in the country, and was probably an unwalled town; and it is certain that he did not confine himself to it, but, on the contrary, was continually making excursions from thence.
Saul <07586> [Saul.]
warriors <01368> [the mighty.]
right <03231> [could use.]
sling stones <068> [in hurling.]
Shemaah <08094> [Shemaah. or, Hasmaah. Gibeathite.]
Azmaveth <05820> [Azmaveth.]
Anathothite <06069> [the Antothite.]
Gibeonite <01393> [Gibeonite.]
warriors <01368> [a mighty man.]
Gederathite <01452> [Gederathite.]
Gedor <01446> [Gedor.]
stronghold <04679> [into the hold.]
trained <06635> [of war. Heb. of the host. handle.]
fierce <06440> [whose faces.]
quickly ... gazelles .... hills <06643 02022 04116> [as swift as the roes upon the mountains. Heb. as the roes upon the mountains to make haste.]
hundred .... greatest a thousand <0259 06996 03967 01419 0505> [one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand. or, one that was least could resist an hundred, the greatest a thousand.]
overflowing <04390> [it had overflown. Heb. it had filled over.]
<01121> [the children.]
stronghold <04679> [the hold.]
meet .... said <06440 06030> [to meet them. Heb. before them. If ye be come.]
make <03824> [heart.]
alliance <03162> [knit. Heb. one.]
harmed <02555> [wrong. or, violence. God.]
judge <03198> [rebuke it.]
spirit <07307> [the spirit.]
empowered Amasai <03847 06022> [came upon Amasai. Heb. clothed Amasai.]
[Amasa.]
Thine are we.
[and on they side.]
prosper <07965> [peace.]
God <0430> [thy God.]
leader ........................................... leaders ... raiding bands <01416 07218> [captains of the band.]
went <0935> [when he came.]
<07218> [to the jeopardy of our heads. Heb. on our heads.]
<03212> [As he went.]
These captains of Manasseh seem to have met David as he was returning from the army of the Philistines to Ziklag. It is probable that they did not bring their companies with them; yet they both assured him of future assistance, and very seasonably helped him against the Amalekites who had spoiled Ziklag.
leaders <07218> [captains.]
bands <01416> [against the band. or, with a band.]
raiding <01368> [mighty men.]
Each day <03117> [day by day.]
army <04264 0430> [like the host of God.]
That is, says the Targumist, a very numerous army, like the army of the angel of God.
record <04557> [A.M. 2956. B.C. 1048. An. Ex. Is. 433. the numbers.]
leaders <07218> [bands. or, captains, or men. Heb. heads. came to David.]
Some learned men understand this as relating to the time when David was make king over Judah, on his first coming to Hebron: but it seems wholly to refer to his being made king over all Israel, after the death of Ishbosheth; for there was no such union or assembly of the several tribes on the former occasion, as is here described.
in order to make <05437> [to turn.]
decree <06310> [according.]
trained <02502> [armed. or, prepared.]
leader <05057> [the leader.]
Aaron's descendants <0175> [Aaronites.]
Zadok <06659> [Zadok.]
tribe <0251> [kindred. Heb. brethren.]
most of whom ........ loyal <04768 08104> [the greatest part of them. Heb. a multitude of them.]
fame <08034> [famous. Heb. men of names.]
half tribe <04294 02677> [the half tribe.]
understood ... times <06256 0998> [understanding of the times.]
That is, as the following words indicate, intelligent men, who understood the signs of the times, well versed in political affairs, and knew what was proper to be done in all the exigencies of human life; and who now perceived that it was both the duty and political interest of Israel to advance David to the throne.
knew <03045> [to know.]
relatives <0251> [all their.]
prepared ... battle ....... weapons <06186 04421> [expert in war. or, rangers of battle, or ranged in battle. keep rank. or, set the battle in array. they were not of double heart. Heb. they were without a heart and a heart.]
That is, they were all sincerely affected towards David, though so numerous.
prepared ... battle <06186 04421> [expert in war. or, keeping their rank.]
other side <05676> [the other side.]
acclamation ........... agreement <08003 03820 03824> [with a perfect heart.]
The meaning of this expression may be inferred from that of a double heart in ver. 33. If a double heart be expressive of insincerity or duplicity, a perfect heart, which seems to be put in opposition to it, must signify a sincere, faithful, and entire attachment.
rest <07611> [all the rest.]
feasting <0398 08354> [eating and drinking.]
bringing <0935> [brought.]
The Septuagint reads [ ,] "brought (to) them" which is probably correct; the Hebrew {lahem,} "to them" might be easily mistaken for {lechem,} "bread." The passage will then read, "bought them on asses, on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, meat, meal, cakes of figs," etc., which renders the introduction of and unnecessary. From the mention of oil, figs, and raisins, Mr. Harmer thinks that this assembly was held in autumn.
supplies ... flour <07058 03978> [meat, meal. or, victual of meal. cakes of figs.]
celebrating <08057> [there was joy.]
