1 Chronicles 12:21

(21) And they helped David against the band of the rovers.—So the Vulg. and Syr. The Heb. text has been called “brief and unintelligible,” and its explanation has been sought in 1 Samuel 30:8; 1 Samuel 30:15, where “the band” (haggedûd, as here) of Amalek, which had captured and burnt Ziklag in David’s absence, is spoken of. But why may we not render, “And these helped David over the band,” i.e., in the joint command of his forces. (Comp. 1 Chronicles 12:18, “made them captains of the band.”) It is pretty clear that the names enumerated (1 Chronicles 12:1-20) are those of captains and chiefs, not of ordinary warriors. (Comp, 1 Chronicles 12:14; 1 Chronicles 12:18.) Consequently 1 Chronicles 12:21-22 form a subscription or concluding remark to the entire list.