1 Chronicles 12 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

1 Chronicles 12

The Mighty Men Join David

12:1 Now these are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul the son of Kish. And they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. 2 They were bowmen and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right or the left hand; they were Benjaminites, Saul’s kinsmen. 3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, both sons of Shemaah of Gibeah; also Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah, Jehu of Anathoth, 4 Ishmaiah of Gibeon, a mighty man among the thirty and a leader over the thirty; Jeremiah,¹ Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad of Gederah, 5 Eluzai,² Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite; 6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites; 7 And Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

8 From the Gadites there went over to David at the stronghold in the wilderness mighty and experienced warriors, expert with shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were swift as gazelles upon the mountains: 9 Ezer the chief, Obadiah second, Eliab third, 10 Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth, 11 Attai sixth, Eliel seventh, 12 Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth, 13 Jeremiah tenth, Machbannai eleventh. 14 These Gadites were officers of the army; the least was a match for a hundred men and the greatest for a thousand. 15 These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it was overflowing all its banks, and put to flight all those in the valleys, to the east and to the west.

16 And some of the men of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David. 17 David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come to me in friendship to help me, my heart will be joined to you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, although there is no wrong in my hands, then may the God of our fathers see and rebuke you.” 18 Then the Spirit clothed Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said,

  “We are yours, O David,
    and with you, O son of Jesse!
  Peace, peace to you,
    and peace to your helpers!
    For your God helps you.”

Then David received them and made them officers of his troops.

19 Some of the men of Manasseh deserted to David when he came with the Philistines for the battle against Saul. (Yet he did not help them, for the rulers of the Philistines took counsel and sent him away, saying, “At peril to our heads he will desert to his master Saul.”) 20 As he went to Ziklag, these men of Manasseh deserted to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands in Manasseh. 21 They helped David against the band of raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor and were commanders in the army. 22 For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God.

23 These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops who came to David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the word of the LORD. 24 The men of Judah bearing shield and spear were 6,800 armed troops. 25 Of the Simeonites, mighty men of valor for war, 7,100. 26 Of the Levites 4,600. 27 The prince Jehoiada, of the house of Aaron, and with him 3,700. 28 Zadok, a young man mighty in valor, and twenty-two commanders from his own fathers’ house. 29 Of the Benjaminites, the kinsmen of Saul, 3,000, of whom the majority had to that point kept their allegiance to the house of Saul. 30 Of the Ephraimites 20,800, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers’ houses. 31 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh 18,000, who were expressly named to come and make David king. 32 Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command. 33 Of Zebulun 50,000 seasoned troops, equipped for battle with all the weapons of war, to help David³ with singleness of purpose. 34 Of Naphtali 1,000 commanders with whom were 37,000 men armed with shield and spear. 35 Of the Danites 28,600 men equipped for battle. 36 Of Asher 40,000 seasoned troops ready for battle. 37 Of the Reubenites and Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh from beyond the Jordan, 120,000 men armed with all the weapons of war.

38 All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king. 39 And they were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their brothers had made preparation for them. 40 And also their relatives, from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, came bringing food on donkeys and on camels and on mules and on oxen, abundant provisions of flour, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, and wine and oil, oxen and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.

Footnotes

[1] 12:4 Hebrew verse 5
[2] 12:5 Hebrew verse 6
[3] 12:33 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks David

Commentary

v1-22: The time David was at Ziklag, on disputed territory (Josh 15.31; 1 Sam 27.6), was the time when Saul died. This section pictures our conflict now, and being faithful to Christ today.

v1: See 11.10; the mighty men had joined with David whilst he was still a fugitive, before he became king. We must be willing to own Christ (who was also despised and rejected) even when it is not popular to do so. These men were helpers in the war, and contributed to the king's work.

v2-7: Some of the family of Saul had defected to David, see also v29. Although born in the enemy's camp, they converted to David, God's chosen one.

v8-15: The Gadites also joined David.

They were trained for battle, they were able, agile, and strong; we must recognise that to follow Christ is a serious thing; Josh 24.14-15, 19.20; Luke 9.23-25.

They had demonstrated their commitment, crossing the Jordan in flood, and defeating the people in the valley. Allegiance to Christ demands effort and sacrifice.

v16-18: David rightly insisted upon the loyalty of his army; he was right to challenge the Benjamites particularly. Sometimes there are traitors in the camp (Such as Achan, and Judas); we are commanded to test the spirits, whether they are of God.

Within the church, our first response is unease at error, then identification of error, then correction of error; we must therefore be discerning.

Amasai, leading those from Benjamin and Judah;

willing to be with David;
willing to serve with David;
willing to serve with David's army;
speaking on behalf of the captains and the men (hence "we"); and
speaking by the Spirit of God.

The army was with David in the stronghold in the wilderness. This was a place of safety, although a place of rejection, 1 Sam 22.23, John 15.18-20. We are outside the camp, but with Christ, Heb 13.13.

v19-21: Others from Manasseh joined David. At one point he allied himself with the Philistines, but God kept him from attacking Israel.

v22: The growing army. This chapter names only 41 (23 from Benjamin, 11 from Gad, 7 from Manasseh); there were 400 in 1 Sam 22.2; 600 in 1 Sam 30.9; the army grew constantly, see Acts 2.47. Later the army grew much larger; 340,000 in v23-37.

v23-40: David's army at Hebron, where he was proclaimed king according to the promise of God, the word of the Lord. The army in heaven; men from every tribe (Rev 7.9); no longer a despised minority, but a multitude that no man can number, compare 2 Sam 24.3.

v23-37: The whole army was united in purpose, to make David king. Here is a powerful army; under David the tribes were truly united, in contrast to the time of the Judges, where the tribes tended to fight individually, albeit with some co-operation. See Judg 1.2-3; 4.10; 6.35. It is only under God's anointed king that diverse Christian groups can really become one. The common aim and vision promotes unity.

Although each group was armed and ready for battle, some had particular skills; men from Issachar had understanding of the times, they were men of wisdom.

They could keep battle formation, working well together, keeping ranks; we must work together as a team, and know our place, not neglecting our own gifts nor interfering overmuch in the ministry of others.

At this stage those East of the Jordan were no less keen than their brethren on the west; only later did their earlier sin and rebellion, recorded in Num 32, find them out.

Verse 22 refers to the men of Issachar 'who understood the times.' Gabriel Adusei comments that the English word DISCERNMENT is derived from the Latin 'dis' meaning apart and 'cernere' meaning to sift. He comments that, in a kitchen, when you strain tea you use the strainer to remove the tea leaves to be discarded; but when you sieve pasta you retain the pasta and through awat the water. Such is the skill of many millions of cooks. (Through it all, page 248)

v38-40: There was unity and provision and joy. They volunteered, they were fully determined, they were committed, serving David.