Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Chronicles 12

1 NOw these are they that came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close , because of Saul the son of Kish: and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war.

Or, was shut up, or shut out, from his own Land and People; for he speaks not of that time when he was shut up, and hid himself in Caves in the Land of Iudah, but when he was at Ziklag.

Marginal references: 1 Sam▪ 27. 2,; Heb. being shut up.

2 They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left , in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Sauls brethren of Benjamin .

With like nimbleness and certainty. Compare Iudge 3. 15. & 20. 16.

i. e. Of Sauls own Tribe: who were moved hereunto by Gods Spirit and by the Conscience of their Duty to David to whom God had given the Crown in reversion; and by their Observation of Gods departure from Saul, and of his special presence with David and his gracious providence for him.

4 And Ismajah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty , and Jeremlah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite,

i. e. Who came attended with 30 valiant Benjamites, and was their Leader and Commander.

8 And of the Gadite there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness , men of might, and men of war, fit for the battel, that could handle shield and buckler: whose faces were like the faces of lions , and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains .

From Saul to whom they had hitherto adhered; and from their Brethren of their own Tribe who yet maintained Sauls cause; and from their Families and the places where they lived, from whom they went to David.

Or, into the hold of the wilderness; i. e. Either to the Cave of Adullam or Engedi: or rather to Ziklag, as appears from v. 1. which was in the Wilderness of Iudah, which is here called the hold, or the fortress, which name is also given to the City of David, 1 Chron. 11. 7. the Hebrew word being the same both here and there.

Who were full of Courage, and by the Majesty and Fierceness of their Countenances terrified their Adversaries.

As their very Looks daunted their Enemies and put them to flight, so they could easily pursue and overtake and destroy them in their Flight.

Marginal references: Heb. of the host.; Heb. as the roes upon the mountains to make hast.

14 These were the sons of Gad, captains of the host: ‖ one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand .

Not that they brought now so many men with them, but either 1. they had hitherto been Captains or Colonels under Saul, or in the established Militia or Bands of their Tribe. Or, 2. they were so afterwards under David, who for their Valour and Fidelity thus advanced them.

Marginal references: † Heb. Or, one that was least could resist an hundred, and the greatest a thousand.

15 These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflown all his banks , and they put to flight all them of the vallies , both toward the east, and toward the west .

To wit, in Saul. time, when▪ it seems the Enemies of the Israelites had made an In[illegible: 1+ letters]oad and done some Mischiefs to the Israelites beyond Iordan, to whose Help these then came.

As it commonly did about that time. See Ios. 3. 15. & 4. 18. Ier. 49. 19. This is noted either as a Description of the Time when this was done, it being usual with Historians to note the Circumstances of great Actions: or as an Aggravation of the Fact. And possibly these being Men of great Nimbleness and Dexterity, did swim over Iordan through their ardent Desire to help their Brethren and to fight with their Enemies.

i. e. The People that lived in the Valleys or Deserts beyond Iordan, who, as it seems, when Saul was engaged against the Philistins, took that Advantage to fall upon the Israelites beyond Iordan.

Either 1. the People that lived more Eastward and remote from Iordan, and those who lived more Westward or nearer to it. Or 2. they made them fly several ways, some Eastward, some Westward, as they saw the way open for them. See Deut. 28. [illegible: 1+ letters], 25.

Marginal references: Heb▪ filled o [illegible: 1+ letters] ▪

16 And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.

To the same Hold mentioned▪ v. 8. where see the Notes.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word].

17 And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you : but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies , seeing there is no wrong in mine hands , the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it .

i. e. [illegible: 1 word]; as that word is oft used in Scripture even of him that speaketh [illegible: 1 word].

I shall ever esteem and love you, and shew this by my [illegible: 1 word] to you hereafter.

Which your Number, and Quality and near Relation to Saul gives me some cause to suspect.

I have done no Injury to Saul, nor to you; but have spared him and you when it was in my Power to have destroyed you.

To wit, by his Hand and Power manifested for me and against you for your Persidiousness.

Marginal references: Heb. before [illegible: 1 word].; Heb. be one.; Or, violence.

18 Then the spirit came upon Amasal , who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse; peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers, for thy God helpeth thee . Then David received them: and made them captains of the band .

Not onely saving Graces, but other heroical and generous Motions are ascribed to Gods Spirit, which here stirred up in him a more than ordinary greatness and presentness of Mind and Resolution.

We have observed Gods singular and gracious Care of thee and Kindness to thee and if we should oppose thee, we should be Fighters against God and his Word and Providence.

i. e Of those Forces which they brought with them. Or, he put them among the heads or officers of his band; i. e. He gave them Commands either now in his small Army, each according to his Quality: or afterwards when he was advanced to the Kingdom: for it is not here expressed when he did this.

Marginal references: Heb. the spirit clothed Amasal. So Judg. 6. 34.

19 And there fell some of Manasseh to David (when he came with the Philistins against Saul to battel, but they helped them not ; for the lords of the Philistins, upon advisement, sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul, to the jeopardy of our heads.)

i. e. The Manassites here named, and the rest of Davids Forces to whom they had now joyned themselves did not help the Philistins in Battel, as David had pretended to do.

Marginal references: 1 Sam. 29. 4.; Heb. on our heads.

20 As he went to Ziklag , there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jedaiel, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh.

As he returned from the Camp of the Philistins to Ziklag, 1 Sam. 29. 11.

