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Matthew Henry

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 12:8

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:9-13

Ezer the first ,.... This, and those that follow, are the names of the Gadites given, according to their age, or merit, or order in coming to David: Obadiah, Eliab, Mishmannah, Jeremiah, Attai, Eliel, Johanan, Elzabad, Jeremiah, Machbanai; in all eleven. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:14

These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the host ,.... Of the militia in their own country, and of the men they brought with them; or they were such afterwards in David's army: one of the least was over one hundred, and the greatest over thousand ; not that they were so when they came, or brought over such a number of men with them under their command; but they were promoted by David, when he came to the throne, to be centurions and chiliarchs; according to Jarchi, the sense is, that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:15

These are they that went over Jordan in the first month ,.... The month Nisan or Ab; as they must come over Jordan to come to David, since they dwelt on the other side of it: when it had overflown all its banks ; as it did at this time of the year, see Joshua 3:15 which is observed to show both the time of the year when they came over, and their zeal and ardour to assist David, and their boldness and intrepidity; fearless of danger, they threw themselves into Jordan, and swam over it,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:16

And there came of the men of Benjamin, and of Judah ,.... Besides those before mentioned, 1 Chronicles 12:2 , to the hold unto David ; the same as in 1 Chronicles 12:8 . 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:18

Then the spirit came upon Amasai ,.... Or "clothed" F6 לבשה "induit", Pagninus, Montanus, &c.; him; a spirit of fortitude, as the Targum, of strength, courage, and presence of mind, with which he was endowed, covered, and clothed as with a garment; this was a sister's son of David's, see 2 Samuel 17:25 . who was chief of the captains ; of them that came at this time with him to David; he was afterwards Absalom's general, and designed to be David's, but was murdered by Joab:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:19

And there fell some of Manasseh to David ,.... Of the tribe of Manasseh; they took his part, and on his side, and joined him: when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle ; which was a strong proof of their cordial attachment to him: but they helped them not : the Philistines; neither David nor his men, nor the Manassites that joined them: for the lords of the Philistines, upon advisement ; counsel taken among themselves: sent him away; that is, David and his men: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:20

As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh ,.... Others besides the former, who joined him when he went with the Philistines; these joined him when he was dismissed from them, and was returning to Ziklag: namely: Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh ; that tribe being, as the rest were, divided into hundreds and thousands; these were captains over the thousands of the militia of the... read more

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