1 Chronicles 12

1 Chronicles 12:1

Siceleg, which had been given to David for a retreat. Hither many brave men came to join him. — Fled. Hebrew, “was shut up through fear.” (Calmet) — Septuagint, “was under anxiety.” (Haydock)

1 Chronicles 12:2

Hand, like Aod, Judges iii. 15. (Menochius) — Brethren, of the same tribe. The opinion which they entertained of David, must have been very great, to make them expose themselves to such dangers. In adversity, true friendship and virtue shine the most. (Calmet) — The hand of providence is here conspicuous. (Tirinus)

1 Chronicles 12:4

Thirty. Hebrew sheloshim, denotes “the officers” of the army. (Calmet) — Protestants style this hero “Ismaiah.”

1 Chronicles 12:6

Jesbaam. Probably the second after Joab, chap. xi. 11. (Haydock) — Of Carehim. Hebrew, “the Korhites.” (Kennicott) — So also the Septuagint. There were Levites, descendants of Core. (Menochius)

1 Chronicles 12:8

Gaddi, a city of the tribe of Gad, (2 Kings xxiii.) from which many went to join David, when he was in the country of Moab, (Menochius) as others of the Gadites did, ver. 14. — Mountains. A fierce countenance and swiftness were much commended in soldiers. “The eyes are always first conquered.” Primi in omnibus pr'e6liis oculi vincuntur, says Tacitus, Mor. Germ. (Calmet) See Proverbs xxx. 30., and 2 Kings ii. 18. (Menochius)

1 Chronicles 12:14

Thousand, after David had ascended the throne. (Calmet) — At Siceleg he had only 600. (Menochius) — Some suppose that each of these officers was worth 100 men, &c. (Vatable)

1 Chronicles 12:15

Month, Nisan. (Tirinus) — Banks. This circumstance enhances their courage. Maundrel (Alep. p. 136) went to see the Jordan, 13th March, 1697, but the river was nine feet from the banks. Its rapidity has perhaps made its bed so much deeper, that it does not overflow so frequently at present. (Calmet)

1 Chronicles 12:16

Hold, in Moab, (1 Kings xxii. 4.; Du Hamel; Menochius) or to Siceleg. The people of Benjamin come with those of Juda, to avoid suspicion. (Calmet)

1 Chronicles 12:17

Hands. At that time he had done no injury to any man. (Haydock)

1 Chronicles 12:18

Spirit of God (Calmet; or good will, Du Hamel) prompted Amasai, the chief of “the officers.” (Calmet) — Band, or “of a company.” (Haydock)

1 Chronicles 12:19

Fight. They joined him after he had left the Philistines. (Calmet) — But he. Hebrew, “they helped them not.” Neither David nor his partizans were involved in this danger, which might have caused their fidelity to be suspected, 1 Kings xxix. (Haydock)

1 Chronicles 12:20

Thousands: heads of the principal cities, Micheas v. 2. (Du Hamel)

1 Chronicles 12:21

Rovers of Amalec, 1 Kings xxx. 1.

1 Chronicles 12:22

Of God; very great, (Calmet) particularly when Isboseth was slain, 2 Kings v. 1. (Haydock) — The angels are to us innumerable, Job xxv. An army in concord is compared to them. (Worthington)

1 Chronicles 12:27

Joiada had the post of Eleazar over the Levites, (Numbers iii. 32.) and was at the head of the warriors of his tribe, while Abiathar was high priest. (Calmet)

1 Chronicles 12:28

Of excellent. Hebrew, “of great valour.” Saul had appointed him in the place of Achimelec, and David permitted him to retain his dignity.

1 Chronicles 12:29

Followed. Hebrew, “kept guard at the palace.” These guards submitted to David, like the rest, after the death of Isboseth. (Calmet)

1 Chronicles 12:31

Manasses, west of the Jordan. See ver. 37. (Haydock)

1 Chronicles 12:32

Should, in agricultural pursuits, in which those of Issachar excelled, Genesis xlix. 14. Countrymen have often more skill about the weather, then the greatest astronomers, Virgil, Georg. i. (Menochius) (Tirinus) — Others think that these men could calculate when the festivals would occur, (St. Jerome, Trad.) or they were well versed in politics, &c. See Esther i. 13.

1 Chronicles 12:40

Nephthali. All, both far and near, contributed to regale the deputies. (Calmet)

1 Chronicles 12:46

CHAPTER XII.