1 Chronicles 12

Here are mentioned some of Davids Champions that came to him, when he was yet pursued by Saul, v.1, &c. First, some of Sauls own Family. Secondly, next some out of the tribe of Gad, 14. Likewise some out of the tribes of Benjamin and Juda, 16. And out of the tribe of Manasseh, 19. Lastly, here are rehearsed the Commanders of the souldiers, that came to David at Hebron, to make him King, together with the number out every tribe, 23. All Israel agree with one accord to make David King over them, 38. They feast one with another three days together, 39.

1. Now these are those that came to David to Ziklag [See of this city the annotate. On 1 Sam.27.6.] when he was yet shut up before the face of Saul the son of Kis: [To wit, when for fear of Saul, he was sain to hide himself in caves, dens, in rocks, and on mountains. Oth. Shut out, to wit, out of the publike meeting of the people of God, yea out of all the land of the Israelites, because of Sauls tyranny] they were also among the champions [to wit, that are named in the fore-going Chapter] that were assistant to that war:

2. Armed with bows, throwing stones with the right and left hand, [That is, they were as able to throw with their left, as with their right hand: see the like Judg.20.16.] and shouting with arrows out of the bow: they were Sauls brethren, [That is, of his Kindred, or Kinsmen. This did those men do, laying aside kindred and consanguinity, and looking on the just cause of David, in the injury and wrong done him by Saul. Thus did Jonathan himself, the son of Saul, maintain and defend Davids cause, although he continued with his Father] of Benjamin.

3. The head (or chief) was Ahiezer, and Joas, the sons of Semaa the Gibeathite, next Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmavet, and Beracha, and Jehu the Antothite.

4. And Ismaja the Gibeonite was a champion among the thirty, and (put) over the thirty: and Irmeja, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Jozahad, the Gederathite.

5. Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealja, and Semarja, and Sephatja the Haraphite.

6. Elkana, and Issia, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Josobam the Korhites.

7. And Johela, and Zebadja the son Jerobam of Gedor.

8. Also of the Gadites (there) separated themselves unto David [As if he should say, they separated themselves from the other Israelites that yet adhered unto Saul, and joined themselves with David] into that hold to the wilderness, [some understand this of the Fort at Ziklag; others of the cave of Adullum; others of Engedi] valiant champions, men of war, prepared (or armed) with [Hebr. ordering] shield and buckler, and their faces were faces of lions: [to wit, terrible to behold, as if they were lions] and they were like the Roes on the mountains in swiftness. [this commendations is likewise given to Asahel the brother of Joab, 2 Sam.2.18.]

9. Ezer was the head (or chief): Obadja the second Eliab the third.

10. Mismanna the fourth, Irmeja the fifth.

11. Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh.

12. Johanan the eight, Elzabad the ninth.

13. Irmeja the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh.

14. These were of the children of Gad, heads of the army: one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.

15. These same were they that went over the Jordan in the first month, when it was full in all its banks: [See Jos.3.15.] and they drave out all (the inhabitants) of the low grounds [To wit, that were by the Jordan] toward the East, and toward the West.

16. There came also of the children of Benjamin and Juda into the hold unto David.

17. And David went out to meet them [Heb. Before their face] and answered, and said unto them: If ye be come to me in peace [i.e. For peace, or peace sake] to help me, then shall mine heart ne likewise towards you: but if it be to deliver me up treacherously to mine enemies, whereas there is no violence in mine hands, [That is, whereas I am not guilty of having done any wrong or violence to any] the God of our Fathers look upon it, and rebuke it.

18. And the spirit seized on Amasai, [Or clothed, that is, the spirit of the LORD, that is, the spirit of valour and clothed therewith as with a garment, in so much that he had an extraordinary courage and boldness to speak thus unto David, as is exprest in the following words. See of this phrase Judg.6.34. and elsewhere] the chief [Heb. head] of the Captains, [oth. Of the thirty] (and he said): We are thine, O David, and with thee are we, thou son of Isai, peace, peace be unto thee, and peace (be) to thy helpers, for thy God Helpeth thee: Then David received them, and made them heads of bands.

19. There fell also (some) of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines to fight against Saul, although they helped them not: [Understand that David with his men helped not the Philistines in this battle against Saul and the Israelites] for the Princes of the Philistines upon advice left him, [that is, after they having advised with one another about it, found it not sitting that David should abide with them in the camp] saying, he would fall to his Lord Saul (to the jeopardy of) our heads. [Heb. with our heads he would fall to his Lord Saul. See the like phrase above chap.11.19. Oth. He will fall to his Lord Saul; to wit, if he be permitted to go with us into the battle.]

