1 Chronicles 12:1-40

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:1-22

We have here an account of those that appeared and acted as David's friends, upon the death of Saul, to bring about the revolution. All the forces he had, while he was persecuted, was but 600 men, who served for his guards; but, when the time had come that he must begin to act offensively, Providence brought in more to his assistance. Even while he kept himself close, because of Saul (1 Chron. 12:1), while he did not appear, to invite or encourage his friends and well-wishers to come in to him... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:23-40

We have here an account of those who were active in perfecting the settlement of David upon the throne, after the death of Ishbosheth. We read (1 Chron. 11:1; and before 2 Sam. 5:1) that all the tribes of Israel came, either themselves or by their representatives, to Hebron, to make David king; now here we have an account of the quota which every tribe brought in ready armed to the war, in case there should be any opposition, 1 Chron. 12:23. We may observe here, I. That those tribes that lived... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:1

Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag ,.... Given him by Achish to live in, when he fled from Saul, 1 Samuel 27:6 . while he yet kept himself close, because of Saul the son of Kish ; when he was an exile from his own country, and obliged to live retired in a foreign one, because of Saul's persecution of him, and seeking to take away his life: and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war ; not against Saul, with whom David had none, but with the Amalekites, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:2

They were armed with bows ,.... Much used in war in those times: and could use both the right hand and the left, in hurling stones, and shooting arrows out of a bow ; they were ambidextrous; who could sling stones, or shoot arrows, with either, which was no small advantage to them: even of Saul's brethren of Benjamin ; they were of the tribe of Benjamin, of which Saul was, and so his brethren; and they might be, at least some of them, his relations and kinsmen; who observing the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:3

The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite ,.... Who was of Gibeah, in the tribe of Benjamin, sometimes called Gibeah of Benjamin, and of Saul, it being his birthplace, see 1 Samuel 11:4 and so these might be some of his kindred: and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth ; there is one of this name in the posterity of Jonathan, 1 Chronicles 8:36 who might be so called after some of his relations: and Berachah, and Jehu the Antothite ; or Anethothite,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:4

And Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty ,.... That came with him, and he had the command of; this man was of Gibeon, another city in the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:25 . and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad, the Gederathite ; one of Gederah, a city in the tribe of Judah, perhaps on the borders of that and Benjamin; Joram speaks of it as belonging to the country of the city Aelia or Jerusalem. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:5

Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite. A native of Haruph or Hariph, see Nehemiah 7:24 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:6

Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites. Not Korahites, descendants of Levi, 1 Chronicles 9:19 , but the posterity of Korah a Benjaminite. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:7

And Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor. A city in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:58 and might now belong to Benjamin; or this was another city of the same name in that tribe. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:8

And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David, into the hold to the wilderness ,.... Men of the tribe of Gad, who lived on the other side Jordan; these separated themselves from the rest of their tribe, from their families and dwellings, and from the government of Saul, and came over to David, and joined him either when he was in some strong hold in the wilderness of Ziph, or Maon, 1 Samuel 23:14 , or, as some think, when he was at Ziklag, in the hold there, said to be in the... read more

Group of Brands