1 Chronicles 12:6 Kommentar

What the mighty men did towards making David king we read in the foregoing chapter. Here we are told what the many did towards it. It was not all at once, but gradually, that David ascended the throne. His kingdom was to last; and therefore, like fruits that keep longest, it ripened slowly. After he had long waited for the vacancy of the throne, it was at two steps and those above seven years distant, that he ascended it. Now we are here told, I. What help came in to him to Ziklag, to make him king of Judah (v. 1-22). II. What help came in to him in Hebron, to make him king over all Israel, above seven years after (v. 23-40).

Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag,.... Given him by Achish to live in, when he fled from Saul, Sa1 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 persecution of him, and seeking to take away his life: and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war; not against Saul, with whom David had none, but with the Amalekites, and others, Sa1 27:8.

And Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor. A city in the tribe of Judah, Jos 15:58 and might now belong to Benjamin; or this was another city of the same name in that tribe. and might now belong to Benjamin; or this was another city of the same name in that tribe. 1 Chronicles 12:8 ch1 12:8 ch1 12:8 ch1 12:8And 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, Sa1 23:14, or, as some think, when he was at Ziklag, in the hold there, said to be in the wilderness of Judah: men of might, and men of war, fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler; warlike, valiant, and courageous men, well skilled in military discipline: whose faces were like the face of lions; bold, stern, and fierce. The philosopher observes (d), that of all creatures the lion most resembles a man, having a great mouth, a square face and forehead, large eye brows, &c. and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains; which are remarkable for their swiftness on the mountains, see Sol 2:17. Aelianus (e) speaks of one sort of them that run as swift as a tempest. These Gadites, as with their undaunted looks and courage, intimidated their enemies, and put them to flight, so they were swift to pursue them, and overtake them. (d) Aristot. Physiognom. c. 5. (e) De Animal. l. 14. c. 14.

The different persons, captains, etc., who joined themselves to David at Ziklag, vv. 1-22. Those who joined him at Hebron, out of the different tribes; Judah, Simeon, Levi, the house of Aaron, Benjamin, Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, Zebulun, Naphtali, Dan, Asher, Reuben, etc., to the amount of a hundred and twenty thousand, Ch1 12:23-37. Their unanimity, and the provisions they brought for his support, Ch1 12:38-40.

THE COMPANIES THAT CAME TO DAVID AT ZIKLAG. (1Ch. 12:1-22) Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag--There are three lists given in this chapter, arranged, apparently, according to the order of time when the parties joined the standard of David. while he yet kept himself close because of Saul--that is, when the king's jealousy had driven him into exile from the court and the country. Ziklag--(See on Sa1 27:6). It was during his retirement in that Philistine town that he was joined in rapid succession by the heroes who afterwards contributed so much to the glory of his reign.

Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag,.... Given him by Achish to live in, when he fled from Saul, Sa1 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 persecution of him, and seeking to take away his life: and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war; not against Saul, with whom David had none, but with the Amalekites, and others, Sa1 27:8.

And Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor. A city in the tribe of Judah, Jos 15:58 and might now belong to Benjamin; or this was another city of the same name in that tribe. and might now belong to Benjamin; or this was another city of the same name in that tribe. 1 Chronicles 12:8 ch1 12:8 ch1 12:8 ch1 12:8And 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, Sa1 23:14, or, as some think, when he was at Ziklag, in the hold there, said to be in the wilderness of Judah: men of might, and men of war, fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler; warlike, valiant, and courageous men, well skilled in military discipline: whose faces were like the face of lions; bold, stern, and fierce. The philosopher observes (d), that of all creatures the lion most resembles a man, having a great mouth, a square face and forehead, large eye brows, &c. and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains; which are remarkable for their swiftness on the mountains, see Sol 2:17. Aelianus (e) speaks of one sort of them that run as swift as a tempest. These Gadites, as with their undaunted looks and courage, intimidated their enemies, and put them to flight, so they were swift to pursue them, and overtake them. (d) Aristot. Physiognom. c. 5. (e) De Animal. l. 14. c. 14.