20. When he went to Ziklag, [To wit, after that he was dismist by the King of the Philistines, 1 Sam.29.10,11. The King of the Philistines had given the city of Ziglag unto David, 1 Sam.27.6.] (there) fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozahad, and Elihu, and Zillethai: heads of the thousands that were in Manasseh.

21. And these helped David likewise against those hands, [Understand here the companies or parties of those Amalekites, that had taken and burnt Ziglag, while David was gone away from thence, 1 Sam.30.1.] for all these were valiant champions: and they were Commanders in the army. [to wit, in Davids Army.]

22. For at (that) time day by day there came to David to help him, until (it was) a great camp, like a camp of God. [That is, a very great and excellent camp. So it’s said, Psal.36.6. Mountains of God, and Psal.80.11. Cedars of God, that is, high tall. And Nineve a city of God; that is, a very grea city. See the annotate.on Gen.13.10.]

23. And these are the numbers of the heads of those, that were prepared (or ready armed) for the host which came to David to Hebron, to turn the Kingdom of Saul to him, [See above at the end of chap.10. and at the beginning of chap.11.] according to the mouth of the LORD: [i.e. as the Lord had commanded, when he caused David to be anointed King by Samuel, 1 Sam.16.]

24. Of the children of Juda, that bare shields, and spears, (there) are six thousand, and eight hundred, ready armed for the host.

25. Of the children of Simeon valiant champions for the host, seven thousand, and an hundred.

26. Of the children of Levi, four thousand and six hundred.

27. And Jehojada was chief of the Aaronites: [Understand this thus, that he was the chiefest of the Priests, under or next to the High-Priest Abiathar: see 1 Sam.23.9. or chief of those priests that here are said to come to David] and there were with him three thousand and seven hundred.

28. And Zadok was a young man, a valiant champion: and out of his Fathers house [That is, Family] were two and twenty Commanders.

29. And of the children of Benjamin, the brethren [that is Kinsman] of Saul three thousand: for hitherto there were many that held with the house of Saul. [This is the reason why but three thousand Benjamites were come to David. Hebr. which held with the house of Saul. The Benjamites held a long while on Sauls side, because he sprung from their tribe: see 2 Sam.2.]

30. And of the children of Ephraim, twenty thousand, and eight hundred valiant champions, men of name [See the annotate. On Gen.6.4.] in the houses of their Fathers.

31. And the half tribe of Manasseh [To wit, that dwelt on this side Jordan in the land of Canaan; for the other half that dwelt on the other side of Jordan, came with the Reubenites, andGadites, to David, ver.37.] eighteen thousand, which are expressed by name, that they came to make David king.

32. And the children of Issaschar that are expert in the understand of the times, to know what Israel ought to do: [i.e. Understand and expert men, which are able to give good advice and counsel at what time it were best to attempt any thing, or desist from it, whether in war and civil affairs, as Esth.1.13. or also in husbandry and country affairs] their heads were two hundred, and all their brethren (had regard) to their word. [Hebr. mouth.]

33. out of Zebulon going forth into the army, prepared (or ready armed) for the battle with all instruments of war, fifty thousand: and to keep a battle-aray [Understand withal, they were ready or skilful: or came; as ver.38.] with an unwavering heart. [Heb. With not heart and heart; that is, not with a divided or double heart, but upright and counstant.]

34. And out of Naphtali a thousand Commanders; and with them, with shield and spear, seven and thirty thousand.

35. And out of the Danites prepared for battle, eight and twenty thousand and six hundred.

36. And out Aser, going forth into the army, to keep battle-aray, were fourty thousand.

37. And of the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and Gadites, and half tribe of Manasseh, with all warlike Furniture for War, an hundred and twenty thousand.

38. All these men of war that were able to keep themselves in battle-aray, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David King over all Israel: [i.e. After they had well considered of the matter before with themselves, they came with a single and upright heart] and also all the rest of Israel were (of) one heart to make David King.

39. And they were there [To wit, at Hebron] with David three days together, eating and drinking: [i.e. Making good chear] for their brethren [to wit, the Israelites that dwelt at Hebron] had prepared (somewhat) for them. [intimating that the Hebronites had provided meat and drink to entertain their brethren withal.]

40. And also the next to them, [That is, that dwelt hard by them, or thereabouts, or round about them] unto Issaschar, and Zebulon, and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, meat of meal, and lumps of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and small cattle [i.e. sheep and goats] in multitude; for there was joy in Israel.