VARIOUS STATISTICS This 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
AMONG THE THIRTY] not included in the lists of 2 Samuel 23:24; 1 Chronicles 11:26., and presumably belonging to the thirty at a different period.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUCKLER] RV 'spear.'... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS OVER] RV 'was equal to': cp. Leviticus 26:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIRST MONTH] Nisan(=March-April), when the river was in flood after the melting of the snow. PUT TO FLIGHT, ETC.] Their endeavours to join David were opposed on both sides of the river, but unsuccessfully.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE.. COME PEACEABLY] The advances of a second body of deserters made David suspicious of treachery.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRIT CAME UPON, etc.] Amasai's decision to throw in his lot with David was due, like every other wise resolve, to the inspiration of the Divine Spirit.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY] i.e. David and his men: see on 1 Samuel 28:1; 1 Samuel 29; 1 Samuel 29. UPON ADVISEMENT] i.e. upon reflection: cp. 1 Chronicles 21:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BAND] i.e. the Amalekites who attacked and burned Ziklag during David's absence with the Philistines (1 Samuel 30).... [ Continue Reading ]
KEPT THE WARD, etc.] i.e. maintained their allegiance to Saul (2 Samuel 2), a fact which accounted for so small a number assembling at Hebron.... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD UNDERSTANDING, etc.] possessed practical statesmanship: cp. Esther 1:13. ALL THEIR BRETHREN] The rank and file were obedient to their chiefs. The full numbers of Issachar are not given.... [ Continue Reading ]
EATING AND DRINKING] A covenant was usually accompanied by a feast (see Genesis 31:44; Genesis 31:46), and the passage doubtless has in view a compact made between the new sovereign and his people: cp. 1 Kings 1:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT WERE NIGH] i.e. relations. The total numbers of those who assembled to crown David at Hebron, as enumerated in 1 Chronicles 12:23, amount to 340,822, a military force (1 Chronicles 12:23) which contrasts remarkably with the 30,000 (described as 'all the chosen men of Israel') of 2 Samuel... [ Continue Reading ]