1 Chronicles 12:17

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:17

And David went out to meet them ,.... Out of the hold where he was; either out of respect and deference to them, some of them being persons of eminence; or it may be out of suspicion, fearing they were not his friends, being, it may be, chiefly of the tribe of Benjamin, and therefore was desirous of sounding them before he admitted them: and said unto them, if ye be come peaceably unto me to help me ; if they were come with a good will to him, and intention to help him against his enemy,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:17

The solemn tone of David's language recorded here, and the beautiful pathos and religious appeal of the last two sentences of the verse, bespeak sufferings and disappointments experienced by David heretofore through deception. It is, however, noticeable that there is no direct testimony of anything of this kind, least of all of any flagrant instance of it, on the part of such detachments of friends as had come to him; and that , though they had occasionally been contributed from sources... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:17

There is very great distinction to be drawn between suspicion and suspiciousness. The latter describes the character, expresses a characteristic , and reveals a tendency or bias that can find no admirer, unless it be a man of taste the most vitiated and unlovely. The former may be easily enough the necessity of accident or circumstance, It may possibly mark out the person who on occasion manifests it as deserving and plaintively claiming sympathy and help. The fact of its being betrayed... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Chronicles 12:17

1 Chronicles 12:17. David went out to meet them, and answered That is, spake, for that word is often used in the Scriptures, even of him that speaks first. My heart shall be knit unto you I shall ever esteem and love you, and show this by my actions to you hereafter. But if ye be come to betray me, &c. Which your number, and quality, and near relation to Saul, give me some cause to suspect. Seeing there is no wrong in my hands I have done no injury to Saul nor to you; but have... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:1-40

David made king (11:1-12:40)It seems clear that the writer of Chronicles assumes that his readers have already read the books of Samuel and Kings. (In this commentary also it is assumed that the reader has read these books. For further details see notes and maps at the relevant places in Samuel and Kings, and the appendix at the end of Chronicles.)In view of his readers’ assumed knowledge, the Chronicler makes no attempt to record events that have little to do with his central purpose. For... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Chronicles 12:17

If ye be come, &c. A second band made David suspicious. knit unto = one with. wrongs = act of violence. Hebrew. hamas, not same word as 1 Chronicles 16:21 . read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Chronicles 12:1-40

Various StatisticsThis chapter is entirely supplementary to what is related in 2 S, and gives particulars respecting certain companies that joined David at various times, and the numbers that came to crown David at Hebron.2. The right hand and the left] For this faculty in connexion with Benjamin cp. Judges 3:15; Judges 20:15, Judges 20:16. Saul’s brethren] i.e. fellow-tribesmen: cp. 1 Chronicles 12:29. 4. Among the thirty] not included in the lists of 2 Samuel 23:24. 1 Chronicles 11:26., and... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Chronicles 12:8-18

(8-18) A. list of Gadites, and an account of a band of Judæans and Benjammites who joined David in the stronghold (1 Chronicles 11:14) towards the desert of Judah. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Chronicles 12:16-18

(16-18) Some Benjamite and Judæan accessions. The names are not given, why we cannot tell. read more

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