1 Chronicles 12 - Introduction

1 Chronicles 12:1-22 (not in Samuel). David's Adherents in exile

The statements (drawn probably from family traditions) given in these verses throw light on the last campaign of Saul and in part explain the catastrophe of Gilboa. The king, it seems, after his rupture with David grew continually weaker through the desertion of some of the boldest spirits of the nation who joined the exiled hero. Some of Saul's own tribe attached themselves to David at Ziklag (1 Chronicles 12:1-2). During the campaign of Gilboa men of Manasseh joined David when he was actually following the Philistines to battle against Saul (1 Chronicles 12:19). An Israel divided against itself could not stand.