1Ch 12:1
12:1 Now these [are] they that came to David to {a} 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.

     (a) To take his part against Saul: who persecuted him.

1Ch 12:2
12:2 [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 Saul's {b} brethren of Benjamin.

     (b) That is, of the tribe of Benjamin, of which Saul was,
         and in which were excellent throwers with slings,
         Jud 20:16.

1Ch 12:8
12:8 And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David
     into the hold to the wilderness men of might, [and] men of
     war [fit] for the battle, that could handle shield and
     buckler, whose faces [were like] the faces of {c} lions,
     and [were] as swift as the roes upon the mountains;

     (c) Meaning, fierce and terrible.

1Ch 12:15
12:15 These [are] they that went over Jordan in the {d} first
      month, when it had overflown all his banks; and they put
      to flight all [them] of the valleys, [both] toward the
      east, and toward the west.

      (d) Which the Hebrews called Nisan, or Abib, containing
          half March and half April, when Jordan was wont to
          overflow its banks, read Jos 3:15.

1Ch 12:18
12:18 Then the {e} spirit came upon Amasai, [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.

      (e) The spirit of boldness and courage moved him to speak
          thus.

1Ch 12:19
12:19 And there fell [some] of Manasseh to David, when he came
      with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they {f}
      helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon
      advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his
      master Saul to [the jeopardy of] our heads.

      (f) They came only to help David, and not to help the
          Philistines, who were enemies of their country.

1Ch 12:21
12:21 And they helped David against the {g} band [of the
      rovers]: for they [were] all mighty men of valour, and
      were captains in the host.

      (g) That is, of the Amalekites who had burned the city of
          Ziklag, 1Sa 30:1,9.

1Ch 12:22
12:22 For at [that] time day by day there came to David to help
      him, until [it was] a great host, like the host of {h}
      God.

      (h) Meaning, mighty or strong, for the Hebrews say a
          thing is of God when it is excellent.

1Ch 12:27
12:27 And Jehoiada [was] the leader of the {i} Aaronites, and
      with him [were] three thousand and seven hundred;

      (i) Of the Levites who came by the descent of Aaron.

1Ch 12:29
12:29 And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul,
      three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had
      {k} kept the ward of the house of Saul.

      (k) That is, the greatest number took Saul's side.

1Ch 12:32
12:32 And of the children of Issachar, [which were men] that had
      understanding of the {l} times, to know what Israel ought
      to do; the heads of them [were] two hundred; and all their
      brethren [were] at their commandment.

      (l) Men of good experience, who knew at all times what was
          to be done.

1Ch 12:38
12:38 {m} 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.

      (m) So that his whole host were 322,222.

1Ch 12:39
12:39 And there they were with David three days, eating and
      drinking: for their {n} brethren had prepared for them.

      (n) The rest of the Israelites.

This document is from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library at Calvin College. Last updated on May 27, 1999. Contacting the CCEL.