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John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

1 Chronicles 12

1 Chronicles 12 - Introduction

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 12 This chapter gives an account of those that came to David at different times, and joined and assisted him both before the death of Saul, and when persecuted by him, and after he was made king of Judah in Hebron, and before he was king of all Israel, in order to it; o... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Chronicles 12:1

NOW THESE ARE THEY THAT CAME TO DAVID TO ZIKLAG,.... Given him by Achish to live in, when he fled from Saul, 1 Samuel 27:6 WHILE HE YET KEPT HIMSELF CLOSE, BECAUSE OF SAUL THE SON OF KISH; when he was an exile from his own country, and obliged to live retired in a foreign one, because of Saul's per... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Chronicles 12:2

THEY WERE ARMED WITH BOWS,.... Much used in war in those times: AND COULD USE BOTH THE RIGHT HAND AND THE LEFT, IN HURLING STONES, AND SHOOTING ARROWS OUT OF A BOW; they were ambidextrous; who could sling stones, or shoot arrows, with either, which was no small advantage to them: EVEN OF SAUL'S BR... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Chronicles 12:3

THE CHIEF WAS AHIEZER, THEN JOASH, THE SONS OF SHEMAAH THE GIBEATHITE,.... Who was of Gibeah, in the tribe of Benjamin, sometimes called Gibeah of Benjamin, and of Saul, it being his birthplace, see 1 Samuel 11:4 and so these might be some of his kindred: AND JEZIEL, AND PELET, THE SONS OF AZMAVET... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Chronicles 12:4

AND ISHMAIAH THE GIBEONITE, A MIGHTY MAN AMONG THE THIRTY, AND OVER THE THIRTY,.... That came with him, and he had the command of; this man was of Gibeon, another city in the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:25 AND JEREMIAH, AND JAHAZIEL, AND JOHANAN, AND JOSABAD, THE GEDERATHITE; one of Gederah, a cit... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Chronicles 12:6

ELKANAH, AND JESIAH, AND AZAREEL, AND JOEZER, AND JASHOBEAM, THE KORHITES. Not Korahites, descendants of Levi, 1 Chronicles 9:19, but the posterity of Korah a Benjaminite.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Chronicles 12:7

AND JOELAH, AND ZEBADIAH, THE SONS OF JEROHAM OF GEDOR. A city in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:58 and might now belong to Benjamin; or this was another city of the same name in that tribe.... [ Continue Reading ]

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 Da... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Chronicles 12:9

Ver. 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.... [ Continue Reading ]

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... [ Continue Reading ]

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 t... [ Continue Reading ]

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.... [ Continue Reading ]

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... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Chronicles 12:18

THEN THE SPIRIT CAME UPON AMASAI,.... Or "clothed" f 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 the... [ Continue Reading ]

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 Dav... [ Continue Reading ]

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 ZILT... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Chronicles 12:21

AND THEY HELPED DAVID AGAINST THE BAND OF THE ROVERS,.... The Amalekites, who, while he was gone with the Philistines, had seized on Ziklag, and burnt it, and carried the women captive, with what spoil they could make; these coming to David thus opportunely, assisted him in his pursuit and defeat of... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Chronicles 12:22

FOR AT THAT TIME, DAY BY DAY, THERE CAME TO DAVID TO HELP HIM,.... Particularly after the defeat of Saul by the Philistines, unto the time that David came to Hebron: UNTIL IT WAS A GREAT HOST, LIKE THE HOST OF GOD; the heavenly host, the angels; so the Targum.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Chronicles 12:23

Ver. 23-37. AND THESE ARE THE NUMBERS OF THE BANDS THAT WERE READY ARMED TO THE WAR,.... That were trained up to it, and accounted for it: AND CAME TO DAVID TO HEBRON; after the death of Ishbosheth and Abner, and when David had reigned seven years in Hebron: TO TURN THE KINGDOM OF SAUL TO HIM; to... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Chronicles 12:38

ALL THESE MEN OF WAR THAT COULD KEEP RANK,.... Well disciplined men: CAME WITH A PERFECT HEART TO HEBRON TO MAKE DAVID KING OVER ISRAEL; they were all of one mind, and quite hearty and sincere in fixing David on the throne of all Israel: AND ALL THE REST ALSO OF ISRAEL WERE OF ONE HEART ALSO TO MA... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Chronicles 12:39

AND THERE THEY WERE WITH DAVID THREE DAYS, EATING AND DRINKING,.... Keeping a festival, to testify their joy on this occasion: FOR THEIR BRETHREN HAD PREPARED FOR THEM; not the inhabitants of Hebron only, but all the country round about, brought in provisions on this joyful occasion; otherwise the... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Chronicles 12:40

MOREOVER, THEY THAT WERE NIGH,.... To Hebron, or bordered on the tribe of Judah: EVEN UNTO ISSACHAR, AND ZEBULUN, AND NAPHTALI; as far as to those tribes, and including them: BROUGHT BREAD ON ASSES, AND ON CAMELS, AND ON MULES; all which were creatures used to carry burdens: AND ON OXEN; who, tho... [ Continue Reading ]

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