21 And they helped David against the band of the rovers : for they were all mighty men of valour , and were captains in the host .

i. e. Against the Amalekites who had taken and burnt Ziklag, whom David and his 600 Men were now pursuing, whom these accompanied in that Expedition. Or, with a band or troop of Souldiers, which they brought along with them to Davids Assistance.

Therefore they readily came to Davids help.

Therefore they brought others along with them.

Marginal references: 1 Sam. 30. 1, 9▪ 10.; Or, with a band.

22 For at that time day by day, there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God .

i. e. While he was at Ziklag, and in his March to Hebron, and principally at Hebron, as the next Verse explains it.

i. e. Innumerable like the Stars or Angels, both which are called Gods hosts. Oth. the host of God, i. e. a very great Host, great things being so called, as Cedars, Mountains, &c. of God. But the particle of likeness here added excludes this Sence, for it had been very improper to say, a great host like a great host, i. e. like it self.

23 And these are the numbers of the bands, that were ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD .

Whereby he had settled the Crown upon David after Sauls death.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word], [illegible: 1 word] or, [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word] ▪; [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] ▪; [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] ▪

24 The children of Judah that bare shield and spear, were six thousand and eight hundred ready armed to the war.

Who came thither in the name of all their Brethren; for that whole Tribe stuck to David at his very first coming to Hebron.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] ▪ [illegible: 1 word]

27 And Jehojada was the leader of the Aaronites , and with him were three thousand and seven hundred.

Not the High-priest, for that was Abiathar, 1 Sam. 23. 6. but one of Eminent place under him, and who had a great Power and interest among his Brethren.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word]

28 And Zadok , a young man mighty of valour, and of his fathers house twenty and two captains .

Thought to be the same who was made High-priest in Solomons time, 1 Kings 2. 35. which if true, he was very young at this time.

Whom he brought along with him.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1+ letters] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word]

29 And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul .

i. e. Indeavoured to keep the Crown in their own Tribe, and in Sauls Family.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] ▪ [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word].; [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] ▪; [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] 8, 3.

31 And of the half tribe of Manasseh , eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name , to come and make David King.

Which was within Iordan: for of the other half beyond Iordan he speaks v. 37.

Which were not ashamed nor afraid publickly to own David first by putting their Names to some Paper presented to them for that purpose; and then by marching to him to Hebron.

32 And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times , to know what Israel ought to do: the heads of them were two hundred, and all their brethren were at their commandment.

Either 1. skill in the Stars and several Seasons and Changes of the Air; which might be of good use in Husbandry, to which this Tribe was addicted, Gen. 49. 14. Deut. 33. 18. Or rather 2. Political Prudence to discern and embrace the fit Seasons for all Actions, as appears 1. from the following words, to know what not onely their own Tribe but all Israel ought to do. 2. By the great Authority and Command which they had over all their Brethren upon this account, as it here follows. 3. Because this is so considerable a Circumstance in all Humane, and especially in publick Affairs, that the Success or Disappointment of them depends very much upon the right or wrong Timing of them, and therefore this is a very fit expression to signifie their great Prudence. And particularly they shewed this point of their Wisdom at this time; for as they had adhered to Saul whilest he lived, as knowing the time was not yet come for David to take Possession of the Kingdom: and as they could not joyn themselves to David, whilst Abner lived, and was potent, and had the Command of the other Tribes wherewith they were encompassed, so as soon as he was dead and they had opportunity to declare themselves, they owned David for their King. 4. By the like use of this Phrase, Esth. 1. 13.

33 Of Zebulun such as went forth to battel, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand ▪ which could keep rank : they were not of double heart .

For this Tribe being next to that of Issachar, which was generally well-affected to David, were probably very much swayed by their Opinion and Advice.

Or, which were disposed or prepared, or ordered for battel or to fight for David, if occasion so required.

Heb. without an heart and an heart: which may relate either 1. to the whole Body of them, they were all of one heart and one mind towards David, not some for him and others secretly against him, but all with one soul and one consent adhered to him. Or, 2. To the same particular persons, they were each of them sincerely Loyal to David, and did not dissemble with David, pretending to be for him, whilst in their hearts they▪ favoured Sauls Family; which possibly some of those who came to Hebron, did. Or this is particularly noted of this Tribe because they lay under some suspicion in this matter; as also some of the other Tribes did; and therefore the like testimony is given to all of them, v. 38.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 word] of [illegible: 1 word], o[illegible: 1+ letters], [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word].; [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] bat [illegible: 1+ letters] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] and [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word].

38 All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David King.

To wit, after the death of Abner and Ishbosheth.

40 Moreover, they that were nigh them , even unto Issachar, and Zebulun, and Naphtali , brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen , and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel .

That lived not far from Hebron, the place where they now were.

This is added by way of amplification and explication, to shew that he did not understand this of those Israelites onely who lived in the Neighbourhood of Hebron, but of those that lived at some distance, yet were nearer to Hebron, than some of the other Tribes here named.

Which, though not commonly used in this manner, nor fit for such Purposes, now they so used, because the quantity of Provisions which they brought was very great, as the Numbers of the People at Hebron were, and Horses they had few in Israel, and most of their Asses, and Camels, and Mules here mentioned probably were used to carry divers Men, or Women and Children, to this great, and publick, and happy Solemnity.

Partly because their Civil Wars were wholly ended, and they were all united under one King: and partly because they had now a King of Eminent Valour, and Piety, and Felicity, and therefore expected to be saved from all their Enemies and Calamities, as they were.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word], [illegible: 1 word] of [illegible: 1 word].