1The companies that came to David at Ziklag. 23The armed troops that came to him at Hebron.
1NOW these are they that came to David to 1Ziklag, 2while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish: and they were among 3the mighty men, helpers of the war.
1 See of this city the annotation at 1 Sam. 27 on verse 6.
2 Namely, when for fear of Saul, he had to hide himself in caves, dens, in rocks and on mountains. Other, shut out, namely, out of the public meetings of the people of God, yea, out of all the land of the Israelites, because of Saul’s tyranny.
3 Namely, who are named in the previous chapter.
2They were armed with bows, and could use both the 4right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of 5Saul’s brethren of Benjamin.
4 That is, they were as able to throw with their left as with their right hand. See the like Judges 20:16.
5 That is, of his kindred, or kinsmen. These men have done this, setting aside family relationship, 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 David’s cause, although he remained with his father.
3The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; and Berachah, and Jehu the Antothite,
4And Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite,
5Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite,
6Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites,
7And Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
86And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into 7the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could 8handle shield and buckler, whose faces 9were like the faces of lions, and were 10as swift as the roes upon the mountains;
6 He wants to say: They separated themselves from the other Israelites who adhered yet unto Saul, and joined themselves with David.
7 Some understand this of the fort at Ziklag; others of the cave of Adullam; others of Engedi.
8 Hebr. put in order.
9 Namely, terrible to behold, as if they were lions.
10 This commendation is likewise given to Asahel, the brother of Joab, 2 Sam. 2:18.
9Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,
10Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,
11Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
12Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,
13Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh.
14These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the host: one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.
15These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when 11it had overflown all his banks; and they put to flight all them 12of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.
11 See Joshua 3:15.
12 Namely, who were close by the Jordan.
16And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.
17And David went out to meet 13them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come 14peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, 15seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.
13 Hebr. before their face.
14 That is, for the sake of peace.
15 That is, whereas I am not guilty of having done any wrong or violence to any.
18Then the spirit 16came upon Amasai, who was 17chief 18of 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.
16 That is, the Spirit of the Lord, namely, the spirit of valor and courage came upon Amasai, that he was adorned therewith as a garment, insomuch that he had an extraordinary courage and boldness to speak thus unto David. See of this phrase Judges 6:34, and elsewhere.
17 Hebr. the head.
18 Other, of thirty.
19And there fellasome of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: 19but they helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines 20upon advisementb sent him away, saying, He 21will fall to his master Saul 22to the jeopardy of our heads.
a 1 Sam. 29:1.
19 Understand that David with his men did not help the Philistines in this battle against Saul and the Israelites.
20 That is, after they, having advised with one another about it, found it not fitting that David would abide with them in the camp.
b consideration, taking advice
21 Other, he shall fall to Saul, his lord; namely, if he be permitted to go with us into the battle.
22 Hebr. with our heads he would fall to his lord Saul. See the like phrase 1 Chron. 11:19.
20As he went 23to 24Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh.
23 Namely, after he was dismissed by the king of the Philistines, 1 Sam. 29:10, 11.
24 The king of the Philistines had given this city to David, 1 Sam. 27:6.
21And they helped David against the 25band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains 26in the host.
25 Understand here the companies or parties of those Amalekites, who had taken and burnt Ziklag, while David was gone away from there, 1 Sam. 30:1.
26 Namely, in David’s army.
22For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like 27the host of God.
27 That is, a very great and excellent host. Thus it is said in Psalm 36:6 in Hebrew the mountains of God, and Psalm 80:10 in Hebrew the cedars of God, that is, high, tall. And Nineveh a city of God, that is a very great city. See Gen. 13 on verse 10, the 16th annotation.
23¶And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn 28the kingdom of Saul to him, 29according to the word of the LORD.
28 See at the end of 1 Chron. 10:14 and at the beginning of 1 Chron. 11:1.
29 That is, as the Lord had commanded when He caused David to be anointed king by Samuel, 1 Samuel 16.
24The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war.
25Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one hundred.
26Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.
27And Jehoiada 30was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred;
30 Understand this as such, that he was the leader of the priest under the high priest Abiathar, see 1 Sam. 23:9, or, leader of those priests who are said here to come to David.
28And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father’s 31house twenty and two captains.
31 That is, family.
29And of the children of Benjamin, 32the kindred of Saul, three thousand: 33for hitherto the greatest part of them 34had kept the ward of the house of Saul.
32 Hebr. brethren.
33 This is the reason why but three thousand Benjamites were come to David.
34 Hebr. which held with the house of Saul. The Benjamites held a long while on Saul’s side, because he sprung from their tribe. See 2 Samuel 2.
30And of the children of Ephra-im twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, 35famous throughout the house of their fathers.
35 See the 14th annotation at Gen. 6 on verse 4.
31And 36of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king.
36 Namely, who dwelt on this side Jordan in the land of Canaan, for, the other half, who dwelt on the other side of Jordan, came with the Reubenites and Gadites to David, verse 37.
32And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had 37understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their 38commandment.
37 That is, understanding and expert men, who are able to give good advice and counsel at what time it was best to attempt anything, or desist from it, whether in war and civil affairs, as Esther 1:13, or also in husbandry.
38 Hebr. mouth.
33Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, 39which could keep rank: they were 40not of double heart.
39 Understand herewith: they were ready, or skillful; or, came, as verse 38.
40 Hebr. with not heart and heart; that is, not with a divided or double heart, but upright and constant.
34And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand.
35And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.
36And of Asher, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, forty thousand.
37And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, an hundred and twenty thousand.
38All these men of war, that could keep rank, 41came 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.
41 That is, after they had well considered the matter before with themselves, they came with a single and upright heart.
39And 42there they were with David three days, 43eating and drinking: 44for 45their brethren had prepared for them.
42 Namely, at Hebron.
43 That is, making good cheer.
44 Intimating that the Hebronites had provided food and drink to entertain their brethren.
45 Namely, the Israelites who dwelt at Hebron.
40Moreover they that were 46nigh 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 47sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel.
46 That is, who dwelt hard by them, or thereabouts, or round about them.
47 That is, sheep and goats.